Utah Jazz Roster Stocked with Depth, Flexibility

Derrick Favors

Last season, Derrick Favors was the starting power forward next to Rudy Gobert. However, he was playing the center position over half the time (54 percent) according to Basketball Reference.

With Trey Lyles and Trevor Booker being the two bigs who saw consistent time on the court, Favors was the only who could defend the opposing centers.

Swap out Booker for Boris Diaw this season, and you’ll likely see Favors as the backup for Gobert. Snyder did an excellent job last season at making sure either Favors or Gobert was on the court at all times.

Unfortunately, there will be times when they could be in foul trouble or both tired after extended minutes together, so what do the Jazz do when they are both on the bench?

Trey Lyles/Boris Diaw

As with Exum and Hill, I have coupled Lyles and Diaw together. Neither are the perfect fit at the center position, but they both played there a little bit last season. Lyles is known as being an excellent stretch four, but he definitely has the height and wingspan to play the five.

The only problem with sliding Lyles down is he isn’t exactly known as a shutdown defender (although he tried to change that narrative in a preseason game against the Phoenix Suns).

What’s exciting about the idea of Diaw playing big is you’d have your best passer at the center position. Diaw would also be slightly limited guarding the opposing teams center. We’d most likely see Lyles or Diaw at the center if the Jazz are going small and trying to spread the court with five three-point shooters à la Golden State.

So unless Snyder goes with Jeff Withey or even Joel Bolomboy, you can expect a couple minutes per night at the five position from either Lyles or Diaw.