RealGM

Assuming the Jazz make no moves prior to the regular season (not a given since they tried to trade Kirilenko) the Jazz currently have 12 players with guaranteed contracts which means they all make the final roster These players are:

Raja Bell
Francisco Elson
Kyrylo Fesenko
Gordon Hayward
Al Jefferson
Andrei Kirilenko
C.J. Miles
Paul Milsap
Mehmet Okur
Ronnie Price
Earl Watson
Deron Williams

Jeremy Evans will also probably make the team. That leaves Sundiata Gaines, Othyus Jeffers, Demetris Nichols, and Ryan Thompson fighting for one or two spots. Jeffers, Gaines, and Nichols have looked good, while Thompson has a higher ceiling. The Jazz probably won't carry four point guards so Gaines is likely to get cut. Jeffers has looked good and provides toughness and grit which has been missing since Harpring retired. If he continues to impress despite his shortcomings (lack of height and 3-point shooting) he probably deserves to make the team. With inconsistent Miles and Bell coming of a whole season of injury and getting up in age I think Thompson with his potential is somebody the Jazz should not let go so easily. With 12 guaranteed contracts along with Evans, Jeffers, and Thompson the roster would be 15 players.

Well, who has actually seen them all play? I haven't, hard call to make unless you have a press pass or you are a coach.

My bet is it doesn't matter how good a player is, the 15th spot as a bench player is better to be left open. Weird as that sounds, it's true. Better opportunities with another spot open. See, odds are a fifteen man getting much minutes is slim to none, but if a trade or something happens where one can sign another player and that player is a top 7 or 8 player then you have a game changer. 15th man won't be a game changer.... ever. And they will always be around for next year.

With Okur and Elson out the younger guys have gotten more opportunities and used it to their advantage. I think Fesenko has established himself on the depth chart above Elson and with Okur likely to be injured to start the season guys you might expect to see on the inactive list may get valuable playing time. At this point I would put Elson on the inactive list and give some minutes to a guy like Jeffers.

Also, just because they have a contract doesn't mean the Jazz can't cut them to keep someone if they think they are better as a team. Odd case I know, but always possible. I don't see Elson or Watson necessarily safe as of yet. And I do think the Jazz will hold 15 players if their isn't really a clear cut atleast until Memo is back to playing.

I would like to see how everyone ranks the current players from best to worst, or most value to least value. My list would be something like this:

1. Deron Williams
2. Al Jefferson
3. Paul Millsap
4. Memo Okur
5. AK 47
6. Raja Bell
7. CJ Miles
8. Jeremy Evans
9. Fesenko
10. Ronnie Price
11. Gordon Hayward
12. Gaines
13. Nichols
14. Jeffers
15. Watson
16. Thompson
17. Elson

I'm giving Jeremy Evans a lot of props as I think he has great potential. Also, Elson has been injured and honestly I'm not high on him anyways so he gets no love. Watson seems beyond horrible on offense by what I can hear, but might move up with being able to watch his overall game. Hard to evaluate on radio only, so some my shift after I get to WATCH some of them play.

After Evans I think you have to take a serious look at keeping Jeffers and Gaines around. It's tempting but the Jazz are always concerned with money and being over the cap means that each contract would cost double.... I guess it just depends on if you really think those guys are worth double the minimum deal.

They are only double if they go passed the tax deadline. The Jazz will keep 14 to maintain flexibility.

I wouldn't be surprised if they carried 15 to start the season. remember, they can sign a couple of the on-the-bubble guys to non-guaranteed contracts and always cut them before January 10th when they would become guaranteed. With the way the young guys are playing i wouldn't be surprised if that's what the Jazz did.

Thompson looked better yesterday. Jeffers is an undersized Harpring.

Al Jefferson / Mehmet Okur / Kyrylo Fesenko / Francisco Elson
Paul Milsap
Andrei Kirilenko / C.J. Miles
Raja Bell / Gordon Hayward
Deron Williams / Earl Watson / Ronnie Price

I like Evans for PF/SF minutes on offense, and we'll see on defense what best suits him,but lets just call him a 3rd string PF/SF, combined though he could realistically get 10-15mins, depending on the health of the rest of squad he could get more if he performs.

Jeffers is worth it if he agrees to a minimum contract since he brings great athleticism and he hustles. He has looked pretty good in the preseason thus far.