After an injury-riddled season left the Utah Jazz bench looking shallow and unreliable, a thrilling off-season has dramatically changed the landscape of the roster.
So far this summer, the Utah Jazz have landed three quality players in Boris Diaw, Joe Johnson and George Hill. Coupled with the likely returns of Alec Burks and Dante Exum, the additions will give the Utah Jazz a vastly different team next season.
The ability and efficiency of four Jazz starters last season could never be questioned. Although, one hole that made life difficult for Utah was finding consistent production from the point guard spot. The two point guards that played regularly were Raul Neto and Shelvin Mack.
That won’t be the case this season as both Neto and Mack will likely have their minutes restricted with Exum and Hill on board. Not only will this improve the starting five, but it should also play a role in giving the Jazz one of the strongest benches in the league after struggling with a lack of depth last season.
The acquisition of Hill via trade could pay immediate dividends with Exum having to work his way back into game shape. Although, unlike many, I find it very hard to see Hill keeping that starting role when Exum returns to full health.
Even if Hill fits to a tee the way that Jazz coach Quin Snyder runs things in Utah, it’s hard to imagine him staying for years to come, given the terms of his contract. This is where Exum can establish himself as the ‘point guard of the future’ in Utah.
Shifting our focus to the wings, Burks has slipped under the radar as a “free agent,” as GM Dennis Lindsey once described him, with all of the drama and player signings that have taken place this summer. Burks isn’t really a free agent acquisition, but his return will surely have the impact of one.
Burks was a premiere candidate for Sixth Man of the Year before a broken leg kept him out for the majority of last season. He is the very definition of a spark plug with how he can score in flurries and keep defenses on their toes. His job coming off the bench next season will be to provide a scoring punch and an injection of energy for Jazz players and fans.
Johnson has also found himself in Utah after being signed on a two-year, $22 million contract. Last season, it seemed as though when Hayward and Hood were off the floor, the scoring load was all dumped on the shoulders of Derrick Favors or Trey Lyles. This season will be different; you never have to worry about the scoreboard ticking over when Iso Joe has the ball.
The seven-time NBA All-Star has averaged 20-plus points in five different seasons and should give the Jazz some added scoring punch off the bench. It will be a big adjustment for Johnson to come off the bench next season, after he started in each of the last 997 games he played over the course of 12 years, but the veteran looks ready to transition into a new role.
In looking at the frontcourt, it’s no secret that Diaw will be playing limited minutes behind Favors, Lyles and Rudy Gobert. However, Diaw could be an important piece in the latter part of the season.
The French national brings playoff experience that the team lacked last season, as well as an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs. The combo of Diaw and Lyles coming off the bench will provide great floor spacing for Iso Joe to go to work and Burks to get to the rim.
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Meanwhile, Lyles is just an incredible talent to have coming off the bench. It’s almost unfair to have a possible future All-Star in reserve behind Favors and Gobert, but that’s just what the Jazz have.
Lyles’ summer league performance was something to see. I know what your thinking–it was only the summer league. Nevertheless, the way he ran the show on both ends of the floor was very promising. Lyles is only 20 years old and already has an all-round offensive game that can punish opposing defenses. He’s a lights-out three-point shooter off the catch, he can put the ball on the deck and finish at the rim, he can post up and work his way to the free-throw line.
The big question with Lyles heading into his second season will be his defense; he’s slightly undersized for a power forward and shies away from contact on occasion. However, when Lyles fills out and becomes a better interior defender, he could eventually become a threat to Favors’ starting role.
Next: Utah Jazz Deep Dives: Rodney Hood's Future
There’s no question that the depth of the Jazz has improved from last season. It now contains Hill (a quality starter on most teams), Burks (a high-level sixth man), Johnson (a seven-time All-Star), Diaw (a proven veteran that brings playoff experience) and Lyles (a premiere bench player that could soon become a starter).
The Golden State Warriors are the only team that really pose a threat to Utah’s bench. Even so, I give the Jazz a slight edge because the Warriors don’t have one big man who can come in and be a gamechanger.
Statistics and information courtesy of Basketball Reference and Spotrac.