The NBA Lockout Is Over...Now Back to Business

The NBA Lockout is over, and the Jazz only have 11 players under contract, assuming that Enes Kanter and Alec Burks sign contracts and do not hold out and also assuming that Mehmet Okur comes back.  Do the Jazz re-sign Andre and Ronnie Price?  Do they need those players?  Let's examine the situation.

Here is who the Jazz have under contract...

Point Guards

Devin Harris

Free Agents

Ronnie Price
Earl Watson

Shooting Guards

Raja Bell
Alec Burks
CJ Miles

Small Forwards

Gordon Hayward
Jeremy Evans

Free Agent

Andre Kirilenko

Power Forwards

Derrick Favors
Paul Milsap

Centers

Enes Kanter
Al Jefferson
Mehmet Okur

Free Agents

Kyrylo Fesenko
Francisco Elson

So the Jazz have 5 free agents and 3 roster slots to fill.

Here is what the Jazz need

Point guards...if there is a position on the team that you need 3 people under contract, it is point guard.  The Jazz definitely need to sign Watson and Price.  Both contributed quality time off the bench for the Jazz last season and would be reasonable signs with the new CBA and harder salary cap.


Shooting guards...the Jazz are fine here.  Three men in this position should be fine.

Small forwards...there are only 2 small forwards under contract, but CJ Miles can play both shooting guard and small forward.  The Jazz probably do not need to re-sign Andre Kirilenko.  And AK-47 is recovering from a concussion.  I wish him well, but my feeling is that he has played his last game in a Jazz uniform.  The luxury tax penalty is stiffer in the new CBA, and it is probable that the Jazz can no longer afford AK.

Power forwards...The Jazz only have 2 pure power forwards under contract, but all three centers under contract can play the position.  Mehmet Okur is probably more of a power forward than he is a center, at least offensively, and probably more productive playing in the high post than the low post.  Milsap may be traded because of his heavy contract...that is if anyone will take on his high contract.

Centers...The Jazz have 3 centers under contract, and all three can play power forward as well.  Likely, once Enes Kanter can play effectively, either Jefferson or Okur will play more power forward than center.  The Jazz have Fesenko and Watson as free agents.  I do not expect to see either one of them back in a Jazz uniform.

Implications of the new CBA...The Jazz may waive or trade some expensive players like Okur and Milsap and the last vestiges of the Williams and Boozer era may be gone before the shortened season tips off.  I am a fan of Milsap and admire his work ethic and hope that he can remain with the team, but understand what has to happen this offseason and the implications of the new CBA.  Perhaps the Jazz can re-work his contract.  If the Jazz need to let him go or trade him because of the new cap, I will him luck elsewhere.  Another player who could be off-loaded because of a heavy contract is Raja Bell.

The Jazz need most to get Price and Watson back under contract.  That should be their highest priority.  Favors needs good quality backups.  If not these two, the Jazz need someone to fill that role.  If the Jazz trade Milsap, getting some quality help at point guard should be a priority.

The Jazz may not look the same as we are used to, but that changed last year when Darren Williams was traded to New Jersey and Jerry Sloan retired.  But there is enough talent for the future.

With no trades and assuming the Jazz can sign Price and Watson and possibly Elson, here is the projected depth chart...

PG...Favors, Price, Watson
SG...Miles, Bell, Burks
SF...Hayward, Evans
PF...Milsap, Favors, Okur
C...Jefferson, Kanter, Elson