The offseason for the Jazz is really interesting in how they view the construct of the team currently. Needs aren't necessarily a positional hole and more of a skill that needs to be fixed, with that skill being outside shooting. I think Gordon is a good enough facilitator from the wing that he can look to initiate the offense in most instances. I also think that Alec back brings another player who can help handle and facilitate. Obviously Exum has those skills as well as a PG, though a larger PG. The length that Gordon and Exum have also make it possible to switch some on defense, with Exum being able to handle most players in the NBA at either the 1 or 2 because of his length. It gives us some interesting positional flexibility there.
I guess to me, I look at it almost as if there are 144 minutes to be split among the 1/2/3 positions, and I'd guess you can earmark somewhere near the following (at least for now):
Exum (28)
Hayward (32)
Hood (24)
Burks (30)
Trey/other PG (20)
Wing (10)
That doesn't include Joe Ingles, who probably should have minutes, or Elijah Millsap, who also probably deserves some minutes as well making the team.
I think the biggest problem with the way the Jazz are currently constructed is that they have a lot of really nice pieces. Click through the roster and it's tough to find a guy that doesn't have a skill or value that contributes. Everybody is really likable and a nice player. But that's the problem. Everyone is "nice" not outstanding. At every single position the Jazz have players, but at every single position the Jazz could afford to get better. I also really think that the last half of the season the Jazz very much were a whole lot better than the sum of all their parts. In a lot of ways, they remind me of a better version of the Rockets team before they added Harden or Howard. Maybe Gobert is a poor man's Howard and Hayward is a really poor man's Harden, but that's probably a stretch.
The two tricky parts are, one, I don't see a team dealing a star like the Thunder did with Harden, especially given the way the cap is projecting to increase. And two, how do you add to the team without upsetting the chemistry that has made this team fun to watch and play better than the sum of its parts.
The Jazz are in a tough spot for sure this off-season, but a tough spot with good assets. Just likely not going to be good enough to get over the hump should they keep everything together, and not good enough to move to get the impact piece they probably truly need. Do they find something that can help the team at 12? Are they better to package assets and move up/trade for an established player (like a Jrue Holiday)? Probably, but it's a tough call with what is on the market.
I guess to me, I look at it almost as if there are 144 minutes to be split among the 1/2/3 positions, and I'd guess you can earmark somewhere near the following (at least for now):
Exum (28)
Hayward (32)
Hood (24)
Burks (30)
Trey/other PG (20)
Wing (10)
That doesn't include Joe Ingles, who probably should have minutes, or Elijah Millsap, who also probably deserves some minutes as well making the team.
I think the biggest problem with the way the Jazz are currently constructed is that they have a lot of really nice pieces. Click through the roster and it's tough to find a guy that doesn't have a skill or value that contributes. Everybody is really likable and a nice player. But that's the problem. Everyone is "nice" not outstanding. At every single position the Jazz have players, but at every single position the Jazz could afford to get better. I also really think that the last half of the season the Jazz very much were a whole lot better than the sum of all their parts. In a lot of ways, they remind me of a better version of the Rockets team before they added Harden or Howard. Maybe Gobert is a poor man's Howard and Hayward is a really poor man's Harden, but that's probably a stretch.
The two tricky parts are, one, I don't see a team dealing a star like the Thunder did with Harden, especially given the way the cap is projecting to increase. And two, how do you add to the team without upsetting the chemistry that has made this team fun to watch and play better than the sum of its parts.
The Jazz are in a tough spot for sure this off-season, but a tough spot with good assets. Just likely not going to be good enough to get over the hump should they keep everything together, and not good enough to move to get the impact piece they probably truly need. Do they find something that can help the team at 12? Are they better to package assets and move up/trade for an established player (like a Jrue Holiday)? Probably, but it's a tough call with what is on the market.
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