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[QUOTE]Adrian Wojnarowski: Meanwhile, Rockets, Cavs pushing closer to creating max contract slots. Deals lined up for Jeremy Lin. Cavs shopping Jarrett Jack w/ a pick. Twitter @WojYahooNBA[/QUOTE]
Jack I'd love! Maybe get a 1st to take him too?
[QUOTE]Marc J. Spears: Lakers free agent G Kent Bazemore is receiving interest from BOS (meeting), SA (meeting), ATL, HOU, UTAH, GS, LAL, PHX, DAL, a source said. Twitter
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]The Cavaliers want to engage the Jazz on a sign-and-trade for Hayward, but Utah has shown no inclination to do anything with Cleveland but unblinkingly match an offer sheet and keep Hayward, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Yahoo! Sports[/QUOTE]
If that's max or even close do it. Cavs have some nice pieces.
Dwain Price: According to a reliable source, the #Mavs still have #Jazz RFA Gordon Hayward on their wish-list. Twitter @DwainPrice
[QUOTE]Eric Pincus: The Kings do not want to re-sign RFA Isaiah Thomas but if the offer is cheap enough from another team- they will-Lakers at $2.7 mil is cheap Twitter @EricPincus [/QUOTE]
I'd like him at that price
[QUOTE]As responsibilities have increased, Hayward
[QUOTE]Beyond Lucas, the Jazz have few options. They could bring back Ian Clark, however, he didn't get a lot of time with the ball in his hands much last season. Furthermore, he's not really a defensive guard either, and he's not exactly a veteran either. Jameer Nelson (recently waived by the Orlando Magic), Ramon Sessions (formerly of half the league), Kirk Hinrich (who will not be allowed to wear #12 here), and Luke Ridnour (FRODO!) are possibilities if we want to go out there and spend money. All of those guys would actually want to play though. So, uh, it's unlikely that any of them want to come to a team that has Burke and Exum. If you keep going down the list you eventually get to guys like Shelvin Mack (G-time's boy), but he's not really experienced either. A perfect situation would be to get Chauncey Billups -- but that's a pipe dream. There's no way he'll come here. And most likely, no way that the Jazz would look at him. They have their man in Lucas already, when you read between the lines. And I think that's absurd.
Dream Situation: Chauncey Billups or Earl Watson
Nightmare / Reality: John Lucas III
Strength or Weakness: This should be a strength, especially if they can shore up the position with a strong veteran defender. It's not going to happen. At best the Jazz can get two of those three things. With Lucas we are getting one of them, a veteran.[/QUOTE]
Billups being from Denver might play for the Jazz
[QUOTE]Wingmen:
It looks like we are moving away from Richard Jefferson and Marvin Williams -- two of the three small forwards who started all season long. As a result, the fulcrum for our wing spot is going to be Gordon Hayward -- who was the third small forward who started. I adore his game and the Jazz would have a huge hole to fill if he is no longer on the team. But before we get there, we need to actually talk about who is on the team. Right now our three best wing players are Alec Burks (not bad for a guy in your wing rotation), Dante Exum (a tall point guard who has never played on the wing before), and Rodney Hood (another rookie). Video game basketball aside, this is not a sufficiently strong wing rotation. The next dude on the books who could even PLAY wing would be Jeremy Evans, and that's based on the concept that Andrei Kirilenko could play there.
So what's missing? Both talent and depth. The main target of Gordon Hayward is obvious. But the free agency hunt for a wing doesn't end there. The Jazz will need to add more talent after him. The obvious idea is to get Ian Clark back, who is on a non-guaranted contract. Clark is a shooter who has leadership ability and a better than average handle. He should be dirt cheap as well. RJ or Marvin could help here too, but Marvin appears to be courted by a TON of other teams, some of them contenders. RJ is better at being that veteran mentor than John Lucas III is, but will probably be much more expensive. Utah will have to look outside of their own team to fill these spots I think.
And really, my concept of a 15 man roster is to have four point guards and five bigmen. The rest should be wings. I don't think the Jazz are going to finish free agency with more than 13 players though (which would leave one open for training camp, and one open for a trade later). So if the Jazz do go with Hayward, Burks, Clark, Hood then there are four wings. Dante will have to play at the wing as well, but I count him as one of our point guards. At least one more player is needed. And, according to the rumors, that one guy could be Kent Bazemore.
After scouting him for all of one night (huge sample size, what was it, like 2-3 hours tops?) I feel confident that he could help our team because he's a really good three point shooter and has long arms. The problem I have with this is that he was a starter last year for the end of the season (Los Angeles Lakers) and was only really remarkable for 20+ games over his entire NBA career. They just happened to be the last 20+ games leading up to free agency. He also played 28.0 mpg last year with the Lakers, and I just don't think the Jazz have 28 mpg to spare for the wingspot right now. Hayward and Burks will both end up playing 30 each, leaving only 36 for Exum, Hood, Clark, Bazemore, and anyone else (Evans?) . . . that's going to be a logjam.
If the Jazz bring back Hayward and Clark, the last wing should be a cheap vet who doesn't need to play basketball anymore. Does such a player exist? Ryan Gomes, Josh Howard, Stephen Jackson, Brandon Rush, Hedo Turkoglu, Andres Nocioni, James Jones, Metta World Peace, Chris Douglas-Roberts, along with RJ and Marv, are vets. But a lot of them come with a lot of baggage. If I had to pick one I'd take either Gomes, Nocioni, or Jones. Or just bite the bullet and bring back RJ -- and thus risk losing a bunch of fans.
If the Jazz do not bring Hayward or Clark or neither of them, then there are many more options with which the Jazz can fill out their wing problem. You could instead of going for one guy to play the minutes, one guy to develop, and one guy to sit on the bench for eternity, the Jazz could go for two rotation guys, and an old guy. Or something entire different. Three old guys! (Hopefully not) Yes, the prospect of the Jazz paying Nick Young, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Richard Hamilton to fill out the wing vacancies frightens me to no end.
Dream Situation: Gordon Hayward, Ian Clark, Andres Nocioni
Nightmare: Kent Bazemore (because it kills Burks and Exum's mins), Richard Jefferson (in a big role), Josh Howard
Strength or Weakness: It really depends on what the team does, but in the big picture, I think wing is going to be somewhere in-between a strength and a weakness for at least another season or two. Hayward is really good. Burks can be really good. Exum, who isn't involved in this evaluation but will probably play some SG/SF at times, could be great. Hood is about two years away from being a legit rotation player no one can complain about. This will take time, which is fine, because the wing spot seems to be one of the most talented spots in the league right now.[/QUOTE]
Always liked Nocioni. Not sure he has much left
[QUOTE]Bigmen:
This starts with Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter. And, not surprisingly, they also should start the games. While they do not have completely complimentary games, if you are assessing the talent your positional groups have, starting with two #3 draft picks isn't a bad way to start. Both are double double threats who can bang inside, play the pick and roll, and block shots. Backing them up will be sharp shooter Steve Novak, walking highlight reel Jeremy Evans, and an actual part of the French Alps in Rudy Gobert. In my theory, I'd love to have five bigmen. There are five already.
The only way to go is to maybe load up a tweener (a guy in-between the 3 and the 4) onto the roster, a dude like Malcolm Thomas fits the bill. He also doesn't need to play unless someone gets hurt.
If the front office starts to trade guys then, and only then, do the Jazz really need to go into the free agent marketplace and find someone to pick up. Channing Frye would be good here if we were in 'win now' mode, but the team just picked up Novak, who essentially does some of the same things. Kyrylo Fesenko is always fun to have around, but isn't nearly vet enough, or serious enough, to deserve actual consideration. Greg Monroe, Chris Bosh, and Pau Gasol are all talented, but by the same token, so is Ante Tomic, and there's no way he's coming over either
Effectively, our bigman rotation is already set now. Which is kind of a shame, because there are some very talented bigs out there who could be really good additions to our team. (No, I am not talking about Anthony Tolliver !)
Dream Situation: For me, they stay put
Nightmare: They break it up before seeing if Favors/Kanter can work, and we have to scramble to get back the same type of talent and potential we originally had.
Strength or Weakness: It better be a strength. There's an All-Around guy with a focus on Defense, and All-Around guy with a focus on Offense, a shooting specialist, an athleticism specialist, and a guy who is the single largest and longest player in the entire league right now. Hood could see some time at PF at times as well, being another shooting specialist, stretch four.[/QUOTE]
Tomic
[QUOTE]Right now the Jazz have 7 players under contract, with two more rookies left to sign. Hayward should make it 9 players under contract when he signs somewhere, and we match it. That brings the team to 9 of 13. Two more guys could easily be found via picking up players that we have non-guaranteed contracts for. Three if the team is feeling thrifty. That means there's space for two free agents at the most. And unless trades start to happen, that's basically our team for 2014-15.
Holy crap, I just realized that Billups would really help not just Burke and Exum, but also Burks, who used to work out with him in the off-season in Colorado . . . man . . . this needs to happen.
Sorry for that tangent. But yes, this is our team, and our needs (vet presence, defense, three point shooting) are most likely not all going to be fulfilled through free agency. But that's just how it goes.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Marc J. Spears: Heat prez Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra flew to NC to meet with Jazz free agent forward Marvin Williams yesterday, a source told Yahoo. Twitter [/QUOTE]
:rockon:
[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You]:rockon:[/QUOTE]
Geez, Heat must be desperate if Spo AND Riley are flying out to meet someone like Marvin Williams.
They do appear to be desperate at this point. Not sure Marvin is enough to keep the big 3 together though
[QUOTE]David Locke: Marvin Williams meeting with Heat. Problem for Jazz is with Marv being courted by Spurs and Heat, Jazz have to pay more than contenders Twitter @Lockedonsports
Jared Zwerling: Marvin Williams' agent Jim Tanner reps Ray Allen & previously Shane Battier = two high-class guys. A positive business connection for Heat. Twitter @JaredZwerling
Jared Zwerling: In addition to Anthony Morrow & Marvin Williams, Heat is in play for Kris Humphries. Also hearing Wiz, Celtics & Hornets emerging for Kris. Twitter[/QUOTE]
Why would you want to pay more than vet minimum if that?
[QUOTE]Adrian Wojnarowski: Cavaliers want to unload Jarrett Jack's $6M annual deal to clear space, without touching Anderson Varejao -- a LeBron James favorite. Twitter @WojYahooNBA[/QUOTE]
Only guaranteed 500,000 in 3rd year. The Jazz have already committed to Novak past this seasom so why not Jack and some other assets? Might have to let Lucas go though!
[QUOTE]Jody Genessy: Jazz quietly added another member to their staff: Lamar Skeeter. Twitter bio says he's doing video/player development. (h/t @5kl). Twitter @DJJazzyJody [/QUOTE]
Still have D-league coaches to add.
[QUOTE]Ken Berger: The Mavs, Cavs, Lakers and Heat are pursuing Wizards free agent Trevor Ariza, league sources say. Ariza seeking deal starting at $9-$11m. Twitter @KBergCBS
Ken Berger: With Ariza, incumbent Wizards also in pursuit, sources say. Twitter @KBergCBS
Alex Kennedy: Cavs continue to express serious interest in Trevor Ariza, per sources. LeBron James is obviously No. 1 target, but Ariza is part of Plan B. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA[/QUOTE]
I guess Jazz are out of the running? Don't think I'd want him at that price anyway.
[url]https://twitter.com/JdotJohnson24/status/486230436033867776/photo/1[/url]
Mavs offered Parsons a deal, so I guess they're out of the Hayward running.
I wouldn't say they're out of it until Parsons(or someone else) is a Mav.
[QUOTE]Sources say that Pau Gasol, Luol Deng, Marvin Williams and Anthony Morrow are among the other free agents that Riley and Spoelstra have chased. But Miami -- provided that it can successfully re-sign James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade -- have only limited funds available now to pursue the likes of Williams and Morrow for additional outside shooting. ESPN.com [/QUOTE]
Veteran minimum and a ring Marvin!
[QUOTE]Alex Kennedy: No surprise, but Miami is no longer in the mix for Marvin Williams after using MLE on Josh McRoberts. Miami had met with Williams recently. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA [/QUOTE]
:rant
[QUOTE]All-Rookie point guard Trey Burke and new Jazz players Dante Exum and Rodney Hood are among 16 players who will begin four days of workouts in Utah on Tuesday afternoon.
Returning Jazz players Rudy Gobert, Ian Clark, Malcolm Thomas and Erik Murphy will also be in the group.
Two other basketball players with local ties
[QUOTE]Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey was a Houston executive in 2006, when the Rockets drafted Novak early in the second round. Novak was deep on the bench for the Houston teams that lost to the Jazz in the
[QUOTE]In Sacramento, Corbin will act as coach Michael Malone's lead assistant. The hire was first reported by USA Today.
Malone and Corbin have expressed mutual respect for each other in the past, and the two coaches share an agent.
It's also a return to a place where Corbin twice landed as a player. Corbin played half of the 1995-96 season with the Kings before being traded. In 1999, he returned to Sacramento as a free agent.
The Kings went 28-54 last season, Malone's first as head coach.
[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You]Ideally he isn't a rotation player. Someone that can step in at times.[/QUOTE]
Even if it's just as a decoy on inbound plays late in the game.
[QUOTE]After losing free agent Josh McRoberts to the Miami Heat, the Charlotte Hornets are pursuing free agent Marvin Williams to take over the power forward slot, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Yahoo! Sports
The Hornets and Williams have discussed parameters of a deal, but no agreement is imminent, sources told Yahoo Sports. Yahoo! Sports
The Jazz still value Williams and haven't given up hope of re-signing him, but his desire for contract security may exceed what Utah's willing to pay, sources said. Yahoo! Sports
[/QUOTE]
Go Hornets!! :bowdown:
David Aldridge: Hornets pleased with meeting with Gordon Hayward today, but Jazz maintain stance that they plan to match any offer sheet for him. Twitter @daldridgetnt
Rick Bonnell: Re @Adrian Wojnarowski report concerning Marvin Williams: He is coming to Charlotte for a visit. Twitter @rick_bonnell
Tony Jones: Jerry Evans won't be playing with the Jazz for Summer League....He wasn't cleared medically Twitter @Tjonessltrib
[QUOTE]Rick Bonnell: Gordon Hayward has agreed to an offer sheet with the Charlotte Hornets, the Observer has learned. Twitter @rick_bonnell
Adrian Wojnarowski: Charlotte has agreed to a 4-year, $63M maximum offer sheet with Utah RFA Gordon Hayward, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. Twitter @WojYahooNBA
Aaron Falk: Hayward can't officially sign anything until the 10th. Then the Jazz would have 72 hours to match--and all indications so far are they will. Twitter @tribjazz
Jody Genessy: Sources have told me all along that the Jazz both anticipated that Gordon Hayward would get a hefty offer and that Utah would match. Twitter @DJJazzyJody
Adrian Wojnarowski: Utah's insisted it will match any offer sheet for Hayward, but bold move out of MIchael Jordan. Charlotte is desperate for talent infusion. Twitter @WojYahooNBA
[/QUOTE]
Unreal! They can have him. Sign and trade maybe?
Chris Haynes: Utah, New Orleans, Brooklyn, Houston have expressed interest in free agent G/F Francisco Garcia, league source says. Dialogue is ongoing. Twitter
[QUOTE]Tuesday marked the first day Snyder got to observe the soon-to-be 19-year-old Exum in an up-close working environment, as the rookie point guard and 14 other players began a mini-camp to prepare for the upcoming NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
So, coach?
“He’s fast,” Snyder said. “I think more than anything he really looks like he knows how to play.”
The new Jazz bench boss liked what he saw in his 6-foot-6 playmaker in pick-and-roll situations, in his ability to distribute the ball upcourt in transition, in the way he was “a willing passer” and, yes, in how he played alongside fellow point guard Trey Burke.
“Clearly, they’ve done a really good job teaching him in Australia. He knows how to play,” Snyder said of the Melbourne native. “There’s an aptitude that sometimes guys (have) — the game comes easy to them — and he’s one of those guys.”
Burke also likes what he’s seen so far in his new teammate, who figures to play with him in the backcourt at times and replace him at the point in stretches. Snyder pointed out a couple of examples of how they successfully worked in unison, passing back and forth in transition.
“I didn’t know him before he got drafted, but he‘s a really good player,” the returning All-Rookie Burke said of Exum. “He has a lot of potential. He’s still young, but his work ethic is going to allow him to continue to grow in this league. I definitely think we can play together.”[/QUOTE]
Sounds good! Time for the next chapter. Let's say goodbye to G.
[QUOTE]Exum, whose pre-draft hype was only matched by his hoops mystique, is just excited to be on the court in an NBA setting. He hadn’t played in an organized five-on-five basketball game since shortly after graduating from his Aussie high school near the end of 2013. Instead of going to college in the U.S., he relocated to Southern California, where he spent the five months leading up to the June 26 draft working out.
“It was good,” Exum said of his Day 1 practices at Zions Bank Basketball Center.
It was also his first real introduction to playing at 4,400 feet above sea level.
“We started just running up and down (and) the high altitude got to me a bit,” Exum said. “But the coaches (were) on the sideline stressing defense. I was trying to stay locked in and get through the practice.”
Exum recently returned from a family visit to North Carolina after a weekend in Utah for his introductory press conference at the end of June, so he hasn’t had a chance to find an apartment. That will happen after the Jazz wrap up their Summer League experience.
Exum hasn’t had much of a chance to get acquainted with his new surroundings in Salt Lake City, either, except for the drive from the hotel to the practice facility. He’ll know that even better after Utah wraps up this week of practices, including multiple two-a-day sessions.
While that settling-in period will eventually happen, Exum has his heart set on Saturday night. That's when the Jazz begin their summer action against Philadelphia at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Dante Exum is still living out of his hotel room and suitcase.
His version of exploring Salt Lake City — to this point — has been the ride to the gym for workouts and back. With him and his Utah Jazz teammates heading to the Las Vegas Summer League this week, he probably won’t resume apartment hunting for at least a few weeks.
One other thing: He has to learn professional basketball, and learn it on the fly.
Since being drafted a few weeks ago, Exum’s life has been nothing short of a whirlwind as he acclimates himself to a new life and new surroundings. But he’s straddled the line of wide-eyed 18-year-old and mature basketball player with aplomb over the past few weeks with both pure talent and the ability to absorb quickly.
As the Jazz prepare for summer league with mini-camp this week, Exum’s been fed a lot over a short period of time. But he’s impressed his coaches and teammates with his willingness to learn, his basketball IQ and the advanced game that made scouts fall in love during the draft process.
"He’s fast," coach Quin Snyder said. "More than anything, he looks like he knows how to play. He kicks the ball head, he’s a willing passer, he knows how to play pick-and-roll. He’s a good player."
As Snyder watched practice Tuesday night, he noted how Exum and incumbent point guard Trey Burke worked well together. Each took turns as the primary ball-handler. Each took turns playing off the ball.
It’s something the Jazz envision during the regular season, their ability to play in the same backcourt in a dual-point guard role. Both will play significant minutes together in Las Vegas. [/QUOTE]
Should be able to throw Burks and G, if they are stupid enough to match, into that mix as well.
[QUOTE]Snyder, however, was emphatic in his desire for both of them to play well defensively, or they run the risk of warming the bench.
"Coach has been stressing defense a lot," Exum said. "That’s what I want to be able to go in and do. I want to go in and play hard. I want to help this team on defense and be able to turn defense into offense. I believe everything else will kind of take care of itself."[/QUOTE]
Trey might be in trouble!
[QUOTE]Most of Exum’s traits have been on display the past few days: His speed in the open court; his ability to get to the rim; and his ability to set teammates after getting into the lane off the dribble.
But for all of the talent, and for his engaging personality with the media, there’s still significant unknown with Exum that can’t be answered simply through workouts. He hasn’t played a fullcourt basketball game since last December. He’s yet to turn 19, and nobody knows how he will react under the pressure of a real game — even in summer league.
Most rookies, though, impress their coaches with raw ability. Exum impressed Tuesday with his knowledge and willingness to play within the system. Both — at this stage — are hard to accomplish quickly.
"He’s a good player and I think he can definitely play together," Burke said. "He’s easy to play with, and I think we could be a good tandem. It puts pressure on a defense when you have two guys who can be primary ball-handlers. It was good to sometimes bring the ball up, or sometimes go to the corner and spot up and let someone else do the work."[/QUOTE]
Trey has a good attitude about it anyway. See how Exum feels about it as time goes by. He's said he wants to be a pg.
[QUOTE]"The Jazz feel like he’s young enough and enough of a hard worker that he will get better," an NBA source told The Salt Lake Tribune last week. "They think he can get better and that he can take a leap forward."
Utah had a chance to extend Hayward in the fall, but the two sides were unable to reach a deal. Now Hayward stands to receive the biggest raise possible.
And the Jazz will have to decide if he's worth the price.
— Aaron Falk[/QUOTE]
Huge gamble! You're expecting him to take a leap from very good player to one of the best in the game with the deal. 15% trade kicker and player option for the 4th year too. How much could the Jazz pay this year if they signed him to their own deal for the same amount of money? Would look a lot better to me.
[QUOTE]Exum said he has another Jazz experience he
[QUOTE]They can try to negotiate a sign and trade deal where the Jazz would actually sign Hayward and then trade him to Charlotte for pieces the Hornets give the Jazz. However, the Hornets have very little the Jazz would be interested as their roster is currently constructed.[/QUOTE]
That's what it looked like to me.
[QUOTE]3) The Jazz can match the contract offer and assume the contract as their own.
WHEN DOES ALL THIS TAKE PLACE?
The offer sheet while reported today can
[QUOTE]CAN THE JAZZ STILL SIGN ALEC BURKS AND ENES KANTER?
Nothing is as easy as a yes or no but basically yes. Hayward
[QUOTE]As practice ended, Quin Snyder gathered the players bolded above (those with NBA contracts for next season) on the far end of the practice court, and ran through a quick drill displaying some of the spacing that he
[QUOTE]"Can Rudy Gobert be like Mark Eaton?"
The size is there, but more than that, Gobert has a fluidity to his game. (Like we saw in his turn around jumper in the Orlando Summer league last year) Furthermore, Gobert has superior length and jumping ability. One thing he does not have is a massive mountain man beard. But that will come with time, I hope.
Don't tell me Rudy can't do all of this, and more.
I believe in Rudy Gobert, and hopefully he will be given a shot to show what he can do on the court this season. And his performance this season starts this weekend in Las Vegas.[/QUOTE]
He's already a lot better than Mark. The game has changed though. They can't afford to have him on the court if he can't contribute on the offensive end.
[QUOTE]The only way this does not make any sense is if the Jazz have Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins on their team. They do not. They do have Rodney Hood. But he's not someone at risk of being upset if he's not playing 30+ mpg.[/QUOTE]
Having Hood is another reason to let G go as far as I'm concerned. Sign a vet sf/sg and between him, Hood, Burks and Exum they have it covered. SG is covered though a vet combo guard/pg(not Lucas) would be nice.
[QUOTE]What about the alternative, not matching and then using up this money in some other way? I don't think you're going to find a single player 'worth it' who will sign an offer sheet here. Furthermore, while the Jazz have money -- spending it on a B+ player is better than spending it on a C+, C, and D- player for about the same price.
Likelihood: 9.9/10
I think the Jazz match. They said they would. And a beat writer who covers the team and JUST TALKED TO EXES THERE was once again told that they would. So they will.
Ultimately, I believe in Gordon Hayward. And I am confident that the Jazz will do the smart thing and bring him back. It is an exciting time for Jazz basketball.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.deseretnews.com/top/2604/5/Take-a-chance-Options-the-Jazz-should-consider-before-matching-the-deal-for-Gordon-Hayward.html[/url]
Forgot about Evan Turner. He's put up similar numbers as G. Why not just let G go and sign Turner for whatever it takes?
[QUOTE]Though Charlotte
[QUOTE]On Tuesday, Rodney Hood was hesitant. Utah
[QUOTE]Utah
[QUOTE]Jazz big man Derrick Favors was at Wednesday