Going into the 2021-2022 season, the Utah Jazz had very high expectations. Hoping to build off of last year success, they were expecting to be to title contenders. Needless to say, losing in the 1st round of the 2022 playoffs was a disappointment. And this time, the Jazz couldn't blame injuries. They were completely healthy. In fact, it was the Mavericks who were without their best player Luka Doncic for the first three games. And the Jazz could not capitalize.
This time, running it back is not an option.
The Jazz need to make a major change.
Here are their 4 options for the 2022 offseason (and their "comps"):
- Build around Rudy Gobert & Donovan Mitchell (if possible).
- Comp: 2020 Milwaukee Bucks
- Trade Rudy Gobert, break down the foundation of your team, and rebuild around Donovan Mitchell (if Mitchell is willing to do a mini rebuild). (LINK)
- Comp: 2004 Los Angeles Lakers
- Trade Donovan Mitchell for a ~2 year championship window (if possible). (LINK)
- Comp: 2018 Toronto Raptors
- See somebody you like in the 2023 NBA draft, tank to get them, and bribe the commissioner to make sure you get the #1 overall draft pick. (LINK)
- Comp: 2002-03 Cavaliers & 1996-97 San Antonio Spurs
Option 1: Build around Rudy Gobert & Donovan Mitchell (if possible).
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"The goal should be to build around these two players (Gobert & Mitchell) not to split them up. Now here’s the problem: what on this Utah team has value outside of your two core guys?" -Bobby Marks (LINK) |
David Locke, Radio voice of Utah Jazz and creator of Locked on Podcast Network, dedicated one week's worth of podcasts (May 2nd - May 6th) talking about reasons why the Jazz fell short of expectations this year. In the first episode (HERE), Locke's argument is that the Jazz just aren't that good of a team and that the prior season was an outlier. In his third episode (HERE), Locke talked about the "lack of leadership and camaraderie."
Both an upgrade in talent and/or fit (particularly looking for a borderline-elite 3&D forward) AND leadership and camaraderie must be addressed this offseason if Jazz want to be an elite team while keeping Gobert and Mitchell.
Upgrade Talent and/or fit (particularly looking for a starting 6'8+ forward and a starting 6'4+ guard replacement for Conley)
What 6'8+ forwards could be available to the Utah Jazz?
- It sounds like the Clippers want to move on from turning-33-this-year Marcus Morris's 2 year $33.5 mil remaining contract (Would Marcus Morris even be willing to play for a small market team like the Utah Jazz? What if the Jazz are willing to also sign twin brother Markieff Morris?) There are reports that the Clippers would be interested in trading Morris plus other stuff for Mike Conley. HERE is a bleacher report trade idea of the Jazz trading Mike Conley for Marcus Morris, Brandon Boston Jr., Terance Mann.
- The Pistons will likely be looking get something for Jerami Grant's expiring contract. Can the Jazz put together the best offer?
- Will the Kings be listening to offers for Harrison Barnes' expiring contract?
- Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley as their starting bigs, and Lauri Markkanen having a great year last year, that leaves Kevin Love with a continually dimension role with this Cavaliers teams. Many believe the Cavs will be looking to trade Love's $29M expiring contract. And there are reports that the Cavs are interested in Mike Conley (LINK)
- The Clippers have been trying to move Tobias Harris for a while now. Would they be interested in a trade centered around Mike Conley for Harris?
What 6'4+ guards could be available to the Utah Jazz?
- "Sources say that the Pacers have also left numerous rival teams with the impression that they will be trying to move Malcolm Brogdon this offseason..." - Marc Stein (LINK). If the Jazz were to move Mike Conley (which I believe they should), Malcolm Brogdon would theoretically be a great backcourt partner with Donovan Mitchell because he is a good shooter, is tall/lengthy for his position, and can be a secondary ball handler. HERE is a trade proposal from nbaanalysis.net including Mike Conley + Utah's 2026 1st rounder for Brogdon. Or would the Pacers be more interest in something like Royce+NAW+Gay and that 1st round pick for Brogdon?
- According to Bobby Marks, "The free-agent class of two-way wings is weak, and [Victor] Oladipo should see offers starting at the $6.4 million tax midlevel and up to the $10.3 million full midlevel" (LINK).
Lack of Leadership.
Summarizing David Locke here: a leadership void was created when Ricky Rubio wasn't resigned in 2019. That Jazz essentially replaced Rubio with Mike Conley, who is a great locker room guy but he is not a leader. Can the Jazz bring in a veteran that also a strong leader?(LINK)
During his stink with the Cavs, Rubio was coming off the bench. Rubio was having some early success that season, until he tore his left ACL in late December. Rubio is turning 32 this year and is coming off that ACL tear. What will his demand be, if any? Could the Utah Jazz sign Ricky Rubio with the MLE? Or even a veterans minimum? Could they do a sign-and-trade with the Pacers? Would Ricky Rubio be willing to come off the bench for the Jazz like he did for the Cavaliers last year?
To me, if I'm Ricky Rubio, the Utah Jazz seems like a perfect fit. It's a team that should be able to get a top 6 seed without Ricky, but will need his leadership and basketball skills in the playoffs.
Having Rubio back in the locker room would help immensely with the lack of leadership, and could potentially be enough to fix the next problem as well (camaraderie).
Lack of Camaraderie.
Summarizing David Locke again, the Jazz used to love being in the gym together. Practices and such were fun for them. This season, that wasn't quite the case. Locke says he doesn't see animosity between the players (like some other media have suggested), but the joy was definitely diminished. Locke attributes a large part of that to departures of Derrick Favors and Georges Niang last offseason. Derrick Favors loved being in Utah and was happy to sacrifice for the team. That went a long way with the other players. It was hard to complain about your situation when Derrick Favors is sacrificing more than you and being happy about it. From what I have heard, Favors didn't complain about minutes, touches, usage, etc.. He did what he was asked with a smile. And Georges Niang, according to Locke, was everyone's favorite person. He was just fun to be around. Losing those two players hurt the Utah locker room (LINK).
From what I know about Harrison Barnes and Ricky Rubio, they are both guys that are willing to sacrifice to win. Apparently a GM said about Harrison Barnes: "He can be your third best player if you need him to be. If you need him to be your sixth best player, he can be that too. No ego. Just wants to play and win" (LINK). Getting a guy like that on your team will do wonders for your locker room.
Six more players I want to mention:
As I mentioned early, Marcus Morris is exactly the type of player help get the Jazz over the hump. But is he willing to play in a small market like Utah? What if the Utah Jazz also sign free agent / twin brother Markieff Morris? Would the Morris Twins have a strong desire to play together again before their careers are over? Perhaps if the Jazz were willing to offer that to them, they would be willing to play there? And it's not just motivation for Marcus. Markieff skillset would also add to the Jazz roster. They really need 6'8 guys that aren't afraid play some defense and stick up for their teammates. A huge win for all parties involved.
According to sources, the 76ers are "willing to include Matisse Thybulle in any trade that includes Tobais Harris" (LINK). It is not a secret the 76ers have been looking to move Tobias Harris's contract for a while now. And both Thybulle and Georges Niang struggled to get any significant playing time in the playoffs. I could see the Jazz doing something like Clarkson/Conley/Gay for Harris/Thybulle/Niang. From the Jazz perspective, it might not necessarily be an upgrade in talent, but it is arguably an upgrade in fit. It address 1) small backcourt problem 2) defense / forced turnovers, and 3) camaraderie. Having Tobias in the starting lineup instead of Conley makes the Jazz bigger. Thybulle off the bench brings defense / forced turnovers. And Niang was awesome for the locker room while with the Jazz.
Some 76ers fans I've talk to love this trade straight up for the 76ers, like the idea of adding Clarkson/Conley/Gay. Others I've talked to believe that will leave their team with too many point guards and not enough wings/forwards. So maybe a 3 team deal would make more sense with a team that is interested in Mike Conley (The Cavs trade LeVert? The Clippers trade Marcus Morris + someone like Kennard?). For the Jazz, this trade feels like a "last resort" type trade to me - addressing the major weaknesses but not necessary upgrading talent.
The Jazz will also need to address their backup center position with Hassan Whiteside's contract ending, and I am not sure if Hassan will want to resign with the Jazz at the vets min or not. Meanwhile, notorious locker room favorite Boban Marjanovic completely fell out of the rotation in Dallas this season. I'm sure the Mavs would willing to listen to trade proposals for Boban's expiring contract with $3.5 mil left his year since they are not playing him anyway. Boban could be a serviceable backup center for Gobert, and would also help with camaraderie. And, side note, if the Jazz end up trading for Tobias Harris, wouldn't it be awesome to reunite Tobi & Bobi?!
Final Thoughts: All or Nothing
As a final note, this "Option 1" should not be only partial done or it won't work.
The Jazz need to address both problems in the offseason, or else they need to trade Gobert and/or Mitchell. Just acquiring a borderline-elite 3&D player isn't enough. Just addressing their lack of leadership and camaraderie isn't enough. If they want go into next season with both Gobert and Mitchell, they must address both of these weaknesses this offseason.
For example, if the Jazz address their lack of leadership and camaraderie, but fail to upgrade the talent at the wing position, they will still not be good enough to be legit contenders. Let's say they sign Rubio, Ingles, and trade for Boban. But that's it. That would for sure help with the lack of leadership and camaraderie, but still leaves the Jazz not talented enough at the wing position to win a championship.
On the flip side, if the only thing they do is trade for someone like Jerami Grant or Marcus Morris, but fail to address the lack of leadership and camaraderie, that is a recipe for disaster. That lack of leadership and lack of camaraderie needs to also be address if the Jazz want to keep Gobert and Mitchell together for another season.
What a successful "Option 1" Offseason might look like:
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Cavs trade
PG Donovan Mitchell / Ricky Rubio / Trent ForrestSG Victor Oladipo / Jordan Clarkson
SF Bojan Bogdanovic / Danuel House
PF Kevin Love / Royce O'Neale / Joe Ingles
C Rudy Gobert / Udoka Azubiuke
PF Kevin Love / Royce O'Neale / Joe Ingles
C Rudy Gobert / Udoka Azubiuke
76ers & Pacers trade
PG Malcolm Brogdon / Ricky Rubio / Jared Butler
SG Donovan Mitchell / Matisse Thybulle
SF Bojan Bogdanovic / Danuel House
PF Tobias Harris / Georges Niang / Joe Ingles
C Rudy Gobert / Boban Marjanovic
PF Tobias Harris / Georges Niang / Joe Ingles
C Rudy Gobert / Boban Marjanovic
Clippers Trade
PG Donovan Mitchell / Ricky Rubio / Jared Butler
SG Terrance Mann / Jordan Clarkson /
SF Bojan Bogdanovic / Brandon Boston / Royce O'Neal
PF Marcus Morris / Markieff Morris / Joe Ingles
C Rudy Gobert / Udoka Azubiuke
Pistons & Wizards Trade
PG Donovan Mitchell / Gary Payton II / Trent Forrest
SG Kentavious Caldwall-Pope / Jordan Clarkson
SF Jerami Grant / Danuel House / Joe Ingles
PF Bojan Bogdanovic / Juancho Hernangomez / Eric Paschall
C Rudy Gobert / Udoka Azubiuke
Options 2, 3, & 4
If the Utah Jazz can't upgrade their roster and/or fit AND address their lack of leadership and camaraderie, they cannot get good enough around Gobert and Mitchell, and thus they will need to trade one of them.
Click HERE for Option 2 - Trading Rudy Gobert
Click HERE for Option 2 - Trading Rudy Gobert
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