Staff Scrimmage: Favors is Back, Clarkson Stays, Rudy’s Raise & More

The Utah Jazz have been busy. From securing the future of the franchise to reuniting with its past, the club has been active since the NBA’s transaction window opened up last week. 

A half dozen Salt City Hoops writers weigh in on the recent transactions, and what they mean for Utah’s quest to compete for championships.

Favors will be back in a familiar Jazz jersey. (Melissa Majchrzak/utahjazz.com)

How much will having Derrick Favors back (on a 3-year deal starting at the MLE) impact Utah’s rotation?

Thatcher Olson: It’s huge. Favors will be playing almost exclusively a backup center role. I expect to see him playing 15-25 minutes at most, barring an injury to Gobert. It may be a slight overpay for a backup center, but the Jazz clearly identified a weakness at backup center. They know Favors, like Favors, and Favors likes Utah. This also gives them the option to match up better against big teams like the Lakers and Nuggets.

Trevor Gustaveson: Favors’ return to the Jazz will have a large impact on the rotation depending on how many minutes he will play. It gives them the ability in certain situations to have two bigs on the floor at the same time. They could do this previously with Tony Bradley and Juwan Morgan, but we saw that those situations were either out of necessity or experimental minutes. Now they can feature two big men on the court as a choice, rather than a last resort. It’s easy to imagine they will do this against the Los Angeles Lakers, specifically. While you might see the Jazz with similar rotations to last season, adding Favors only increases their flexibility, and an ability to dictate things defensively.

David J. Smith: Favors’ return could have a deep impact on the Jazz this upcoming season. His knowledge of Quin Snyder’s system, his pick-and-roll ability, and his stout defense all add immensely to Utah’s rotation. In essence, it adds another starter-caliber player whose hard work and veteran presence will make the team stronger and deeper. Favors could allow Gobert him more rest in what will be a unique, condensed season. He will be able to reignite the two-man game with Joe Ingles, which will be a much-needed spark to a second unit that had its struggles last year. It is a winning move for the Jazz. It also does not hurt that he is one of the most beloved by Utah’s faithful.

Kincade Upstill: This is a pretty cool story to have arguably the most beloved Jazz player since Stockton and Malone choose to return home. Favors is a starting caliber center who will going up against opposing teams’ backup centers. This just won’t be fair. The return of the Favors/Ingles pick-and-roll will only strengthen Jazz’s second unit. The defense suffered last season without Gobert on the court and now Jazz will have a full 48 minutes of high-level center play. The question is, would the Jazz have been better to spend the money on perimeter defense, like on a wing, and go with Bradley or a cheaper backup center option.

Steve Godfrey: Rotation? It’s an upgrade over the backup center minutes from last year; I’m particularly excited to see how he fits with Mike Conley as a pick-and-pop partner. If we are talking about chemistry, morale, locker room and media fit, fanbase spirit, embodiment of culture, the grit and grind, and all those intangibles? This is a Grand Canyon-like chasm of an upgrade. Hyperbolically speaking, I imagine this is exactly how Cleveland felt when LeBron returned; the return of Fav (hopefully in his familiar #15 Jazz jersey) just feels right.

Jake Gochnour: Favors will play a key role in improving the minutes when Gobert is resting. Two years ago, Rudy and Derrick often played side by side, but this last year showed the major gap in talent that is exploited when Rudy exits the game. Derrick will be huge in filling that gap. Favors is only 29 years old and will be an asset coming off the bench in rebounding and in particular, scoring, something that the Utah Jazz lacked last year. Beyond just basketball, having a player that enjoys Utah and genuinely wants to be in the beehive state is so important to the attitude and chemistry of the team. Favors knows the community and is a fan favorite. Fans can get behind someone who enjoys Utah, rather than someone on a pit-stop to a big market.

Clarkson averaged nearly 16 ppg after a midseason trade. (Melissa Majchrzak via espn.com)

How important was it for the Jazz to lock up Jordan Clarkson on a reported 4-year, $52 million contract?

Thatcher: Clarkson helped turn the Jazz into a top offense in the NBA. While he had a few moments of extreme usage in the playoffs, his offensive contributions were overall a positive for Utah. He seemed to do well in the Utah system, and he gives Utah a much-needed bench scoring punch. There weren’t many viable replacement options for Utah, and he will help Utah keep a top offense and buoy the bench units along with Favors and likely Ingles.

Trevor: It’s difficult to know what other options were available to the Jazz in free agency, but given that the Jazz had Clarkson’s bird rights and could offer more to him than other teams could, the Jazz retained a player that was likely more valuable than what was available to them on the market. We know that the Jazz boasted the 3rd best offense in the league in the regular season after acquiring Clarkson, and the best offense in the league before it shut down due to COVID-19. Clarkson fit like a glove on this team, since he can score in a variety of ways while playing minutes with a bench previously starved for scoring. Retaining Clarkson alters the ceiling of the Jazz much more than the floor, and he will be key to the roster if the Utah Jazz are a surprise team in 2021.

David: Clarkson injected life into a moribund Jazz bench. His ability to create was exactly what the team needed. He played some of the best basketball of his career after the trade to Utah, showing improved efficiency. Clarkson added another 3-point shooter and occasionally displayed a deft passing ability. His game certainly has flaws, such as inconsistent defense and the tendency to sometimes break away from team execution offensively. All in all, though, his return is important to what Utah is trying to accomplish. Having a guy capable of putting up 20 to 30 points off the pine on any given night is a major luxury, though it does feel like the Jazz overpaid slightly.

Kincade: It’s a lot money for a long time, but if the Jazz didn’t resign Clarkson, they didn’t have the cap space to bring in an adequate replacement. After the Jazz traded for Clarkson, their offense went to another level and having an offseason and training camp with this coaching staff will be huge for him. By keeping Clarkson and adding Favors, the Jazz’s second team just became very potent.

Steve: When the Jazz have been bad the last few years, it’s typically because the offense train wrecks into a gas fire when the starters head to the bench. While some may question Clarkson’s defensive abilities, the dude is a bucket-getter that, on some nights like in the playoffs against Denver, was our only other creator and scorer outside of Donovan Mitchell. A general rule in Godfrey’s Book of Basketball is that I want guys who can dribble, drive, make a crazy shot, create space for a runner, knock down threes, and just put the ball in the hoop whenever and however.

Jake: Before the pandemic hit and basketball was put on an indefinite moratorium, Clarkson was a human blowtorch. In the month of February 2020, Clarkson averaged around 19.5 points per game while only playing around 25 minutes a night. Although he cooled off during the playoffs, Clarkson showed both his upside and downside in half a season with the Jazz. Simply put, he is a very streaky player that can score extremely efficiently. His contract was huge for future offensive production on a defensively focused team and with a defensively focused coach. Clarkson will be especially important when Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic are off the court, with a scoring ability that hasn’t been in Utah for a long time.

The Jazz’s All-Star duo. (Melissa Majchrzak via espn.com)

The Jazz also locked up Mitchell with a max extension. Will Gobert’s extension get done?

Thatcher: Yes. Utah seems all in on this team, and with Mitchell’s extension, they have a 4-5 year window to prove they can contend. To me, this means getting to the conference finals or better. Gobert will help this team win in the next several years, and the only question is at what cost? I predict they will come in at a lower amount than the full supermax, but still higher than he could get elsewhere. With older players like Ingles, Bojan, and Conley on the roster, the Jazz are committing to winning now and trying to retool as these players may age out over the next 4-5 years and Mitchell progresses to his prime.

Trevor: Gobert has publicly stated that he wants to remain on the Jazz, and the team appears very committed to keeping him on the roster. There’s always a chance that Gobert wants to see what he can get as a free agent next offseason, but that requires a substantial amount of risk on his end, knowing that there’s a possibility he could get injured and lose out on big money. While Gobert has always been one to bet on himself, you can’t control injury risk. My bet is that unless the Jazz make him an offer he considers too low, he will be happy to take the guaranteed money.

David: That is the million-dollar question… or rather the $150 million question. By all accounts, both sides want it to happen and are having discussions. What is not known is how much of a gap is there between what Gobert’s camp wants and what the Jazz front office are offering. In my opinion, an extension ends up being signed, given Gobert a raise from his previous pact, but below the supermax amount.

Kincade: The two most important items on Dennis Lindsey’s offseason checklist are keeping Mitchell and Gobert. Part one is done and part two, I would expect will be announced soon. Gobert’s extension is a bit more complicated since he is eligible for a super-max contract (35% percent of the cap). Having a contract of this size on the books makes team build extremely difficult. But there are ways to take care of Gobert by still giving him a super-max contract. The Jazz could offer him like 32% of the cap instead of full 35%.

Steve: Yes. Next question?

Jake: Gobert’s contract isn’t a question of if it’s possible, but rather, is it worth it? Gobert is an elite center in the NBA who has proved his talent by being named an All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year winner. That being said, Gobert isn’t great at creating on the offensive end, and struggles to defend more mobile big men in the league. In my opinion, Gobert’s extension should get done. The Jazz have a serious shot in the next couple of years to make a run at the title and a Western Conference Championship. For a small market team, that is something that happens every couple of years. Rarely are big time free agents interested in signing with places that have a smaller market. What is the formula for success for teams like Utah? Drafting talent and keeping them in the organization. Rudy has his flaws, but elite centers are hard to come by. Rudy Gobert deserves a contract extension from the Utah Jazz.

One thing the Jazz didn’t do: sign a free agent wing. Tony Jones reports that they’re comfortable giving that last rotation spot to Miye Oni. Is he ready, or is there a remaining free agent you think is worth bumping Oni back to the deep bench?

Thatcher: The Jazz have the benefit of the doubt when evaluating young players. They picked up Ingles and Royce O’Neale as undrafted players and turned them into key role players. They turned Mitchell and Gobert into stars with mid to late first round picks. They feel they can do the same with Oni. If they think he’s ready, as a fan, I’m willing to trust that decision. That being said, I would love to see Nic Batum in a small role on the Jazz if they can get him. A minimum or BAE contract is worth the risk for him, and his French connection with Gobert could prove to be fruitful.

Trevor: I am a big fan of Oni so far. The first thing that stands out to me, is he is extremely fast. While his calling card to make the rotation will need to be his defense, how fast he is could make him a weapon in transition. No, he’s not going to be posterizing intimidating rim protectors, but he will run the floor hard to the corner and be ready when the ball comes his way. He’s the kind of player that is not afraid to take an open shot when he gets it, but he’s very aware of guys who are open when the ball is swung to him. He is decisive with and without the ball, so while he lacks polish to his game as of now, he should be able to fit in since he knows Snyder’s system. On defense, he has quick feet, is long, and navigates screens extremely well. He will make mistakes defensively, but he will learn quickly which should motivate the team to elevate him in the rotation early on in the season to work out any kinks.

David: In his limited court time, Oni showed some definite ability. His length combined with his intelligent play give him potential to be a quality 3-and-D player. That said, it would make sense for Utah to add a veteran to serve as a mixture of competition and insurance. There are still some names that are intriguing, including Frank Jackson, Shaquille Harrison, Wayne Ellington, Allonzo Trier, and someone who was connected to the Jazz in rumors today, Batum. Would Kyle Korver make sense for a third stint, especially with how much he is respected by the Jazz?

Kincade: This all depends on how Oni shoots the ball. Having more than one non-shooter on the court can really hurt the offense. Wing depth is something that NBA teams can’t have enough of and the Jazz should look to add one more player, especially if Oni struggles with a bigger role. The picking are pretty slim now, but taking a low risk on Jonah Bolden could pay dividends, especially with the Jazz excellent developmental program. Bolden would add some size and shooting to the power forward spot.

Steve: One of the last items on the Jazz’s offseason checklist has to be to shore up the perimeter defense. It was a glaring weakness in the playoffs just a few short months ago, and it’s still an area that feels iffy as presently constructed. I don’t believe game-changes are left on the market, but I do believe in the Jazz’s ability to develop and entrust young talent. Oni could be an example of that as he certainly passes the eye test with his size (6’6”, 210 pounds) and athletic abilities. As offseason fans, we can certainly talk ourselves into believing he’ll be an important part of the rotation in the 2020-2021 NBA season.

Jake: Oni has a lot of potential and played well in minutes that he received in the bubble. Regardless, if the Jazz are actually looking to be contenders in the race to the NBA Finals, or even to get a shot at the Western Conference finals, Miye Oni isn’t experienced enough to compete against talented veterans coming off the bench for other teams. He needs more time to blossom into that role, rather than being thrown into it with the hopes that it might work out. With only 10 games under his belt and relatively no consequential minutes played, the Jazz should look to the remaining, slim free-agent market to fill that gap. One potential option could be Reggie Jackson. Jackson has sustained multiple injuries in recent years but could help contribute off the bench for the Jazz as an able scorer and defensive potential.

As presently constituted, what’s Utah’s ceiling in terms of the Western Conference power structure and their ability to compete for the whole enchilada?

Thatcher: I have the Lakers as a clear number one in the West. I think that the Jazz are in the next tier along with the Clippers, Nuggets, Mavericks, and Trail Blazers. Golden State, Houston, and the Suns are not far behind but have more question marks in my mind. Ultimately I think the Lakers are the favorites, but if things break right a team like the Jazz could make a Western Conference run and give the Lakers a challenge. It will be tight 1-9, with 12 teams competing for the playoffs. There will be no margin for error.

Trevor: The 2019-20 Jazz beat several contenders including the Milwaukee Bucks, the Miami Heat, and the Houston Rockets. The team knows that it can compete with most contenders, but in order to truly contend, the team’s Net Rating needs improvement. Bringing back Favors and retaining Clarkson makes this a true possibility, as the Jazz can now offer 48 minutes of solid play from their big men. The Jazz were embarrassed by the Lakers every time the teams met last year, so I’m not ready to say that they will be able to compete with the Lakers. This Jazz team can compete with any other team, however. Whether the Jazz have a chance against the Lakers depends on their ability to score against the elite length of the Lakers defense. That will be a tough task, but then again it’s never easy to win the NBA championship.

David: The Lakers have had a stellar offseason and are clearly head and shoulders above all the other teams in the Western Conference. After that, however, it would not surprise to see the Jazz finish as high as #2 or #3. They have a high quality eight-man rotation complete with two All-Star/All-NBA talents. Mitchell seemed to turn a switch in the Playoffs, something that could carry over into this season. Gobert will be motivated to reclaim his Defensive Player of the Year status. Conley will come into the year comfortable and ready, while Bogdanovic’s return will be a massive positive. Add in the reunion with Favors and perhaps some solid internal improvement in the young players, Utah will be able to compete with most of the West.

Kincade: On paper this is really good team and has a solid chance to be in the final four of their conference. The problem is that they play in the west, which is going to be a blood bath. If the return of Favors helps shore up their defense, then the sky is the limit for this team.

Steve: The Lakers got better and will return their two All-NBA talents. Across the hall are the Clippers, who are still a really good team. It’s hard to speak on the Rockets and the Warriors at this time, but I am confident that we’ll see the usual Portland-Denver-Utah kind of conversation as Dallas pokes around, too. Ceiling? 3rd seed, but it’s more likely, in my estimation, that the Jazz end up without home court advantage as a 5th or 6th seed next spring.

Jake: As shown in the bubble, Utah has the potential to compete with some of the top competition in the NBA. The Jazz led and at times looked dominant against the Nuggets, in a 3-1 series which inevitably they weren’t able to finish out. That same Nuggets team knocked off the Clippers who many supposed to be a serious title contender. The Jazz have enough talent, but lack star power, a deep bench and key role players. Mitchell and Gobert were absolutely fantastic in the playoffs, but the level to which they were performing wasn’t sustainable. Even last year’s champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, had some of the most effective role players in the game. I would expect the Jazz front-office to make a few more moves in the off-season if they are hoping to bring a title back to Salt Lake City.