The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Top free agent prospects from across the league

By Jared Woodcox

Jan 20, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and center Rudy Gobert (back) celebrate during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and center Rudy Gobert (back) celebrate during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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April 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) reacts after he scores a basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
April 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) reacts after he scores a basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

Chris Paul

To be frank, I hesitated to even include Chris Paul on this list. Not only because watching him play so recently against the Jazz in the playoffs caused my disdain for him to grow, but because I also find him to be likely the most unrealistic target of this bunch (which in some cases is really saying something). Nevertheless, there’s no denying that he’s a formidable talent and given that the LA Clippers could very well be in for a shake-up, he at least deserves mention on this list.

We’ve all seen Paul in action recently and know just what he’s capable of as he showed it in full display against the Jazz. Setting his obnoxious antics to one side, it sure would be incredible to have that kind of point guard talent on the floor as he is equally good as both a scorer and a facilitator.

Paul’s biggest issue in LA has been the lack of depth and overall talent surrounding him outside of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, so I can hardly imagine what he’d be able to accomplish with guys like Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert and the rest of Utah’s deep roster, especially in the pick-and-roll.

Of course not only would convincing Paul to leave the big market life of LA to come to the Jazz be a tough task, but financially speaking he most definitely should command more than George Hill this offseason. Therefore, if Utah were to add him, it would obviously be at Hill’s expense and would assuredly be the Jazz’s one big splash of the summer.

Though it’s not likely to happen, it’s still intriguing to wonder – would adding Chris Paul along with Gordon Hayward and the rest of the Jazz teammates be enough to push the Jazz into becoming title contenders? The answer may very well depend on what other minor improvements they make, but overall, given Paul’s playoff track record and where he’s at in his career, I’d have to say probably not.

Nevertheless, if Paul shocked the world and did find joining the Jazz in free agency appealing, there’s no doubting that he would be an improvement over Hill, and adding him would likely be an opportunity that Utah would be hard-pressed to pass up.

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