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

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

Mudiay, Wright Forman

That's 20 and might be it but they could easily cut a non guaranteed deal 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. So 10 guaranteed deals, 2 two ways, 4 non guaranteed, 3 exhibit 10's, 2 free agents. Need more vets. 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.[/I][/I][/I][/I][/I]

Collinsworth probably would have had a spot in camp too if he hadn't gone overseas

Jared Weiss: Ainge says he’s amazed but he caliber of players who are still free agents right now, but [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]he wants to go into camp giving players who didn’t play much last year a chance to show what they can do before going to the FA market to round out the roster. That’s vital for Javonte Green[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/JaredWeissNBA"]Twitter JaredWeissNBA[/URL]

and yet the Jazz are happy with just making the playoffs with what they got. One significant injury to Rudy and it's the lottery

Brian Lewis: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Nash thinks Jeff Green’s best position at this point is smallball center.[/URL] #Nets
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/NYPost_Lewis"]Twitter NYPost_Lewis[/URL]

ok!

[URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1333863292423454720%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fkslsports.com%2F447328%2Fquestions-the-jazz-can-and-cant-answer-in-training-camp%2F%3F"][B]Ben Anderson[/B]


@BensHoops


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[URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops/status/1333863292423454720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1333863292423454720%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fkslsports.com%2F447328%2Fquestions-the-jazz-can-and-cant-answer-in-training-camp%2F%3F"]
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Here's the rough [URL="https://twitter.com/utahjazz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1333863292423454720%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fkslsports.com%2F447328%2Fquestions-the-jazz-can-and-cant-answer-in-training-camp%2F%3F"]@utahjazz[/URL] depth chart entering training camp:PG: Conley / Ingles / NWGSG: Mitchell / Clarkson / OniSF: O'Neale / HughesPF: Bogdanovic / Niang / MorganC: Gobert / Favors / AzubuikeTwo way: Brantley, Forrest

Hughes is the backup?


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[QUOTE]Andrew Greif: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Rayjon Tucker has signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Clippers,[/URL] two sources told @latimessports . It gives Tucker a chance to compete for a job.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/AndrewGreif"]Twitter AndrewGreif[/URL]



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good pickup

[url]https://kslsports.com/447388/gobert-my-goal-is-to-win-a-championship-in-utah/[/url]

[QUOTE]Gobert is likely to spend less time on the floor with Favors than he had in previous seasons after Bogdanovic’s breakout season last year with the Jazz. The sharpshooting forward averaged 20.2 points 4.1 rebounds and shot 41 percent on more than seven three-point attempts per game.


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Yeah right! They have no else but Favors spotting up for 3 in the corner. Probably be more!

[url]https://kslsports.com/447382/bogdanovic-unsure-if-hell-be-ready-for-jazz-opener/[/url]

[QUOTE]Rudy Gobert stands a full 7’0 tall, Favors is 6’9, and Bogdanovic is 6’8. The forward said he’s excited about the prospect of spending some time at the small forward position.


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who cares? Bojan hardly plays big other than being able to shoot over people. O'Neale plays big jut not at the 4 and Mitchell does just not so much at the 2

[QUOTE]“I think that we’ve got a really good [front] line,” Bogdanovic said. “We can play with two bigs with him and Rudy on the court. But also we can play small like he did last season.”


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You can but they both have their issues as we've seen

[QUOTE]Though the two may end up splitting minutes at the power forward position, Bogdanovic said he anticipates Favors being an important addition to the roster.


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O'Neale was the 4 if anyone was. Does anyone actually watch the games?

[url]https://kslsports.com/447365/jazz-welcome-new-faces-to-utah/[/url]

[QUOTE]Oliva has perhaps the most unique background of any new face on the Jazz bench. The assistant coach has a Ph.D. in complexity theory from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.


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Maybe Snyder won't think he's smarter than everyone anymore?

[url]https://kslsports.com/447328/questions-the-jazz-can-and-cant-answer-in-training-camp/[/url]

[QUOTE]The top priority for the Jazz is the contract extension for Rudy Gobert. It’s a little surprising that the two sides haven’t reached an agreement, and it’s possible they remain further away on negotiations than both would have hoped entering the year.


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Why is it surprising? It's an enormous amount of money they're talking or not talking about

[QUOTE]Snyder should have a very good understanding of who deserves minutes at which positions by the time the season starts based on how much experience he has having coaching each of these players over the last several seasons.


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He should but as we've seen he doesn't

[QUOTE][B]What to watch: [/B]How does new assistant coach [URL="https://kslsports.com/443943/jazz-add-76ers-oliva-to-coaching-staff/"]Sergi Oliva[/URL] and his chaos theory expertise affect Snyder’s rotation?


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what is this?

[QUOTE]Third, the Jazz no longer have to wait to see if Donovan Mitchell will take the next step in his development. While last season the team entered the year wondering if the third-year guard had developed into an All-Star caliber player, the Jazz now have that answer.


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I'd love to see him show up from day 1 not 2 or 3 months into the season. Playing both ends might be too much to ask?

[QUOTE]Though the bubble created some scoring abnormalities across the league that won’t translate into the regular season, there’s no question Mitchell has emerged as one of the true an up and coming superstar in the NBA.


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no he hasn't. It's still Rudy's team until he proves otherwise

[QUOTE][B]What to watch: [/B]Without a true backup point guard on the roster, how much ball-handling and playmaking will Mitchell be responsible for? He excelled in the role when Conley missed games last season, is this his audition to be a full-time point guard for the 2021-22 season?


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why would it change? Same players minus Mudiay who only played when Conley was hurt

[QUOTE]The Jazz should enter the season with most of their ducks in a row. The pressing questions leaving last season were answered (big man depth, free agency etc.) as the team largely opted to run it back for a second, ideally less unpredictable season.


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Nothing was answered! Still don't have a starting 4 other than Favors spotting up for 3 in the corner. Still a small starting guard line. Same bad defenders except Favors spotting up in the corner. Got rid of some of their already thin depth of Mudiay and Tucker.
[QUOTE]The question now shifts to whether bringing Favors back pushes the Jazz towards the top of the league in defensive rating, or whether more of that credit belonged to former point guard Ricky Rubio.


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The Matador! :roll: Maybe it's Bojan, Conley, Niang and Clarkson or an aging Ingles or O'Neale playing out of position?

[QUOTE][B]What to watch: [/B]Without a true backup point guard on the roster and a need for a defensive specialist, could two-way guard [URL="https://kslsports.com/446483/report-jazz-sign-fsu-guard-forrest-to-two-way-contract/"]Trent Forrest[/URL] earn a spot on the main roster? The Jazz will likely enter camp with an open roster spot and the former Florida State guard could bring excellent on-ball defense as a secondary ball-handler.


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The Rubio wanna be to the rescue!

[QUOTE]The question is, which Conley starts for the Jazz this season? If the guard can see similar averages to those in which he closed the season the Jazz will have one of the most talented starting lineups in the NBA.


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still too small regardless

[QUOTE]The Jazz used a first-round pick on a player who will enter the season buried behind both Gobert and Favors in the rotation, that’s a steep price to pay for a third-string center in today’s NBA.


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You're paying for the future. That's what the draft is for. Free agency and trades are for now

[QUOTE]However, the Jazz front office has said they expect to see Favors earn minutes alongside Gobert in the rotation, which could free up minutes for the four-year Kansas star at backup center.


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God I hope not!

[QUOTE]The question then becomes whether he remains on the Jazz main roster, or plays in the G League with the Utah Stars, assuming there’s a season.


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Stars. He gets to be the man and learn the system

[QUOTE][B]What to watch: [/B]If the Jazz and Gobert are unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension, will the team feel the need to manufacture minutes for Azuabuike in case he’s asked to assume a significantly larger role if Goert leaves in free agency?

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I think they are preparing for life without Rudy unfortunately. A lot of losses in their future if true



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[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/1/21755447/rudy-gobert-contract-extension-supermax-utah-jazz-nba-championship-title[/url]

[QUOTE]As ESPN’s [URL="https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1333949810114752512"]Bobby Marks pointed out[/URL], if an agreement on a supermax deal is not reached by the deadline, Gobert would still be able to sign a four-year extension, worth roughly $130 million, during the 2020-21 season. If neither deal is made then Gobert would become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the upcoming season.


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which would be less than Mitchell potentially. I'd tell them **** off if that's the case!

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/1/21850231/utah-jazz-training-camp-roster-jersey-numbers-for-newcomers-announced-nba[/url]

[QUOTE]Two-way players are allowed to spend up to 45 days of a season with an NBA team, and they spend the rest of it in the NBA G League, although those rules might be altered this season because of the pandemic. Players on Exhibit 10 deals will almost surely be waived during camp and spend the season in the G League (the Jazz’s affiliate is the Salt Lake City Stars).


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It's already been altered. Don't be so sure on the exhibit 10's. They have flexibilty for a change. Bluiett could certainly make some noise in camp especially if Bojan isn't playing.

[QUOTE]As part of the training camp roster announcement, jersey numbers for newcomers were also unveiled. First-round draft pick Udoka Azubuike will wear No. 20 (his college number, 35, is retired by Utah), Derrick Favors will once again wear No. 15 in his return to the Jazz, Forrest will wear No. 3, Gill will don No. 17, second-round pick Elijah Hughes is No. 33 and Toolson is No. 22.


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No Mudiay I guess. Gill is even older than Toolson at 26 just out of college. Guess that's why he's available. Has a similar resume as the top pick

[QUOTE]Bobby Marks: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Teams with cap space: New York: $18.5M. Charlotte: $4.1M.[/URL] Large Trade exceptions ($5M+): Boston: $28.5M. OKC: $27.5M, $19.5M and $7.4M. Denver: $9.5M. Miami: $7.5M. Utah: $5M.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42"]Twitter BobbyMarks42[/URL]
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They have a smaller exception as well I believe not that they'll likely use them

[QUOTE]Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Clarkson, on how the deal got done so quickly: “They wanted me to be here, and I wanted to be here as well — that’s why it happened so fast.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]



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and I doubt anyone else offered you close to that amount of money or years

[QUOTE]Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Clarkson, on the importance of coming in at the start of the season w/ knowledge of the system: “It does make a difference. What you saw in the bubble is just a sample. … Just a lot of changes here and there. … With this team full strength, I feel like we can make some noise.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]



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What I saw in the bubble was horrible. Mitchell, Conley and Rudy standing around while you played 1 on 5

[QUOTE]Tony Jones: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Royce O’Neale: I worked on everything. I want to become a consistent and better shooter. Defensive end, want to be that leader with Rudy. I wanted to work on everything[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/Tjonesonthenba"]Twitter Tjonesonthenba[/URL]



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You're shooting is great. You need to shoot when you are open!

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50059773/bojan-bogdanovic-is-really-happy-with-wrist-rehab-but-status-for-start-of-season-still-uncertain[/url]

[QUOTE]So, despite his pleadings to play in the playoffs, [URL="https://www.ksl.com/article/46754558/bojan-bogdanovic-to-undergo-season-ending-surgery-on-right-wrist"]Bogdanovic had surgery in May[/URL] to repair a ligament in his right wrist — an injury that had caused him pain for much of his first season in Utah.


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too bad it wasn't in March for whatever reason

[QUOTE]He won't find anyone who'll disagree with that. Bogdanovic averaged 20.2 points on 41% shooting from three on a career-high 7.3 attempts. He hit two game-winning 3-pointers in his first season in Utah. It's only a bit ironic the Jazz's season ended when a last-second three rimmed out as he watched from home.


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it's debatable. Except for the final game O wasn't their problem. D was and I'm not sure he plays much

[QUOTE]The Jazz will be looking to take advantage of Bogdanovic's vast skill set even more this season. For example, head coach Quin Snyder said Utah will try to use him in the post more this season.


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Niang is great in the post

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/2/21611961/does-derrick-favors-solve-utahs-defense-and-depth-problems-nba-utah-jazz[/url]

[QUOTE][h=1]Does Derrick Favors Solve Utah’s Problems?[/h]

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It looked like they had solved their problems when because of injury he was forced to the bench in Hayward's last year. But of course him and Hood were inserted back in the starting lineup along with Ricky and it was a shitshow again. So what do they do after fixing it again? Bring him back! :facepalm

[QUOTE]That season has now come and gone, and... well, how better to describe it than as a roller coaster ride? Mike Conley struggled for much of the season, the bench showed a shocking lack of depth, and star players’ effort waxed and waned. One thing became very clear; this Utah Jazz team had some legitimate issues.


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Conley didn't struggle most of the season and why did anyone think they were deep with no starting 4 and 6 rookies?

[QUOTE]These changes made for a drastic swing. Utah went from a team who couldn’t beat [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/houston-rockets"]Houston[/URL] because they couldn’t shoot, to a team who couldn’t beat [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/denver-nuggets"]Denver[/URL] because they couldn’t defend. Essentially, the Jazz overcorrected.


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the bigger problem as it was all year was not having the versatility to match up when Denver went big on them. The answer? Favors spotting up for 3 in the corner again!

[QUOTE]When healthy, the Jazz will now have 8 starter level players. That is a luxury that the team desperately needed last year. The new second unit will likely include Jordan Clarkson, Derrick Favors, and [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/297999/joe-ingles"]Joe Ingles[/URL]. That’s right, that means we can once again look forward to the famous Ingles to Favors pick and rolls that used to eat second units for breakfast. Quin may also continue to stagger minutes with some of the starters like he did with Mike Conley during the end of last season, giving the Jazz a truly dangerous bench.


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Clarkson, O'Neale and Ingles aren't guys you want starting for you and you certainly don't want Favors starting at the 4. They have 3 or 4 guys that play both ends of the court now. Is that enough especially when they are playing out of position like Favors and O'Neale will be?


[QUOTE]Having Favors lead the second unit will greatly benefit the other bench players. [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/276599/georges-niang"]Georges Niang[/URL], for example, was often the subject of Jazz fans displeasure last season during the struggles of the Jazz bench. Niang is a role player who shoots the three at an elite level, but if he’s depended on to do too much, the team will struggle. Now he’ll be able to fit into a role in which he can play to his strengths, and Favors can help cover his weaknesses. Adding a player of Derrick’s caliber helps everybody on the Jazz bench slide into their correct roles.


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Ingles, O'Neale and Clarkson all play too much. Will that change especially with Bojan still hurt?

[QUOTE]Now, the Jazz now have the best of both worlds. They have shooters. They were the best three point shooting team in the league last season. They also have defenders. They’ll now have 48 minutes of elite rim protection. Derrick can play center with the bench, or he can play power forward alongside Rudy Gobert, only this time, surrounded by shooters. Quin Snyder can alter the lineups to match up with big teams or small teams, slow teams or fast teams, scoring teams or defending teams. This is a versatility that the Jazz haven’t had in a long time.


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they won't be the best shooting team anymore with Favors at the 4. They still lack defenders unless the gleaguers play and it doesn't appear they will. Tucker won't. They were more versatile 2 years ago!

Arash Markazi: NBA championship odds via @golfodds & @SuperBookSports: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Lakers 11/4, Clippers 6/1, Nets 6/1, Bucks 13/2, Celtics 14/1, Heat 16/1, Nuggets 20/1, 76ers 25/1, Mavericks 25/1, Raptors 30/1, Blazers 30/1, Suns 30/1, Jazz 40/1[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/ArashMarkazi"]Twitter ArashMarkazi[/URL]

[QUOTE]Ben Anderson: Joe Ingles on the @UtahJazz re-signing Derrick Favors. [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]“Really glad to have Favs back, not only for myself but for the team and to help that really at that five spot. Obviously, everyone knows offensively what he can do but I think defensively too.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops"]Twitter BensHoops[/URL]



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the 5 isn't the problem

[QUOTE]Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Joe says he hasn’t spoken with Quin yet about whether he’ll start or not: “Coming off the bench last year was a bit of an adjustment. … For all I know, with Quin’s crazy mind, we might start a diff lineup every game. It def gives us more options having Fav and with Bojan back.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]



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You are a role player. You need to hit open shots, Run pick and roll and get under the other teams skin. Shouldn't matter if you start of come off the bench where you will be if Bojan is back. Yeah more options. Favors in the corner!

[QUOTE]Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Joe Ingles said he stayed in Utah during the offseason for the first time ever. Has been making extensive use of ZBBC: “I’ve been going pretty hard for a long time now — it feels like forever. I wanted to be as fit as I could be. My shot feels great, my body feels good.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]



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what is fit for Joe though? :lol

[url]https://kslsports.com/447534/niang-focused-on-team-safety-not-role-with-jazz/[/url]

[QUOTE][I]SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –[/I] The Utah Jazz are back in training camp with changes to the roster and new safety protocols in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. With regular-season games less than three weeks away, forward Georges Niang is less worried about his role on the team and more concerned about keeping his teammates healthy.


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Good to hear. I think his minutes should be up for grabs and I love Niang

[QUOTE]According to [URL="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/niangge01.html"]basketball-reference[/URL], Niang played more than 80 percent of his minutes at the power forward position in the Jazz lineups. With Favors assuming the roughly 15 minutes backup center minutes available behind Gobert, all indications point to the newly acquired big man earning added minutes behind Bogdanovic at the other frontcourt position.


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Behind O'Neale you mean. Favors isn't the guy that should be competing for Niang's minutes.

[QUOTE]As a result, the move may open minutes for Niang to shift to other wing position opposite smaller opponents.


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He definitely shouldn't be on the wing



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[url]https://kslsports.com/447527/ingles-happy-to-have-favors-back-in-jazz-uniform/[/url]

[QUOTE]“I think his defense doesn’t really get talked about or highlighted enough,” Ingles said. “Even when we started [Gobert] and Favs’ we were pretty tough to score on.”


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thanks Rudy

[QUOTE]Now, with Favors back in the mix, Ingles hopes to see his numbers stabilize regardless of his role.


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it shouldn't matter. They are paying you a lot to play your role. Do it

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/12/3/22149643/utah-jazz-national-nba-radar-opening-week-christmas-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert[/url]

[QUOTE]The strange thing about this noticeable change in national perspective is that the Jazz will definitely be better this season than last. Two of their biggest weaknesses in the playoff series against the Nuggets (one that they had a double-digit lead up 3-1 and definitely should have won) was backup big man and scoring outside of Donovan Mitchell. Adding Derrick Favors and drafting Udoka Azubuike resolved the depth of the C position, and one can not underestimate how much getting Bojan Bogdanovic back will help the Jazz.


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The problem was a starting 4, size, versatility, D and depth. Favors helps them with D but hurts them elsewhere and Bojan helps them score even more to make up for bad D?

[URL="https://twitter.com/rgiss11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1329950454973775872%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slcdunk.com%2Fthe-downbeat-latest-jazz-news%2F2020%2F12%2F3%2F22149643%2Futah-jazz-national-nba-radar-opening-week-christmas-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert"][B]Riley Gisseman[/B]


@rgiss11


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[URL="https://twitter.com/rgiss11/status/1329950454973775872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1329950454973775872%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slcdunk.com%2Fthe-downbeat-latest-jazz-news%2F2020%2F12%2F3%2F22149643%2Futah-jazz-national-nba-radar-opening-week-christmas-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert"]
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[QUOTE]We're basically looking at the 2017 Jazz again, swapping Hill for Conley, Hayward for Bogdanovic, and adding a kid that just averaged 40 ppg in a playoff series

[URL="https://twitter.com/rgiss11/status/1329950454973775872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1329950454973775872%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slcdunk.com%2Fthe-downbeat-latest-jazz-news%2F2020%2F12%2F3%2F22149643%2Futah-jazz-national-nba-radar-opening-week-christmas-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert"]5:51 PM · Nov 20, 2020[/URL]


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no because Hayward played D and Hill gave them more size than Conley does


[URL="https://help.twitter.com/en/twitter-for-websites-ads-info-and-privacy"]

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[QUOTE]Other teams imagine this Gordon. Several [URL="https://tv5.espn.com/basketball/story/_/id/30449408/nba-redeem-team-six-players-ready-bounce-back-season"]— maybe as many as 10, maybe more — called Orlando to express interest in trading for Gordon during the recent transaction period,[/URL] sources said. Minnesota was one, sources said, and Gordon would fit there in a supporting role alongside high-volume playmakers and one of the greatest shooting bigs ever in Karl-Anthony Towns. How might Gordon look in Portland, playing off two elite guards and a snazzy-passing center in Jusuf Nurkic? What about as the nominal center in small-ball Brooklyn lineups featuring Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and two other perimeter guys?
– via [URL="https://tv5.espn.com/basketball/story/_/id/30449408/nba-redeem-team-six-players-ready-bounce-back-season"]Zach Lowe @ ESPN.com[/URL]



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Jazz? Only worry would be his shooting but as long as Favors is spotting up in the corner might as well

Andy Larsen: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]2 Jazz players did not practice today due to COVID-19 protocols[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/andyblarsen"]Twitter andyblarsen[/URL]


[URL="https://*********.com/rumors/#"]
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[IMG]https://*********.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2019/10/i_32_2e_54_bojan-bogdanovic.png?w=190[/IMG]Sarah Todd: Also, [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Bojan Bogdanovic was a practice participant with the Jazz today,[/URL] their first day of team practice
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/NBASarah"]Twitter NBASarah[/URL]

Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Quin said that Bojan “was able to do everything” in practice. Medical staff kept a close eye on him.[/URL] “As much as Bojan shows excitement about anything, he was looking pretty excited today.”
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]

[QUOTE]Andy Larsen: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Jazz announced layoffs to the business side of operations today.[/URL] The statement from the team:
[/QUOTE]

as they pay luxury tax for Clarkson and Favors in the corner for 3! :lol

[QUOTE]Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Derrick Favors, on his first practice back with the Jazz: “It did feel kinda weird ’cause I’ve been away for a year … It just felt regular again. I’m happy to be back.[/URL] It feels good to be familiar with everything again.”
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]



Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Fav said there won’t be much adjustment to playing with Bojan and Clarkson, because his role is “pretty much the same”:[/URL] “Those are two guys that can put the ball in the basket. … Those are two guys I’m excited to play with. I enjoyed watching them when I was in New Orleans.”
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]



[/QUOTE]


Favors in the corner from 3!

[url]https://kslsports.com/447648/bogdanovic-goes-through-practice-favors-adjusts-to-new-roster/[/url]

[QUOTE]“Jordan made a couple of comments today about Fav because he hasn’t played with him before,” Snyder said. “Positive comments, obviously. Fav does so many things for other people when he plays. That’s just the nature of his game.”


[/QUOTE]

Too bad Clarkson only does things for himself[CENTER][/CENTER]

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/4/22154053/utah-jazz-open-2020-2021-season-on-road-against-damian-lillard-portland-trail-blazers[/url]

[QUOTE]ESPN’s Kevin Pelton [URL="http://insider.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/30450243/nba-strength-schedule-every-team-plus-how-travel-different"]examined each team’s schedule on Friday[/URL] using a mathematical projection system, and Utah’s slate graded out to be the fifth-hardest among the NBA’s 30 teams. The Oklahoma City Thunder project to have the toughest schedule and the Orlando Magic the easiest.


[/QUOTE]

what's new. Easy down the stretch

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/nba-schedule-utah-jazz/2020/12/4/22154215/utah-jazz-schedule-released-for-2020-21-nba-season[/url]

[QUOTE]There are only 5 breaks of longer than 1 night between games. The [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/utah-jazz"]Jazz[/URL] will be looking at a lot of back to backs and 4 games in 5 nights. Having the depth they added this offseason is going to be a big deal.


[/QUOTE]

again with the depth! They have no starting 4 other than Favors spotting up from 3

[QUOTE]Perhaps the [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/utah-jazz"]Jazz[/URL] thought of this when drafting [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/346795/udoka-azubuike"]Udoka Azubuike[/URL] who will be relied on to give [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/297091/derrick-favors"]Derrick Favors[/URL] and [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/297107/rudy-gobert"]Rudy Gobert[/URL] rest.


[/QUOTE]

He'll be relied on to learn the system in case with the Stars

[QUOTE]Players like [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/336713/juwan-morgan"]Juwan Morgan[/URL], [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/331018/jarrell-brantley"]Jarrell Brantley[/URL] and [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/285729/nigel-williams-goss"]Nigel Williams-Goss[/URL] will probably be relied on more than before because of the break neck schedule. Depth is a big deal this season!



[/QUOTE]

I doubt they are relying on Goss and Brantley is on a two way so they don't think he's a deoth piece either

[QUOTE]Jazz fans are right to worry about these negotiations. The last time Utah couldn’t get their player to sign an extension before the season, they left in free agency in the season thereafter. Tony Jones of the Athletic says we shouldn’t get carried away with thinking if Utah and Gobert can’t find middle ground that[URL="https://theathletic.com/2233386/2020/12/02/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-long-term-contract-negotiations/"] Utah will trade him away.[/URL]


[/QUOTE]

Favors, Udoka say otherwise

[QUOTE]But it’d be wrong to run an entire season placating to Rudy why he should stay as they did with Gordon Hayward. If Utah didn’t strike gold with Donovan Mitchell in the same offseason that Hayward left, Utah would have been a lottery team from 2017 to the present. It would have been a full rebuild. They got lucky. To assume that lightning would strike twice if they play the odds with Rudy for a full season is naive.


[/QUOTE]

Rudy has been the franchise for 6 years. Not Hayward. Not Mitchell. Not Lindsey. Not Snyder. Rebuild with Rudy? He carried horrible teams. Mitchell's inefficient play certainly didn't make it easier

[QUOTE]That’s not to say moving on from Rudy Gobert would be easy. It wouldn’t. It would be devastating. As devastating as the Hayward loss was thought to become. The Jazz would lose their identity. Their roster which is currently built around Gobert’s defense would have to be restructured from the ground up around Donovan. It would be open season on the trade market for Utah’s veterans like Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Derrick Favors, and Joe Ingles. It would be a nightmare.


[/QUOTE]

The offense is built around him. It will be like losing Stockton and Malone in their prime.

[QUOTE]But so would losing Rudy Gobert for nothing. Utah would not gain cap space like they did when Hayward left. They’d still be over the salary cap. They would be old. They would be without an identity. They would look like the post-Shaq [URL="https://www.hothothoops.com/"]Miami Heat[/URL] with Dwyane Wade doing all the heavy lifting. It would be an 8th seed clawing its way from being a 12th seed all season long.


[/QUOTE]

it would be one of the worst teams in the game as it was when Rudy missed a month 3 times

[QUOTE]Remember how Utah struggled in their second season with Ricky Rubio, Donovan, Joe Ingles, Favors, and Gobert? It wasn’t until Utah REALLY shook it up. They traded for Kyle Korver early in December. The team had problems and they weren’t solving themselves. If Utah had their way they would have traded Rubio to Memphis for Conley a few months earlier. That continuity ended in a 1st round exit and up and down play an entire season.


[/QUOTE]

they didn't want to give up Exum! :roll:

[QUOTE]If Utah was to actually play consistently all season this season would be a first for the Don-Rudy era. Hopefully continuity can break the cycle. It could also continue it. Utah will hope that Favors’ return is the right amount of familiarity mixed with novelty that will keep Utah moving forward rather than complacent.


[/QUOTE]

Mitchell showing up from day 1 would be a first

[QUOTE][B]Donovan mitchell[/B]


Just pledged 12 million dollars to the school he attended as a child…..
How did we find this guy…
Might become my favorite jazz player of all time

Posted by [URL="https://www.sbnation.com/users/ThomasSmithjaz1"]ThomasSmithjaz1[/URL] on [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/4/22153585/training-camp-preview-utah-jazz-derrick-favors-rudy-gobert-donovan-mitchell-covid-19-coronavirus#534139381"]Dec 4, 2020 | 2:44 PM[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

A rich guy giving away money! Would rather he played D

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/4/22153585/training-camp-preview-utah-jazz-derrick-favors-rudy-gobert-donovan-mitchell-covid-19-coronavirus[/url]

[QUOTE][B]Hopeful #1 - The Utah Jazz are flying under the radar[/B]



[/QUOTE]

Because their answer to no PF was Favors spotting up n the corner

[QUOTE]This offseason was a complete opposite of last season. Gone was the Rudy Gobert-Donovan Mitchell feud talk. Gone were the Gobert trades rumors. Gone were the exceedingly high expectations. Gone is the excitement of brand new faces and capabilities. Stability, continuity, and familiarity have replaced flashy, new, and promising.


[/QUOTE]

Trade rumors are still here. Favors and Udoka make it so

[QUOTE]Sometimes that can be a bad thing as many who have read this site for a number years know. Seeing the word [I]continuity[/I] is likely to bring up some painful memories of the cap strapped final years associated with Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko, and Mehmet Okur. But this time it’s different.


[/QUOTE]

Pretty much the same. The only other time they paid tax and for a team going nowhere fast

[QUOTE]Against top 10 teams, Utah’s offense sputtered to a 12th place ranking in the NBA and their defense fell to 14th. That’s a playoff team, but nothing close to the Dark Horse Championship hype that had been built up for them.


[/QUOTE]

But it was Bradley's fault! They have fixed it!

[QUOTE]When Utah came back from the break—however—things appeared to be different. While it’s hard to parse out stats as the Utah Jazz were [I]definitely not tanking to the 6th seed to play Denver[/I], they appeared to have a more cohesive offense. In the first half of games after the COVID break, their offensive rating stayed consistent. It may have dropped slightly to 112.1 from 112.3, but they were arguably playing playoff caliber teams. Before that offensive rating was dropping to 108.8.


[/QUOTE]

they weren't tanking?

[QUOTE]The Jazz traded one identity for another last season as they gave up Ricky Rubio, Jae Crowder, and Derrick Favors and replaced them with Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, and the ghosts of Jeff Green, Ed Davis, and Tony Bradley. There were times that the Jazz had to rely upon Georges Niang for defense (sorry, Georges). But the Jazz fixed that in a big way this offseason.


[/QUOTE]

but they didn't really. Still no starting 4 other than Favors spotting up from 3. Still a tiny starting backcourt. Even less depth and less vets than last year.

[QUOTE]Utah drafted Udoka Azubuike in what many saw was a reach. We may want to remind people that most thought—myself included—Rudy Gobert was a reach as well back in 2013. He was a one man top defensive team by himself at Kansas. The Jazz also brought the gang back together by signing Derrick Favors back. He wanted to be back, he knows the system, and is ready to spell R-U-D-Y when Rudy Gobert is on the bench.


[/QUOTE]

Favors isn't Rudy. Udoka sounds like he has that potential though

[QUOTE]Derrick Favors is key to the Utah Jazz getting the most from Rudy Gobert. He keeps Rudy healthy and rested. He also brings down the number of times Gobert has to be rushed back to the court as the bench bleeds points away. Last season with the Pelicans, Favors improved the Pellies’ defense by 6 points per 100 possessions when he was on the court. That’s as he was playing against top tier opposing teams’ starters. Now he’ll be coming off the bench for 20-25 minutes a night. Gobert will be able to return to 30-31 minutes a game and the Jazz will be better for it.


[/QUOTE]

Favors wasn't spotting up from 3 last year though

[url]https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/260709/Mike-Conley-In-COVID-19-Protocol-Due-To-Close-Contact-With-Positive-Family-Member[/url]

[QUOTE]Sarah Todd: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Mike Conley said he does not have COVID but has to isolate until he has seven negative tests which should come on Monday[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/NBASarah"]Twitter NBASarah[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

4 days before the first game!

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2020/12/5/22155634/utah-jazz-news-and-notes-nba-donovan-mitchell-bojan-bogdanovic[/url]

[QUOTE]We’ll likely find out who the other player was soon just by deduction, but it’s clear there are going to be difficult situations for teams dealing with the current pandemic. What makes it more difficult is the shortened season that will force teams to use their depth. During the season, if teams have players miss games with Covid, we’ll see a lot of fringe players getting significant minutes. Luckily, the [URL="https://www.slcdunk.com/"]Utah Jazz[/URL] have done a good job improving their depth and have guys on the end of the bench that have good development time under their belt.


[/QUOTE]

How exactly did they improve their depth? Mudiay is gone as is Tucker. Replaced by rookies.

[QUOTE]Utah has solidified their bench and that will help with depth, but losing Bogdanovic makes the Jazz pretty thin, pretty quickly. Here’s to hoping that Bogdanovic picks up where he left off last season.


[/QUOTE]

pretty thin anyway


[QUOTE]Will the Jazz and Gobert find middleground soon? Hopefully they do because the current makeup of the team has a chance to make a lot of noise in the playoffs.



[/QUOTE]
Noise? If they are lucky and get a favorable matchup they might make round 2.

[QUOTE]Keith Smith: By my count, [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]10 NBA teams are currently over the luxury tax line.[/URL] A handful can get back under by waiving players: BKN – $23M over. GSW – $42M. HOU – $5.4M. IND – $578K. LAC – $5.7M. LAL – $3.4M. MIL – $5.7M. PHI – $18.8M. SAS – $1.4M. UTA – $1.9M.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA"]Twitter KeithSmithNBA[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

for a team going nowhere

[QUOTE]JD Shaw: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Several teams plan to opt out of the proposed NBA G League bubble idea in Atlanta, sources tell @HoopsRumors,[/URL] with as many as 6-to-8 franchises already expected to bypass the shortened season. The bubble would require a ~$500k entry fee, and some decisions remain unclear.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/JShawNBA"]Twitter JShawNBA[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

I would assume the fact that the Jazz have the exhibit 10 guys that they are in? Denver invited no extras to camp