Here for the Long Run: Utah Jazz MyGM

[JazzMan]

Utah_Jazz.jpg

Here For The Long Run
A Utah Jazz MyGM Dynasty



Roster: Cam's Complete Roster V2.3

Minutes Per Game: 12 Minute Quarters

______________________

Christopher Ross sprinted to his iPhone late Thursday morning when he heard it buzzing in his apartment in Omaha, Nebraska. He was shocked when he picked up the phone and heard, "Hey Christopher, this is Harvey Baxter." Baxter is the owner of the NBA franchise, the Utah Jazz. After a brief one-minute conversation with Baxter on the phone, Ross quickly threw on his jacket and drove to the airport, where he would be boarding the next flight to Salt Lake City, Utah, for a meeting with the Jazz owner.

Ross had applied for the Assistant General Manager position, but was instead being interviewed for the actual General Manager position. When he arrived in Salt Lake City, Ross took a cab to the Jazz headquarters, where he met the owner, Harvey Baxter. After 30 minutes, Ross had gotten the job.

Baxter listed his goals and demands for the upcoming season, as well:

- Get a 6th-man with an overall of 70 or higher by the start of next season

- Have the roster be amongst the top 15 in the league by the start of next season

- Trade either Brandon Rush or Andris Biedrins by the trade deadline

- Play Trey Burke at least 24 MPG over 54 games this season

- Trade for a 1st round draft pick by the trade deadline

[JazzMan]

13-14 Utah Jazz Team Roster
#	NAME	POS	AGE	HT	WT	SALARY
#0	Enes Kanter	C/F	21	6'11"	247	$4.75M
#2	Marvin Williams	F	27	6'9"	237	$7.50M
#3	Trey Burke (R)	G	20	6'0"	190	$2.44M
#5	John Lucas	G	30	5'11"	165	$1.60M
#8	Diante Garrett	G	24	6'4"	190	$789K
#10	Alec Burks	G/F	22	6'6"	211	$2.32M
#11	Andris Biedrins	C	27	7'0"	242	$9.00M
#15	Derrick Favors	C/F	22	6'10"	248	$6.01M
#20	Gordon Hayward	F/G	23	6'8"	210	$3.45M
#21	Ian Clark (R)	G	22	6'3"	173	$490K
#22	Malcolm Thomas	F	24	6'9"	225	$702K
#24	Richard Jefferson	F/G	33	6'7"	233	$11.05M
#25	Brandon Rush	F/G	28	6'6"	233	$4.00M
#27	Rudy Gobert (R)	C	21	7'1"	245	$1.08M
#40	Jeremy Evans	F/C	26	6'9"	194	$1.66M

Utah Jazz Depth Chart - 13-14
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
PG	Trey Burke	Diante Garrett	John Lucas
SG	Gordon Hayward	Alec Burks	Ian Clark
SF	Richard Jefferson	Brandon Rush
PF	Marvin Williams	Jeremy Evans	Malcolm Thomas
C	Derrick Favors	Enes Kanter	Rudy Gobert	Andris Biedrins

2013 Offseason Recap:


Jefferson (25) and Millsap (24) will not return to Utah this season

The Utah Jazz had a very busy offseason following their 2012-2013 campaign, which saw them fail to make the playoffs. As many know, the Jazz failed to make a trade that would clear up their frontcourt logjam, as stars Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap kept the young studs Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors from receiving much playing time.

Though Favors averaged 23.2 minutes per game last season, it just simply wasn't enough for the athletic big man, who was drafted 3rd overall in the 2010 draft by the New Jersey Nets. Kanter, on the other hand, was fed table scrapes for minutes last season, as he was only able to be on the court for 15.4 minutes per game last season. However, Kanter was incredibly productive, as he averaged 7.2 PPG and 4.3 RPG with 54.4% FG shooting and 79.5% FT shooting.

Favors and Kanter were hardly ever on the floor together simultaneously, due to Millsap and Jefferson's heavy minutes at the 4 and the 5. However, the Jazz were certain that these two are to be two building blocks for the future, as they let Millsap and Jefferson both walk in free agency, receiving nothing for the two borderline All-Star big men.



Starting PG Mo Williams Did Not Resign

Also departing the Jazz were guards Mo Williams and Randy Foye. Foye was a spark on offense and shot Utah into a lot of games last season with his three-point shooting, but ended up signing with the Nuggets in the offseason. Mo Williams was also allowed to walk by the Jazz. Williams' had an up-and-down year last year, as he was injured for a large portion of the season. However, his leadership, poise, and sharp-shooting will be missed by Utah.

The moves that Utah made are headlined by their trade in the draft, as they traded up to the 9th overall pick to select National Player of the Year, Trey Burke. Burke led Michigan to a Final Four finish behind his spectacular scoring and playmaking. Utah also drafted French big man Rudy Gobert with the 27th pick. Gobert is a long, lanky center with freakish physical attributes.

The Golden State Warriors also shipped a group of players to Utah for 2012 2nd round pick, Kevin Murphy. Murphy was immediately released by the Warriors, who did the trade to clear cap space for the signing of Andre Iguodala. On the other end, Utah received veterans Brandon Rush, Richard Jefferson, and Andris Biedrins. Jefferson and Biedrins' hefty contracts expire at the end of this season.


2013-2014 Season Preview

The Utah Jazz come into the season with arguably the league's youngest roster, as they have "Corbin-Proofed" the lineup. Last season, head coach Ty Corbin received much criticism for sticking with veterans, while the younger guys outplayed them. This season, he'll be all but forced to give the young guys heavy minutes. His job depends on it.

So, with the departure of Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, as well as veteran Mo Williams, who will be the leader for the Jazz? Many expect 4th year swingman Gordon Hayward to take the leadership role for Utah. Hayward is the most experienced player for the Jazz not named Richard Jefferson, Marvin Williams, and Andris Biedrins, and he has received a fair amount of minutes the past two years. Even though his minutes decreased last year from the year before, his numbers are up, as he averaged 14 points a game last season.


Gordon Hayward will be called upon to be the leader of the Jazz.

Meanwhile, the ultra-athletic Derrick Favors is ready to take the league by storm. Favors has yet to receive heavy minutes, but now that Millsap and Jefferson are out of town, he is looking to take the next step towards being one of the top big men in the NBA. Many consider Favors to be a player of Dwight Howard's caliber, as his athleticism and defensive prowess will affect a lot of games this season. If Favors can get to Howard's caliber, Jazz Nation will be more than happy.

Favors' running mate in the low post is 3rd year big man Enes Kanter. Kanter was having a solid season last year, despite only receiving 15 minutes a game, until he injured his shoulder, which caused him to miss the rest of the season. Some actually point to Kanter's injury as a big reason as to why the Jazz missed the playoffs, as Kanter was able to dominate opposing bigs right off the bench. Though Coach Tyrone Corbin has already stated that Marvin Williams and Derrick Favors would start in the frontcourt for the start of the season, I wouldn't be surprised to see Kanter in the starting lineup in the near-future.


Favors (15) and Kanter (0) are ready to dominate the league.

Last season, tons of Jazz fans were disappointed in coach Ty Corbin's management of SG Alec Burks. Burks is an explosive guard with premium ball-handling skills and finishing abilities that can take over games with his athleticism and skill. He came into the NBA with a below-average jumpshot, but surprised everyone last season by shooting 36% from three-point land last season. It is uncertain as to how Corbin plans to utilize Burks, but he should receive significant playing time this season.


Alec Burks wants to prove that he belongs in the NBA.

Former Michigan point guard Trey Burke was taken with the 9th overall pick by the Jazz, who traded up to pick him. And with Mo Williams going to Portland, Burke will undoubtedly be the starting point guard for the Jazz. Burke's scoring and playmaking abilities will allow him to become a consistent option for Utah, and he should have a solid rookie campaign.


9th Overall Pick Trey Burke will take over as the starting PG for the Jazz.

[JazzMan]

NBA on ESPN Power Rankings

NBA Power Rankings
RK (LW)	Team	Record	Next Game
1 ()	Miami Heat	0-0	The returning NBA Champions are looking for a three-peat. With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh all back, is there really any doubt that they can't pull it off?
2 ()	San Antonio Spurs	0-0	San Antonio nearly won the title last year, but a miracle Ray Allen three sent the Finals to Game 7, where Miami prevailed. Can San Antonio push for one last title for Duncan?
3 ()	Indiana Pacers	0-0	The Pacers were one game away from shocking the world and knocking the Heat out of the playoffs in the ECF. With the evolution of Paul George, can they take the next step?
4 ()	Oklahoma City Thunder	0-0	OKC's season was over when Russell Westbrook went down, but with Westbrook back and healthy, Kevin Durant and the Thunder are once again contenders in the West.
5 ()	Houston Rockets	0-0	After scoring defensive juggernaut Dwight Howard in free agency, the Rockets are now considered big-time players in the league. Can James Harden establish himself as a superstar in the NBA?
6 ()	Chicago Bulls	0-0	Derrick Rose is back. More than a year removed from his ACL tear in the 2012 playoffs, and after missing the entire 2012-2013 season, Rose is returning on opening night.
7 ()	Brooklyn Nets	0-0	Brooklyn now has arguably the most star-studded lineup in the league. The problem is that they are aging stars. Regardless, they should be a major threat to the Heat come Playoff time.
8 ()	Memphis Grizzlies	0-0	Memphis was swept by a white-hot Spurs team in the WCF, but they are still a fantastic defensive-minded team. That being said, can they score?
9 ()	Golden State Warriors	0-0	What a turnaround for the Warriors. Golden State has a budding superstar in Steph Curry, and a legitimate stud in Andre Iguodala. With their well-rounded roster, anything is possible.
10 ()	Los Angeles Clippers	0-0	The Clippers have a bonafide head coach in Doc Rivers, a superstar point guard in Chris Paul, and an awesome bench. Defensively, they may struggle.
11 ()	Denver Nuggets	0-0	Even with the loss of Andre Iguodala, the Nuggets are a dangerous Run and Gun team. Rookie head coach Brian Shaw will be tested early, though, with this young roster. How will Danilo Gallinari respond to his injury last season?
12 ()	Dallas Mavericks	0-0	Dirk Nowitzki came back a little too late for the Mavs last season, but boy did he look good as he almost lead them to the 8th seed in the West. With a legit scorer on the wing in Monta Ellis, is Dallas a contender again?
13 ()	Washington Wizards	0-0	After trading for former Sun Marcin Gortat, the Wizards now have a solid lineup in the Eastern Conference. They should be a lock for the playoffs, but can they make some noise?
14 ()	Minnesota Timberwolves	0-0	The T-Wolves have a healthy Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio for the first time in forever, and after adding scorer Kevin Martin, the Wolves are primed for the playoffs. Now if only they could stay healthy...
15 ()	New York Knicks	0-0	May the defensive woes continue for New York, but they should score. A lot. If Amare Stoudemire can ever return to at least a sliver of his form from his prime, they should be solid.
16 ()	Cleveland Cavaliers	0-0	Cleveland is now on the up-and-up. Kyrie Irving is a serious star, and Andrew Bynum is cleared and ready to go for the Cavs. With another 1st overall pick in Anthony Bennett, the Cavs have talent.
17 ()	Portland Trailblazers	0-0	Last season, Portland's bench was atrocious. But after adding Mo Williams, C.J. McCollum, Thomas Robinson, and Dorell Wright, they suddenly have team with depth. About time.
18 ()	Detroit Pistons	0-0	The Pistons might have the best frontcourt in the NBA in Josh Smith, Greg Monroe, and Andre Drummond, but offensively, the team could be a mess with Brandon Jennings running the show. They should be fun to watch, though.
19 ()	New Orleans Pelicans	0-0	The Pelicans have a new name and a decent team. They should compete for the 8th seed in the playoffs behind Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis, but the importance is the future for this team.
20 ()	Los Angeles Lakers	0-0	Somehow, some way, Kobe Bryant has been cleared for takeoff for the season opener. However, will he have enough talent in L.A. to take the Lakers to the playoffs?
21 ()	Boston Celtics	0-0	Boston traded away Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, and kind of Doc Rivers for a load of young players and draft picks. Obviously they are looking to the future, but we'll see what Rajon Rondo says to that.
22 ()	Atlanta Hawks	0-0	After adding Paul Millsap to replace Josh Smith, Al Horford will once again play the center role. The Hawks will be a fun team to watch, and they might just sneak into the playoffs in the East.
23 ()	Toronto Raptors	0-0	Toronto has plenty of talent, but the problem is their chemistry. Rudy Gay and Demar DeRozan are supreme athletes but inconsistent scorers. However, they still have a shot for the playoffs.
24 ()	Charlotte Bobcats	0-0	The Charlotte Bobcats are finally beginning to resemble a basketball team, as they have added arguably the best low-post scorer in the league in Al Jefferson. Cody Zeller will join him in the frontcourt, and Charlotte has a chance in the wide-open East.
25 ()	Sacramento Kings	0-0	The Kings are all-in on center DeMarcus Cousins, but is that a good thing? Cousins has talent, but he has an attitude as well. This Kings team should be somewhat competitive, regardless.
26 ()	Phoenix Suns	0-0	The Suns have just traded away one of their best players in Marcin Gortat, but the backcourt duo of Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe might make up for that alone.
27 ()	Milwakee Bucks	0-0	Milwaukee has a mix of youth and experience, but how will O.J. Mayo do as the number 1 option? They probably won't make the playoffs, but they'll be interesting.
28 ()	Orlando Magic	0-0	Orlando has the favorite for the Rookie of the Year in Victor Oladipo, but that won't save them from being bad this year.
29 ()	Utah Jazz	0-0	Utah has decided to give the young guys a shot, which is great, but it seems they forgot to replace the guys that they let go this offseason. Their bench will be abysmal.
30 ()	Philadelphia 76ers	0-0	Philadelphia struck out on the Andrew Bynum trade, and now they're starting from scratch. Rookies Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel have a chance to make a big impact.

[JazzMan]

Matchup Preview | October 30, 2013
	@
Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0, 0-0 Away)		Utah Jazz (0-0, 0-0 Home)
Projected Starters Russell Westbrook Point Guard Trey Burke Thabo Sefolosha Shooting Guard Gordon Hayward Kevin Durant Small Forward Richard Jefferson Serge Ibaka Power Forward Marvin Williams Nick Collison Center Derrick Favors Game Notes The Jazz just looked over-matched here on paper. The matchups to watch will be Trey Burke and Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant and Gordon Hayward. It will be hard to believe that Durant will be guarded by anyone other than Hayward, as Hayward's length and quickness will provide Utah their best option on Durant. Westbrook is an athletic freak of nature while Burke is limited athletically, but plays smart and in control. Two major contrasts in styles for the point guards, but it should be a great matchup between the superstar and the rookie.

[Ice_Cold345]

JazzMan, what type of team are you looking to run, in terms of style of play? Are you wanting to be more defensive, like the Pacers or spread the ball out and be a more offensive team?

I can't wait to see what you will do at the small forward spot, with a trade or FA signing.

[INeedMoney]

Following. Do work with Burke.

[JazzMan]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ice_Cold345

JazzMan, what type of team are you looking to run, in terms of style of play? Are you wanting to be more defensive, like the Pacers or spread the ball out and be a more offensive team? I can't wait to see what you will do at the small forward spot, with a trade or FA signing.

For the first season, I'm just going to try and develop some of my young talent. As they develop I'll probably experiment with Kanter and Favors together in the starting lineup and Burks coming off the bench as my sixth-man.

I think a couple years down the road I can have a dominant, well-balanced team that likes to push it inside on offense to Kanter and Favors.

[Ice_Cold345]

Quote: Originally Posted by JazzMan

For the first season, I'm just going to try and develop some of my young talent. As they develop I'll probably experiment with Kanter and Favors together in the starting lineup and Burks coming off the bench as my sixth-man. I think a couple years down the road I can have a dominant, well-balanced team that likes to push it inside on offense to Kanter and Favors.

Yeah, Canter/Favors could be an awesome inside presence and with Heyward playing the 2/3 and guarding the best wing player will give the team a nice Pacers-esque sorta feel. I feel like Burks could be a nice 6th man guy once you get the SF situation better, because a rotation along the 2/3 with Hayward/Burkes/new SF.

Also, I think you might need an upgrade in a backup big man at some point, either draft or FA, because I don't think Evans/Gobert/Williams are that good, but should be a nice rebuilding project for you.