"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[Blueintheface]

That may be the last interview he gets.

[smokymountainrain]

Bump

Yes! <high fives DH>

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Lottery needs:

Utah Jazz
Playmaker/post defender
The Jazz used plays involving the pick-and-roll ball handler eight percent of the time, the second-lowest rate in the league (league average was 13 percent).

When using this type of play, the Jazz ranked last in field goal percentage and second-last in how frequently they converted plays into points (score percentage.

Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, who are both set to be unrestricted free agents, excelled at defending post-ups, limiting opponents to a 43.4 percent shooting. Their two primary back-ups, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter, combined to allow opponents to shoot 46.5 percent from the field when defending post-ups.

[smokymountainrain]

Lottery needs:

Just as we supposed - Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap: defensive stalwarts.

[MarkGrace]

Just as we supposed - Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap: defensive stalwarts.

I have no problem believing they were decent on post-ups. They got torn apart in team/help situations.

[smokymountainrain]

I have no problem believing they were decent on post-ups. They got torn apart in team/help situations.

I actually agree. Just seemed funny reading it.

[MarkGrace]

NBADraft's updated mock has the Jazz taking MCW, Larkin and Kabongo. I guess that's one way to turn up a PG.

[MarkGrace]

ESPN's look at Jazz needs going into the draft.

Personnel needs: playmaking PG, SG or C

Major need: The Jazz have nearly a full set of young players: Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors might be the NBA's frontcourt of the future, Gordon Hayward looks like a keeper on the wing and Alec Burks has shown flashes of being a starting-caliber player. At the end of the regular season, Hayward was the grand old man of this quartet at age 23. Obviously Utah will be keeping some veterans in its rotation mix, but finding a young point guard to complete an under-25 starting lineup would be an exciting thing for NBA prospect hounds. Point guard has been a glaring roster hole for the Jazz since Deron Williams departed. The question: Can the void be filled with this draft class?

Quiet need: Hayward should really be starting, and Marvin Williams can't create offense for himself. If a new starting point guard is found, Mo Williams would make a perfect instant offense threat, but he's likely priced too high to bring back in that capacity. If Utah goes young with its starting lineup, then Paul Millsap could be re-signed as a dynamic sixth man. But that wouldn't alleviate the need for a perimeter scoring threat off the bench who can create for himself. The best solution might be to retain free agent Randy Foye if the price is right, even while the overarching hope would be that Burks can push him to a reserve role.

Not a need: Young bigs are plentiful in Utah, though the Jazz are not at the point where they can overlook any high-ceiling player should one fall to them the lottery, regardless of position. However, Kanter, Favors and Millsap will be around to do the heavy lifting, while Jeremy Evans' consistently outstanding efficiency numbers scream for him to be tested in a larger role. Utah needs a stretch big, but such a person can be plucked off the scrap heap, or maybe hard-working DeMarre Carroll will improve his deep stroke and become more of a combo forward.

Jobs in jeopardy: Since there is a good chance Utah will be starting a very young frontcourt, Marvin Williams would seem to be a poor fit in that scenario. He started 51 games last season but finished below replacement level in WARP. It's time to turn the position over to Hayward.

Don't mess with it: Theoretically, the Jazz could have as more cap space available this summer than all but a couple of teams, if Utah was willing to walk away from its free agents. However, the Jazz have that aforementioned core four to consider. Favors and Hayward are eligible for extensions by the end of October, while Kanter and Burks aren't far off. Utah should make a run at keeping Millsap as a veteran anchor who would get starter's minutes backing up the young, foul-prone bigs. The market will determine if that can happen.

What free agency could solve
The Jazz won't be big players in the free-agent market and would be hard pressed to attract a star-level talent to Salt Lake City even if they tried. That's not a slam on the city, mind you, just the reality of the NBA landscape.

Utah's impact on the free-agent season will be dictated by which of its own players it is successful in keeping. Millsap is the one guy they need to retain, though they shouldn't go above $9-$10 million per year. The Jazz will move on from Al Jefferson, whose post scoring is a rare and valuable commodity, but he's poor defender and doesn't protect the rim. Mo Williams and Foye are other key free agents, with Williams likely to move on. Finally, Utah found something in Carroll as an energy bench guy and potential perimeter stopper. He's worth keeping and should be affordable.


How they draft
Where they draft well: Utah has always had to build through the draft and has managed to find great values all over the draft board. Karl Malone (No. 13 in 1985) and John Stockton (No. 16 in 1984) are two of the great draft values of all time. More recently, Utah landed Andrei Kirilenko at No. 24, Deron Williams at No. 3 and Kanter at No. 2. Most impressively, the Jazz have nailed a number of second-round picks, including Millsap. Evans, C.J. Miles and Mo Williams are other solid players taken by Utah in the second round.

Where they don't draft well: At the top. Utah has never picked at No. 1, but that's partly because the Jazz haven't been in the lottery that often. The Jazz missed the playoffs this season for just the fifth time in the last 30 years.


Three best fits
Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse (Chad Ford Big Board ranking: No. 9): I'm assuming the Jazz will miss out on the top two point guards from Chad Ford's rankings, Trey Burke and C.J. McCollum. Since the Jazz have picks at both Nos. 14 and 21, they could take a lead guard with both selections. Carter-Williams might not be a shooter, but he can do everything else and would help give Utah formidable length on the perimeter.

Shane Larkin, PG, Miami (No. 22): It's hard to tell if Larkin would slip to Utah at No. 21, but if so and if the Jazz nab Carter-Williams earlier, than Larkin would but the perfect complement. He's a shooter and creator, perfect for instant offense off the bench where his lack of size wouldn't be as big a detriment of defense. He also could pair with Carter-Williams at times.

Pierre Jackson, PG, Baylor (No. 27): Jackson is pretty much a copy of Larkin, with same kind of big-time shot-making ability in an undersized, waterbug kind of body. He's also more likely to be available to Utah at No. 21.

It's a successful draft if...
What they must accomplish: There are enough quality point guard prospects in this draft that the Jazz would be hard-pressed to come away without a prospect for their biggest roster hole. And as I've suggested, it might be a good opportunity to nab a pair of lead guards.

Additional goals: Teams can't have too much shooting, but it's a particular need in Utah. The Jazz finished 28th in 3-point attempt frequency in 2012-13 and really need a shooting specialist on the roster to fill the role once held down so well by Kyle Korver (who, by the way, is a free agent). A dark horse possibility could be South Dakota State's Nate Wolters, who should be on the board when Utah picks at No. 46.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2013/story/_/id/9301093/2013-nba-draft-lottery-team-draft-guide-utah-jazz

[UteStar]

NBADraft's updated mock has the Jazz taking MCW, Larkin and Kabongo. I guess that's one way to turn up a PG.

I actually don't have a big problem with going all out for a point guard. If they are not going to snag one in free agency, go all out and select a couple of PGs in this draft.

[MarkGrace]

I actually don't have a big problem with going all out for a point guard. If they are not going to snag one in free agency, go all out and select a couple of PGs in this draft.

I could see them taking 2, especially if one is a combo (McCollum) or has the size to play some 2 (like MCW). I still think they'll sign a FA point, however.

[UteStar]

I could see them taking 2, especially if one is a combo (McCollum) or has the size to play some 2 (like MCW). I still think they'll sign a FA point, however.

I think they need to sign a FA point guard as well. If they could find a decent point guard on the cheap, then the two drafted PGs could learn and get minutes. I just don't see a fabulous free agent PG out there that would sign with the Jazz so find someone who is solid for a decent 2 year contract and go with it. I think Lindsey is willing to have those growing pains that KOC was not...it will be interesting to see how it plays out over the next 45 days or so.

[MarkGrace]

JR (SLC)
Really think the Jazz will pass on a point guard at 14?

Chad Ford (2:04 PM)
Don't think the Jazz are convinced there's a starting PG there for them at 14. If there isn't, they take the best available player. Remember, the Jazz like PGs that can shoot the ball -- Michael Carter-Williams, Dennis Schroeder don't really qualify. Shane Larkin might be the best fit if they really want a PG, but 14 might be a little high.

Yes, the Jazz love point guards that can shoot it. Keith McLeod, Milt Palacio, Earl Watson, Jamaal Tinsley.

[SandYFan]

Yes, the Jazz love point guards that can shoot it. Keith McLeod, Milt Palacio, Earl Watson, Jamaal Tinsley.

Mo Williams! Yes, the Jazz really love a good shoot-first, can't run an offense point guard.

[Blueintheface]

How can you repeatedly forget Brevin Knight, MG? At the risk of offensing some people here; my AA neighbor called him 'the struck match' for more than obvious reasons.

[MarkGrace]

Ford mock 3.0

14: Shabazz Muhammad

Analysis: The Jazz's biggest need is at the point, but if Burke and McCollum are both off the board, they'll have to look elsewhere. Enter Muhammad. The Jazz also need an elite scorer, and Muhammad is one of the most gifted in the draft. His stock has slipped the past few months, but no one doubts that there still a lot of talent there. This would be an absolute steal for the Jazz if he's still on the board.

21: Shane Larkin

Analysis: The Jazz still need a point guard, and Larkin looks like the perfect fit. He had a terrific performance at the combine, shot the ball well and tested off the charts athletically with a 44-inch vertical (the second highest ever measured at the combine) and showed elite speed. Yes, he's undersized, but with that athletic ability and range on his jumper, he should be just fine in Utah.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2013/story/_/id/9299240/2013-nba-draft-chad-ford-mock-draft-30