Utah Jazz: Ranking the 5 best potential lineups in 2021-22

The Utah Jazz made significant strides towards improving on their vastly deficient positional versatility this offseason with the additions of Rudy Gay and Eric Paschall. Each man profiles as the type of small-ball center the Jazzmen were missing against the Los Angeles Clippers in last season’s Western Conference semifinals.

Nonetheless, observers should not make the mistake of drawing conclusions about 3x Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert’s importance to this roster in light of these changes. His elite rim protection figures to be as heavily featured as ever in the quest for the franchise’s first NBA title.

Instead, expect Head Coach Quin Snyder to run five-out, small ball lineups when appropriate and necessary. Versatility is the name of the game in the modern NBA, particularly in the all-important postseason. The balance that Snyder must strike for the Utah Jazz this season is to maximize Gobert’s effectiveness wherever possible while maintaining a willingness to remove him from games when necessary.

Rudy Gobert’s presence is not the only situational decision facing Snyder. In an increasingly positionless league, the Utah Jazz sport one of the more positionless teams. Players like Joe Ingles, Royce O’Neale, Bojan Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson are all capable of playing in at least 2 or more spots on the floor.

For some, the multitude of possibilities might make for a headache, but an NBA Head Coach should be precisely in their wheelhouse when faced with the opportunity to mix and match such a deep cast of talented players.

Since we’re so generous here at the J-Notes, we’ll try to lend Coach Snyder a hand anyway. Here are the best potential lineups for the Utah Jazz heading into the 2021-22 NBA season.