2015 Utah Jazz

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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Utah Jazz (Last Year: 38-44)

2015-16 Projected Depth Chart:

C: Rudy Gobert

PF: Derrick Favors/Trevor Booker/Grant Jarrett

SF: Gordon Hayward/*Joe Ingles

SG: Alec Burks/Rodney Hood

PG: Dante Exum/Trey Burke

NBA Free Agents:

SF-Jeremy Evans (UFA)

*SF-Joe Ingles (RFA)

^SG-Elijah Milsap (TO)

^PF-Jack Cooley (TO)

^PG-Bryce Cotton (TO)

^SF-Chris Johnson (TO)

2015-16 Team Salary: Approximately $45.6 million

NBA Offseason Team Needs:

1. Frontcourt Depth: Even after dealing Enes Kanter, the Jazz have a terrific young frontcourt of Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. Utah still needs to add depth up front, ideally finding someone who can stretch defenses with some outside shooting. Expect the Jazz to take a serious look at someone like Frank Kaminsky or Trey Lyles when they pick 12th in the NBA Draft, but the team could look to add someone in free agency as well.

2. True Point Guard: While the Jazz have loaded up on young guys like Alec Burks, Trey Burke, and Dante Exum in recent years, none of those guys have excelled as the team’s true point guard. Exum is still young – and with time could take over that role – but I don’t expect Burke to ever become that guy, which is why he will likely be shopped this summer. Utah should look to add a veteran point guard who can help these young guys with their development and is capable of playing spot minutes as well.

3. Stay the Course: The Jazz have done a solid job with their rebuilding effort and have some solid young talent, though they are likely a year or two away from being a playoff contender. Utah will have about $20 million in cap space this summer, so the team will be aggressive in finding a good fit in free agency. Management must stay the course versus over-spending on a player in hopes of speeding that process up though.