Utah Jazz Roster: Keepers, Droppers and In-Betweeners

Trevor Booker and Joe Ingles – Cautiously Shoppable

Again, I’ve placed these two together due to similar situations. Obviously Trevor Booker and Joe Ingles are far from the powerhouses of this Utah Jazz team. Ideally, it would be nice to secure a more talented substitute for each of them, which is what gives them the shoppable status, yet at the same time the Jazz should be cautious before removing either of these two off the roster.

First of all, it’s not likely that the Jazz could get much in return for either one of them, unless of course they were tied into a bigger package in which case it might be wise to trade them away depending on the situation. Yet under regular circumstances, any trade regarding Ingles or Booker would likely be a lateral move in terms of talent.

But where the Jazz would most need to be careful in terms of making decisions on these two players is with their impact on the locker room and overall team chemistry. While, statistically, they might not seem to make that consistent of an impact, their roles go much deeper than just what shows up in a box score.

Booker and Ingles have been excellent “glue guys” that have helped the Jazz play together as a unit, have provided great energy and have brought a more mature presence to a young team. Tweaking these intangibles can have devastating effects on a team’s mentality and togetherness.

Many have cited Lyles’ emergence as a top reason to replace Booker, yet time and time again it was Booker who left his mark on games by being the best at providing a spark off the bench. Also, both Booker and Ingles have had nothing but praise for this Utah squad, which as previously stated in the case of Favors, is something that truly cannot be overlooked when seeking long-term cohesion.

Thus while Booker and Ingles certainly aren’t untouchable by any means, the Jazz should be cautious before immediately considering them expendable.

Next: Jeff Withey and Tibor Pleiss