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

[url]https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2020/12/05/will-miye-oni-juwan/[/url]

[QUOTE]Yes, clearly upgrading at backup center was a real need. But what about perimeter defensive length? What about an upgrade at backup power forward, a spot that troubled the Jazz even before Bojan Bogdanovic went down with a wrist injury?



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a starting 4 was what was needed

[QUOTE]Jazz vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey was clear when asked about those issues: he thinks second-year players Miye Oni and Juwan Morgan can be part of the solution.



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why not their all gleaguer?

[QUOTE]Oni, the 58th pick from Yale a year ago, earned compliments from management about his potential ability to step up into a complementary role. He has a “6-6 (height), 6-11 wingspan, a great movement profile, a major edge and toughness to him. He’s not going to come in here and be a high usage guy,” Lindsey said.



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Really? After Mitchell, Clarkson and Bojan there's not a lot left to go around

[QUOTE]If a low-usage, defensive first player seems familiar, you’re not alone: “His value to us is a little bit like, I think, what Royce [O’Neale] did in his evolution,” Jazz head coach Quin Snyder said.



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Better playmaker, younger and longer

[QUOTE]Oni’s not yet as good as O’Neale in some important areas. O’Neale’s best offensive attributes are his catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage and his quick decision making — he keeps the team’s offense moving. Oni shot 35% in G-League action from deep, near average but not as good as O’Neale’s 38% percent with harder NBA closeouts. Oni’s not a ball-stopper by any means, but he doesn’t have the feel yet of the more experienced O’Neale.



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those quick decisions to pass a wide open look or the other ones? Oni started off shooting terribly.

[QUOTE]That means a lot to the Jazz’s talent evaluators. “The thing that we’re really excited about — and the data’s small — but Juwan Morgan was +8 with Rudy at the four,” Lindsey said, referring to the Jazz’s plus-minus while Morgan played next to Gobert. He also added another potential role: “And he gives us a switch five.”



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but why would we want that when Favors can spot up in the corner instead!

[url]https://saltcityhoops.com/the-favors-factor-explains-why-utah-passed-on-adding-a-3-and-d-wing/[/url]

[QUOTE][h=1][URL="https://saltcityhoops.com/the-favors-factor-explains-why-utah-passed-on-adding-a-3-and-d-wing/"]The Favors Factor Explains Why Utah Passed On Adding a 3-and-D Wing[/URL][/h][/QUOTE]

why did they pass on a modern starting 4 though?

[QUOTE]Already, the Jazz have Royce O’Neale, Joe Ingles, Bojan Bogdanovic and Georges Niang who play minutes across the wing positions and the stretch four spot, plus Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson who both spend time between the 1 and the 2. Those two are both leveraged mostly as shot creators regardless of the spot on the court they are filling.


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stretch 4's! :roll:

[QUOTE]As for Royce, Joe and Bojan… three point shooting? Check. Defense? Check (Bojan is more like 3-and-mostly-OK-on-D, but good enough). When it comes to the D-and-no-3 players, the Jazz have mostly moved on from that prototype, though some fans do miss having Dante Exum around for his good individual defense. (Also, those of you clamoring for Dunn better also be those who never wanted Exum to leave in the first place, because Dunn essentially would have filled that same void.)


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Bojan sucks at everything but shooting and scoring. Dun doesn't suck like Exum

[QUOTE]Problems certainly arise if any of Utah’s three stronger defensive wings are out for a game. Because then you end up with lineups that ask a lot of Clarkson and Niang defensively, which can be problematic. But overall, the Jazz were net positive last season whenever Rudy Gobert shared the court with either Clarkson, Niang, or both. However what’s interesting is that there are really not very many lineups which featured both Gobert and Niang. So it may not even be fair to view him in comparison to other wings because he rarely played with Rudy.


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against good teams the Jazz sucked. Niang shouldn't be on the wing

[QUOTE]Of course, Gobert was still there scaring away ball handlers in the 2019-20 season as well, but Utah’s defensive ranking slipped all the way to 13th. There were other roster differences between those elite defensive team’s and last year’s squad, but importantly, the Jazz missed having their backup center minutes filled by another strong rim protector in Favors.


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there problem was hardly anyone but Rudy and O'Neale playing any D. Favors spotting up from 3 doesn't solve that

[QUOTE]The challenge for the Jazz’s wing defenders last season came when they developed the habit of relying on the big guy, and then suddenly instead of having Gobert behind them, it was Bradley. Bradley isn’t even a close facsimile when it comes to defense. Favors is. With the latter back on the floor, Utah will be able to run its preferred defensive system all game, with 48 minutes of elite to solid rim protection. There’s a real chance the Jazz’s elite team defense — 1st in 2017-18, 2nd in 2018-19 — returns to that level.


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I doubt the D will be elite just because of Favors. The offense will certainly drop off with him spotting up from 3

[QUOTE]Think of it this way: the Jazz went from 2nd to 13th after losing Favors. Getting him back should be enough to ensure the Jazz can be a top-5 defense again if the wings simply do their job.


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most of the rotation was different

[QUOTE]Prediction: the Jazz will get back to being an elite defense this season, but this time around will have the offensive punch from Mike Conley, Bogdanovic and Clarkson that they didn’t have a couple of seasons ago. This team should be a top 5 in defense and a top 10 in offense. As Dennis Lindsey put it earlier, we’re going to see the Jazz take the best of their identify from 2-3 seasons ago, and combine it with the best of last seasons Jazz.

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5 guys guarding 4 will keep their offense from being great

[url]https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/260714/Kings-Looking-For-Draft-Compensation-In-Potential-Buddy-Hield-Trade[/url]

would they take Clarkson and throw in one of their many 4's?

[url]https://sports.yahoo.com/tony-bradley-says-joel-embiid-001507650.html[/url]

[URL]https://sircharlesincharge.com/2020/12/05/nba-predictions-northwest-division-jazz/[/URL]

[QUOTE]There certainly will be no drop off in competition for this upcoming season as three of the teams (Denver, Utah, Portland) have serious title-run ambitions, while the other two (Oklahoma City, Minnesota) have enough firepower to reach the postseason.


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none of that is true. OKC can make the playoffs? Minny too?

[QUOTE][h=2]1. Utah Jazz[/h]

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must be a homer! :roll:

[QUOTE][I]Key Additions: Derrick Favors, Udoka Azubuike (R)[/I]

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Udoka is key?

[QUOTE][I]Key Losses: Tony Bradley, Ed Davis, Rayjon Tucker[/I]

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Mudiay?

[QUOTE]So what did the Jazz do this season? They brought back Derrick Favors. The Favors signing isn’t going to make any national headlines, but it gives Utah something that they didn’t have last year, which was more length, defense, and quality backup center minutes. Utah with Rudy Gobert on the floor outscored teams in bunches (+6 points per 100 possessions); However, in those 12 -15 minutes without Gobert on the floor opponents killed the Jazz (-5 points per 100 possessions).


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bye bye spacing

[QUOTE]Utah has a roster with two All-Stars (Mitchell and Gobert), two other borderline All-Stars (Conley and Bogdanovic), a deep 9-to-10-man rotation, and the best 3-point shooting team from last year without much change.


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Conley and Bojan aren't boredrline. Mitchell is. who is the 9 and 10 deep here? Not a modern starting 4 among them though and few that play both ends of the floor!

[QUOTE]Utah will only go as far as Mitchell and Gobert take them but keep an eye on Mike Conley. He was catching fire near the end of the season and seems to be getting more comfortable in Quin Snyder’s offense. If he can get back to his Memphis days with the offensive efficiency and shooting, the rest of the West better watch out.


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back to 4th option assuming he can get the ball from Clarkson on occasion

[url]https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2020/12/06/condensed-timeline-means/[/url]


[QUOTE]Even as relatively mature and experienced rookies — the Kansas center played four seasons of college ball, while the Syracuse wing was a fourth-year junior — they both said there was no substitute for experience in adjusting to the speed and size and spacing of the NBA game.



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Didn't realize Hughes came out early. Still older than Udoka

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/6/22156617/utah-jazz-mailbag-miye-oni-juwan-morgan-jarrell-brantley-quin-snyder-bojan-bogdanovic[/url]

[QUOTE][h=1]Jazz Mailbag: A shortened season could mean more rest for the stars and more opportunity for others[/h]


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I doubt it

[QUOTE]It’s going to make the roles of the end of bench players, two-way players, and rookies even more important during the regular season and give them more opportunity than they might have had during a normal, non-pandemic season.


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be nice to have some proven vets :facepalm

[QUOTE]The Jazz absolutely had backup plans if they weren’t able to get a deal done with Derrick Favors. Any team heads into the offseason knowing that there’s a slight chance that Plan A could backfire, but there also was a lot of reason to believe that they would be able to get the deal done, and they did.


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probably more than a slight chance as we saw with Mitotic. The fact that Favors and Clarkson were plan A is the worrisome part

[QUOTE]As for who might get more playing time between Brantley, Morgan and Oni, it really is going to depend on how the season unfolds and who is available or resting during certain matchups. If this was in more of a vacuum I would anticipate Oni getting a good amount of opportunity with his ability to play on the wing and his defensive promise.


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Brantley is even more versatile and longer and better defensively

[QUOTE]There’s reason to believe that he might be one of the players that the Jazz are cautious with this season and allow him some rest, especially through heavy game sets. There’s really no reason to rush things with Bogey, the Jazz need him in the playoffs. But, there’s no reason to believe that he’s anything other than ready from the reports coming out of training camp.


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the playoffs aren't a given

[QUOTE]Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley will share majority of point guard minutes but the Jazz have also run plenty of sets with Joe Ingles as the initiator as well as Jordan Clarkson. They have plenty of capable ball handlers that can initiate offense without having to dig down into the third string of players, and when the games really matter in the postseason a third point guard wouldn’t even crack the rotation.


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Yeah Clarkson at the point! There's a great idea. They sure could have used a 3rd pg in the bubble when Mudiay didn't play. Conley is sure to miss time

[QUOTE]If Clarkson had been with the Jazz for the entire season last year and had been as efficient as he was for the Jazz he could have had a real case for Sixth Man of the Year consideration. It’ll depend a lot on what he’s able to do this season but I absolutely wouldn’t count him out.


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hopefully he's on another team by then!

[url]https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/12/6/22157317/utah-jazz-rookies-udoka-azubuike-elijah-hughes-nba-life-training-camp-underway[/url]

[QUOTE]The good news is that the Jazz are not unique in dealing with time constraints, the whole league is learning as they go.


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the good news is the Stars will be waiting for them

Though a proposal for a bubble campus in Atlanta with teams playing around 12 games before a playoff tournament has gained momentum, the G-League is still in the preliminary stages of forming its plans. [URL="https://theathletic.com/2241819/2020/12/06/celtics-maine-red-claws-g-league/"]A major factor toward determining the format was to have teams provide their commitment to play or sit out this week, giving the league a more concrete understanding of how to proceed with finalizing a format, per league sources[/URL].
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/2241819/2020/12/06/celtics-maine-red-claws-g-league/"]Jared Weiss @ The Athletic[/URL]

[url]https://kslsports.com/448127/jazz-preseason-preview-and-mailbag-answers/[/url]

[QUOTE]Jazz fans should get an early look at Elijah Hughes, Udoka Azubuike, and two-way rookie Trent Forrest during the preseason, but how much those three play may depend on the Jazz approach to the preseason.


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like last year I imagine though there are fewer games. They'll get a look briefly with the 3rd or 4th unit

[QUOTE]Unless Williams-Goss has taken a major leap forward in his second season, the Jazz don’t have a true backup point guard on the roster. They can rely on Ingles, Mitchell, and Clarkson for depth, but any real injury could be cause for concern.


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Clarkson! :facepalm

[QUOTE]I don’t think the Jazz are totally unprepared for that scenario and I think it factored into re-signing Favors and drafting Azubuike, but the Jazz won’t be better if Gobert leaves the roster.


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no they'll likely suck

[QUOTE]My guess is a deal still gets done, but I am a little surprised it’s taken this long.


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first super max in team history. Not surprising

[QUOTE][I][B]Anderson:[/B] [/I]This is a good question and it probably has a few answers. First, Hughes offers the Jazz something that they think could have more value next season if they need him with the main roster more frequently than they do Brantley.


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Why would they think that though? Not great length and 34% shooter. They need D

[QUOTE]While Ingles can play on the wing behind O’Neale, as can Bogdanovic and potentially Oni, the Jazz just really don’t have a lot of depth with 6’6 guys who can put the ball on the floor, shoot, and move their feet. Hughes might be able to do those things, and that gives him a leg up.


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Brantley does it all and has proven it at the Gleague level and a bit with the Jazz.

[QUOTE]That gives Hughes more leverage than Brantley, and it may have earned him a guaranteed deal.


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I'd guess Brantley had the choice of a non guaranteed cap deal or the two way and he took the latter. Pretty sad to make all gleague and not get promoted. Hard to understand what they see in Hughes with Oni and Brantley not to mention Goss, Forman and Tucker. Pretty much the same length as Forman and not as good of a shooter. Needed a 1 which I guess they got with the Ricky wannabe






[CENTER][/CENTER]

[url]https://sircharlesincharge.com/2020/12/06/nba-offseason-grades-lakers-suns-bold/[/url]

[QUOTE]When the buzzer sounded at the end of Game 7, the Jazz had to leave the bubble after an 80-78 defeat. Donovan Mitchell looked like a superstar in the series and Michael Conley, who had an up and down season with the Jazz looked like he finally found his game in the series. Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles are two players the Jazz can always count on.


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the superstar that isn't consistent and plays one end of the floor. Conley back to 3rd or 4th or 5th option now. Ingles couldn't be counted on the past two years

[QUOTE]One key piece that wasn’t in the bubble that the Jazz missed was sharpshooting forward Bojan Bogdanovic. Having him back for a full season is like adding a free agent. Signing former Jazz center Derrick Favors was a solid move and re-signing instant-offense Jordan Clarkson was a no-brainier for the Jazz, who can never have enough shot makers and playmakers. As long as they are healthy, the Jazz should continue to be a playoff team.


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Favors spotting up in the corner and tax for the gunner. F!

Joe Ingles is the NBA’s model of consistency. The Utah Jazz swingman has played a league-high 379 consecutive games, and he has done so while rarely changing his shoes. [URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29716897/why-joe-ingles-keeps-wearing-discontinued-kobe-bryant-sneaker"]While other NBA players rip through sneakers — sometimes changing three or four times in the same game — Ingles once wore the same Size 13, yellow and white pair for six weeks, even though they had a ketchup stain on the toe from a pregame meal mishap[/URL].
– via [URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29716897/why-joe-ingles-keeps-wearing-discontinued-kobe-bryant-sneaker"]Eric Woodyard @ ESPN[/URL]



“All of my teammates used to laugh at me like, ‘Why don’t you get new shoes?'” he said. [URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29716897/why-joe-ingles-keeps-wearing-discontinued-kobe-bryant-sneaker"]“It just doesn’t bother me. The shoe’s comfy, my feet feel good. We’re trying to win a basketball game, I’m not worried. Obviously, looking back now, it’s probably a little grimy that I was doing that.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29716897/why-joe-ingles-keeps-wearing-discontinued-kobe-bryant-sneaker"]Eric Woodyard @ ESPN[/URL]



[URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29716897/why-joe-ingles-keeps-wearing-discontinued-kobe-bryant-sneaker"]The lack of availability of Bryant-related products has forced Ingles to resort to unusual measures to get his preferred on-court kicks,[/URL] even though he’s signed to a Nike deal that provides him with apparel and sneakers.
– via [URL="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29716897/why-joe-ingles-keeps-wearing-discontinued-kobe-bryant-sneaker"]Eric Woodyard @ ESPN[/URL]

[url]https://kslsports.com/448186/byu-coach-pope-prepared-toolson-for-opportunity-with-jazz/[/url]

[QUOTE]The Exhibit-10 deal also gives the Jazz [URL="https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2019/07/hoops-rumors-glossary-exhibit-10-contract-2.html"]added rights[/URL] to Toolson, should they decide to waive him, but want to see him play for the G League affiliate Utah Stars.


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assuming they will have a team

[QUOTE]As an undrafted rookie, Toolson remains a long shot to make the Jazz opening night roster. But with an open spot on the 15-man depth chart, the depth chart is far from finalized.


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They have several open roster spots with 4 non guaranteed deal but I'd guess the one open one and Goss' could be had by the right guys. Ideally vets. Have too many young guys already

He's good. He's got an old school game though. Not sure he's an NBA player today

[url]https://kslsports.com/448177/bojan-bogdanovic-expects-to-play-in-jazz-opener/[/url]

[QUOTE]“I think that both of them are ready to step in and play some minutes,” Bogdanovic said.


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13th and 14 guys

[QUOTE]“The big guy is pretty athletic, I’m surprised that he’s that good and he was drafted that late in the first round,” Bogdanovic said of the reserve center. “He really goes hard against Rudy [Gobert]. Like I said, I think really that they can help us.”


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He sounds like he has Rudy potential in a bigger body. Good thing they don't need to rush him though

[QUOTE][h=2]Conley Back At Practice[/h]

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good news

[url]https://kslsports.com/448161/deron-williams-remembers-tough-love-from-jerry-sloan/[/url]

[QUOTE]“To start off the season I was playing second quarters and fourth quarters,” Williams remembered. “That’s it.”


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I remember him being the starter at the beginning of the year and was behind Palacio and McCleod or something later on before ending strongly as the starter again

[QUOTE]“Every training camp we would have our team meeting and coach Sloan […] would flip through this book,” Williams said. “He’d have his glasses on and he would be reading and he would take them off and he would be mad like we did something wrong. But it’s the first meeting ever when he’s going over the rules, he was already mad because he knows somebody’s going break the rule.”


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:roll:

[url]https://kslsports.com/448150/jazz-in-espn-top-100-player-rankings-51-100/[/url]
[QUOTE][B]
89. Joe Ingles – Previous Rank: 62[/B]
[CENTER][/CENTER]
Joe Ingles dropped 27 spots in this year’s ranking, largely due to his dip in play last season as a result of moving in and out of the starting lineup.
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Should have dropped last year too. He's fallin' off. Might earn him another extension though! :facepalm

[QUOTE][B]73. Bojan Bogdanovic – Previous Rank: 48[/B]
Bojan Bogdanovic dropped nearly as far as Ingles in the ESPN rankings, dipping 25 spots from last year’s ranking. The experts at ESPN attribute the sharpshooter’s dip to his injured wrist and the fact that he has three years and $56 million left on his deal.
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You'd think he would have moved up :facepalm

[QUOTE]Gobert is almost sure to drop, the question is, will Mitchell leap in this year’s rankings?


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No way Mitchell should even be close to Rudy

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2020/12/8/22162760/which-joe-ingles-will-the-utah-jazz-get-this-season[/url]

[QUOTE]So what should we expect this season? Is Joe Ingles on the decline? Or was it just an off year during a global pandemic with some additional personal life changes? Honestly, I don’t think anyone knows yet. But I do think there is reason for optimism.


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There's not much doubt. Seen it the past two years. He needs to be put in the proper role and not asked to be a 6th man or to play heavy minutes. Hit open shots, run pick and roll and get under the other teams skin

[QUOTE]“My shot feels great. My body feels fit. I feel good.”[/QUOTE]

wonder if he'll look fit? He never has!

[QUOTE]But more importantly, his best running mate is back. I think Joe had a hard time fitting in with the bench unit last year. He played great with the starters, but understandably had a harder time with guys like Clarkson, Niang, and Bradley. The front office prioritized the bench defense this offseason by bringing in Derrick Favors. That will undoubtedly bring Joe’s game back as well.
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It's not understandable. He started off as a bench player. No reason he can't be now. He's a role player. Always has been. Bradley and Gobert were good in pick and roll. Open shots were there. Opposing teams were there to get under their skin


[QUOTE]Jazz depth was a catastrophe last year. Before Jordan Clarkson was brought in it was an absolute embarrassment. It was like clock work the way the starters would build a lead and the bench would just obliterate it. Now? Their 8-man rotation is ridiculous. Assuming everyone stays healthy, the Jazz have Clarkson, Ingles, and Favors as guys 6, 7, and 8 on the roster. Hopefully that difference brings Joe Ingles back to his natural habitat.


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We'll see. Clarkson doesn't fit. Favors spotting up in the corner doesn't fit and Ingles is definitely on the decline

[url]https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-forward-bojan-bogdanovic-looking-shoot-even-more-3-pointers-season[/url]

[QUOTE]It’s easy enough to see why.


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so he doesn't put it on the floor and turn it over?

[QUOTE]Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Jordan Clarkson said Jazz players’ familiarity with the scheme is a big advantage early, especially with the return of Bojan and Derrick: “Adding Bojan back in, we missed him a lot in the bubble. And adding Fav … it’s easy to throw him in there with us and to let him fly.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]



Ben Anderson: Jordan Clarkson on Miye Oni having a breakout camp. [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]“Miye has made a lot of strides. The game is slowing down a little bit. He’s still aggressive and he’s still, getting things right, but Miye has made a lot of steps forward. And he’s really impressive this camp.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops"]Twitter BensHoops[/URL]



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too bad no matter what Oni does the minutes are limited thanks to their top 8 who obviously have big flaws that some of the 9-12 guys could help with namely D

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50062651/perfecting-a-role-miye-oni-looks-to-be-the-next-of-utahs-homegrown-3-and-d-wings[/url]

[QUOTE]There hasn't been a specific NBA moment that Snyder can point to for Oni, though he did say he was pleased with Oni's minutes in the Disney bubble — but that could be coming soon. The Jazz didn't pick up additional wing help in the offseason (to the bemoans of many in the fan base) and the organization is anticipating players missing time periodically throughout the season due to COVID-19 protocols.


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ad didn't get a starting 4 other than Favors spotting up for 3 in the corner

[QUOTE]Still, Oni said perimeter shooting was the main thing he worked on, especially corner 3-point shooting, during the short offseason. As Snyder said, it's about perfecting the role.


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seemed to like the elbow most especially left side

[QUOTE]And it's a role the Jazz could need more this season than in a normal year, especially as Utah sees itself as a contending team. Second-year players that were taken late in the second round of the draft don't often contribute, but this is no normal season. Mike Conley [URL="https://www.ksl.com/article/50061450/jazz-guard-mike-conley-is-in-quarantine-but-he-hasnt-tested-positive-for-covid-19"]missed the start of training camp[/URL] simply due to close contact with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus. The Jazz aren't naive enough to think that something like that won't happen during the season.


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1st year ones get guaranteed money over those that have proven something already

[QUOTE]That's why Snyder wasn't surprised he was being asked about Oni or fellow second-year player Juwan Morgan, because it's very likely they'll be needed at some point this season.


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hard to believe the all gleaguer is all but forgotten

[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]

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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]
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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.”

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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.

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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
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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.

[/QUOTE]

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]
[/QUOTE]

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]

[url]https://www.yahoo.com/news/nba-power-rankings-where-every-171430167.html[/url]

[QUOTE][h=2]9. Utah Jazz[/h]2019-20 record: 44-28, 6th in West
Biggest additions: Derrick Favors (F/C)
Biggest losses: Ed Davis (F/C)
2020-21 outlook: The Jazz were one [URL="https://www.insider.com/video-jamal-murray-consoles-donovan-mitchell-nuggets-jazz-game-7-2020-9?utm_source=yahoo.com&utm_medium=referral"]in-and-out, last-second three-pointer in a Game 7[/URL] from advancing past the first round of the playoffs. They'll welcome back second-leading scorer Bojan Bogdanovic (who missed the bubble), and with a leap from Donovan Mitchell, they'll be right back in the playoff mix this year.
[/QUOTE]

Ed is a bigger loss than they guy who took his job or Mudiay or Tucker who got some rotation time?

[QUOTE]Ben Anderson: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Rudy Gobert on the Olympics. “My goal is to play, but obviously if we go to the Finals and go to game seven I might miss the opening ceremonies.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops"]Twitter BensHoops[/URL]



[/QUOTE]

:lol

[URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Eric Walden: Rudy Gobert, on the Jazz’s first preseason game being in two days: “There’s been great intensity and focus in every single practice.[/URL] … I really like the dynamic and the energy we have right now.” Added he has “no idea” how many minutes he’ll play.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]

Ben Anderson: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Shaq Harrison won’t be with the @UtahJazz until tomorrow due to the quarantine process regulations[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/BensHoops"]Twitter BensHoops[/URL]

[url]https://kslsports.com/448337/jazz-announce-2020-21-broadcast-schedule/[/url]

[QUOTE]Craig Bolerjack and former Jazzman Matt Harpring return as broadcasters for the team on the television side. David Locke and former Utah Stars guard Ron Boone will return for the radio broadcast.


[/QUOTE]

Thurl? Mike Smith? Kristin? Let's hope it's not Matt every night! :cry: