2023 Pre=season

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50747473...-over-clippers

Dunn was certainly their best player. I'd guess next game he'll be in the rotation? George wasn't very good nor was most of the team. Looks like Hendricks isn't in the rotation. Behind Simone at the moment. Nice pull up 3 though. Yurtseven appears to be ahead of Samanic as well. They both looked good in garbage time.

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltcityhoops.com/depth-dunk...d-in-paradise/

The 2023-24 NBA season officially began for the Utah Jazz as they tipped off in Hawaii for an exhibition game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Jazz rallied late to get the win, 101-96. Fourteen players played, including all of the regular roster players except for one. To me, this showcased the depth the Jazz will have this season.

too bad no one but the 4rd/5th string looked good though

We know the offense will feature Lauri Markannen and Jordan Clarkson the most, while the defense will be anchored around Walker Kessler. John Collins and Collin Sexton will get plenty of minutes, as will Ochai Agbaji, regardless of starters or off the bench. After those first six, the team has veterans Kelly Olynk and Kris Dunn in waiting, along with young vet Talen Horton-Tucker. That puts the team at nine rotational players, before we even consider the rookies. Keyonte George saw rotation minutes on Sunday, and has said he has his sights on Rookie of the Year.

Dunn wasn't in the rotation. Talen, Simone and Agbaji weren't last year until they traded a bunch of guys. George didn't look good

The point of the preseason is to give everyone a run and figure out lineup configurations. The addition of Collins might’ve created questions about the frontcourt plans. The quick summer league success from George, and even the international success from Fontecchio, might’ve muddled up minute decisions, too. To make the job just a touch more difficult for Jazz coach Will Hardy and staff, the Jazz have a little more quality depth than might’ve been anticipated.

Simone played good last summer too. Still found him on the bench

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2023/10/09/tal...nse-utah-jazz/

The Utah Jazz started Talen Horton-Tucker against the LA Clippers, but why?

because if you'd been paying attention they are trying different combos maybe through the first 20 games of the season

Horton-Tucker shot just 42% from the floor, 29% from three, and 75% from the free-throw line, while also finishing 15th on the team in BPM with a -1.6. Before being discontinued, his RAPTOR wasn’t great either, finishing the 2022-2023 season with just a -1.1 grade on offense and a -0.1 grade on defense.

and only 22

And if the argument was; “Oh, he’s playing because of his size/passing/defense”, one would argue; is he? Yes, he’s 6’4, but Kris Dunn is 6’3, so height has nothing to do with it.

Dunn doesn't have a 7'2 wingspan

If you want a more offensive-minded player, Clarkson and Sexton make so much more sense. If you want a more defensive-minded option, Dunn makes more sense. And while Horton-Tucker is a better defensive option over Sexton and Clarkson by a mile, his defense isn’t so good that putting him in the starting lineup makes you better without Sexton and or Clarkson.

anyone better than The Bum

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2023/10/09/kri...eseason-debut/

But don’t let his preseason debut fool you; Dunn is a liability when it comes to scoring. He had a solid season with the Jazz in 2022-2023, shooting 54% from the floor and 47% from three. Now, you may see that and think “he’s clearly improving” but keep in mind he put those numbers up at 28, not 22. Players don’t magically take a career-defining leap that late into their careers most of the time.

he's figured out what works. He can get to the rim and finish and he's hit open shots. No reason he can't keep it up

If you look at his stats, he’s not a polished passer, so asking him to be a point guard isn’t the greatest of ideas. He’s also not very sure of his three-point shot, as he only took 2.5 per game last year; good enough for 11th best on the team.

he's sure of his shot. Why take 3's when you can get to the rim at will?

He’s also not great on defense. He tries, but he just gets caught up in screens far too easily. So he’s not a bad player by any means but he has his own limitations. He’ll rebound from his 1-7 night, but fans should really be concerned about him being paired with Jordan Clarkson at any point in time. Those two are nearly carbon copies of one another, with the same strengths and weaknesse

The Bum can't shoot. They aren't alike

This is great because while Olynyk can get you 10+ points per game by being a versatile shooter, it’s his also host of skills that make Olynyk off the bench impressive. He’s not only a solid rebounder, but he’s a fantastic passer for a man of his size.

not much of a rebounder

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/505938/sluggis...eason-meeting/

Kris Dunn had a strong performance in game one for the Jazz, but recorded just four points and one assist in his 19 minutes in game two.

the team still looked a lot better with him on the floor

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2023/10/10/sta...the-utah-jazz/

Hendricks will be starting with the Stars

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2023/10/09/tal...nse-utah-jazz/

good luck with that. Gobert was passed over twice once by his own inferior teammate

[Xiao Yao You]

The Utah Jazz have signed guard Michael Devoe and forward Keshawn Justice. In a related move, the team has waived guard/forward Taevion Kinsey and center Nick Ongenda.

– via Jeremy Rincon @ NBA.com

Stars roster coming into view

Langford/Devoe/Kinsey
Sensabaugh/Juzang/Justice
Hendricks/Hauser
Potter/Ongenda

[Xiao Yao You]

Utah Jazz, Will Hardy still have a difficult choice to make at point guard (msn.com)

The obvious is that nobody has stepped forward and taken the reins.

Dunn

Kris Dunn played well in both games, but if you start him, you probably have to either take Sexton out of the rotation, or, at the very least, limit his time significantly.

6th man until you trade him

And then there’s rookie Keyonte George. In terms of natural talent, it’s clear he’s suited to be a point guard in the NBA. But you still probably don’t want to start him on day one and throw him to the wolves, Timber or otherwise. But it’s clear the Jazz want George in the rotation, and the flashes that he’s shown have been noticeable. He’s arguably the second best passer on the roster, behind veteran forward Kelly Olynyk. He’s terrific off the dribble and has the size and athleticism to break into the paint and finish in the lane, and confidence oozes from his pores when he’s on the floor.

Dunn

Jordan Clarkson, who was a starter last year, has come off the bench for Utah’s first two preseason games. But he’s been a sixth man for the majority of his career and is considered one of Utah’s adults in the locker room. He’s someone who can mentally handle playing off the bench or as a starter, with his game not being affected in either way. It’s probably not going to be as easy for Hardy with the rest of the cast. Dunn is playing on a non-guaranteed contract and fighting for his NBA life. Sexton is as competitive as they come and wants to show that he’s an NBA starting level guard as he rounds into the prime of his career. Horton-Tucker is on an expiring contract.

The Bum plays the same way regardless. Pound the ball, ignore everyone else, throw up a prayer...brick

The Jazz will return to Utah and get a couple of full length practices this week before facing the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. Then, they face the New Zealand Breakers on Monday before heading to Sacramento to face the Kings in their preseason finale. Hardy would like to figure out his rotation in full by early next week at the latest. That gives him and the Jazz a week to prepare for the Kings on opening night.

said it might be 20 games before he figures it out

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/2023/10/11/2...-nba-preseason

We also know that Jazz coach Will Hardy is not one to rush the development process. Because we saw so much late-season success with Walker Kessler and Ochai Agbaji last year, it’s easy to forget that Kessler started out the year on the bench and Agbaji, who was also a lottery pick, started out in the G League. Hardy has stressed in the past that every player’s development path is different and so far, his philosophy has paid off.

Kessler was a factor from day 1. Agbaji didn't look good even in the Gleague

Hendricks, on the other hand, is not competing for starting minutes, and there are players ahead of him on the depth chart that will make it more difficult to stand out right away. Depending on the matchup and on where players are being used, Hendricks is behind John Collins, Kelly Olynyk, and even Lauri Markkanen in certain instances. So, there’s a difference purely based on the roster.

You forgot Simone and Yurtseven who are ahead of him as well.

Also, at the position that Hendricks will play, there is a lot more strength required. The players he’ll be going up against are bigger and stronger than many of the smaller guards in the league and for a 19-year-old, he’s going to have to get used to a level of physicality that often isn’t required from guards.

not much of a factor anymore in the can't touch unless you an offensive player league

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltcityhoops.com/agbajis-expanding-game/

When Ochai Agbaji arrived at Kansas University in 2018, nobody had any clue he would become a Jayhawk legend. He was ranked as the 337th best prospect in the nation at the time he committed to KU, and hadn’t even been a consistent starter on his AAU team. The Jayhawks’ plan was to grab the local product and let him develop in practice during a redshirt year.

followed that path early last year as well

Interestingly enough, his first pro season followed a similar pattern. While the Jazz didn’t literally redshirt him early in the 2022-23 season, he saw far more G League action by New Year’s (288 minutes) than he had logged for the big boy club (127). But just like four years earlier, Agbaji was quietly doing his work in the background, and a door was about to crack open.

and he didn't look great with the Stars either

The analysis of last summer’s Jazz-Cavs trade was so focused on draft assets that even eventual All-Star Lauri Markkanen was a bit of an afterthought in the coverage. Collin Sexton was the first incoming player listed in most national and local stories, but the real focus was on the three unprotected draft picks coming Utah’s way in the deal. So much so that Agbaji was a bit lost in the shuffle. He was also arriving to a team flush with guards, so despite his impressive senior season, he was rather inconspicuous heading into the season.

didn't see him in summer league but as a lottery pick everyone should have been excited about him

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2023/10/11/for...d-he-would-be/

Former Utah Jazz player, Dante Exum, is looking like the player they hoped he would be

they hoped he'd be a superstar

And it’s possible Exum earns that spot too, as the Mavericks have experimented with starting lineups that included Olivier-MaxenceProsper, Josh Green, and Derrick Jones Jr. at the small forward position. Putting Exum in that spot, or more specifically Doncic, would allow the Mavericks to have a guard/forward in Exum who could play defense against anyone while being able to contribute on offense.

can he contribute anything on offense though?

[Xiao Yao You]

https://thejnotes.com/2023/10/11/its...e-point-guard/

Collin Sexton doesn’t look much better, however. Clarkson hustled for rebounds (5), and Horton-Tucker was a solid defender on guys all night, but Sexton didn’t provide anything for the team to rely on with his shot not falling. Going 1-5 isn’t a bad thing, especially in preseason, as games like that happen to just about everyone. But to not provide any bit of support beyond scoring is not a good sign of things to come.

we know what Sexton can do already.

[Xiao Yao You]

Ben Anderson: The @utahjazz have waived two-way forward Joey Hauser. #takeNote | @kslsports

– via Twitter BensHoops

I guess the exhibit 10 guys could get the spot or someone else? Can Hauser still play for the Stars?

[Xiao Yao You]

Jazz Insider Floats Idea of Fixing Point Guard Woes via Trade (msn.com)

“The Jazz had hoped that he would be the starting point guard, and he has disappointed so hugely,” Larsen said, referring to Collin Sexton’s start to the preseason. “It’s two preseason games, and you don’t want to read too much into it, but these are the same flaws that Collin has had throughout his career where he’s not a natural point guard.”

I'd say most of the team hasn't looked good outside Dunn and whomever has been on the floor with him against 3rd and 4th strings

Brogdon still has two years left on his contract, in which he’s owed 45 million over that time. That’s a lot of money for a player who will be 31 this season and has had injury problems for most of his career.

Is he 45 million better than Dunn? I'm thinking not personally

The other long term solution would be to hand the job over to rookie Keyonte George and deal with the growing pains of a nineteen-year-old leading the team.

You could say the same for Sexton or Talen. They are young and have at least started at the 1. I'd say George off the bench until he's ready. Trade deadline probably