Moving on . . . to other problem areas
by AllThatJazzBasketball on Jul 8, 2010 12:06 PM MDT
17 comments
Boozer is gone, and we're going to have some roster holes to fill providing there's no sign and trade coming... so let's take a look see at each position.
Points Guard:
Deron Williams will take the lions share of minutes here. Since being a starter he's averaged about 37 minutes per game. I do not see this changing at all, leaving only 11. You're not going to be a championship team if Ronnie Price (under contract) and Sundiata Gaines (non-guaranteed for the paltry sum of $700k) are playing 15+ minutes per game, so this works out fine. Price will take the rest of the minutes and it could be a little be more or less depending on the game, and fouls and such.
Shooting Guard:
As of right now, the only shooting guard he have signed would be Othyus Jeffers(non-guaranteed for $700k as well). Theoretically the Jazz will bring back Wes Matthews and we should be fine. As a rookie he played in about 25 mpg, and that surely would be augmented in his future seasons. Right now the chatter suggests that Kyle Korver is being courted by the New Jersey Nets-- but we all know that's he's not quite tan enough to play there and ever be accepted as one of their own. If Kyle isn't coming back (and I wish that we do bring him back), then an alternative to Matthews/Jeffers could be former Jazzman Ronnie Brewer (whom, I think, should come cheap-ish. Apparently the Grizz didn't even want him, and they threw a boatload of money at Rudy Gay). C.J. Miles and Andrei Kirilenko could play some 2 guard as well -- but they are more needed for . . .
Small Forward:
C.J. should start, and he should finally break the 24 mpg (or half) threshold this season. If he's not playing 28 minutes a game at least, then something really good or really bad just happened this season. Gordon Hayward figures to be an NBA small forward: based on his size, relative shooting ability, and inability to really stick with guys smaller and quicker than he. I don't know if he'll be on the senior team for most of the year, or go to the NBA-DL -- but he should be playing Ronnie Price minutes here (11 mpg). But, sigh, what do the Jazz know about developing younger players? Andrei figures to provide serious "game on the line" time here (or really, anywhere) this season. He should (fingers crossed) also blossom as a backup power forward.
Power Forward:
This is Paul Millsap country right now. He's one of the few people currently signed on our team who has played more than 30 mpg in a season before. He should be playing 35 minutes a game this year (provided the refs don't foul him out every game). Andrei (we hope) will also play some significant minutes here. Kosta Koufos has been slotted here before, but those were in better / healthier times. Also on the docket is unsigned 2nd round pick Jeremy Evans. I think he has a chance to make the team. Failing that, James Augustine should get a call up to training camp. Furthermore, what is Goran Suton doing now? He played under Tom Izzo and could really help out this season filling in some gaps.
Center:
In a perfect world where eating meals gave you full health and stamina back (don't hate, I grew up playing nintendo games), Mehmet Okur would be ready to go. He's not. We don't even know what kind of Memo we're going to have back next season, or when. Kyrylo Fesenko and Kosta Koufos are the only healthy bodies on the team that aren't either a) a skinny 6'9 white guy (AK and Hayward), or b) a 6'8 power foward who has to start there (Millsap). Wait, there's worse news . . . Fesenko is a free agent as well, andhasn't been signed yet. What's to stop Portland from screwing us again by bumping up his asking price? Millsap will surely be pressed into duty here with AK sliding over at the 4 while the Jazz run Operation Delta (aka, small ball) early this year. Come playoff time (and we will make the playoffs, book it) this will not get it done. This spot looks worse than shooting guard, except if you remember that right now the only shooting guard we have on the books is Othyus Jeffers, and his contract isn't even guaranteed.
Which spot do we need to sure up quickly? Feel free to comment below on just how and who we should target!
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I feel it has to be SG
Matthews has to be first priority. I still think Hayward is a better 2 guard then SF. I think he should back up Matthews unless we can sign a SG like Raja Bell, Tony Allen, Anthony marrow, etc.
I think we should try to resign Korver or resign a vet like Matt barnes to play SF behind Miles. Put Evans as the third stringer for now or send him to the D-league for a year.
Millsap/Ak at the PF
Resign Fes. Have him start till memo is healthy. Koof third stringer.
Shop for a decent defensive Center. If you can’t find one, leave the roster how it is and plan to build through a trade or next year. If you can find one send Evans to D-league, so the new Center has a roster spot.
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Oops, I thought the poll was assuming Matthews was already a priority...
After Matthews, we have to get a center. We are not going to find an all around center with the money we have, so we need to target a defensive/shot-blocking center.
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I thought so as well...
I just assume that the Jazz will match any offer and resign Wesley. But as much as everyone like Fes on this site he is not the key and after watching KOOF i still think he is a 7-10 minute sub and he still looks slow.
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Magness
I voted Center, but
…I agree that Matthews has to be the number 1 priority. I don’t think there’s any way we let him go.
Even with Matthews signed, we are thin at SG right now. Would anyone be opposed to seeing Price get some time backing up Wes at the 2? Personally, I think he’s more suited to the SG position, and I think Gaines runs the offense a little better than Price. Ronnie’s energy and intensity could provide a lift coming off the bench in a position where he could see more minutes.
As far as the C position, I don’t even know where to look. Fes is looking like the most likely option, but yikes… Who could we really get though?
Agreed
I wish that Ronnie was taller, because I think he is a great spark plug and is better suited as a SG. Unless he borrows Cole Aldrich’s shoes to add a few inches of height, he can be just as much of a problem as a benefit when playing backup PG minutes, I think Gaines is better suited as our backup PG…
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-Unknown
Hayward makes Ronnie at the 2 more likely
Ronnie could still defend the opposing PGs, but he isn’t a true PG on Offense. Hayward has already shown he has a good handle and can make plays. I think he will kind of play the point with the second unit on the offensive end. In College they had him in Pick and Rolls and he was very good at creating offense out of those sets, like Hedo for Orlando a couple of years back. I know KOC already was talking about Hayward letting Deron play off the ball a little, so why not do it with Ronnie. This would allow Ronnie to play more his natural game. I think it will make Ronnie more effective.
There’s no way the Jazz let Matthews go to Portland, he’s too big of an asset to the team. Other than that, we have to upgrade center. As much fun as it was to hear Carmelo Anthony curse “Fesenko…Fesenko…Fesenko…”, Kyrylo Fesenko and Mehmet Okur is not adequate. Lastly, Korver has to be brought back. He is the kind of role player that exists on every NBA championship-caliber team. It is not like players of his shooting capability are a dime a dozen. Do what it takes to get him back to Utah. It’s not like he’s going to demand a max contract.
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Center
You don’t beat LA by getting smaller in the Jerry Sloan system. I know some might say look at the Suns. The Suns didn’t win the series, and the Suns run a different system. As long as Sloan is our coach, we need height. Talented height. Not height on the bench, height on the floor. Big men have and always will be what you build around for a championship.
do we have to use it all on the same trade? supposedly it’s about $13 mill. so can we trade for someone who makes $10 mill now and then trade for someone who makes $3 mill 2 months from now? does it all have to be used on the same trade?
whatever the case may be, let’s make a deal! let’s get something working. like tyrantking says, it’s only good if we use it.
now i am a little excited. don’t make me waste my excitement, koc!
Has to be a center...
We definitely need Wes and possibly Korver, but I think we have improved our team by losing Boozer, and if we can find a quality defensive center, I think we can better compete in the West.
Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it.
-Unknown
Backup big man
I would like a 4-5 Flex player who could play the 5 until Memo comes back, and then slide in to a backup big/ spot starter Role depending on matchups after that.
by davidthecomposer on Jul 8, 2010 2:07 PM MDT reply actions
Nice synopsis...
… kinda like getting to know the Jazz more.
Center has been a problem since “the Mechanic”.
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by AllThatJazzBasketball on Jul 8, 2010 2:30 PM MDT up reply actions
In search of: Quality Centers and Power Forwards
The Jazz need to seriously address height issues with the team. With Boozer gone, Millsap as PF is nice, but we also need somebody lengthier (and playing just as good as him). Okur is out right now, Fess isn’t quite as reliable yet and neither is The Koof. We have questions right now that need answering…
And I can sum it up in 3 words: TALENTED BIG MEN!
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