Editor’s note: This is the 11th of Sam Amico’s look at all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2013-14 season.
Meet the Jazz
Barely missing the playoffs, as the Utah Jazz did last season, can force a team to make some tough calls. Namely, do you try to get in again with the same ensemble -- or do you change things up a little, give the young guys a larger role, and start building for the (near) future?
It appears the Jazz chose the latter, opting not to go nuts when it came to re-signing Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, their top two scorers from last season, who left via free agency.
Now, the team belongs to younger folks such as Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks, and even rookies Trey Burke and Rudy Gorbert.
How far the Jazz go, and how quickly they do it, will mostly come down to those guys.
The good news? Favors is one of the league’s most underrated. He’s fairly skilled all the way around, increasing his scoring and rebounding averages in each of his first three seasons. He truly has the potential to flourish in a starting role.
Hayward is another proven commodity, a strong shooter who is often overlooked in other areas (except, perhaps, by the Jazz and their fans). Kanter and Burks have also shown flashes, and occasionally, flashes turn into regular productivity with increased minutes.
While the heart of coach Tyrone Corbin’s gang is young and eager, the Jazz did land some longtime vets for support. Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins and Brandon Rush arrive in a trade with Golden State, and while it was mostly a financial move, each brings plenty of know-how.
Basically, the Jazz don’t have any plans to blow you away. It seems as if a close playoff push matching last season isn’t, either.
Instead, they’ll do the best with what they have, giving the names they’ve been waiting on a chance to ease into their more significant roles.
It’s not a winning formula, but at this point, it’s a wise one.
Coach: Tyrone Corbin (fourth year, 87-89)
Last season: 43-39, did not make playoffs.
Projected starters: C Enes Kanter; PF Derrick Favors; SF Richard Jefferson; SG Gordon Hayward; PG Trey Burke (r).
Key reserves: SG Alec Burks; PG John Lucas III; SF Marvin Williams; C Andris Biedrins; C Rudy Gobert (r); SG Brandon Rush; SF Jeremy Evans.
New faces: Jefferson, Burke, Lucas III, Biedrins, Gobert, Rush.
Outlook: The Jazz don’t have a bunch of new faces, but again, they do have several guys looking to take the next career step. Familiarity will help them occasionally, but the overall lack of experience (or an All-Star) is likely to make it a long year record-wise.
Prediction: 28-54.
FOX Sports: Jazz home.
Twitter: @SamAmicoFSO
