After finishing the 2020-21 NBA season with a league best 52-20 record, the Utah Jazz opted against making any major splashes in free agency this past offseason. The biggest addition General Manager Justin Zanik did make was veteran forward Rudy Gay. Fourteen games into the 2021-22 season, Gay has not yet been able to suit up for Salt Lake City’s finest.
That changes tonight. Gay will make his Utah Jazz debut in a matchup with the Toronto Raptors. It’s a fitting game for Gay to make his Jazz premiere, as they’re squaring off with the first NBA team he ever called home.
Veteran forward comes at perfect time for the Utah Jazz
That’s not the only reason the Jazz will be happy to bring Gay into the fold against Canada’s team. The Raptors boast a platoon of long, versatile wings/forwards in Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Svi Mykhailiuk and OG Anunoby (who is listed as questionable).
Gay provides Quin Snyder with a strong body to counteract such a deep roster of big wings. The versatile veteran can lineup at the four or the five spot (or in a pinch, potentially even the three). Versatility is the Toronto Raptors’ calling card, and Gay gives the Utah Jazz a little extra ammunition to answer with.
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Of course, the Jazz didn’t sign Gay with the Toronto Raptors specifically in mind. They’ll hope that the veteran forward is available as frequently as possible moving forward. He was signed to provide this Utah Jazz team with versatility, functioning as a power forward and a small ball 5.
Spacing and defense are at a premium in today’s NBA, and Gay is a net positive in both regards. Last season, he shot 38.1% on 4.4 three-pointers per game as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. His -0.2 Defensive Box Plus Minus (DBPM) may not be elite, but it’s a solid figure that reflects a defender capable of protecting both the paint and the perimeter.
Gay may be the exact piece the Utah Jazz were missing during last season’s prematurely ended playoff run.
Predictions for Gay’s Utah Jazz debut
It feels unlikely that Gay will crack the 20 minute milestone in his first game with the Jazz. He’s not far removed from surgery, and furthermore, is likely to be rusty after a prolonged absence from basketball. Still, Coach Snyder will likely be eager to get his newest addition some run. Jazz fans shouldn’t judge Gay’s impact by the box score: they’ll have to watch this game if they want to gauge his potential contributions to the squad
Prediction: 15 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds
Rudy Gay is a smart, fundamentally sound veteran that should fit right into this Utah Jazz rotation. Fans of the club won’t want to miss his debut game tonight.