Utah’s bench has gone from being one of the more efficient, effective units to being a wacky neighbor away from a bad 1980s sitcom. Of course, that fits in with the larger picture that perhaps Corbin should have been starting his reserves. This season should test that hypothesis.
3. Coaching. Corbin is just the seventh coach in franchise history. The Jazz do not slash and burn coaches like some other teams do. The Jazz had four different coaches in their first eight seasons and just three over last 32 – Frank Layden, Sloan and Corbin.
This isn’t lost on Corbin, who when asked what aspect of Sloan’s career as a coach did he most wish to have replied, “his longevity.” Corbin will be on the hot season this season – not to win, but to develop players. In the past, Corbin has appeared to put immediate career goals over the team’s long-term goals. This season, he will be forced into getting on track with the team’s goals, which may or may not include him depending on his performance.
Corbin also is a pretty bad coach. He is unable to identify his best players or ways to maximize the ones he plays. He
Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey
can’t diagram or communicate late game strategy out of a timeout. He brushes off analytics as a “numbers game.” He has also had nothing but abject adoration from the local media and appears to be living in an information bubble.
Worst of all, Corbin makes the same mistakes in his third year that he made in his first year. I don’t know if he is getting better. I’m not very confident in him right now because Lindsey had to “Ty-proof” the roster by not bringing back any starter-quality veterans to force him to develop the youngsters.
4. Team Direction. Lindsey has decided that the Jazz are no longer trying to win every game. If they were, they would have used their cap space to bring back Jefferson, Millsap, Williams or Foye. In effect, he has decided that a Favors/Kanter frontcourt is a more attractive path than what a Jefferson/Millsap frontcourt was.
Responsibilities will change, and opposing scouting reports will now focus on Hayward and Favors. Lindsey will decide whom to keep, extend, trade and say good-bye to. Many believe the Jazz will be in the lottery, but due to the inherent uncertainty of what they have, they could also challenge for a .500 record.
Fans do not know, and neither do the coaches. But Lindsey seems to know.
Sloan has been brought back as a consultant. An assistant strength and conditioning coach has been added. The Jazz hired a former agent as assistant GM. They’ve hired two more development coaches. And both Favors and Kanter were sent to work out with Malone this offseason.
This season is about improvement. First you play better, then you win.
5. Who Will Step Up? Virtually everyone on the roster has something to prove. Burke fell to ninth in the draft. Hayward and Favors want to prove they belong in the talks for USA Basketball. Kanter and Burks want to show that they could have helped the team win if they played more. Williams, Rush and Jefferson all want to excel in contract years, coming back from injuries, or both. Biedrins wants to score 25 or more points this season, I think. 
Gobert and Evans both want to show they can be effective NBA bigs without looking like Mr. Universe. And Corbin wants to have a great coaching year, show me up and get me to stop writing mean things about him.
But who will? My money would be on Hayward, Favors and Kanter, but I have seen enough improvement from the other younger players to feel like this will be a Gestalt season for the Jazz. Everyone will have to step up if this season is to have any semblance of success, and while it will start rocky, it also may be the start of another great period of franchise stability down the line. That’s something that both Corbin and the front office both will be working towards.
Amar Smith is the managing editor of SLCDunk.com and covers the Utah Jazz and NBA draft for SB Nation. He can be found on Twitter @AllThatAmar and is not nearly such a sour puss in real life, really does like his team and does not hate Tyrone Corbin.