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

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.nba.com/jazz/qa-utah-jaz...novan-mitchell

Q: What is your style of play and what will you bring to the Jazz?
HUGHES: Yeah, so my style of play is just kind of all-around kind of offensive threat, put the ball on the floor, make plays, making the game easy, quick, one-dribble pull-ups, two-dribble pull-ups, knock down open shots.
Just kind of a full offensive threat, a defensive mind who competes and is going to be ready to compete from day one. I want to show people I can defend, and I want to prove that and lead from day one.

sounds like a fit if he can hit open 3's

Q. I wanted to ask you what you think of Donovan Mitchell and what you think of being able to play alongside a guy like that and the leadership he brings to a team.
HUGHES: I think Donovan is one of the best players in the league

one of the best players on the team anyway

[Xiao Yao You]

Logical Jazz target? A rotational guard for four years in Denver, Beasley was shipped to Minny and averaged just over 20 in a partial season with the Wolves. So at this point, they probably have to match reasonable offers.

and has legal troubles so Jazz won't touch him

Logical Jazz target? He’s an athletic and long shot-blocking four, but he has been a replacement-level player for six seasons now, partially because he has a hard time converting, even at the rim.

sounds like Ed without the shot blocking

Logical Jazz target? The Jazz could do much worse for their third guard role than to bring back Neto, who has been hanging out with Gobert this offseason. But they’re also well aware of him limitations.

and hopefully he is aware of theirs. He deserves better

Logical Jazz target? Word is they’re ready to try something new. Mudiay is a non-shooter, so he’s mostly only a threat with the ball in his hands. But he also isn’t a natural distributor, so him having the ball often means Utah’s not really running their stuff.

sounds like Clarkson. Rather have him cheap

Logical Jazz target? Waiters hasn’t been part of L.A.’s playoff rotation, and doesn’t check some of Utah’s boxes.

Jazz wouldn't touch him

Logical Jazz target? Like Crawford, Mbah a Moute finished the year on a bubble replacement contract; unlike Crawford, he’s known for his defense. The question here is does he have anything left in the tank at 34 and after some long-term injuries.

Haven't wanted him in the past. He's got more left than no PF does that's for sure

Logical Jazz target? If all the Jazz need behind Rudy (and while “Dok” grows into the game) is someone to finish pick-and-rolls and block shots for 15 minutes a game, they could see if Biyombo could be had cheaply.

that is what they need. Someone that could start at the 4 too

Logical Jazz target? Chandler actually fits the mold of what Utah tends to look for in a modern PF, and he was good when he last had a regular role. The question is whether he, at 33, can get back to his Denver-era efficiency and defense.

again better than no PF

Logical Jazz target? Carroll had a bad year from three, but was a 36% shooter in the six previous seasons combined. His defensive impact numbers are right at the mean — both this year and on a multi-year basis.

loved him!

Logical Jazz target? Lopez is probably too good to play exclusively as Gobert’s backup, although he did average just 14.5 minutes last season in Milwaukee.

which is why he opted out I imagine. Might not be a bigger role for him though?

Logical Jazz target? Mahinmi is a decent paint protector, but produces very little offense. He finishes about 1.5 P&R plays per game and does do with league-average efficiency, and that’s ALL he does. He could be a decent low-minute backup, but you’d really be praying Gobert never had to miss any time.

Be praying for that anyway. They've sucked when he's missed significant time even when the great Favors was here

Logical Jazz target? Juancho is the more skilled of the Hernangomez hermanos, but he’s not really equipped to play center. Utah could still look to add him (he’s not that far from what Nikola Mirotic is, and the Jazz liked him), but the matching rights could make that harder.

sounds like he could be their guy

Logical Jazz target? The onetime Jazz camper has bounced around despite good shooting numbers and multi-year defensive numbers that are right around average. That said, he’s been a borderline rotation player on lottery teams, which doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence for a playoff team looking for rotation contributors..

a playoff team with serious depth issues

Logical Jazz target? He has size and length and has defended well enough to get a deep bench shot somewhere. His 2018-19 numbers show evidence of a decent shooting stroke (even though he slumped this past season).

and now unrestricted

Logical Jazz target? Despite all the good pub he got for a mini resurgence in Portland, he has still delivered replacement-level value (or worse) for the last three seasons. Hard to imagine him being interested in Utah anyway.

wasn't interested in Portalnd until no one else wanted him!

Thanks the market for a backup 5 looks good which if anything probably makes it harder to dump Davis. Need a starting 4. Still say Bojan for a 4!

[Xiao Yao You]

Logical Jazz target? At this point Henson is teetering on the edge of the rotation — for bad teams. That said, he still has a positive impact on the defense when he plays, and he’s even started to take some 3s… with varying results.

might be a cheap option. Starting 4 needs to be their focus

Logical Jazz target? Maybe. He’s nowhere near as good at protecting the paint as the Favors/Noel/Plumlee class of free agent bigs, but he would give the Jazz a different look with some 5-out lineups: he has shot 43% from deep over the past three seasons. He can finish P&Rs, too.

doesn't sound like they want to play different when Rudy's not out there though I think a different look would be good to have

Logical Jazz target? TT is a pure center at this point, which means that for him to make sense in Utah, he’d have to agree to a reserve role with minutes in the teens — something he’s probably not ready to do after starting in 70% of his career games.

he may have no choice

Logical Jazz target? The journeyman would be a great fit in Mudiay’s role, but he has been playing starter minutes for Orlando, so it’s unlikely he’d take a job as an insurance policy and towel-waver.

Mudiay had been a starter too

Logical Jazz target? Baynes had a career-best year, but wasn’t quite as good after some winter injuries (a 37-and-16 game in March notwithstanding). He can knock down 3-point shots (35% on the year, although again: 30% from December on) and also finish on the roll, and he’s a decent defender even without Gobert’s or Favors’ length.

like him. Looks like they should be able to get a 5. Starting 4 first though!

Logical Jazz target? Props to Trey for resurrecting his career with really nice play in the bubble for the playoff-relevant Mavs. That said, I don’t think the Jazz are going there.

I'm sure his dad would love it!

Logical Jazz target? Hill is coming off his best outside shooting year (37%), but I’d trust the larger sample here and say he’s not the kind of outside threat who actually bends defenses. He is also far from a stopper, despite good wing size.

Jazz liked him last time he was a free agent

Logical Jazz target? Detroit probably won’t dangle the $4.6M qualifying offer in front of him, which means he’ll likely be unrestricted. But there are reasons he barely played in Detroit this season. Someone might take a shot and give him a developmental deep bench spot.

I like him. Blocks shots and hits 3. Rare

Logical Jazz target? Jones is a decent shot-blocker at his position, but not really a paint protector in absolute terms. As with other replacement-level bigs at the minimum, this is probably only an interesting option if the Jazz moved on from Bradley and needed a third center for insurance purposes.

someone mention Bradley?

Logical Jazz target? McRae had games of 35, 29 (twice) and 21 for Washington — and then he was traded, waived, and claimed off waivers. The combo guard is too small to solve Utah’s wing defense issues, and he’s a minus defender overall. That said, he could be a deep bench guard in Mudiay’s role.

they need end of the bench guys. Have Davis and maybe Niang if Morgan or Brantley play now. Need at least one other ideally. Not sure they have the roster spot though with all their young guys

Logical Jazz target? Sefolosha helped the Jazz in his two seasons, but the 36-year-old’s minutes have been on a steady decline, and he’s missed a quarter or more of each of the past four seasons.

and Quin didn't like him

Logical Jazz target? Dudley is a wing-turned-smallball 4 who makes outside shots and posts decent D-PIPM over time — but he barely played in L.A. this season.

another on the Jazz radar in the past

[Xiao Yao You]

Logical Jazz target? The question now is simple: do the Jazz think their rookie big man is going to be ready right away? Or do they want a more mature backup 5 while Azubuike learns the NBA game? Obviously there is a reason Jazz fans have pined for his return: his paint protection and rim finishing would really help the bench units.

why would anyone think a rookie would be ready when no rookie under Snyder has been?

Logical Jazz target? If he’d come and if the Jazz could afford him, sure. Morris is coming off 12 ppg in the playoffs on 51-48-93 shooting, and he does OK guarding wings and (some) bigs.

not their type of guy

Logical Jazz target? He’s an inconsistent outside shooter, and he’s more “tough guy” than “defensive stopper,” but Crowder was a fan favorite his first time around in Utah.

if Snyder didn't love him so much sure

Logical Jazz target? Ibaka has played almost exclusively at center the past two seasons, but he has also played a lot more minutes than he would get as Gobert’s backup. He’s also 31 and would cost a lot, but he would no doubt be a huge upgrade.

start at the 4, backup Rudy?

Logical Jazz target? He doesn’t have great size for a wing and his outside shooting is just OK, but he’s a good defender and could be a nice depth piece, if he’s cheap enough.

end of bench they need too

Logical Jazz target? Boucher was an advanced stats and plus-minus darling in his first season with a regular (albeit low-minute) role in Toronto. He can play some center, so the Jazz will keep an ear to the ground to see if there’s a point at which Toronto wouldn’t match an offer.

he'd have to play center since he doesn't shoot well enough

Logical Jazz target? A good rolling big man with a decent ability to guard in space. He should definitely be on Utah’s list of options if they want more big man depth while Azubuike adjusts to pro life.

not sure he fits character wise either

Logical Jazz target? The beloved former Jazzman just doesn’t fit this time around. At 36 and with his size and speed, he’s a pure 4 at a time when Utah just doesn’t use them.

they need to use them if they want to match up with other teams or cause mismatches. You have to be versatile. You can't play one way. Denver going big on them was the end of the season for the Jazz. They tanked to match up with Denver so they wouldn't have to face other teams that they couldn't match up with

Logical Jazz target? Dwight played precisely the role in L.A. that Utah needs to fill behind Gobert — a backup center with minutes in the teens — but it doesn’t seem like he’ll be looking to change addresses after a nice resurrection with the champs.

wouldn't want him. Still a head case

Logical Jazz target? Absolutely. Warning; he’s not really 6-foot-7 as his listed height suggests. But at 6-foot-4 with good length, Harrison has established himself as a frisky wing defender who also has some facilitation skills and an improving outside shot.

not their biggest need

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltcityhoops.com/2020-free-...-fit-for-each/

Logical Jazz target? Whiteside will command more money than the Jazz can offer and a bigger role than they have room to accommodate with Rudy Gobert on their roster.

and they'd want nothing to do with him anyway

Logical Jazz target? The closest thing to a true star in the UFA class, but the Jazz don’t have a way of getting close to his price range. (He’s also a minus defender and the Jazz don’t really use 4s anyway.)

He's said he'd play for the exception possibly to win. They need to use 4's or they will have the same problems as last year. Have to be able to play big as well as small

Logical Jazz target? The Jazz don’t really need another point guard, but VanVleet has gotten so good that you can’t ignore him completely. In the unlikely event that they trade Mike Conley for a big body, FVV could come into play. Otherwise, Utah doesn’t have a role big enough to attract him.

got to think Mitchell will be their pg though Toronto starts him with Lowry. Need a bigger backcourt either way

Logical Jazz target? Trez is small center, but he scores a bunch and protects the paint decently. The Sixth Man of the Year will probably have a lot of options after an 18.6-ppg season.

not sure he's the best option to back up Rudy and wouldn't get enough minutes for the price. Don't want him on the floor with Rudy

Logical Jazz target? A stretch 5 who can also finish pick-and-rolls and is a plus defender overall. He probably wants more than an exclusive backup role, though; could the Jazz carve some minutes for him at the 4, like they did for Derrick Favors?

He could start at the 4

Logical Jazz target? You could argue that wing defense became Utah’s top proirity for the MLE after they drafted a big man on Wednesday. If that’s the case, Holiday is among the best 3-and-D guys in that range.

Starting 4 should be their main goal. Backup center after that. End of the bench vet depth after that

Logical Jazz target? Definitely should be on Utah’s radar if they feel like Udoka Azubuike needs some time before he’s the full-time backup. Noel is a springy athlete who blocks shots and is a better pick-and-roll finisher than people realize, but since he doesn’t space the floor, his hypothetical role for the Jazz is capped at low-minute backup (and emergency starter) on a playoff team. (Which was essentially his role in OKC.)

need a vet. Udoka is a Star

Logical Jazz target? His placement on this list is a reminder of how much he helped the Jazz this past season; it’s also a reminder that his price range could quickly escalate beyond what Utah is comfortable paying a fourth guard.

I'm not comfortable at any price

Logical Jazz target? It’s unclear where the line in the sand is that the Spurs would think twice about matching an offer for the former Utah Ute. He has only averaged 17 minutes per game as a Spur, but he’s a solid backup 5 and a bit of a plus-minus superstar.

like him. Looks like many options for backup 5

On the Jazz’s radar: Wait, what?? Bogdanovic is back to being available after his deal to Milwaukee was called off. The Jazz like him, but they don’t have a way to get to his price, or a role to offer him..

they certainly have a role for him but they have bigger needs

Logical Jazz target? Plumlee has already been a backup to an All-NBA center, and he’s dang good in that role. He’s a good athlete, decent defensively, and can finish around the rim.

get it done

Logical Jazz target? It’s unlikely the Jazz revisit this relationship, primarily because he doesn’t match the defensive profile they’re trying to fill.

He'd be better off going to China than the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltcityhoops.com/who-has-money-2020-fa/

Utah $3.5M (Bradley) – 11/18/21

Might be able to get a backup 5 or a deep bench guy for that. The draft is looking better all the time. Still not all in on the number 2 pick

[Xiao Yao You]

Romaro Gill to exhibit 10 contract. A big guy. Guess they are done with Haas?

[Xiao Yao You]

Shams Charania: Milwaukee is waiving forward Ersan Ilyasova, sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
– via Twitter ShamsCharania

another option

[Xiao Yao You]

Chris Haynes: Brooklyn Nets will not pick up the $5 million team option on guard Garrett Temple and he’ll enter free agency, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
– via Twitter ChrisBHaynes

and another that has been linked to Snyder before

[Xiao Yao You]

Training camp shaping up

Rudy/vet/Udoka/Davis/Gill
vet/Niang/Morgan/Brantley
Bojan/Ingles/Oni
O'Neale/Tucker/Hughes
Mitchell/Conley/Forrest/William-Goss

another spot. Maybe Wright Forman on a non guarantee? Need more vets if anything though

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/...yracuse-orange

As player profiles go, Hughes and Azubuike could not be more different. Azubuike is as traditional as centers come and he’s huge. Standing 7 feet tall, he boasts a 7-foot-7 wingspan, is a rebounding juggernaut, and is a lob threat with a knack for soft touch hook shots and putbacks. Hughes is a 6-foot-6 playmaking guard/forward with a silky jump shot and speed to boot.

What they will have in common is the Stars!

Hughes is facing the same thing that almost any player entering the league must do — prove he can play defense on an NBA level. Outside of that it’s more about consistency and refinement, which is all easier said than done, but a challenge Hughes is ready for.

and shoot

Day one is not that far off as players plan to arrive back in their markets during the first week of December and welcome their rookies to the team for a 2020-21 season that will be a learning experience for all involved.

end of November. I imagine sooner for some. Get what work in they can with no summer league

[Xiao Yao You]

Shams Charania: Minnesota is trading James Johnson to Oklahoma City as part of the Ricky Rubio trade, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium .
– via Twitter ShamsCharania

you know he's available. Pretty close to Bojan's contract. Probably have to include picks for the Thunder to take him though

[Xiao Yao You]

Shams Charania: Los Angeles Clippers forward JaMychal Green has declined his $5M player option for the 2020-21 season and will become a free agent, sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
– via Twitter ShamsCharania

another option

[Xiao Yao You]

Adrian Wojnarowski: The Utah Jazz are trading Ed Davis and two 2023 second-round picks to the New York Knicks, sources tell @Brian Windhorst and me.
– via Twitter wojespn

Trade, Ed Davis, New York Knicks, Utah Jazz




Tony Jones: The Jazz moving Davis to New York is a move designed to free up flexibility for roster building going forward, according to league sources
– via Twitter Tjonesonthenba

at least it wasn't a 1st!

[Xiao Yao You]

Adrian Wojnarowski: The Detroit Pistons aren’t extending a qualifying offer to Thon Maker and he’ll become an unrestricted free agent, source tells ESPN.
– via Twitter wojespn

I like him