Jazz Offseason so far: Happy/Unhappy?

[carrottop12]

It's slow, and the Jazz have actually had a bit on an interesting offseason, so basically I want to know if you're happy or unhappy with the progress so far.
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Events:

-Draft

Kosta Koufos, Ante Tomic, Tadija Dragicevic

Got a nice young PF/C, great size, good skill and still a lot of room to grow. Probably didn't address the defensive issues, but also got some nice pieces for the future.

-Locking up the Future

Resigned Deron to a 3 year max deal with a fourth year option. Deron is the corner stone of this team so it's hard to argue with the contract's value, the only complaint is that it could possibly be longer.

-Free Agency

The Jazz haven't done anything in free agency, they have literally signed no free-agents.

-Resigning own players

The Jazz only had one player who could bolt and that was CJ, they resigned him to a decent sized contract at just under 4 million per season.

-Trades

The Jazz got rid of their worst player in Jason Hart and brought back an obvious improvement, and saved money in getting Brevin Knight. At worst, the Jazz save money, at best the Jazz have one of the top 3 back up PG's in the game.
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Going into the off season the Jazz needed more size, better defense and a new back up PG. They addressed the size with Koufos, they got the back up PG in Knight, but the defense will still be a problem next year.

So far, are you happy or unhappy and do you want the Jazz to do more?

[red4hf]

I'm pretty darn happy.......

Now, if they would just trade Matty to open up playing time for CJ, I'd be ecstatic........

[JDubJazz]

Well, I'm certainly pleased thus far, but I hope they are not done yet. We got rid of Hart, which means a lot less ranting and yelling at the TV in my living room (which, if you ask my wife, is definitely a good thing). I thought the draft was good. Koufos looks like he gets it and will improve, unlike a certain goofy Ukrainian. Resigning CJ puzzles me a bit, but I'll withold judgement until I see if there are other moves forthcoming.

[QuantumMacgyver]

I'd have to say I'm pretty happy with the offseason so far. Anytime you have an offseason and you clearly don't get worse has to be considered a good offseason. The top teams we are competing with didn't get better. L.A. possibly even got worse after losing Turiaf. Although Bynum is on his way back and if he plays the way he did before the injury then they are indeed better... much better. But like you said the Jazz got a true backup PG in Knight. I like Price and hope he still gets minutes but he isn't a true Jazz style back up. More of a "let's change up the tempo and avoid getting down 20 points to a zone defense" back up PG. Now we have a passing and a scoring backup PG! Koufas I don't think will help much this year. Nor Fesenko. Hopefully Almond does. I like that the Jazz matched C.J.. Now the Jazz are in the absolute best position with him. Either they like him and get to keep him or they found out that teams did indeed have genuine interest in him and now the Jazz have something they haven't had in a long time... TRADE BAIT! (and by that I don't mean that the Jazz finally have a player talented enough that other teams would want them but that they finally have a player talented enough that other teams would want them AND that they are willing to part with.) OKC obviously likes CJ and they have a plethora of big men that will never see the light of day there. C.J. for Petro or Swift or even Elson. None are real answers to the interior D problem but all would be able to step in and contribute before I imagine any of our young bigs will. Hopefully I'm wrong about that. Besides C.J. is in Sloans dog house and only has so much time. We might as well get something for him. Good off-season KOC.

[DelaneyRudd]

CJ isn't in any dog house. Also he can not be traded for a long time, I think the whole next season.

[fivas14]

Very hapy, we haven't and hopefully we wont trade Boozer. We locked up our best player for the next 4 years. We got rid of our worst player for our ideal player.

Koufos didn't light up the RMR with great stats but he showed great fundementals and some say Ante Tomic is as good as if not better then Pau Gasol.

Very Happy indeed.

[GP]

It has been a pretty good off season, the jazz have tried to address their lack of interior defense, by drafting some big men. They kept CJ and traded for Knight (some players I really like). The only thing left to do is free up that logjam at sg/sf.

[Farsider322]

Just to clarify things. CJ Cannot be used as trade bait, because he cannot be traded for one year from the day he signs. Kyle Korver cannot be traded unitl his trade anniversary date. So if the Jazz are gong to make any other moves, they cannot include these two players.

[majortripps69]

Just to clarify things. CJ Cannot be used as trade bait, because he cannot be traded for one year from the day he signs. Kyle Korver cannot be traded unitl his trade anniversary date. So if the Jazz are gong to make any other moves, they cannot include these two players.

Actually, CJ can be traded, with his permission to any team other than OKC within the first year.

[freakazoid]

CJ isn't in any dog house. Also he can not be traded for a long time, I think the whole next season.

Good call. If CJ was in Sloan's dog house, they certainly wouldn't have matched. Jerry has his hand in every personnel decision.

By the way I understand it, he can't be traded until Dec. 15, and for 1 year ater signing without his consent.

[sendai91]

Offseason grades:

Draft: Although a trade of the #23 and Almond for the #17 (Hibbert) would have made me very happy, the Jazz did the best with what was available. Koufos will contribute, and hopefully will push Fes to pull his head out. Tomic could pay off nicely for us down the road. We should have traded away the other 2nd rd pick, though. Overall B+

Free Agency: We didn't have a roster spot to sign a FA, and I'm certainly glad that we didn't overpay for the FA's that were available. The CJ signing is a positive sign, although CJ's contract is about 25% more than I would have preferred to pay. Overall: B

DWill: Of course I would have preferred that he sign on at least one more year, but there's no reason to be surprised or dismayed that he took the same kind of deal that CP3 or Lebron did. Grade: A

RMR: Mediocre play by Almond, abysmal play by Fesenko. Somewhat uninspiring play by Koufos puts a damper on what should have been a much more engaging review. Noone else from the team is going to sniff a Jazz uni, so it's hard to be too optimistic. Grade: D

Overall Grade: B or B minus

[QuantumMacgyver]

I didn't think about CJ not being able to be traded for one year. I thought it was just til December. Well hopefully he pays off then. If he can crunch down on his D a lil' bit I'll bet he can really help us out. I like Harpring but he is aging and I doubt he has much time left. I still feel he is in the dog house a lil bit. They could have resigned for a number of reasons. Even hard nosed Sloan would acknowledge that letting a talent walk for nothing is a mistake. Hopefully you guys are right and he just needs to prove to Sloan that he wants to play. Either way with the new General hopefully Stern can't screw everyone over again.

[Beto]

I'm happy with what the Jazz have done, but I'm still waiting for more.

One thing I wondering, perhaps you guys can weigh in your thoughts, is the idea of bringing in a defensive minded assitant coach to aid in our defensive issues. I don't know if Sloan, Corbin, Layden, or others are considered "defensive" specialist, but may we need someone who brings a different mindset to the team and players. During the finals, there was a lot of talk about the Celtics assistant coach, I don't know his name, who supposedly was the one to implement the defensive strategies with the Celtics against the Lakers. I think it may be a good idea to look into possible candidates and try to see if that motivates the team to take a different defensive approach. I know Sloan is probably capable of doing so and probably the problem is not the coaches but the players' lack of effort in that regard, but bringing someone new from outside the organization with a different perspective could make a positive change.

[fivas14]

Beto, did you forget about the head assistant Phil Johnson?

And the celtics defensive coach is Thom Thibedeau.

[Beto]

Beto, did you forget about the head assistant Phil Johnson?

And the celtics defensive coach is Thom Thibedeau.

Thanks, I did forgot Phil. Is he considered a defensive specialist? If not, maybe we should consider bringing someone who is like a "Thibedeau" and help out.

[freakazoid]

I still feel he is in the dog house a lil bit. They could have resigned for a number of reasons. Even hard nosed Sloan would acknowledge that letting a talent walk for nothing is a mistake.

It's a legitimate point, but I think you're missing something. Sloan started CJ when we had injuries last year. That doesn't jive with CJ being in the doghouse, but rather supports the idea that there just weren't enough minutes to go around. I still don't understand Sloan bringing up the RMR in the middle of the season though. I thought that was pretty lame.

[Jefff]

a solid draft, Dwill extension, we keep all the team together for another year (swapping Hart/Knight is a minor good move).

Overall i'm pretty happy, salary cap issues will come next year.

[Getjazz]

I guess that I'm content, but for some reason I feel like something else is needed. I don't know what, all I know is that when it happens I'll know.

[ColdBlue]

I think the Jazz decided to 'check' their hand. Jazz are setting themselves up for luxury tax next season. I don't think LHM has it in him.