post draft off season part II-bring on the roster moves!

[url]https://www.deseret.com/2021/8/23/22637884/can-the-utah-jazz-make-the-nba-finals-this-season[/url]

[QUOTE]“They are deep and were the best team in the league most of last year,” Bontemps quotes an Eastern Conference executive as saying. “They had a bad series versus the Clippers, but a whole lot of people say you can’t win until you win. They were knocking on the door last year, and I think they get there this time.”


[/QUOTE]

there's a chance but it will be tough with Clarkson, COTY and Mitchell

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/8/24/22628064/taking-stock-of-current-jazz-players-and-franchise-records[/url]

[QUOTE]John Stockton and Karl Malone respectively played the 5th and 6th most games in NBA history. Stockton holds the NBA records for career assists and steals. Malone is second in points and field goals, first in free throws. Those guys reached those marks almost exclusively with the Jazz, so it’s an understatement to say that [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/"]Utah Jazz[/URL] franchise records are challenging to reach.


[/QUOTE]

should be no problem for the best player in franchise history! :facepalm

[QUOTE]The three-time Defensive Player of the Year is already one of the greatest players in franchise history, which shows in franchise records. Gobert is currently the franchise leader in DPOY awards, First Team All-Defense selections, field goal percentage, and many advanced statistics such as Win Shares per 48 minutes.


[/QUOTE]

#3 in their history easy

[QUOTE]He’s done all of that while not making the top ten in games or minutes played. Well, both of those things will likely change this season. Gobert needs to play 61 games this year to pass Rickey Green for 10th all-time in games played. He needs only 34 minutes to pass Derrick Favors for 10th in minutes played. If he plays most of the season at a regular pace, he can climb all the way to 7th.


[/QUOTE]

hard to say it's likely. He's due to get hurt God forbid

[QUOTE]Luckily for Ingles’ Jazz legacy, he’s already claimed the franchise records for 3-pointers made and attempted. Donovan Mitchell will certainly surpass him there, but Ingles has a solid lead, and even after Mitchell eventually claims the Jazz’ 3-pointer throne, Ingles will remain top 2 for a long time. The only current Jazz players that might have a chance of matching Ingles’ 3-pointer record (besides Mitchell) are Bogdanovic, O’Neale, and Butler, but none of them really have a great chance. Bojan Bogdanovic has the pace for sure, but how long will he remain on the team? Royce O’Neale doesn’t attempt enough shots. Jared Butler is a second-round pick, so it’s improbable he plays enough to reach that level. Ingles will likely stay number 1 for a couple more seasons, then number 2 for a long time.
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wasn't until last year that the team started shooting an insane amount. Many will pass him in the years to come

[QUOTE]Thurl Bailey has one of the franchise’s most unbreakable records. His 7,044 bench points are more than double the 3,079 put up by second-place Alec Burks.

[/QUOTE]

unfortunately Clarkson has 3 more years on his contract :cry:

[QUOTE]Jordan Clarkson became the first Utah Jazz player to be named Sixth Man of the Year.

[/QUOTE]

should have been Ingles

[QUOTE]Rudy Gobert is tied for 5th in NBA history in [URL="https://www.wedgietracker.com/"]wedgies[/URL] (basketball wedged between the rim and the backboard), although this unofficial stat has only been recorded for the last five seasons.

[/QUOTE]

there's a new one :lol

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2021/08/24/utah-jazz-one-improvement-every-player/[/url]

[QUOTE]Efficient scoring always has value, but defenses have an even more difficult time accounting for a player who is a dual threat to create shots for his teammates. Bogdanovic’s 1.9 assists per game last season reflect a player who is uninterested in doing so.


[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't say he's uninterested. Generally he's better off not passing because it doesn't end well

[QUOTE]Like Azubuike, Brantley is unlikely to crack Quin Snyder’s regular rotation as a raw 24-year-old on a contending team. Still, Brantley should get plenty of opportunities to showcase his skills for Utah Jazz G-League affiliate Salt Lake City Stars. It’s imperative that he make the most of those opportunities.


[/QUOTE]

probably won't make the team

[QUOTE]Over the course of the last full G League season, Brantley was generally great for the Stars, but could have stood to remain aggressive in a bid to score consistently. Viewing his game logs from that season reflects considerable unpredictability: a 26 point game here, an 8 point game there, and so forth.


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not really what they need from a role player. Fill the box score and defend

[QUOTE]Clarkson should aim to shoot around that level of accuracy again, and more critically, maintain that efficiency all throughout the year into the playoffs.


[/QUOTE]

his only aim is to shoot. Going in or not is of no concern to him or COTY :cry:

[QUOTE]During his rookie campaign with the Utah Jazz, Forrest shot a ghastly 19.2% from three-point range on 0.9 attempts per game. By contrast, his 33% three-point accuracy in Summer League play inspires hope. Still, he’ll need to prove he can hit somewhere close to that mark on the professional level to reach mainstay status in Utah’s rotation.


[/QUOTE]

would need a regular contract first

[QUOTE]So, we went with spacing. Anyone who watches the Utah Jazz knows that Rudy Gobert is an absolute non-spacer. The front office has done a fantastic job of ensuring they run plenty of four-out lineups by surrounding the French rim-protector with shooters aplenty. Still, the development of an occasional three-point cannon, or even a midrange jumper, would do wonders for Gobert’s offensive profile.


[/QUOTE]

one of the best spacers in the game. Give him a dunk or leave his teammates open from 3. Pick your poison

[QUOTE]During Hughes’ 2020-21 rookie campaign, he shot an unimpressive 33% from the field. Uniquely, he actually shot a higher percentage on three-point attempts at 34.8%.


[/QUOTE]

he sucks. Need to dump him

[QUOTE]Donovan Mitchell is the most important player on the Utah Jazz. That’s a designation you earn with 26.4 points per game. He is the Jazz’s offensive lifeline, and without an offensive lifeline, an NBA team is dead in its tracks.


[/QUOTE]

the guy that carries the team is more important than the best player in franchise history

[QUOTE]With that said, his -0.6 Defensive Box Plus/Minus (DBPM) does suggest room for improvement on the defensive end. With the prerequisite length and burst, Mitchell could stand to make a habit of playing passing lanes, hounding ball-handlers, and generally making a larger mark on the defensive end.


[/QUOTE]

attempting to defend would be an improvement!

[QUOTE]His 4.2 fouls per 36 minutes seem like a good place to start. They’re much too high for any player, yet along a non-big. His 35.4 FG% needs to jump by at least 5% for him to become a viable rotation option. Furthermore, he’s flashed very little skill in the realm of playmaking with 1.9 assists per 36 minutes.


[/QUOTE]

good playmaker with Stars. Needs to be consistent from 3

[QUOTE]The Utah Jazz can provide the veteran big man with an opportunity to break this bad habit in the 2021-22 season. If he can, he should function as one of the best backup bigs in the NBA behind the always-in-position Rudy Gobert.








[/QUOTE]

rather have Bradley

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2021/08/23/utah-jazz-donovan-mitchell-compete-mvp/[/url]

[QUOTE]Donovan Mitchell just might have the [URL="https://thejnotes.com/2021/08/20/utah-jazz-ranking-nba-shooting-guards/"]talent[/URL] to do it. The immensely talented young guard has made steady improvements to his statistical output in every season he’s been in the NBA so far, culminating in stellar averages of 26.4 points and 5.2 assists per game last season. He’s answered just about every question anyone could ask about his game, but at least one remains: how close is he to an MVP caliber player?


[/QUOTE]

how close is he to being one of his teams two best players?

[QUOTE]To garner MVP votes, Mitchell won’t necessarily need to put on the historic offensive clinic that Harden did in 2017-18. Last season, Mitchell finished with a -0.6 Defensive Rating. If he could make strides on the less glamorous end of the floor, while maintaining or (ideally) slightly improving his offensive statistics, and the Utah Jazz could replicate the feat of finishing with the NBA’s best regular season record, Mitchell’s name could gain steam in the MVP narrative.


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defense and playmaking two things he doesn't like to do

[url]https://kslsports.com/466580/position-battles-to-eye-during-jazz-training-camp/[/url]

[QUOTE][h=3]Whiteside Vs. Azubuike[/h][/QUOTE]
Can't imagine this is a battle yet. Maybe by the end of the year

[QUOTE]Azubuike meanwhile had a breakout performance for the Jazz during the summer league, showing off his ability to finish above the rim, block shots, and mimic much of what Rudy Gobert does in the starting lineup.


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breakout performance? 1st rounder doing what he's supposed to do in summer league. Time to show something in camp and the Gleague now

[QUOTE]Forrest gained the trust of coach Quin Snyder last season with his steady point guard play and competitiveness on the defensive end. Over the final 15 games of the regular season, Forrest actually averaged more minutes than Oni with both Mitchell and Conley missing the game due to injury.


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He's better than Oni right now but so were several others last year that COTY refused to play. He's on a two way so his days are limited in the rotation. Butler should be the guy eventually. Hopefully someone makes Clarkson expendable. Hughes has a guaranteed deal not Oni, Forrest etc.!

[QUOTE]With the addition of the veteran, the Jazz have 10 legitimate NBA rotation players on the roster. The problem — Snyder’s rotation, like most coaches in the NBA, is only nine players deep.


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He was legitimate on a bad team. Got benched last year. Still not convinced he's better than Brantley, Morgan and Ersan myself. He'll be in the mix because of his bff status with Mitchell though

[QUOTE]Rudy Gay will likely step into Georges Niang’s role from last season, and may even carve out a few extra minutes to give both Royce O’Neal and Bojan Bogdanovic added rest throughout the year.


[/QUOTE]

if COTY wasn't so smart Gay/ Paschall/Brantley/Morgan/Ersan would get the minutes at the 4 and Royce would be back at wing where he belongs


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[url]https://thejnotes.com/2021/08/25/utah-jazz-secret-weapon-coaching-staff/[/url]

[QUOTE]Can also brings a master’s degree in political science and public administration from Ankara University in his native Turkey as well. With such a diverse and accomplished background, one can assume that Erdem Can will be a valuable asset for Head Coach Quin Snyder and the Utah Jazz as they continue their pursuit of a championship through the 2021-22 NBA season.





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uh oh another coach that is too smart for his own good! :facepalm

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2021/08/24/60-simple-reasons-utah-jazz-win-60-games/[/url]

[QUOTE]2. All five starters are likely to be back in Salt Lake City for a shot at again capturing the No. 1 seed out of the Western Conference.


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no PF so not a plus

[QUOTE]3. The top two vote-getters in the Sixth Man of the Year race — Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles, respectively — ought to return as well.


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Clarkson also not a plus

[QUOTE]11. [URL="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mitchdo01.html"]Donovan Mitchell[/URL] should now officially have his sights on an MVP — plain and simple.


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Just hoping he can improve and be at least the 3rd best on the team

[QUOTE]13. On that same note, this will be the second season with Ryan Smith — Wade’s golfing buddy — as the franchise’s majority owner. The value in the 44-year-old’s youthful outlook and positive vibes behind the scenes is underrated.


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We'll see. COTY still has a job and Clarkson and Hughes remain

[QUOTE]15. The Jazz seemed to have upgraded their backup center with the free-agency addition of Hassan Whiteside, who has been no stranger to leading the league in blocks and rebounds per game.


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remains to be seen if he's an upgrade. At least he doesn't make 10 million a year though!

[QUOTE]17. With Gobert, Whiteside, and Gay on the roster, there’s every reason to assume Utah will again be among the elite rebounding squads after winding up with the NBA’s most boards per game (48.3) last season.


[/QUOTE]

Gay?

[QUOTE]22. Mike Conley is coming off his first All-Star campaign and entering his third season in Utah, suggesting his best days as a Jazzman may be just around the corner.


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at his age it's hard to expect him to get better. Hopefully as good as last year and healthy when they need him

[QUOTE]25. Off the bench, Jordan Clarkson will likely use the confidence boost from his Sixth Man of the Year trophy and the wisdom from his seven years in the league to improve his efficiency as a green-light perimeter scorer.


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He and COTY don't care. He will shoot regardless from anywhere

[QUOTE]28. Probable third-year Utah Jazz starter [URL="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bogdabo02.html"]Bojan Bogdanovic[/URL] showed late last season that he could fill in as a top scorer in the absence of Mitchell, Conley, or both. He did so to the tune of 48 points during a May win over the Denver Nuggets.


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but ideally would come off the bench

[QUOTE]29. Now, it feels like a good time to bring up continuity. Oops, we’ve already included that in this list? Well, it deserves another mention.


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that's nice but COTY, Clarkson and Hughes still remain so it's hard to get too excited

[QUOTE]30. On the other hand, the arrival of some new young talent, in addition to a few free-agent veterans, sets the stage for some healthy competition in the playing-time department.


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got to have a coach that will play guys that deserve it. They don't

[QUOTE]34. That early playoff exit also ought to allow the Jazz to understand their weaknesses and take the necessary steps to correct them (already evident in the franchise’s strategic offseason moves).


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obviously they don't. Those mentioned above still remain

[QUOTE]37. After watching Rudy Gobert give top-notch competition headaches in Olympic action this summer — on his way to taking home a silver medal with France — fans should expect to see an even more assertive version of the 7-footer next season.


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got to have a coach and teammates that play their part like France did

[QUOTE]42. Another Baylor national champ, MaCio Teague, is also likely to be on the roster — even if only on a two-way contract — after the well-rounded wing’s encouraging Summer League performances.


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hardly call it likely with more camp spots and exhibit 10's to go. He is the front runner right now because he's the only one in the picture. That should change

[QUOTE]45. [URL="https://www.deseret.com/2021/8/12/22621920/udoka-azubuike-quietly-working-to-prove-his-nba-worth-with-the-utah-jazz-second-year-center"]Udoka Azubuike[/URL] is foul-prone and probably lacks the stamina to play long stretches, but his prowess in Summer League signals a formidable third-string center nonetheless.


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if he's playing long stretches it means Gobert is hurt and it won't matter

[QUOTE]46. Second-year forward Elijah Hughes has a lot of work to do before earning significant playing time in a Jazz jersey. Still, the 23-year-old’s creative iso moves might come in handy off the bench as early as next season.


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:roll:

[QUOTE]47. Power forward Jarrell Brantley also rarely saw the floor for Utah last season. Yet he also looks to be a promising long-term Jazz project who could surprise some folks in his third year as a pro.


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doubt he's on the team

[QUOTE]49. Besides providing safety options, the above assortment of youngsters should inspire Quin Snyder and his staff.


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inspire him to lose playoff series by not playing them regardless like the past two years?

[QUOTE]50. In general, when factoring in Jordan Clarkson, Joe Ingles, Rudy Gay, Hassan Whiteside, and Eric Paschall as well, the reserves in Salt Lake City ought to form one of the NBA’s most desirable benches next season.


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deep! :lol

[QUOTE]60. Finally, don’t discount that Utah has been to the playoffs in all but eight of the past 38 seasons. That level of consistency says the franchise is long overdue for a championship-level campaign, beginning with its first 60-win regular season this century.








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tells me they don't have what it takes to win big. Maybe that changes with Smith but I'm not seeing it yet

[url]https://kslsports.com/466704/lillard-claims-to-be-nbas-best-rapper-jazz-oni-yawns/[/url]

[url]https://kslsports.com/466660/best-career-game-from-each-new-jazz-player/[/url]

[QUOTE]Surprisingly, despite five seasons as a top-20 scorer in the NBA, Gay has never broken the 50 point barrier.


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not a lot people get 50. Hardly surprising

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2021/08/26/utah-jazz-3-comparisons-jared-butler/[/url]

[QUOTE]Some speculate that teams were apprehensive about Butler due to his diagnosed heart condition. Their loss. Butler is cleared to play, [URL="https://thejnotes.com/2021/08/10/utah-jazz-free-agency-3-guards-rotation/"]fills an immediate need for the Jazz[/URL], and has the potential to be the steal of the 2021 NBA Draft.


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What need? There's not a rotation spot open. Hopefully he forces them to dump Clarkson

[QUOTE][h=2]Utah Jazz rookie Jared Butler ceiling comparison: George Hill[/h]

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if he's anywhere near the Hill the Jazz had I'd be ecstatic

[url]https://kslsports.com/466755/when-do-jazz-players-contracts-expire/[/url]

[QUOTE]Due to the size of Ingles deal, the fact that expires this season, and the many ways in which he can help teams, he will be an attractive trade piece this season.


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not seeing it. Clarkson is the one. Coming off 6th man of the year he should be tradable as much as he sucks

[QUOTE]However, the Jazz must hope he fits with the roster or risk losing another draft pick for a short-term rental like they did last season with Matt Thomas.


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he better fit because his bff won't be happy otherwise

[QUOTE]If the guard is beaten out in the rotation by Trent Forrest or Jared Butler, he could be an option to trade or waive by mid-season.


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Oni isn't in the rotation

[QUOTE]The good news however is that the wing has his contract guaranteed this season to prove he belongs in the NBA.


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why is that good news? Was bad news last year. He sucks

[QUOTE]However, that doesn’t guarantee that he’ll be on the roster come next summer and he could be a candidate for a third two-way contract with the team this season.


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He's going from the main roster to another two way? Doubt it. Probably be cut sadly

[QUOTE][B]Udoka Azubuike – [/B]Azubuike could hit free agency as soon as next summer, but it would be a surprise if the Jazz didn’t bring the center back for a third year.


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they'll pick up his option soon

[QUOTE]He’s got an expiring contract next season valued at nearly $20 million and a skillset that every team in the NBA desires. The Jazz are unquestionably better with him on the roster, but with repeater tax concerns, could be a tantalizing trade piece.


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it's questionable especially as a starter

[QUOTE][B]Jordan Clarkson: Player Option – [/B]Clarkson could hit free agency as soon as the season of 2023 if he were to opt-out of the final year of his contract.


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some good news!


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[url]https://kslsports.com/466762/cavs-coach-j-b-bickerstaff-adds-former-utah-jazz-assistant-to-staff/[/url]

[URL]https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/8/26/22641367/what-should-you-expect-from-joe-ingles-this-season-utah-jazz-nba-offseason-downbeat-quin-snyder-rudy[/URL]

[QUOTE]At 33 years old, Joe Ingles arguably played his best season of NBA basketball. At times throughout the year, Ingles looked like he could be a starting point-guard in the league with his “floor general” skillset. His combination of efficiency, playmaking, and solid defense was amazing. On top of that, just take a look at a few of the career highs he posted:


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not much argument

[QUOTE]For Ingles, the relationship between these two words will dictate how his season goes. Essentially, if Ingles doesn’t receive more rest than he did last year, he will hit a wall prematurely and “regress.” He averaged about 28 minutes per game last year, which isn’t too bad, but is probably still too much for him. You have to keep in mind that since he was a teenager, Ingles has been playing basketball either professionally or nationally. He’s got a ton of miles on him. With the assumption that Utah’s second round draft pick Jared Butler can run some back up point guard minutes, I’m hoping that Quin Snyder cuts Ingles minutes to somewhere between 20-25 a game. This would go a long way in keeping him fresh for the playoffs.
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his role needs to be smaller. COTY sucks though!

[QUOTE]Dante clearly has his faults of which all Jazz fans are well aware, but he can still play great defense, he can handle the ball and initiate the offense, he still has that great first step in drives to the hoop, and he has become much better at shooting 3-point shots and finishing at the rim.
He should be able to be signed to a vet minimum contract—perhaps a non-guaranteed vet minimum contract, so if he doesn’t work out he could just be waived.
We all saw what he could do—in the summer Olympics—if he can stay healthy.
His main issue has always been his injuries, but with playing less minutes, the chance of injury would be reduced.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Fesenko%20for%20President"]Fesenko for President[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/8/26/22641367/what-should-you-expect-from-joe-ingles-this-season-utah-jazz-nba-offseason-downbeat-quin-snyder-rudy#543984223"]Aug 26, 2021 | 10:48 AM[/URL]
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God no!!!
[QUOTE][B]I still think there are better players for 2.5 million[/B]



Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Calvin%20Chappell"]Calvin Chappell[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/8/26/22641367/what-should-you-expect-from-joe-ingles-this-season-utah-jazz-nba-offseason-downbeat-quin-snyder-rudy#543998642"]Aug 26, 2021 | 6:18 PM[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

like almost anyone not named Hughes

[QUOTE]id rather they bring back any version of dante, even v0.0, than greyson

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/its_computers"]its_computers[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/8/26/22641367/what-should-you-expect-from-joe-ingles-this-season-utah-jazz-nba-offseason-downbeat-quin-snyder-rudy#543991528"]Aug 26, 2021 | 2:07 PM[/URL]
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certainly don't want anyone from Duke but at least he doesn't suck

[QUOTE]Many Jazz fans lamented the contract extension (and pay raise) that Ingles received, but he is still a bargain. Players who can shoot like he does, play make, and not be a burden on defense are rare and get paid a lot more than the $14m expiring contract Joe will have this season.
And anyway, Jingle’s value extends beyond advanced stats. This is all about entertainment, and Joe has provided more entertainment per 48 than any player on the team (closely followed by Mitchell and Clarkson).

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Kira%20Argonova"]Kira Argonova[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/8/26/22641367/what-should-you-expect-from-joe-ingles-this-season-utah-jazz-nba-offseason-downbeat-quin-snyder-rudy#543993016"]Aug 26, 2021 | 2:45 PM[/URL]
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it wasn't a good contract until last year. The previous two years he declined. I'd guess him spending the summer in Utah working instead of going back to Australia made the difference. Unfortunately that didn't happen this summer as well

[QUOTE]I know there are a lot of Nance fans here so it seems that the Jazz could offer Ingles or O’Neale. Not that I think either is an ideal solution to CLE’s desire for a two-way wing (Ingles because of age and O’Neale because … well, just because).
So knowing that neither deal will happen but both work in the trade machine so either could form the foundation for a deal, the question is would you deal either of those two Jazz players to get Nance?

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/jmnunes5"]jmnunes5[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/8/26/22641367/what-should-you-expect-from-joe-ingles-this-season-utah-jazz-nba-offseason-downbeat-quin-snyder-rudy#543995260"]Aug 26, 2021 | 3:56 PM[/URL]
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Those aren't the guys to trade! :facepalm

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2021/08/26/utah-jazz-lauri-markkanen/[/url]

[QUOTE][h=1]Utah Jazz: The case for, and against, free agent Lauri Markkanen[/h]

[/QUOTE]

this ought to be good! :roll:

[QUOTE]If that sounds a lot like a description of a player who’s set to earn a substantial payday, don’t tell Markkanen. He may be stuck accepting a one-year, prove-it deal in the same vein as [URL="https://www.nba.com/news/report-dennis-schroder-agrees-to-deal-with-celtics"]Dennis Schroder’s pact with the Boston Celtics[/URL] this offseason. If Markkanen is available at a similar short-term discount, here is the case for, and against, the Utah Jazz being the team to make him that offer.


[/QUOTE]

Nulls can match :facepalm

[QUOTE]The concerns with Markkanen revolve around his foot speed, and his defense. The Utah Jazz just might be a team equipped to mask both shortcomings for the offensively talented combo big.


[/QUOTE]

need more D not less

[QUOTE]Fans of the Utah Jazz who just watched Rudy Gobert struggle against the Los Angeles Clippers’ small-ball units in the Western Conference semifinals may not love the idea of adding another prodding big man who struggles to close out three-point attempts. Especially one that doesn’t even compensate by protecting the rim with elite effectiveness.


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Rudy can close. He just needs someone to protect the rim if he does or have guys that guard the perimeter when he's at the rim. That's not Lauri

[url]https://kslsports.com/466822/jazz-mailbag-best-trade-deadline-option-biggest-surprises/[/url]

[QUOTE]He’s a legitimate NBA talent and has the high-level experience from college to be one of the early contributors to a good team in this rookie class.


[/QUOTE]

what do you mean early? No rookie has stepped right in and belonged under COTY. Even Mitchell was ready physically but the rest took some time. Some others played but shouldn't have until later on in the year at the earliest

[QUOTE]As I mentioned last week, I have heard new ownership doesn’t love the Jazz classic purple note theme and may look to move away from that over time. If you’ve seen Ryan Smith or Dwyane Wade in Jazz gear, it’s almost always black and white, so by default, that might be the direction I’d suspect they want to head in.


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Black and grey are the way to go though Smith generally looks like an idiot

[QUOTE]Maybe it was karma in my favor after writing up some 25 pre-draft bios last season only to skip Udoka Azubuike and Elijah Hughes — the two guys the Jazz did wind up drafting.


[/QUOTE]

too bad the Jazz didn't skip Hughes

[QUOTE]That could mean any number of names from Bojan Bogdanovic, to Joe Ingles, to Jordan Clarkston, etc.


[/QUOTE]

Clarkson and Hughes and maybe Whiteside if Udoka comes along

[QUOTE]With that said, I have my concerns for this season. Certainly playing as many games as they did between the bubble and the most recent playoffs was going to take a toll on NBA players bodies, but I haven’t heard many people talk about what the total cost will be after mixing in travel from this past season and the number of games played in the condensed schedule.


[/QUOTE]

another short off season

[QUOTE]For the summer as a whole, I’d give the Jazz a solid B+ or A- as they still had to make some difficult cost-cutting moves including a first-round pick, but overall very solid.


[/QUOTE]

F. COTY, Clarkson and Hughes still remain

[QUOTE]I don’t know how many teams in the West got significantly better, those the Los Angeles Lakers should improve just by being healthier.


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Lebron got older and Westbrook isn't taking you anywhere

[QUOTE]The Suns had to bring Paul back regardless of the cost and they did. They also got Cameron Payne at a discount, and I like the addition of JaVale McGee and Landry Shamet.


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McGee :roll:

[QUOTE]However, the loss of Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig cut hurt them at times next year defensively.


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Carter has certainly been tough against the Jazz

[QUOTE]The new Jazz ownership is making an enormous financial investment into this team to win now, which is something the Miller’s always said they’d be willing to do for a championship.


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Miller's talked a lot :facepalm