Staff Scrimmage: Draft Reactions & What’s Next

NBA hopefuls and fans converged on Brooklyn on Thursday night.

How would you rate or grade the Jazz’s draft-night acquisition of Donovan Mitchell (No. 13) in exchange for No. 24 and Trey Lyles?

Denim Millward: B+.  I like Mitchell, and more importantly I trust the opinion and scouting of Utah’s front office.  Dumping a player as young as Lyles, who at one time showed a lot of promise is certainly not without risk, however.  It could be that GM Dennis Lindsey and company simply felt jumping up 11 spots was worth pulling the plug on the Lyles experiment, but I also wonder if perhaps Jazz head honchos weren’t enamored with how Lyles handled last season’s demotion.

David Smith: A-. The Jazz targeted a player they loved in pre-draft workouts and made the aggressive move to get him. Mitchell seems like the perfect fit for Utah, on and off the court. He is athletic, competes on both ends of the court, can shoot and is a team player. Moreover, Mitchell was equally positive about the organization. Lindsey managed to get the guy he wanted, and gave up very little. Trey Lyles could have a bounce-back year, but as of right now, the Jazz absolutely came out on top in this deal.

What’s your take on Gonzaga’s Nigel Williams-Goss, drafted with the No. 55 pick?

Overall, given the Jazz’s draft night, what else do they need to do to be ready for July 1?

Spencer: They need to compile and asset or two and add someone that is a little more intriguing for Gordon Hayward. According to Tony Jones, Lindsey said he is continuing to look for a point guard as well. That will be key.

Ken: The primary goal is to give Hayward a compelling reason to remain a Jazzman, and draft night probably didn’t do much to help that cause. The first order of business is the point guard situation. Free agent George Hill helped the Jazz improve last year when he played, but when he didn’t (and occasionally when he struggled), the point guard position was a revolving door of who was playing the least badly. The Jazz could make a move before free agency that precludes bringing Hill back, like trading for Ricky Rubio. Another trade target, Patrick Beverley, has a favorable contract and could theoretically fit on the team with Hill. The Jazz frontcourt also got thinner on Thursday with Lyles’ departure, and Boris Diaw’s contract could become a casualty of a a luxury tax crunch.

Dan: I don’t really take the must-solve-point-guard-before-July-1 point of view at face value. Hayward is too smart to sign somewhere else at 12:01 a.m. just because the Jazz got to his house before they got to Hill’s. To me, it feels like a way to justify moving on from George Hill, who it sounds as though the Jazz may be ready to live without. Remember, Lindsey started the offseason by telling reporters he’d have no hard feelings if Hill “gets a crazy offer somewhere else and we helped him get that offer.” That sounds like an announcement that the Jazz aren’t interested in paying the going rate. Having said that, I do think they’ll canvas the trade market for available starting-caliber point guards, but the list is finite.

What’s your favorite semi-realistic dream deal, either for a June trade using the last of Utah’s 2016-17 cap space, or for a signing or deal after 7/1?

Matt: I would love to see the Jazz pick up a PG to pair with the improving Exum and the promising Mitchell who doesn’t require a four or five year commitment. That very well could mean Hill, who was so valuable when healthy next year. Would he take $40 million for two years, for example? Is there a trade the Jazz could make for Eric Bledsoe, due $29 million over the next two years? Now, of course, a huge chunk of the response to that question has to be the influence of those deals on Hayward, but looking at this roster, a long, costly commitment to an aging PG with a shaky health history doesn’t feel wise.

Ken: Of the known PG options, the best case scenario is to trade for Beverley and sign Hill at a reasonable rate. Rubio is younger and might be a better true point guard, but the Jazz were at their best with Hill’s shooting, defense and toughness. Beverley also brings defensive tenacity, and could be good for the development of Dante Exum and Mitchell. His contract is also incredibly tradeable at the deadline or next offseason, if there’s another opportunity to improve. The Jazz aren’t going to get a marquee big (sorry Paul Millsap fans), but they need to add to the current group of Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, Joe Johnson and Bradley. Depending on other salary saving moves, they might have to look for some relatively inexpensive bigs with upside. Guys like Patrick Patterson, Kelly Olynyk, James Johnson and Amir Johnson might be in this group.

Dan: I don’t know how realistic it is, but I’d see what Utah’s best trade package — Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood and the OKC pick — could get in terms of a quasi-star wing. It’s not going to net the Jazz a Paul George or Jimmy Butler level superstar, but if a package like that could get you a Khris MIddleton² or Evan Fournier³, that’s a noticeable upgrade and takes some pressure off of Hayward without demoting him from top dog. Since it’s probably not altogether realistic, the Jazz could shore up the PG spot and see if the mid-level exception ($8 million and change) could help them add depth up front.

Spencer: As far as dream deals go, I would still love to see Utah acquire Patrick Beverly. Diaw’s contract is really valuable for cap room and Houston wants to clear space. Depending on how negotiations go, i wouldn’t mind adding to the deal to get Lou Williams as well. They make a combined $12 million, and I think I’d rather have that combo than George Hill at $20+ million.

Among the feee agents, my dream target would be James Johnson. I think he fits everything the Jazz need. He can switch between the 3 and 4, he’s a hard-nosed defender, he has a decent 3-point shot, and his motor doesn’t stop running. Amir Johnson would be another good target.