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| Loving the new Jazz uniforms. Retro is back, and its awesome. |
2009-10 Record: 53-29
Additions: Al Jefferson (Trade), Raja Bell (FA), Francisco Elson (FA), Gordon Hayward (Draft), Earl Watson (FA), Jeremy Evans (FA)
Subtractions: Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Wesley Matthews, Kosta Koufos
Like a lot of teams, Utah had an eventful summer. Carlos Boozer did what he was supposed to do a year ago, and left the team for more money in Chicago. Utah showed some great restraint in not trying to keep him by overpaying (unlike the Hawks with Johnson). The Jazz realized that Boozer wasn't the answer they needed, especially after the Jazz got swept by the Lakers in the second round, with the Lakers bigs abusing Boozer continuously. It worked out too, because the Jazz were able to acquire a potentially better, cheaper, and younger replacement in Al Jefferson from Minnesota, all at a very low cost as well.
They showed some more restraint in not matching Portland's ridiculous contract offer to restricted Free Agent Wesley Matthews. Matthews had a solid rookie year for Utah despite being undrafted, but didn't even make either of the All-Rookie Teams. Now he's making more money than any other sophomore in the league, as a backup. Utah's response was to get veteran Raja Bell, a much better defender than Matthews, and almost as good a shooter.
Their draft pick of Gordon Hayward (the Jazz were in the lottery because they owned the Knicks pick) was a bit of a surprise, but Hayward has had a solid pre-season so far, and even exploded on the Lakers and Ron Artest for 29 points. Its preseason, but that's still a good sign and maybe the rest of us were too busy laughing that Utah picked the white kid to notice that hey, the white kid can actually ball.
Jefferson is by far the most important addition, and how he'll adapt to not being the best player on his team anymore will be interesting to watch. I think it'll be good for him, and if he can play like he did a couple seasons ago before his knee injury, Utah might not be missing Boozer that much at all. Jefferson's defense could be a worry however, as he's never been regarded as good in that department, but hopefully playing for Jerry Sloan changes his attitude there.
Deron Williams is this team though, and with Chris Paul sitting out a big chunk of last season with a knee injury, Williams has a lot of buzz now as the "best point guard in the league". While I still think Paul is (people will remember once they see him play healthy again), Williams is close. He runs his team exceedingly well, and he can also score when needed too. He's big and stronger than most other points, and this goes along with his quickness to make him a pesky defender as well. How Deron goes, this team will go. He was the biggest reason the Jazz led the league in assists last year, which led to a lot of easy shots, which led to the Jazz having the 2nd highest FG% in the league.
The Jazz also have some great complementary players. Andrei Kirilenko, despite not being his old self, is still a great defender and a good shooter, as well as being one of the more valuable expiring contracts in the league right now. Paul Millsap might be small, but his arms are super long, and he can easily defend or post up against bigger players who underestimate his strength. Mehmet Okur will be back from his knee injury, and he'll be able to bring that floor spacing the Jazz so desperately needed in the playoffs last year.
This year will be a learning process for the Jazz I think, even though they likely will still be one of the better teams in the West. Al Jefferson especially will need time to adjust and learn the system, and who knows what happens with Kirilenko and his contract. Right now this team isn't ready to challenge for a title, but they could be soon. Williams, Jefferson and Millsap is a good core going forward. Sloan continues to be one of the best coaches in the league. The future will continue to be bright for Utah, and they could be the ones to inherit the Western throne when the Lakers inevitably come back to Earth.
Projected Win Range: 48-53
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