2014-2015 in Review
A 38-44 finish to last season placed the Utah Jazz third in the Northwest Division. Quin Snyder's first full season as an NBA head coach was a moderate success and the Jazz won 13 more games than the prior season. Their roster is laden with young players, led by 2010 first round draft pick, Gordon Hayward, who continues to improve each season. In his fifth year in the league, Hayward led the Jazz in scoring and steals. The Jazz made a trade-deadline deal that sent center Enes Kanter to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for several players and a protected 2017 first-round draft pick. Ultimately, they are left with the draft pick and relied on Rudy Gobert as their starting center in the second half of the 2014-2015 season.
New Additions
Trey Lyles
The 12th overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft, Lyles is a young power forward with a unique scoring ability. The 19 year-old averaged 8.7 points-per-game last season as a freshman at Kentucky. He primarily played small forward, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein (both selected prior to Lyles in the draft) took the reins in the low block. A highly anticipated rookie, Lyles will serve as a backup to Gobert and Derrick Favors. He will likely get sufficient playing time on a roster littered with young talents. Lyles' athleticism and versatility will make him a valuable asset for the Jazz this season.
Key Losses
Dante Exum
A monster loss for the Jazz, Exum tore his ACL playing for Australia this summer and is out for the 2015-2016 season. The fifth overall draft pick in 2014, Exum started 41 games in his rookie season. The promising Aussie suffered a major setback and will now leave the offensive quarterbacking duties to Trey Burke, a capable point guard entering his third season in the NBA. The future of Exum is now in question and the Jazz will have to wait until the 2016-2017 season to get him back on the court.
Biggest Strength
The Element of Surprise
The Jazz have quietly constructed a roster around high draft picks that made a name for themselves in college. But most of the players have also made waves in the NBA and have shown signs of developing into solid pieces and, in some cases, potential superstars. Gobert, who ranked third in the league in blocks last season, is the prime example. Hayward, arguably the most well-known Jazz player, is another. Yet, somehow, the Jazz continue to slip under the radar and may even be the most underrated team in the NBA.
Biggest Weakness
Lack of Veteran Leadership
Not one player on the 2015-2016 Jazz roster is over the age of 28 and none have more than five years of NBA experience. Hayward is looked upon as the leader but, in the eyes of the rest of the league, he is still just a kid. A guy like Kendrick Perkins, who came over briefly in the Kanter trade, would have been a good player to keep around. While his play has declined, Perkins has been to three NBA Finals and would have been a benefit to have on the bench. The Jazz do not necessarily need a veteran All-Star but, rather, someone who can provide leadership and fill out the bench. For now, second-year head coach Quin Snyder and his kids will have to make it on their own.
Bottom Line
The loss of Exum is unfortunate, but not devastating. The Jazz have continuously improved over the past couple of seasons and Trey Burke is an excellent option at point guard. However, the guard position has thinned out in the absence of Exum and young players such as Rodney Hood will have to step up. The addition of Lyles could elevate Gobert's play and the depth that the Jazz have at forward could be one of their biggest strengths. The Jazz are in great position to move up in the division, but the Thunder remain a cut above the rest. A second-place finish in the Northwest Division is promising, but making the postseason is a whole 'nother story.
Fantasy Slant
Most overrated: Gordon Hayward
Hayward is the Jazz's best scorer and led the team with a career-high 19.3 points-per-game last season. He is a great player in all-facets, specifically in assists and rebounds and approached double-digits in both categories in numerous games in 2014-2015. Hayward also has the defensive quickness to rack up steals. However, turnovers have been a problem for the five-year veteran and he has been unable to correct that issue. In fact, his turnover rate has increased nearly every season. Hayward averaged 2.7 turnovers-per-game last year, cracking the top-20, and is almost a lock to turn the ball over numerous times in a game. Still a viable option for fantasy, exercise caution with Hayward as other players on the roster continue to rise.
Most underrated: Derrick Favors
Entering his sixth season in the league, Favors brings a career average of 10.9 points-per-game to the power forward position. Favors was second on the team in points (16.0ppg), rebounds (8.2rpg), and blocks (1.66) last season and he and Gobert have the potential to be a dynamic duo in the post in 2014-2015. The addition of Lyles could free up more room for Favors to up his averages. As long as Gobert doesn't steal the show, Favors could be a great add at forward.
Biggest surprise: Alec Burks
Burks started 27 games for the Jazz last season before being sidelined by a left shoulder injury that resulted in a $15,000 fine for then-Nuggets guard, Arron Afflalo. Burks had a promising start to the season, averaging 13.9 points-per-game. The fifth-year veteran is an all-around player and had two double-doubles in those 27 games in 2014-2015. Contrary to popular belief, Burks recorded double figures in points in rebounds in both instances. But the 2011 12th overall pick is no slouch as a distributor and has the ability to accumulate assists on any given night. If Burks returns at 100 percent, he could be a big surprise in 2015-2016. The move to shooting guard may help his cause as he works alongside Trey Burke.