Draft day, free agency, training camp, pre season...

[url]https://kslsports.com/448237/jazz-in-espn-top-100-player-rankings-11-50/[/url]

[QUOTE][h=3]26. Rudy Gobert – Previous Rank: 14[/h]

[/QUOTE]

there's 25 guys in the league that have carried their teams for 6 years at both ends of the floor? :roll:

[QUOTE][h=3][B]18. Donovan Mitchell – Previous Rank: 20[/B][/h]
[/QUOTE]

Lottery team without Rudy. Competitive without Mitchell :facepalm

[QUOTE]“Among the 13 players to average at least 24 points last season, Mitchell ranked dead last in free throw rate,” MacMahon wrote. “Having to rely less on deep pull-up 3s and finesse finishes will make him one of the tougher covers in the NBA.”

[/QUOTE]

and that's a big part of why he is overrated. The only advanced stats he ranks in are usage. He can score ineffectively.

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/9/22166207/utah-jazz-agree-to-deal-with-free-agent-guard-shaquille-[/url]

[QUOTE]The 27-year-old Tulsa product last played for the Chicago Bulls and was a restricted free agent. In the 2019-2020 season, he averaged 4.9 points, two rebounds and 1.1 assists in 11.3 minutes per game.

[/QUOTE]

Good numbers and he shot well from 3 and defends. More than one person had him on their list of guys the Jazz should sign. Why not do it before camp though? Goss hasn't impressed? 6'7". Should be able to play 3 positions? Length? Looks like he should be in line ahead of Oni and company now? Improved his shot a lot last year on only 1 attempt a game so hopefully it's real. Could be a steal!

[url]https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/dr-fauci-says-two-states-131323570.html[/url]

[QUOTE][h=4]Slightly below Utah[/h]Portland Trail Blazers
Dallas Mavericks
Golden State Warriors
Phoenix Suns
[/QUOTE]

Don't count on it. Jazz probably got better but still have the same issues

[QUOTE][h=4]Clearly below Utah[/h]New Orleans Pelicans
Houston Rockets (without Harden)
Memphis Grizzlies
[URL="https://www.poundingtherock.com/"]San Antonio Spurs[/URL]
[URL="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/"]Sacramento Kings[/URL]
[URL="https://www.canishoopus.com/"]Minnesota Timberwolves[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Not sure how clear any of it is. Look what Memphis did a year ago. Ingram and Zion could certainly make noise

[url]https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/teams/utah_jazz/86[/url]

[QUOTE][URL="https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/teams/utah_jazz/86"]Utah Jazz News[/URL] / [URL="http://saltcityhoops.com/"]Salt City Hoops[/URL] / 16 hours ago


[h=2][/h]Shaq Harrison brings athleticism and defense to the Jazz. (via NBA.com/Bulls) So maybe the Jazz weren’t done with their roster after all. In a surprise move to address their perimeter depth a week into training camp, the Jazz reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with free agent guard Shaquille Harrison.

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They still have a lot of flexibility to do more. Wouldn't count on it though

[URL="https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/teams/utah_jazz/86"]Utah Jazz News[/URL] / [URL="http://saltcityhoops.com/"]Salt City Hoops[/URL] / 16 hours ago


[h=2][/h]Shaq Harrison brings athleticism and defense to the Jazz. (via NBA.com/Bulls) So maybe the Jazz weren’t done with their roster after all. In a surprise move to address their perimeter depth a week into training camp, the Jazz reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with free agent guard Shaquille Harrison.

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2020/12/08/utah-jazz-deron-williams-jedi-like-mentor-trip-see-john-stockton/[/url]
[QUOTE][INDENT]“Before my rookie season they sent me up there, they sent me up to Spokane. I spent like five days with him. It was amazing.”

[/INDENT][/QUOTE]

I thought he went up at least a couple times

[QUOTE][INDENT]“My biggest regret was not reaching back out to him after and doing it again. It should have been something that I probably did like every summer. Because John’s not… you can tell he’s one of those guys that’s not big into the spotlight, not big into the limelight. He’s happy with his life up there, so he’s not a guy who’s just going to reach out. I think [the Jazz] reached out to him and were like, ‘hey, we’ve got this new guy, we want to send him up there.'”

[/INDENT][/QUOTE]

blew that on one Deron

[I]Rudy/Favors/Udoka/Gill
[I]O'Neale/Niang/Morgan/Brantley
[I]Bojan/Ingles/Oni/Bluiett?
[I]Mitchell/Clarkson/Hughes/Toolson
[I]Conley/Harrison/William Goss/Forrest

Mudiay, Wright Forman

That's 20 and might be it but they could easily cut a non guaranteed deal(likely Goss I imagine) or exhibit 10 which they probably will. I think they can have 4 exhibit 10's overall so they'll likely add another before the end of camp besides Bluiett who they've yet to officially add. So 10 guaranteed deals?, 2 two ways, 5 non guaranteed?, 3 exhibit 10's?, 2 free agents from last years team. I imagine any hope for Mudiay i now gone. Could still use at least one more vet ideally. They obviously don't think as much of Oni and Morgan as has been reported. Might as well get some vets. Have enough young guys that won't play already especially if no Stars which should be announced anytime.

Would appear despite what we are reading to the contrary that Harrison, Niang, Oni, Morgan and Brantley are waiting for scraps 9-13[/I][/I][/I][/I][/I]

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/latest-utah-jazz-news-recent/2020/12/9/22166410/utah-jazz-sign-shaq-harrison-to-a-one-year-deal-nba-offseason-free-agency[/url]

[QUOTE][URL="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1336775098225872901%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slcdunk.com%2Flatest-utah-jazz-news-recent%2F2020%2F12%2F9%2F22166410%2Futah-jazz-sign-shaq-harrison-to-a-one-year-deal-nba-offseason-free-agency"][B]Shams Charania[/B]



@ShamsCharania


[/URL]·
[URL="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1336774715940200449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1336775098225872901%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slcdunk.com%2Flatest-utah-jazz-news-recent%2F2020%2F12%2F9%2F22166410%2Futah-jazz-sign-shaq-harrison-to-a-one-year-deal-nba-offseason-free-agency"]Dec 9, 2020[/URL]

[URL="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1336774715940200449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1336775098225872901%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slcdunk.com%2Flatest-utah-jazz-news-recent%2F2020%2F12%2F9%2F22166410%2Futah-jazz-sign-shaq-harrison-to-a-one-year-deal-nba-offseason-free-agency"]
[/URL]
Free agent guard Shaq Harrison is finalizing a deal with the Utah Jazz, sources tell me and [URL="https://twitter.com/Tjonesonthenba?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1336775098225872901%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slcdunk.com%2Flatest-utah-jazz-news-recent%2F2020%2F12%2F9%2F22166410%2Futah-jazz-sign-shaq-harrison-to-a-one-year-deal-nba-offseason-free-agency"]@Tjonesonthenba[/URL].



[URL="https://twitter.com/johnhollinger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1336775098225872901%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slcdunk.com%2Flatest-utah-jazz-news-recent%2F2020%2F12%2F9%2F22166410%2Futah-jazz-sign-shaq-harrison-to-a-one-year-deal-nba-offseason-free-agency"]

[IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/3683769150/4402f4baa66031982d5b215d6dd1732f_normal.jpeg[/IMG]



[/URL][URL="https://twitter.com/johnhollinger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1336775098225872901%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slcdunk.com%2Flatest-utah-jazz-news-recent%2F2020%2F12%2F9%2F22166410%2Futah-jazz-sign-shaq-harrison-to-a-one-year-deal-nba-offseason-free-agency"][B]John Hollinger[/B]



@johnhollinger


[/URL]

Best move they've made this offseason.

[/QUOTE]

sadly yes

[QUOTE]This move will potentially help fill one of Utah’s biggest needs, wing defense. Last season Utah relied almost entirely on Royce O’Neale’s perimeter defense but it wasn’t enough in the playoffs against the [URL="https://www.denverstiffs.com/"]Denver Nuggets[/URL] in the first round. Harrison doesn’t solve the problem but if his shooting from the end of last season carries over it will definitely help and could even do more for the Jazz.


[/QUOTE]

their biggest need a starting 4 is still there other than Favors spotting up in the corner. This guy adds size to the backcourt but again how many minutes are there for him regardless?

[QUOTE]However you look at this, it’s a great move by the Jazz front office. It’s low-risk and high-reward. Utah already has better depth this season from the draft and free agency and now can swing for the fences on Harrison. If it doesn’t pan out, it’s a one-year minimum deal and there’s no harm done. If Harrison can maintain his shooting and improved level of play he could be a potential rotation player on the team.


[/QUOTE]

With this move they probably have more depth. Probably a better fit than Mudiay.
[QUOTE]
The one reason it may have taken this long for Harrison to get a contract may be because of a hand injury.


[/QUOTE]

Oh well. Depth for later maybe

[QUOTE][h=4]bench getting stronger[/h]
Conley/Harrison
Mitchell/Clarkson
O’Neale/Ingles
Bogdanovic/Niang/Morgan
Gobert/Favors/Azubuike

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Calvin%20Chappell"]Calvin Chappell[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/latest-utah-jazz-news-recent/2020/12/9/22166410/utah-jazz-sign-shaq-harrison-to-a-one-year-deal-nba-offseason-free-agency#534296418"]Dec 9, 2020 | 3:34 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Brantley and Oni?



[QUOTE][h=4]Now lets find someone to replace Niang[/h]
I like SUVs, not minivans

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/statpower"]statpower[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/latest-utah-jazz-news-recent/2020/12/9/22166410/utah-jazz-sign-shaq-harrison-to-a-one-year-deal-nba-offseason-free-agency#534296874"]Dec 9, 2020 | 3:47 PM[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

Brantley and Morgan. Still doesn't solve the hole at starting 4

[QUOTE][h=4]Yeah, but it seems Q prefers Niang over Morgan already[/h]
Niang is a good 3 point shooter, but i wish his defense and speed is better

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/statpower"]statpower[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/latest-utah-jazz-news-recent/2020/12/9/22166410/utah-jazz-sign-shaq-harrison-to-a-one-year-deal-nba-offseason-free-agency#534296959"]Dec 9, 2020 | 3:49 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

Probably but we'll see
[QUOTE]Niang’s lone purpose is to snipe if we need to snipe.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Korumbian"]Korumbian[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/latest-utah-jazz-news-recent/2020/12/9/22166410/utah-jazz-sign-shaq-harrison-to-a-one-year-deal-nba-offseason-free-agency#534297015"]Dec 9, 2020 | 3:51 PM[/URL]
[/QUOTE]

he's capable of more

[QUOTE][h=4]Mudiay wasnt a great fit[/h]
But I thought he played really well for stretches. He definitely got better having come to utah to play. Not bad for a backup pg. Favors solidifies the entire bench. He makes the whole unit better in the way Gobert makes the starters better. From screening to offensive rebounds. We get to watch him dunk over a crowd of defenders again. He can shoot from the midrange and has touch around the basket. His pick and roll with Ingles is lethal. Then most importantly of all he can defend the rim.
This team got a whole lot better. We just didn’t make huge splashy moves to be noticed or have enough roster turnover for mainstream media to notice. But with a healthy bojan. more perimeter defense, 48 min rim protection and a bench unit that can sustain and even build on leads this team can play with anyone.
When they are playing at their best and the blender is turning they can beat anyone. They look unbeatable at times when they have the offense going smoothly and the ball is moving. Which is why the game 7 loss hurt so much. I think we would have beaten the clippers and lost the Lakers same as the nuggets did last year.

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/JazzHands2017"]JazzHands2017[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/latest-utah-jazz-news-recent/2020/12/9/22166410/utah-jazz-sign-shaq-harrison-to-a-one-year-deal-nba-offseason-free-agency#534297736"]Dec 9, 2020 | 4:16 PM[/URL]
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Not a perfect fit but 3rd pg he was good. Rather have him as a 6th man than Clarkson. Wright Forman too. Favors might make the bench better but he makes the starters worse. He can't shoot and isn't the rim protector he's made out to be. They're probably better but still have the same issues they had other than Favors is now spotting up in the corner for 3. Where's more perimeter D coming from? This guy is 9th in the rotation at best! We'll see if they can play with anyone. Beat up on bad teams last year. Sucked against good ones. Favors for Bradley makes that big of a difference? Won't be a blender with Favors at the 4.

[QUOTE]Teams are allowed to dip below 14 for up to two weeks at a time, so technically Utah could trade away whomever they view as their 13th and 14th men at the March 25 trade deadline. That means keeping only one of Harrison, Oni, Morgan and NWG past the deadline. Frankly, the Harrison signing might signal Utah’s readiness to move on from Williams-Goss, but in this cost-saving scenario they still have to send two players away out of Shaq/Oni/Morgan. During a playoff run. Not ideal.


[/QUOTE]

Goss seems likely. I thought he'd be gone before the off season started. Now for sure. Might replace him with someone off another team still though. Another vet would be sweet!

[QUOTE]Then, they’d have to wait the maximum amount of time before replacing them with 10-day contracts on April 8. When those 10-days ran out on April 17, they would again wait the maximum amount of time again to ink two more 10-day deals on May 1 (with the same players or different ones). That would get them to the end of the season legally. The two players they traded would come off their books completely, and the four 10-day contracts they’d sign at strategic moments would cost them a total of $444K, keepting them barely below the tax threshold of $132.6M.


[/QUOTE]

I can see them doing that but who knows Rudy could get traded. Ingles if he continues to decline. Favors if Udoka steps up. Bojan if they decide they want a starting 4. Clarkson if Snyder falls in love with Harrison. Lots can happen and usually does

[QUOTE]But that would mean sending away two players they ostensibly like, and heading into the stretch run of the season with a compromised bench. Having to dump two of Harrison/Oni/Morgan in late March just to fudge the tax is less than idea from a competitive standpoint. Although in fairness, Utah barely used its 13th and 14th men last season, so perhaps that is palatable to them depending on how those guys’ seasons go.


[/QUOTE]

I thought they liked Tucker, Bradley and Brantley as well. They like money more

[QUOTE]It will be interesting to see how the pecking order lands among Harrison, Oni, Morgan, Georges Niang and even rookies Udoka Azubuike and Elijah Hughes. The Jazz have a pretty clear top eight, but Snyder likes to use a 9-man rotation. That means there is likely a 12-16 minute rotation role available for one of those deep bench guys, as well as spot duty for others when needs arise due to injuries, struggles, foul trouble and whatever else.


[/QUOTE]

Brantley? I think last year might be the only time he went with 9. I think it's been more like 10 i the past. Ideally the young guys that aren't playing are with the Stars if there is a Stars. That's why another vet would be nice to replace Goss

[QUOTE]It’s pretty likely that the battle for that 9th man spot is rather fluid, and that we’ll see different guys play their way into regular minutes over the course of the season. Sometimes Harrison or Oni will win those minutes, which means playing smaller and pushing someone like Royce O’Neale to the 4. Other times, Niang or Morgan might play his way past him, making the Jazz bigger and pushing O’Neale back to the win.


[/QUOTE]

O'Neale is the 4

[QUOTE]But they have more options now because of the Harrison signing, and I suspect his pesky defense will make it hard for Snyder not to play him. Jazz folks have also been raving about Oni’s and Morgan’s progress during camp. so there are definitely some interesting questions to ponder as it relates to Utah’s 9-through-14 depth. Harrison makes that process all the more interesting, and gives Snyder more options as far as how to flex those bench lineups.

[/QUOTE]

He didn't play the young guys against the Nuggets when they needed D so I wouldn't try to out guess Snyder. He is smarter than us remember!

[URL]https://saltcityhoops.com/jazz-improve-perimeter-depth/[/URL]

[QUOTE]Harrison can play some point guard, which means he can be an alternative to Nigel Williams-Goss as Utah’s emergency playmaker should Mike Conley or Donovan Mitchell miss time. He can also play on the wing, where his defensive abilities and an improving jump shot give the Jazz another 3-and-D option.


[/QUOTE]

Or Ingles. Hopefully less Clarkson!

[QUOTE]His raw stats are not much to write home about — 4.9 points and 2.0 rebounds last year — but he’s a plus-minus superstar, someone who played a small role but almost always gave the Bulls winning minutes. Offensively, he’s a wrecking ball, with strength and quickness to get to the rim for 59% of his shot attempts — an elite figure for a guard. He was a shaky shooter early in his career, but last season he brought his percentage up to 39% on catch-and-shoot threes. There are sample size concerns to be sure (only 33 attempts), but if he can keep that somewhere above 36% or so, then that’s good enough to end possessions as a spot-up shooter without dragging down the team’s efficiency.


[/QUOTE]

What % does Favors need to be at spotting up in the corner?

[QUOTE]Where he’ll really add value is on the defensive end of the court. He’s a frenetic and frisky defender who plays with a consistently high energy level. His steal rate (2.9%) and block rate (2.2%) are both elite for his positional grouping, and he’s an above-average rebounding guard as well. He’s in the 79th percentile for guarding plays that end with a P&R ball handler using the play, largely because he forces them to cough up the ball a remarkable 38% of the time. He’s a deflection machine, he’s good staying in front, and he’s just generally just going to annoy opposing ball handlers.


[/QUOTE]

they need the rebounding without a starting 4

[QUOTE]The Athletic’s John Hollinger had Harrison ranked as the [URL="https://theathletic.com/2166244/2020/11/20/nba-free-agency-shooting-guard-rankings-bogdan-bogdanovic-deanthony-melton-on-top/"]seventh best free agent shooting guard[/URL] before free agency began. Hollinger wrote of Harrison: “I think he’s the most underrated free agent in this class, somebody who might sign for the minimum or not much more but deliver significantly more value in a high-end bench role.” ESPN’s Zach Lowe put Shaq on his “Redeem Team,” [URL="https://t.co/0XhbarWxOR?amp=1"]a list of players[/URL] he thinks are “better than they looked last season” and could be due for nice improvements in 2020-21.


[/QUOTE]

let's hope Snyder falls in love like he does and Clarkson is on the trading block soon(Like anyone wants that contract!). But maybe they have more picks they can deal!

[QUOTE]The Jazz were already going to have a hard time dodging the tax this year, and this deal doesn’t really change that. Harrison will count against the tax for exactly the same amount that Juwan Morgan would if the Jazz kept him all season, and only $102K and change more than Williams-Goss and Miye Oni will count. But since teams mostly have to keep their roster at a league-mandated minimum of 14 guys, it’s pretty unlikely the Jazz can evade the tax man without trading one of their main eight guys — something they obviously don’t want to do just weeks after brining Derrick Favors back to complement last seasons [URL="https://twitter.com/Lockedonsports/status/1329960168608567296?s=20"]great 7-man core[/URL].


[/QUOTE]

By the trade deadline they could get under the tax.

[QUOTE]So unless they engage in some cap gymnastics at the trade deadline, it’s increasingly likely that the Jazz will pay the NBA’s luxury tax for the first time in club history.


[/QUOTE]

I believe the 3rd time. Twice to pay over the hill torn achilles Okur because that's what the Jazz do!

[QUOTE]If Harrison’s deal is indeed guaranteed, that brings Utah within $1.15M of the tax line with just 12 guaranteed contracts. Whichever guys they keep for the 13th and 14th roster spots — likely any two of Oni, Morgan or Williams — would trigger the tax. There is one way they could stay under without trading a major piece, but it would come with a competitive cost. (Warning: it’s about to get a little mathy.)


[/QUOTE]

Goss probably won't make it through the year. Maybe not through camp

[url]https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2020/12/09/utah-jazz-add-free-agent/[/url]

[QUOTE]Per The Athletic report, Harrison is recovering from a hand injury, but is expected to be at 100% physically within the first weeks of the regular season.




[/QUOTE]



short handed for a while

[url]https://kslsports.com/448263/jazz-sign-guard-shaquille-harrison/[/url]

[QUOTE]Harrison helps fill the Jazz void at back up point guard which was otherwise occupied by guards Joe Ingles and Nigel Williams-Goss. Ingles is a more than capable lead guard in spot minutes, but the Jazz would have found themselves thin at the position in case of an injury to either Conley or Ingles.


[/QUOTE]

Mitchell and the Ricky wannabe as well

[QUOTE]At 6’4, Harrison also adds much-needed size to the Jazz backcourt as both Mitchell and Conley stand 6’1, and 6’0.


[/QUOTE]

wingspan?

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/9/22166207/utah-jazz-agree-to-deal-with-free-agent-guard-shaquille-harrison[/url]

[QUOTE]After passing a physical and officially inking his deal with the Jazz, the team released a statement that also lists his height as 6-4.


[/QUOTE]

who cares! What is his wingspan?

[QUOTE]Harrison is crafty in passing lanes and moves around screens with speed. When thinking back to how much trouble the Jazz had creating any sort of containment around Jamal Murray in their playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Harrison is the ideal plug-and-play type of person who can take on the task of guarding even the league’s most daunting perimeter players.


[/QUOTE]

Oni, Brantley and Tucker were available. COTY went with Clarkson! :facepalm

[QUOTE]The Jazz have a large number of ballhandlers and playmakers, but lockdown defense from those players has been a weakness.

[/QUOTE]

bigger weakness is not having a starting 4 other than Favors spotting up for 3. He does add size to their small backcourt

[QUOTE]Royce O’Neale, while an excellent defender, cannot play 48 minutes, and he cannot take on all of an opposing team’s weapons at once, so when players such as Donovan Mitchell or Joe Ingles pick up some of the more exhaustive defensive assignments, it takes away from the energy the can expend on the offensive side of the ball.


[/QUOTE]

and Royce is playing out of position and Ingles is on the decline and Mitchell sucks at D. They have plenty of offense. If Mitchell needs to exert himself defensively he needs to!

[QUOTE]With Harrison in the rotation, it should allow some of the Jazz’s more prolific offensive players room to operate at a higher level on that side.


[/QUOTE]

Remains to be seen if he will be in the rotation and if he is there aren't many minutes available


[QUOTE]As the Jazz’s roster stands, the starters are Mitchell, O’Neale, Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic and Rudy Gobert, with a bench rotation of Joe Ingles, Derrick Favors, Jordan Clarkson, Georges Niang and Harrison, along with a host of rookies and second-year players (Udoka Azubuike, Elijah Hughes, Miye Oni, Juwan Morgan and Jarrell Brantley) who could find playing time as well.


[/QUOTE]

I'd say Niang and Harrison's minutes should be up for grabs. Nice of you to mention Brantley for a change at least

[url]https://fansided.com/2020/12/09/one-bold-prediction-every-nba-team-season-preview/6/[/url]

[QUOTE]Part of the reason Utah chose to bring Derrick Favors back to town was to provide insurance in case their contract extension talks with Gobert didn’t go as planned. The Jazz don’t seem interested in giving the towering center the max contract he covets.


[/QUOTE]

And their 1st round pick. If they aren't prepared to pay him max and more than Mitchell than I'd say see ya! If the Jazz do trade him it makes no sense to keep Favors or any of their old guys though. I'm sure they will but they shouldn't. It would be time to tank. They aren't winning without Rudy

[QUOTE]That makes an in-season trade an intriguing possibility. Someone like Boston might view Gobert as the missing piece to their championship puzzle. It’s easy to envision a scenario where Utah decides breaking the Donovan Mitchell-Gobert pairing up is the right long-term play for the franchise.


[/QUOTE]

it is easy to envision considering it's the Jazz. Trading the 3rd most important figure in Jazz history for the flash of Mitchell :facepalm

[URL="https://theathletic.com/2251145/2020/12/10/sources-timberwolves-and-scott-layden-part-ways-after-4-seasons/?source=emp_shared_article"]The Timberwolves and general manager Scott Layden have parted ways,[/URL] sources told The Athletic, a move that brings an end to the last vestiges of the Tom Thibodeau era in Minnesota. The two sides reached an agreement earlier this week, just two weeks before Layden would have started his fifth season as a member of the Wolves front office. Layden had one season left on the contract he signed in 2016 and remained an involved member of the front office even after Thibodeau was replaced by Gersson Rosas as president of basketball operations. But several factors and an upcoming season complicated by COVID-19 combined to make this the right time to part, sources said.
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/2251145/2020/12/10/sources-timberwolves-and-scott-layden-part-ways-after-4-seasons/?source=emp_shared_article"]Jon Krawczynski @ The Athletic[/URL]