The Jazz Are In A Tough Spot
The Jazz blew a 3-1 series lead vs the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs last season, and it was clear what they needed to work on. They needed depth and bench scoring as without Bogdan Bogdanovic, it was a wonder they went toe-to-toe with Denver in the first place. But the Jazz can’t do much as they have most of their money tied up for a while. So the Jazz are in a really bad situation.
2020 NBA Draft
The Jazz had two selections in the 2020 NBA Draft, a late first round pick as well as a 2nd round pick. And they didn’t do an incredible job with either of them.
Udoka Azubuike – 27th Overall
Azubuike is a powerful paint beast coming from Kansas. He dunks everything, and anchored the paint for 4 seasons with the Jayhawks. He doesn’t have anything resembling a jumpshot, which hurts in the modern NBA. He might not be a great fit next to Gobert. Azubuike did average 2.0 blocks during his college career, but the fit next to Gobert might not be great. And with Utah losing Ed Davis this offseason, Azubuike will likely have to play.
Saben Lee – 38th Overall
Lee wasn’t a guy expected to be drafted, however he is very talented. He averaged 18.6 points during his junior season with Vanderbilt. He can shoot pretty well, dribble, distribute, and shot-create. Lee could be a nice fit next to Mitchell, and will likely get decent playing time off the Utah bench. He gets a good mentor in Donovan Mitchell, so this pick could be good for the Jazz.
2020 NBA Free Agency
Resign Jordan Clarkson – 4yr/$52 Million Dollar Deal
Clarkson was acquired from the Cavaliers last season, and he was a nice bench scorer for the Jazz. He averaged 15.6 points in 42 regular season games with Utah. He was a solid scorer, and made the Jazz a better team. But he didn’t play particularly well during the playoffs, but the Jazz needed to retain him to give their bench as much as possible. Clarkson just needs to be consistent enough, and the Jazz will remain competent in the West. The Jazz also got Clarkson for $13 million dollars, quite the steal.
Donovan Mitchell Extension – 5yr/$195 Million
This wasn’t a bad move by the Jazz, it was a great one. Mitchell is your franchise player, the guy you have to build around to build a title. Mitchell is great on both ends and a great leader at such a young age. He is only 24 years old and has a lot of time left in the league to grow and try and give this Jazz team a championship.
Sign Derrick Favors – 3yr/$30 Million Dollar Deal
Favors was at his best with the Jazz, and now he’s heading back him after one terrible season with the Pelicans. Favors is much better next to Gobert, as he doesn’t have to be a great defender. He is a stout rebounder and defender, and gives some veteran leadership to this team. Nice pickup by the Jazz.
But because the Jazz spent all their money resigning Clarkson and signing Favors back, they didn’t have enough money to sign anybody else. This leads me to my next point which is they might have to trade somebody. Or they just have to wait. Conley is going to be making $34 million dollars during the 2020-21 season, which is way too much for him, saying that he is past his prime. Conley becomes a free agent after this season, and the Jazz will either let him walk or sign him to a much more flexible deal.
Bojan Bogdanovic is making nearly $20 million per year, Clarkson signed a deal for $13 million per year, Gobert is making nearly $26 million, and Mitchell’s extension starts in the 2021-22 season. The Jazz have tied so much money to everybody, that they don’t have much room to add anybody.
The Jazz are just going to have to do the best with what they have. I don’t see them as getting better, and they will stay like the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers are always a first round exit, maybe winning a series. But the Blazers actually improve their roster, or at least they try. Even with most of their money gone, their roster changes. The Jazz will have to do similar things in order to try and contend in the West.
(It hurt to say those things about the Blazers, no Blazers slander allowed).
The Jazz tried their best to fix their depth problem. They had an ok draft at best, and added Derrick Favors in free agency. They resigned Jordan Clarkson, but that’s it. They gave Mitchell a massive contract that will start next season. They are paying Conley $34 million this season. Bogdanovic $20 million, Gobert $25 million. The Jazz have put all of their money into 4 players, and now they have nowhere to go. The Jazz will just have to wait and try and make their team minimally better, but right now it’s hard for the Jazz to be contenders in the West.
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