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Utah Jazz: The J-Notes’ post-free agency West power rankings

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz looks to shoot in front of the defense by Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 30, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz looks to shoot in front of the defense by Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 30, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MAY 6: Referee official Ken Mauer speaks to team captains Tarik Black #28 of the Houston Rockets and Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz before tip off during Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 6, 2018 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

3) Utah Jazz

Again, continuity was the big thing for the Utah Jazz this summer. And while that’s not the most exciting thing to watch while other teams around the league wheel and deal, there’s a method to the madness. The Jazz actually have a lot of room for internal improvement.

Donovan Mitchell is already a star, but in year two he should become at least marginally more efficient. I fully expect him to push 25 points per game next season. Meanwhile, Royce O’Neale has more jumps to make, Rudy Gobert’s underrated offensive game is ever developing and Ricky Rubio should benefit from a stability he’s never seen before.

If Utah can withstand a tough opening schedule, they’ll be among the league’s elite squads all season.

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2) Houston Rockets

I’m definitely higher than most hoops pundits on Carmelo Anthony at this point in his career. In the right situation, I still think he can add major value offensively.

That said, swapping out Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute — a couple of defensive stalwarts with 3-point ability — for a 34-year-old Anthony is probably a net negativeloss. Anthony was never known for playing lockdown ball and his defense has deteriorated with his aging body. Bringing him in could end up being a net negative.

Still, I can’t take the Jazz over the Rockets just yet. James Harden is the best isolation player in the league and CP3 continues to do his thing (when he’s healthy).

1) Golden State Warriors

The rich get richer.

If you ask me, the Warriors’ inking of DeMarcus Cousins to a one-year, $5.3 million contract was the ultimate low risk/potentially high reward move. If Cousins can be 80 percent of the player he was before rupturing the Achilles, it’s a major coup to have acquired his services.

And you can be sure that Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and the rest of the crew won’t suffer any foolishness should Cousins’ less-than-savory personality quirks rear their ugly heads.

Regardless of what happens with Cousins, Golden State remains the clear favorite in the race for the 2019 NBA title, not to mention the Western Conference.

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