Rewards of the tank:2014 off-season!

[QUOTE]Former Rockets assistant Dean Cooper has been hired to coach the Jazz's D-League affiliate in Boise.

Cooper has spent the last two years in Houston on Kevin McHale's bench. But he crossed paths with Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey earlier in his career; he was hired by the Rockets in 1999 as a video coordinator and worked his way up to an assistant under Rudy Tomjanovich, before moving to the front office.

In Boise, Cooper will the man responsible for developing talent for the Jazz.
"Having coached in the D-League for three seasons, I learned what an extension your affiliate is of your NBA program," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said in a press release. "Dean has a proven history of player development which is an integral aspect of my coaching philosophy. As an extension of our staff, he will work hand-in-hand with us to establish a clear, seamless connection to ensure we are stressing the same principles in Utah and Idaho."

Lindsey called Snyder's job a "critical component" of building an NBA team.
"Dean

[QUOTE]Dante Exum was a mystery, but before long we're going to be super saturated with information on the kid. From what Utah Jazz fans have seen so far, from his commercials, interviews, and play on the court, we love him. The Jazz franchise seem to as well, as they did not hesitate to pick him #5 in the 2014 NBA Draft. ESPN's panel seems to have some love for him as well, as they recently gave him enough votes to be their 4th place player in the Rookie of the Year race.[/QUOTE]

Seems high to me. Sounds like a project at best right now but so was Kanter and he contributed as a rookie to a playoff team. I expect more from Hood this year personally.

[QUOTE]That's not bad for a kid that few people knew much about.

I don't think that many people would argue about Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins taking the lion's share of the votes. Nerlens Noel is ready to make a big impact on a bad team as well. Exum is a distant fourth, but it's not a bad place to start.

If you remove the last T from that word you get star. And that's pretty much how Dante has been playing this summer. In the summer league he showed everyone his potential to be a celestial object. His first points were on a back door cut alley-oop in the half court, he made threes, passed extremely well, and even had game winning steals. While he didn't shoot too well, we all can see how he was picked Top 5.[/QUOTE]

We can? I'd say it's because of where he was drafted.

[QUOTE]His summer didn't end there, right now he's playing in warm up games with his national team, Australia, en route towards the FIBA World Cup 2014. The games are hard to find if you're not in front of a computer all day long. And he didn't dominate against a team that is from a basketball pipeline that they almost beat the Dream Team back in 1992. (Lithuania's basketball legacy is much larger than Australia's) But if you add up his performances together you get to see that he's doing pretty okay.

Dante Exum has played in three games (vs. Ukraine, Lithuania, and Finland), and in those games he's averaging 20.61 mpg. During his time on the court he's averaging 9.67 ppg, 1.67 rpg, 3.00 apg (with a 3:1 assist to turn over ratio), and 0.33 spg. It's not as well rounded as we'd expect, but these games don't count and he's not playing but half the game. He is scoring well enough though. 50.0 fg%, 40.0 3pt%, 72.7 ft%, and 1.21 PPS (which is cumulative league average for the NBA over the last 30 years).

What the average stats don't tell is his ability to adjust his game against how he's playing within it -- that's a self assessment ability not a lot of younger players have. He couldn't buy a bucket against Lithuania, so he instead got to the line 8 times, making 7 of them. Against Finland he needed to take more threes, and he went 2/3 from outside there. And vs the Ukraine he dominated them, and because of his aggressive play on offense and defense he was able to elicit extra defensive pressure and was then able to find his guys for easy scores.

We're going to see more of him in 16 days when the World Cup starts.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE]I think it's awesome that we're taking overt control of the Stampede and making the hirings. I have great confidence in what Lindsey is doing, and hopefully we'll actually use the D-League for more than 8 games this season. While Ian Clark, Carrick Felix, and possibly even Toure' Murry are elite players to make the NBA, they aren't quite great enough to displace the normative rotation of Trey Burke, Dante Exum, Alec Burks, and Gordon Hayward at the one and the two spots. More seasoning in the same time zone isn't going to hurt them.[/QUOTE]

As far as I'm concerned Exum is a D-league possibility. I think he should have to earn his spot in the rotation and even than he might be better off playing huge minutes up there than back-up minutes in the NBA. Same with Gobert.

[QUOTE]The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed free-agent forward Jack Cooley. Per team policy, financial terms were not released. Cooley (6-9, 246, Notre Dame) played for Trabzonspor in the Turkish Basketball League during the 2013-14 season, averaging 12.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in 22.9 minutes in 28 games (19 starts). NBA.com [/QUOTE]

If I remember correctly other teams were after him too so I wonder if they had to give him some guaranteed money too? Headed for Idaho? Kabong's boy Motum has some competition it looks like anyway for a spot on the roster.

That makes 16 I believe. 4 more spots potentially. I imagine they will have another tryout camp before training camp.

17 I guess. Forgot Murphy.

As for the other cuts that will get the roster down from 16 to 12, Gordon Hayward now seems the most likely to receive the

[QUOTE]The Utah Jazz today announced that the team has hired Patrick Beilein and Lamar Skeeter as player development/video analysts, and named Taylor Snarr as coordinator of analytics. Per team policy, terms of the agreements were not announced. NBA.com [/QUOTE]

Has to help!

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsjazznotes/58325665-62/beilein-basketball-jazz-season.html.csp[/url]

[QUOTE]Eric Pincus: Utah Jazz signed Kevin Murphy today at $840k - $65k guaranteed - same # they guaranteed Dee Bost and Jack Cooley @BBallInsiders Twitter @EricPincus [/QUOTE]

So they will eat guaranteed money. I guess it's an investment in the Idaho team.

Eric Pincus: Brock Motum also signed with the Utah Jazz - likely a non-guaranteed camp invite contract but TBD Twitter @EricPincus

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDFm_v0FqiE[/url]

Rudy!

[QUOTE]Eric Pincus: Utah Jazz add Toure' Murry - he'll earn $1 mil flat over next 2 years - $250k guaranteed in 1st year @BBallInsiders Twitter @EricPincus [/QUOTE]

So he's guaranteed through the 1st couple of months. They'll be carrying at least 14.

[QUOTE]The Boomers begin their tournament against Slovenia in Gran Canaria, Spain on Sunday morning and coach Andrej Lemanis is expected to bring Exum off the bench, charging his young star with using his speed and athleticism to make an impact. Sydney Morning Herald [/QUOTE]

Maybe the same role he plays for the Jazz early on.

[QUOTE]Nikos Varlas: Αccording to @Gabriel Pantel-Jouve French center @Ian Mahinmi leaves the team and @Kim Tillie of @Baskonia returns! #Spain2014 Twitter @Eurohoopsnet [/QUOTE]

More minutes for Rudy!

[QUOTE] Exum takes what are typically thought of as highly-efficient shots. He took one mid-range jumper over the three games, and the other 23 shots were either 3-pointers or within 8 feet of the basket. This tendency is definitely in line with the desirable shots of the new offense that Quin Snyder is instituting.[/QUOTE]

To me an efficient shot is one you make. So until he can make them they're not efficient. He needs to concentrate on shots he can make first.

[QUOTE]The Negatives

Those corner-threes. The sad part: all of those 7 corner threes were open looks. With Trey and Dante sharing the point guard duties, when Trey is running the pick and roll, Dante will most likely be parked in the corner. He is still young, so I’m hoping he could develop a serviceable 3-point shot a la Kawhi Leonard, who was not a shooter at all at San Diego State.[/QUOTE]

Many cases of this. If he puts in the work he should be able to hit them someday. Otherwise he's just Ricky Rubio.

[QUOTE]Dante shot a dismal 5 free throws over his 9 exhibition games;and he only made one of those. Yikes. From the shot chart (and personally watching him) you can tell that he gets to the rack, he’s just not to the point of seeking contact at the rim yet. Instead, he’s either going in uncontested or most likely dishing the ball off. He did have one sick drive and floater in Jonas Valanciunas’ face though.[/QUOTE]

Burke doesn't get to the line either. He had a problem even getting to the rim though.

[QUOTE]Exum’s playmaking ability was consistent, but his shooting was not. Against sub-par competition (i.e. Finland, the Philippines), he shot 51.5% from the field. In the three games against France and Lithuania, he only shot 27.3%. As we also saw in the summer league, Dante is going to have to adjust to the higher level of competition.[/QUOTE]

And if he can't he should be in the Dleague until he can but the roster obviously says tank again so I doubt that happens.

[url]http://www.fiba.com/basketballworldcup/2014/3008/CroatiavPhilippines[/url]

Looks like Tomic and Blatche might have had a good battle.

http://www.fiba.com/basketballworldcup/2014/3008/AustraliavSlovenia#|tab=boxscore_statistics

Not much from Exum. Motum did alright.

Neto with the highest plus minus on his team. Gobert in foul trouble. not many boards but looks like he did ok otherwise.

Brazil started Neto over the vet Huertas in the 2nd half after his play in the 1st. He was a big key to their upset. Only reason I can see the Jazz not having him on the team would be D and Burke was horrible on D. He can't be any worse. He's a better floor general for sure. Jerry would have loved him.

Gobert looked good at the offensive end and made it tough on Brazil's NBA frontline all game long at the other end.

Saw Tomic's 2nd game against Argentina. He is a lot bigger than 4 years ago. Maybe getting too big? Has both knees in sleeves. He went from Manute like to bigger than Rudy. Very solid now. Was on Scola most of the game. Looks like he could now bang with the big boys. He lumbers up and down the court but in the half court he's certainly skilled.

Looks like an elite passer from the low and high post. Post moves with both hands though the announcers didn't think he was aggressive enough. Benched to start the 2nd half. Would easily be the best passing big on the Jazz and maybe one of the best in the league. He'd be their 2nd best low post scorer after Kanter. Didn't shoot from up top. Length on the defensive end.

He and Neto would definitely make the Jazz a lot better team but that obviously isn't what they're trying to do with their off-season moves. I could understand the tank in the last draft but again this year?

12-14 from the line today

A few months ago, a photo circulated of Utah Jazz forward (and former Slam Dunk Contest champ) Jeremy Evans showing off his incredible vertical leap in an effort to top the vertical leap recorded by number one draft pick Andrew Wiggins. Evans may have taken the crown, but apparently that wasn

Looks like Exum got benched. Makes you wonder if he should be in the rotaion for the Jazz if he can't make Australia's.

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You]Saw Tomic's 2nd game against Argentina. He is a lot bigger than 4 years ago. Maybe getting too big? Has both knees in sleeves. He went from Manute like to bigger than Rudy. Very solid now. Was on Scola most of the game. Looks like he could now bang with the big boys. He lumbers up and down the court but in the half court he's certainly skilled.

Looks like an elite passer from the low and high post. Post moves with both hands though the announcers didn't think he was aggressive enough. Benched to start the 2nd half. Would easily be the best passing big on the Jazz and maybe one of the best in the league. He'd be their 2nd best low post scorer after Kanter. Didn't shoot from up top. Length on the defensive end.

He and Neto would definitely make the Jazz a lot better team but that obviously isn't what they're trying to do with their off-season moves. I could understand the tank in the last draft but again this year?

12-14 from the line today[/QUOTE]
If he's a good passer then he'll probably fit in really well with how Snyder has been saying how he wants them to play.

Yeah that's what I figured. Gobert made some nice passes out of the post even!

They keep talking about Neto's d. Why isn't he on the team again?

[QUOTE]Deron Williams is the cover model on this month's Resident Magazine: "I

Looks like Exum had a nice game. I guess that game was meaningless for them.

Big game for Neto. Love watching him. He's a player! As a late 2nd rounder he looks like a steal.

another 5 assists in 13 minutes for Tomic!

[QUOTE]

[url]http://www.todayszaman.com/latest-news_kanter-rejects-accusations-he-left-national-basketball-team-in-lurch_358069.html[/url]

It's a huge year for Kanter. He's hurt. Not like anyone beats Spain or the USA with or without all their horses.

Locke says It's all Tomic as far as him not coming over. Who knows though?

He says there is no reason to bring over Neto with Burke and Exum. The fact that he looks better than both is reason to me.

I'm sure the Jazz were happy to be able to see Tomic and Gobert go to head to head for a bit anyway.

Finally caught the France Croatia match up. Tomic took over late. Left hand, right hand, fall aways, hooks. They had no answer for him. He made Gobert look silly on one play. They brought him in early to get them back in it and had to pull him at the end and it cost them. He should be the Jazz #1 or 2 option behind Burks.

[QUOTE]Only one team in Utah Jazz history garnered fewer wins for 82 games of effort than the Jazz

And he isn't close to Neto as far as that aspect goes.

[QUOTE]No longer a rookie, look for him to further improve his playmaking skills with another year under his belt and more offensive weapons on the team. He has a lot to prove this year with another playmaking guard added to the roster in Exum, who has lofty expectations of his own.[/QUOTE]

defense is where he has to prove you can keep him on the court at least as a starter.

[QUOTE]Top Clutch Player: The departure of dependable veteran big men Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap left the Jazz searching for someone who would be able to step up to get buckets when they need it the most. While swingman Gordon Hayward did have his moments last year, it was Trey Burke in the end who showed the most poise in the clutch for the team. While to some he may have had a disappointing rookie season, with the game on the line it was Burke that led the team in points scored (2.4), free throw shooting (93.3 percent), three-point shooting (57.1 percent) and shooting from the field overall (51.9 percent). The Jazz are hopeful the game-winning three pointer he hit over the outstretched arms of the Orlando Magic

[QUOTE]Youth, talent and flexibility are some things the Jazz can count on next season. That translating into wins is a whole other matter, considering the Jazz were one of the worst teams in the league last season. Look for new head coach Quin Snyder to maximize that young energy next season by playing with a quicker tempo and a heavy emphasis on ball movement. The Jazz have bigs that can run the floor in Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter and reserve high-flyer Jeremy Evans. They

Neto is out! If his Spanish team isn't together yet I'd love to see him come over for the open gym and go at Burke.

David Locke: France Coach [URL="http://*********.com/twitter/media.html"]Vincent Collet on @Rudy Gobert “He has a real desire to do good,” -- this is the key to his progress[/URL] [URL="http://*********.com/twitter/media.html"]Twitter @Lockedonsports[/URL]

Gobert clearly listened. From a second-quarter dunk on Pau Gasol to almost flawless post play to helping hold two All-Star big men in check, Gobert was everywhere he needed to be. His 13 rebounds were only one fewer than the brothers Gasol and the ineffective Serge Ibaka combined, and a key factor in a 50-28 advantage on the boards. The young big man's single block of the night, on a Pau Gasol attempt, preempted France's closing 10-0 burst. [URL="http://espn.go.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/11504770/france-halts-spain-fiba-basketball-world-cup-title-dreams"]"I knew everybody was expecting me to help the team," said Gobert, who averaged 2.3 points and 3.4 for the Utah Jazz last season amid two stints in the D-League. "Everybody knew I could stop them. That was just my mission. Everyone else played great offensively. I just had to stop Pau. He's one of the best players in the world and if you stop him, they're not as strong."[/URL] [URL="http://espn.go.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/11504770/france-halts-spain-fiba-basketball-world-cup-title-dreams"]ESPN.com[/URL]

Raul Barrigon: [URL="http://*********.com/twitter/*********.html"]Jazz center Rudy Gobert told @MuriloFBorges that tonight was the best game of his life.[/URL] #spain2014 [URL="http://*********.com/twitter/*********.html"]Twitter @Barri*********[/URL]

[QUOTE]we