Rudy Gobert – Keeper
Much like Favors, Rudy Gobert had his ups and downs this year but also had his share of injuries. In all honesty, Gobert didn’t quite live up to the hopes many had for him in terms of improvement this season after causing quite a stir across the league in the latter part of the 2014-15 season.
Nevertheless, he and Favors create such a formidable and versatile frontcourt duo that the Jazz shouldn’t dream of breaking up the “Wasatch Front.”
It’s a rare commodity to have two bigs like the Jazz who are able to effectively protect the rim while also running the floor. When both Favors and Gobert are on point, they have become very solid at interior passing and compliment each other well on the floor. They possess a lot of skills that may not make them the most talented players in the league at their position, but certainly make them among the most unique.
Furthermore, Gobert is still just 23 years old and has plenty of time to improve some of the weak points in his game while already flourishing as a rim protector, shot blocker and rebounder. As the Jazz continue to build and focus on their defensive identity, keeping Gobert will be a key part of the equation.
Next: Trey Lyles