UNDER CONTRACT: C Al Jefferson, F Marvin Williams, F Paul Millsap, G Mo Williams, F Derrick Favors, F-C Enes Kanter, G Randy Foye, G-F Gordon Hayward, G Alec Burks, G Earl Watson, G DeMarre Carroll, G Jamaal Tinsley, F Jeremy Evans, G Raja Bell
DRAFT PICKS: G Kevin Murphy
FREE AGENTS: F Josh Howard
MOVES: The Jazz were active before July 1, jumping in on Dallas’ desire to dump Lamar Odom and taking Mo Williams off the hands of the Clippers while moving a trade exception to the Mavericks. Initially, the move didn’t make much sense because Utah already had three point guards under contract. But the Jazz moved the disappointing Devin Harris – an All-Star three years ago – to Atlanta for Marvin Williams, who could be in line for big minutes at small forward. A few of those minutes may be allocated to Slam Dunk champion Jeremy Evans, who was re-signed for $5.5 million over three years. Well into the offseason, the Jazz signed Randy Foye at the bargain price of $2.5 million, using a portion of one of their exceptions. Although Foye appears to clutter the shooting guard spot where youngsters Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks get their minutes, he does add needed shooting. Off the court, GM Kevin O’Connor will remain VP and hired Spurs assistant GM Dennis Lindsey as his new GM. Lindsey will handle day-to-day stuff, working the phones. This upcoming season should keep him busy.
TO-DO LIST: The Jazz are over the cap but below the luxury tax. However, they chose not to exhaust their exceptions. C.J. Miles and Josh Howard were not re-signed, but Raja Bell – who feuded with coach Tyrone Corbin last season and called their relationship “irreparable” – is in camp, yet to be bought out of his deal. With the addition of Foye, Utah currently has seven players entering the final year of their contracts, including a handful – Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Mo Williams – who may be looking for extensions. Millsap already was offered a three-year, $25 million extension. Depending how the season goes, O’Connor and Lindsey could be busy in February, specifically with Jefferson possibly moving on.
PROJECTION: The Jazz’s roster appears to be pretty much set. The additions of Mo and Marvin Williams and Foye and the anticipated improvement of Hayward, Burks, Derrick Favors and a slimmed-down Enes Kanter should be enough for Utah to squeeze back into the playoffs.
(RELATED: What grade did the Jazz get?)
For offseason analysis of every team, click here.
Also important to mention… one of Lindsey’s first jobs will likely be to solve the getting-messier-by-the-day buyout of the disappointing Raja Bell. Better come to a resolve soon – because as of now he’s on the roster, holding up a roster spot, and holding up the jazz for ransom.
we got Brooks and Jimmer and Isaiah Thomas an Evans. although Jimmer is becoming Jimmer agian , there is not enough minutes to go around. Jimmer loves Uah but what does Utah have to Offer , excluding Tyreke Evans , T-Rob , Cousins , what would it take to trade Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks to Sacramento.
Even including those three that you excluded I don’t think you could get either one. You might be able to get Burks for T Rob or Tyreke, but I dont think we would even want to deal with Tyreke and Cousins (both headcases) and we are stacked at bigs. I personally wouldn’t want to take Jimmer even if we gave up nothing. I just dont want to give minutes to him over our young guys.
I think they want Kanter to get another year of tutilege behind the other bigs. He’s not that athletic, so he needs to play smarter. Surprised by the Foye signing. He’s definitely a step up from CJ Miles, but this means either DeMarre Carroll isn’t coming back, or Alec Burks is really going to have to fight for his minutes.
The kings would be happy to take Alec Burks and Gordon Hayward for Jimmer Fredette and Honeycutt future second round picks.
Still astonished that Utah is not moving one of their bigs to make extra minutes for Favors and Kanter (and while those bigs are still under contract). Seemed like a no-brainer, and yet there hasn’t been a whisper of it.
They will
Right, Brian.
If actually this same roster made it to the playoffs last year and now it has been improved by the acquisitions of two Williams, Mo and Marv whose abilities were much needed last season, I don’t get the logic put behind this phrase: “might be enough to squeeze the Jazz into the playoffs”? Also, it has been said given all roster changes in other teams.
West’s top six teams from last season have gotten better or maintained. Dallas looks better but may not be. Some teams below Utah have gotten worse, but Minn, GSW and Phoenix will push for playoff spot. Think Jazz are better than those three but can’t see them climbing much
Well, I think Nuggets might be out of the playoffs if Wolves can stay healthy all season long. Warriors will improve but not enough to make it and Suns don’t seem to have roster depth. All these three teams, they will be competitive but not in 82 games, I presume.
Being said that, I believe there is a great chance for the Jazz to climb as high as to 5th, 6th spot as Clippers and Grizzlies will also be reachable. Clippers will pretty much stay the same as Grizzlies will.
And importantly, Jazz weren’t that far from them last season.
A healthy Warriors team is going to be vastly improved this year. Curry was hurt a large part of the year (only played 26 games), and they’ve added Bogut and Harrison Barnes along with some other bench pieces. A healthy Minnesota will also be improved. I like both of those teams more than the Jazz. And there is no objective way you can look at the Jazz and Clippers roster and think that they are close. I’m not saying the Jazz won’t make the playoffs, but this article is right – they will have to fight to get just the eighth seed.
“might be enough to squeeze the Jazz into the playoffs”?
The Jazz will compete for a 4th seed this year. Expect to see Hayward, Favors, Burks and Kanter improve significantly over last year.
4 or 5 seed. They will look good, not great but good
The Jazz will compete for the 4th seed? OKC, LAL, SAS, LAC – barring injury, the Jazz simply aren’t in any way in the ballpark of those four teams. They should be pretty solidly behind Dallas and Memphis, too. That leaves the Jazz fighting with the Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Warriors for the 7th or 8th seed at best. Four teams for two spots. Want to convince me? Come up with a better argument than Kanter, Burks, & Hayward will get better. Those other teams have made significant additions, and their young players stand to improve, too.