2016- Yet another long off-season

[quote][B][URL="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pleisti01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com"]Tibor Pleiss[/URL][/B] gets the nod here because he's actually under contract.[/quote]
Right now that shouldn't be too much of a concern. I could see them cutting any of the guys at the end of the bench with the money they need to spend.

[quote]He is a challenge to get on the floor because he's just not ready for the speed of the American game right now, or the physicality. Like Ingles, if there's an upgrade here (and there could be just in the non-guaranteed section) you should try to take it.[/quote]
I think they may be able to get way with him as the 4th big who plays a few minutes here and there depending on match-ups based on what he showed in those couple games where he got quality minutes after his D-league call-up.

[quote]He has gotten better every year in the league[/quote]
No actually he got worse in his 2nd year.

[quote]After starting most of last season now he is going to be on the deep bench again.[/quote]
Not so sure of that. You got to have role players. He hits open 3's and defends. That's what they asked of him. When they let him run the team like Mack he was able to run the pick and roll and penetrate and make plays. He's got to play somewhere.

[quote]Mack can be replaced now that Hill is on the team -- taking over both the point guard starting spot for the time being, and also being a floor general and veteran presence.[/quote]
I think that might happen but not so sure it's the right move until we see what Dante is ready to contribute. No one ran the team better than Mack. Don't think that is Hill's strong suit either and Dante hasn't shown it outside one summer league game.

[quote][B][URL="http://www.basketball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?search=Chris+Johnson&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com"]Chris Johnson[/URL][/B] is an NBA Player. I've been harsh to him in the past, but he was given an opportunity last season and he did his best. He fills out a roster and should be used in emergencies.[/quote]
Not just emergencies. Sometimes you need a spark and guys like Booker, CJ and Demarre can bring that. Other times you need to slow people like Harden or Klay down and Johnson might be your best bet. He's a corner 3 away from being their Bruce Bowen.

[quote]I think you almost have to try to figure out a way to bring him back.[/quote]
I think he has to go if you're not going to play him.

[quote]But I don't know if he showed enough of his basketball game in order to be asked to return.[/quote]
Sure he did. For the right price and in the right role any team would love to have him. See Johnson. He was a big part in a lot of wins.

[quote]These are impossibly big numbers, [U][B][URL="http://www.slcdunk.com/nba-free-agency/2016/6/18/11968580/nba-salary-cap-utah-jazz-projections-flush-wish-cash"]and it's likely that the Jazz won't ever get close to the tax in the next few off-seasons[/URL][/B][/U]. The next few seasons things continue to be crazy.[/quote]
Next year for sure they could be close. This year possibly. Hill and Favors extensions and filling out the end of bench could do that.

[quote]Of course, [B][URL="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/duranke01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com"]Kevin Durant[/URL][/B] is only paying lip-service when he mentions the Jazz [URL="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16371994/kevin-durant-free-agency-basketball-decision"]small market teams[/URL] as a possible destination (like he did in a recent interview).[/quote]
I don't think so. I think he'd go where he thought he had the best chance to win. Not sure that is Utah though.

[url]http://www.slcdunk.com/nba-free-agency/2016/6/22/12011018/nba-draft-2016-utah-jazz-picks-george-hill-cap-space-roster-rotation-gordon-hayward[/url]

[quote]The first thing you notice here is that [B][URL="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/exumda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com"]Dante Exum[/URL][/B] is starting, not Hill. It's fair to say that Hill will start at the beginning of the season, but as a Jazz fan you HOPE that Exum is good enough to start mid-way though to the finish of the season and surpass Hill.[/quote]
Mack probably should be the starting pg with Hill at the 2 until Exum proves otherwise and than I'd think Hill/Exum in the long term.

[quote]Hood catches fire and gets cold. You can survive with some game to game fluctuation, but Hood gets extremely cold and extremely hot. It's hard to bank on.[/quote]
Which I think makes him a bench player.

[quote]George Hill is possibly the best point guard on the team since [B][URL="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/willide01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com"]Deron Williams[/URL][/B], and could be the best back-up point guard on the team since [B][URL="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/stockjo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com"]John Stockton[/URL][/B] was [B][URL="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/greenri01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com"]Rickey Green[/URL][/B]'s caddy.[/quote]
Hill starts because of his D and all the spot ups he will get with Favors and Hayward and even at his height, with his length he will be able to start at either spot. Yeah like John he was backing up a lesser player unlike Rickey Exum was not coming off an all-star year.

[quote]One of the main reasons why I am (at least for now) putting Hill on the bench is because I did not want to start THREE guys in contract years. [/quote]
Doesn't matter if he starts or not. He's getting paid because he's good.

[quote][B][URL="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/burksal01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.basketball-reference.com"]Alec Burks[/URL][/B] is probably good enough to start, but he didn't go to Duke University like Rodney did. [/quote]
That was last year. I think they'll start whoever fits best with the starting front court which is set and the guy opposite him at guard.

[quote]He is making an awful lot of money for someone who misses a lot of games[/quote]
This year he did. His contract is very friendly now if he can stay on the court.

[quote]Lyles, at 20, needs a lot of development.[/quote]
Not really. Offensively he plays like another one of their wings. I liked what I saw defensively. I think he can become more than passable there as well.

[url]http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/242340/Suns-Offered-Eric-Bledsoe-Lottery-Pick-To-Jazz-For-Gordon-Hayward[/url]

Only reason I could see passing this up is because Bledsoe has been hurt a lot. I would have done the Knight deal too.

[url]http://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/242323/Grading-The-Deal-Teague-To-Pacers-George-Hill-To-Jazz-12th-Overall-To-Hawks[/url]

[QUOTE]Jody Genessy: [URL="http://*********.com/social/"]Gordon Hayward was invited to play for Team USA in the 2016 Rio Olympics but turned down the offer,[/URL] according to sources.

Looks like there might be a few Euro's left in the 2nd round to stash. I liked Korkmaz and he's still on the board up to 26.

Edit: Ah, Philly just took him with the same plan.

Saw we took Whitehead and couldn't understand why. Traded it to Brooklyn for 55 and some dollarydoos.

Must not be anyone of interest to stash, or they can get them late, or they just want some money for nothing.

[QUOTE]Al Iannazzone: [URL="http://*********.com/social/"]Jeff Hornacek said Knicks will try to sign a backup point guard and a third point guard,[/URL] and would have regardless of Derrick Rose

[quote=El Kabong]Saw we took Whitehead and couldn't understand why. Traded it to Brooklyn for 55 and some dollarydoos.

Must not be anyone of interest to stash, or they can get them late, or they just want some money for nothing.[/quote]

I'd guess all 3 could be stashed like Hanlan last year. I was excited about Whiehead because he is a couple years younger than the guys they got.

[QUOTE]Jody Genessy: [URL="http://*********.com/social/"]Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey said the organization tried hard but was unable to acquire a second first-round pick[/URL]. [/QUOTE]

Looked like a lot of the guys that mocks had going to the Jazz they could have gotten much later on.

[URL="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656781/General-manager-Dennis-Lindsey-feels-Utah-Jazz-filled-needs-with-interesting-draft.html"]http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656781/General-manager-Dennis-Lindsey-feels-Utah-Jazz-filled-needs-with-interesting-draft.html[/URL]

[quote]Utah now has seven point guards on its roster. That group of playmakers also includes Dante Exum, Shelvin Mack, Raul Neto and Trey Burke.[/quote]
Believe Hanlan was considered a combo too.
[quote]the team still has some needs heading into the free-agency period that begins on July 1.

The Jazz suffered from a lack of wing depth last year
[/quote]
Not sure they need that much help there really. Hayward, Hood, Burks, Hill, Ingles, Johnson and Exum should cover it.

[quote]and Utah will have a decision to make when it comes to a backup power forward behind Derrick Favors. It

[url]http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656780/Utah-Jazz-select-Weber-States-Joel-Bolomboy-with-52nd-pick-of-the-draft.html[/url]

[QUOTE]Bolomboy's skill set could very well put him line to possibly replace Jazz power forward Trevor Booker, who spent the last two seasons in Utah but is currently a free agent, on the Jazz roster.[/QUOTE]

If he's on the roster I certainly wouldn't expect him to be playing at least at the beginning of the year. They see him as a nice local draw to their D-league team if anything.

[url]http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656829/Deseret-News-NBA-draft-rewind-Crazy-draft-ends-with-a-flurry-of-Utah-Jazz-picks.html[/url]

[QUOTE]But why pick up two more point guards? They already got George Hill. I honestly don't see Marcus Paige or Tyrone Wallace making the roster.[/QUOTE]

Why does everyone think in the short term? These guys might help the Jazz someday like Neto last year. A big part of the Spurs success is they have a lot bigger roster than everyone else because of all the good players they have stashed away. In a couple years these guys could be cheap contracts when the Jazz have little money to spend. The one guy is a 6'5" combo guard. Another multi skilled guy with size.

[QUOTE]At the same time, Utah also used second-round picks on Jamie Watson, Robert Whaley, Olivier Hanlan and Kaniel Dickens.[/QUOTE]

Hanlan might end up helping them still :facepalm

[url]http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656786/Utah-Jazz-draft-day-talk-Breaking-down-the-George-Hill-trade.html[/url]

[QUOTE]The addition of Hill gives the Jazz elite defensive length at all five starting positions as well as a starting 1-3 who all shoot nearly 40 percent from the 3-point line, assuming your starters are Hill, Hood and Hayward.[/QUOTE]

Don't think Maxi G and Hood are that long just tall. Hill/Exum would be great length at the 1/2

[url]http://saltcityhoops.com/jazz-pick-three-nba-hopefuls-including-weber-state-standout/[/url]

[QUOTE]all three will have to negotiate deals with the Jazz and then try to make a roster by competing in summer and fall camps.[/QUOTE]

Ideally they will only be in fall camp if they show something in the summer first and have a realistic shot of making the team. Better to stash them otherwise.

[QUOTE]Paige is a 6

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/sports/4045013-155/kragthorpe-mr-irrelevant-cals-tyrone-wallace[/url]

[QUOTE]Those possibilities include signing one or both of the drafted guards to a D-League contract, bypassing the Jazz roster and going straight to the Stars.[/QUOTE]

I imagine that's what the Jazz would like to do that with all of them but it's a lot less money than Hanlan made abroad I'm sure. Hopefully Hanlan will be in the summer leagues with these guys too so we can see how they compare and how he's improved.

[QUOTE]Thomas' 5-9 height was his perceived liability. Wallace's weakness is outside shooting. He shot 29.8 percent from 3-point range as a senior, while averaging 15.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists. Wallace scored 26 points against Utah in Cal's overtime loss in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals in March.

NBA teams "love his all-around game," Cal coach Cuonzo Martin said in a school news release this week. "The one thing they question is his ability to hit the 3-point shot. But everything else, they really like. They like his length, his size, his athleticism, his ability to defend, to rebound at that size."[/QUOTE]

Sounds a lot like the guys they already have. Is his shot broken?

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/sports/4041869-155/monson-one-small-step-for-the[/url]

[QUOTE]Hill plays point guard, but he also plays shooting guard. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, with a long reach, he's capable of playing the wing. Which is to say, he's a versatile player who isn't boxed into the same position as Exum.[/QUOTE]


Exum is only boxed in by all the media hype. Who knows what he is really. He could defend pg's. Can he right now?


[QUOTE]Unless they are wracked and wrecked with injuries again, they'll make the playoffs next April.[/QUOTE]


Or if the coach doesn't play the best guys available to him.

[url]http://saltcityhoops.com/hill-gives-the-jazz-an-interesting-year/[/url]

[QUOTE]a 12-month boost in their team-building timeline.[/QUOTE]

12 months late

[QUOTE]Now they get a solid starting PG

[url]http://www.slcdunk.com/nba-draft/2016/6/24/12024916/nba-draft-2016-utah-jazz-draft-grades-joel-bolomboy-marcus-paige-tyrone-wallace[/url]

[QUOTE]The Utah Jazz didn't select a draft and stash guy either, but another NCAA Senior, and another guard -- a combo guard from Califorina: [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/276642/tyrone-wallace?_ga=1.206576787.1636096846.1453995768"]Tyrone Wallace[/URL]. [/QUOTE]

Same as Hanlan and he was stashed. :coleman:

[url]http://www.slcdunk.com/nba-draft/2016/6/23/12022956/nba-draft-2016-utah-jazz-select-tyrone-wallace-from-california-as-the[/url]
[QUOTE]
Wallace is another big point guard, he is 6'6 in shoes and has a 6'9.50" wingspan -- that's what we already measure in [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/246134/dante-exum"]Dante Exum[/URL], and that wingspan is only 0.50" longer than that of the much shorter [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/50397/george-hill"]George Hill[/URL]. Wallace is not really remarkable but he has a defensive potential with his length. He's even longer than Marcus Paige and could be even more deadly.[/QUOTE]

This guy sounds like he could be something if they can fix his shot.

[QUOTE]He is now the billionth point guard on the team right now. Dante Exum, George Hill, [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/198045/raul-neto"]Raul Neto[/URL], and Trey Burke have contracts for next season that are on the books. [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/150210/shelvin-mack"]Shelvin Mack[/URL] does not, but he has a non-guaranteed deal that become guaranteed in about two weeks. Utah holds the draft rights to 2015 #42 pick [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/257522/olivier-hanlan"]Olivier Hanlan[/URL], and also earlier in this draft the 2016 #55 Marcus Paige. The selection of Wallace makes him now the 8th.
Something's gotta give.
[/QUOTE]
Why? You don't have to put guys on the roster immediately and in most cases would probably be better. :confusedshrug:

[url]http://www.slcdunk.com/nba-draft/2016/6/23/12022922/nba-draft-2016-utah-jazz-marcus-paige-north-carolina-dante-exum-george-hill-raul-neto[/url]

[QUOTE]Paige is a 6'2 ball hawk who is a 22 year old Senior. He isn't that tall (inbetween the heights of [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/198035/trey-burke"]Trey Burke[/URL] and [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/198045/raul-neto"]Raul Neto[/URL]) but has a significantly longer wingspan of 6'6.25". This helps him on defense and his 1.1 spg average isn't a joke. He wasn't that high on the consensus list, in the 70s out of over 260 players, but the people who had him on their big boards (Chad Ford, ESPN; Jonathan Givony, Draft Express; Sam Vecenie, CBS Sports; Kevin O'Connor, or everywhere; and AllThatAmar) did feel like he had a shot. And yeah, [U][B][URL="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6700361/NBA_Draft_2016_Marcus_Paige.0.PNG"]he was on my list[/URL][/B][/U]. What I like about him, and what I suspect the Jazz brass like about him, is his ability to be a three and d point guard. You know, like [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/50397/george-hill"]George Hill[/URL].
[/QUOTE]

Sounds like he's more like Burke and the other guy is more like Exum to me.

[url]https://jazzfanatical.wordpress.com/2016/06/24/2016-nba-draft-utah-jazz-recap/[/url]

[QUOTE][B]Walt Perrin on Joel Bolomboy[/B]: I would expect to be

Tony Jones: [URL="http://*********.com/social/"]Olivier Hanlan

Have heard Jared Dudley's name mentioned as a possible 3 and D guy to help bolster the wing depth. He seemed very open to coming here when asked (though I imagine he wants a job, so would say that about any team)

Yeah him and the guy from Europe said they would play here. The European said the Jazz or Spurs is where he's want to play. The European doesn't have a buyout this year though.

The rotation looks full to me unless they don't think Exum will be ready so I don't think they'll do a whole lot more.

[QUOTE]Shams Charania: [URL="http://*********.com/social/"]Utah has agreed to a partially guaranteed three-year deal with undrafted Northeastern forward Quincy Ford,[/URL] sources tell The Vertical.

Looks like a wing.

[url]http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656900/Utah-Jazz-Selection-of-WSUs-Bolomboy-brings-immediate-comparisons-to-Millsap.html[/url]

Sounds like an upgrade on Cooley anyway. This guy and the last pick sound like they might be be pretty good.

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/4047022-155/jazz-sign-ford-to-three-year-deal[/url]

[QUOTE]Hanlan was drafted by the Jazz in the second round last year. He played summer league, but went overseas to Lithuania, essentially as a draft-and-stash prospect. He is a combination guard, a little more shooting guard than point guard. He was uneven for the Jazz last season in summer league, but it will be interesting to see if his overall game and skillset have grown after a year across waters. [/QUOTE]

He sucked but you could see he was getting better each game so that was encouraging.

[QUOTE]Here is the known roster, as of right now.

Marcus Paige, G, North Carolina
Trey Lyles, F, Jazz
Quincy Ford, F, Northeastern
Joel Bolomboy, F, Weber State
Tyrone Wallace, G, California
Olivier Hanlan, G, Lithuania
Tibor Pleiss, C, Jazz
[/QUOTE]
Those should be the guys getting most of the minutes.

[URL="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656911/Jazz-GM-Dennis-Lindsey-rebuts-rumor-about-an-unhappy-Gordon-Hayward-demanding-a-trade.html"]The premise

[url]http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656911/Jazz-GM-Dennis-Lindsey-rebuts-rumor-about-an-unhappy-Gordon-Hayward-demanding-a-trade.html?pg=2[/url]

[QUOTE]Trading him away

[QUOTE][URL="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656931/Utah-Jazz-plan-to-be-active-during-free-agency-period.html?pg=all"]Utah only has 1-3 roster spots open

[URL="http://www.sltrib.com/sports/4047721-155/utah-jazz-make-a-win-now"]http://www.sltrib.com/sports/4047721-155/utah-jazz-make-a-win-now[/URL]

[quote]Exum is still the future of the franchise at point guard.[/quote]
They hope but with 3 guys on the roster who have shown more than him and aren't coming off a serious knee injury he has his work cut out for him.

[quote]Until then, Hill projects as Utah's starting point guard — and if needed, Hill and Exum can play together pretty easily. They both are big for their position, both are good defenders and passers, and both can defend more than one spot. So the chemistry between the two — on paper — shouldn't be an issue.[/quote]
Hill projects as a rotation player. I'm not convinced he can run the team better than Mack did. Exum has to prove he can defend still.

[quote]The Jazz didn't make the postseason for the fourth consecutive season because of injuries and depth; too much of the former, too little of the latter.[/quote]
They didn't make it because before the deal for a 3rd string pg at the trading deadline it looked as if they were tanking again. The best part of this deal in addition to the previous one it appears that are playing to win finally. Maybe Withey will even play?

[quote]Lindsey on Friday said the Jazz won't have that many point guards on the opening night roster. That means there are moves to make. Utah is working on a way to trade [/quote]
You think? :facepalm

[url]http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656931/Utah-Jazz-plan-to-be-active-during-free-agency-period.html[/url]

[QUOTE]But Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey has even more in mind. He's used words like "active" and "aggressive" in describing how his staff will approach the upcoming free-agency period.[/QUOTE]

Think we heard this last year.

[QUOTE]In retrospect, Lindsey took responsibility for not having enough depth on the Jazz roster in 2015-16 to help Quin Snyder deal with the unexpected rash of injuries that the team experienced, including to Exum, Burks, Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors.

[quote]Some have viewed Utah giving up a lottery pick as a high price to pay for a player who may only be around for a year, and while a

[URL="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656919/Utah-Jazz-Examining-how-George-Hill-draftees-fit-with-the-organization.html"]http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656919/Utah-Jazz-Examining-how-George-Hill-draftees-fit-with-the-organization.html[/URL]

[quote]Lindsey acquired Hill to provide some quality depth at the point guard position. Third-year guard Dante Exum is expected to be ready to play when the season begins in the fall after suffering an ACL tear last summer, but just how effective he can be is in question.[/quote]
If he's not effective he shouldn't be playing period! They got Hill because he's good. Not necessarily to play 1.

[quote]Last season, Utah head coach Quin Snyder was forced to start rookie Raul Neto until a trade deadline deal brought Shelvin Mack from Atlanta. While Mack was serviceable, production from the position suffered throughout the year.[/quote]
He wasn't forced to start Neto. A wing starting line-up was possible as was Burke. Neto played the role well and I think if he'd been given the chance could have played a role closer to what Mack did. Mack was one of their best players so don't say the position suffered with him. :rolleyes:

[quote]Snyder will ultimately have to decide how much playing time each will get, but Hill gives the coach more options at point guard than he had last season.[/quote]
Or at least better options.

[quote]While the help Hill provides at point guard was the primary reason for acquiring him[/quote]
I really don't see this. They see him as someone that can fit with the other players starting, coming off the bench and at both guard positions. With his length you might even be able to go really small with him at the 3 at times.

[quote]That ability will not only allow Utah head coach Quin Snyder more lineup flexibility, but it will also be a boon if Alec Burks continues to be plagued by injuries like he has been the past two seasons.[/quote]
Tired of hearing this too. The injury from two years ago was an old injury so despite the way Alec plays I'm not ready to say he's injury prone.

[quote]Of course, the addition of Hill put the number of point guards on the Jazz roster at five, meaning it’s likely at least two will not be on the team come fall. Trey Burke is sure to be one of them, as the former lottery pick fell out Snyder’s rotation at the end of the season. If Lindsey can’t find a way to trade him, look for his contract to be bought out.[/quote]
Tired of this as well. Yes Jerry liked 3 pg's. They only carried 2 last year and to me only Mack and Neto are really pg's. Hill is a combo. Burke is a shooting pg at best. Exum is a wing that could guard pg's and they hope he can play the point one day. I can see them carrying more than 3 certainly.

I can also see Trey being on the team. I'm sure they will try to trade him and make him happy but I could see them carrying him on the roster if they can't. It's the Jazz we're talking about here!

[quote]Since Hill will become a free agent next summer, the Jazz gain the benefit of his services during a year in which there’s uncertainty with Exum, but they also maintain the flexibility of moving on from him if Exum makes great strides this season.[/quote]
Even if Dante steps up Hill is one of your best players. They see him long term. Don't think they make the trade if they think he's just a rental.

Alex Kennedy: [URL="http://*********.com/social/"]J.J. O

The summer league roster for the Utah Jazz is filling up and beginning to take shape. League sources, on Sunday, confirmed to the Salt Lake Tribune that [URL="http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/4051483-155/sources-jazz-add-obrien-fofana-to"]two more players will be coming to SLC in the next week. Those guys are 6-foot-7 small forward JJ O

[url]http://www.sltrib.com/sports/4053694-155/utah-jazz-bryon-russell-says-golden[/url]

Not hard to imagine Green getting inside Karl's head like Rodman did. Bogut is better than Longley. Don't remember Byron posting up a lot of guys. What rules they using?