A Breakdown of 10 Possible Free Agents for the Jazz

I used to work in recruitment for a large healthcare group. In my line of work 4 things really matter to potential applicants: salary, geography, autonomy in the workplace, and the schedule. The order of importance of those things probably differs for everybody, but I think they are top 4 most important aspects for almost everyone. We used to travel to Asheville, North Carolina every year to recruit, but we never seemed to be able to convince any students from that area to join our practice. I work in Raleigh and it’s a great place to be, especially for young professionals, but we couldn’t offer students in Asheville better pay, better schedules, or more autonomy in the operating room. And Asheville is one of the coolest cities in the United States. Unless students were dead set on just moving to Raleigh, or had family there, we could not convince them to come. It didn’t matter how cool our workplace is, or how good my powerpoint presentation was (and it was marvelous); we couldn’t get them to come. It took me almost 4 years to convince my large company, to not invest the time and resources of recruiting there.

Here is a secret inside look on the Jazz pitching signing with the Jazz to Kawhi Leonard.

I was living the reality that the Utah Jazz face every summer. I get it, I think. The Jazz have to be able to trump either salary, a role within the team, or a chance to win a championship to recruit in free agency. Most Jazz fans love the state of Utah, but we also know that for the average NBA free agent, Salt Lake City isn’t in the top half of desirable geographies. It presents a challenge to the Jazz, but things are at least trending in the right direction, even if the Jazz might only be 10% more desirable than they were 10 years ago.

This look into my personal work life isn’t important, but it is a means to drive home the point: if a free agent has a chance to take the same money and the same role with about 20 other teams as he does the Jazz, then that player is simply not an option for the Jazz, unless there is some crazy, unique circumstance. It stinks, but it’s also very real. I’ve lived it.

The General Free Agency Plan for the Jazz

If you have paid attention to the reporting around the team and dug into the Jazz situation a bit, you can understand what the plan is for the Jazz in free agency. For one, they don’t feel compelled to use all their free agency weapons. They have a trade exception and 5 months to bolster their roster through trades. They also might want to keep a hold of their $5.9 million Mid Level Exception (MLE) to have the best offers for potential buyout candidates. But in general the plan is to try to: 

1. Convince Mike Conley to resign, when the Jazz can legally negotiate with him for the first time tonight at 4pm MST.
2. Take one swing at a bigger free agent with their taxpayer Mid-level Exception to the tune of about $6 million a year for 1-3 years.
3. Fill out the rest of the roster with minimum contracts.

It’s important to note that not all minimum contracts are the same. A minimum contract for Jared Butler would be just over $925k/year and a vet minimum for Rudy Gay, for example would be $2.6 million. When you penalize those differences with the luxury tax that the Jazz are about to face, it may give some idea of why the Jazz operate the way they due over the next week or so.

But most of you didn’t come here to listen to me talk about team finances. You want to hear names. Who will the Jazz sign? If you would like a quick hitter outlook at every free agent the Jazz could sign, I suggest you look here at Dan Clayton’s piece. It’s exhaustive work, but a good synopsis on what types of players the Jazz might be interested in. I plan to dig a little deeper on the 10 best free agent targets for the Jazz taking into account their offensive and defensive fit, their availability and their relative value in terms of a contract.

The Jazz really need to resign Mike Conley (via espn.com)

1. Mike Conley

Offensive Fit- 9.0

Defensive Fit- 6.0

Availability- 10.0

Cost- 6.0 (3 years, $60-75 million)

Organizational Fit/Need- 10.0

Overall score- 8.2

Analysis: This is definitely cheating since all signs already point to Conley returning. It’s almost to the point that it is irresponsible to talk about other destinations. Conley’s fit with the offense is nearly perfect with his ability to run the offense, hit spot up shots, and play with Gobert in the pick n roll. Conley is still a very capable perimeter defender, but his size and age make him a less than ideal fit on that end. Conley’s deal (2-3 years at $60-75 million) will look bad compared to some point guard deals that will be made, but will also look good compared to deals for Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry.  If Conley doesn’t return, I will eat my proverbial hat.

2. Nicolas Batum

Offensive Fit- 9.0

Defensive Fit- 10.0

Availability- 3.0

Cost- 8.0 (1 year, $6-10 million)

Organizational Fit/Need- 9.0

Overall Score- 7.8

Analysis: It’s no secret that the Jazz would love to acquire Nicolas Batum. He’s older, but still has some ball creation, shoots threes in a manner that would make his offensive fit fairly seamless, and he can play and guard 4 or 5 positions for the Jazz. The Jazz passed on Batum last season and that may have been the biggest front office mistake of the last 2 seasons. It sounds like Batum is going to take somebody’s mid-level exception in order to play for a championship (Charlotte will be paying him $9 million no matter his contract), but he’s also going to be high on the list of every contender in the NBA, so unless Rudy Gobert is able to convince Batum to win a title in a Jazz uniform, it’s hard to see it happening. He’s going to sign with the Warriors, I think.

3. Gorgui Dieng

Offensive Fit- 4.0

Defensive Fit- 9.0

Availability- 8.0

Cost- 9.0 (1 year, $2-3 million)

Organizational Fit/Need- 9.0

Overall Score- 7.8

Analysis: Dieng is good to great defender who has defensive versatility. He can play some drop big defense and switch out on wings effectively. Offensively he’s the Royce O’Neale of big men, shooting 42% from three last season, but on only 1.8 attempts per game. He has little else to offer offensively, but if he can be had for the vet minimum or a small portion of the MLE, he’d be a great fit in Utah.

Jarrell Brantley is one of several Jazz sophomores who haven’t played much. (Melissa Majchrzak via espn.com)

4. Jarrell Brantley

Offensive Fit- 5.0

Defensive Fit- 7.0

Availability- 10.0

Cost- 10.0 (minimum contract)

Organizational Fit/Need- 7.0

Overall Score: 7.8

Analysis: Bringing Brantley back next season is an absolute no brainer. He isn’t elite at anything yet, but he’s shown flashes of being really good at a lot of things and he shot 43% from three last season in limited attempts. He’s one of the most versatile defenders in the NBA and he’s good at it. He spent at least 17% of his defensive possessions last season guarding every position except for point guard. On top of all of that, with his uncertain NBA future, I think that Brantley would be willing to sign a year at, or close to the minimum, if not for multiple years. He’s the perfect guy to bet on cracking the rotation eventually at low cost to the team. I think he’s going to have a long career in the NBA.

5. Frank Ntilikina

Offensive Fit- 2.0

Defensive Fit- 9.0

Availability- 9.0

Cost- 9.0 (1 year at the minimum)

Organizational Fit/Need- 8.0

Overall Score: 7.4

Analysis: Ntilikina is one of the worst offensive players in NBA. He’s also really young, is a great defensive guard/wing and will be one of the great reclamation projects this year on probably a minimum contract. If he has any sort of relationship with Rudy, this could be a great fit. The Jazz could use his defense and hope he just needs a new start to find himself, offensively. He would be a healthier Dante Exum without the baggage of the 5th pick and on a minimum contract. That sounds delightful to me. In fact, I think the Jazz should try to get Ntilikina on the minimum, reach out to Batum and Evan Fournier and see if they can really cash in on the whole French national team vibe while also becoming the team most likely to steal your girlfriend with their accents and knowledge of fine wines. Hey, I’m just brainstorming here.

via mavsmoneyball.com

6. Boban Marjonovic

Offensive Fit- 5.0

Defensive Fit- 5.0

Availability- 7.0

Cost- 9.0

Organizational Fit/Need- 9.0

Overall Score: 7.0

Analysis: I think the Jazz need insurance at the center position, but they need to get a guy who also doesn’t mind cheerleading some games if Udoka Azubuike proves to be serviceable. Marjanovic has almost no defensive versatility, but would provide a lot of what Rudy can do with the best low post game in a Jazz uniform since Al Jefferson. Marjanovic should be available at the vet minimum due to his limitations, has proven usefulness in short stints in the playoffs and would fit in with team culture as, what appears to be, the nicest guy in the NBA.

7. Rudy Gay

Offensive Fit- 8.0

Defensive Fit- 8.0

Availability- 1.0

Cost- 8.0 ($6-10 million/year)

Organizational Fit/Need- 8.0

Overall- 6.6

Analysis: Rudy Gay provides 90% of everything that Nic Batum would provide, but instead of a connection with Rudy Gobert, he has one with Mike Conley from their days with Memphis over 5 seasons. Gay is a good 3 point shooter, with ability to also shoot in the midrange. He’s also an underrated defender who spent 40% and 15% of his defensive possessions last season guarding power forwards and centers, respectively. But he’s destined to end up in LA.

Hello? Is it the Jazz you’re looking for? via espn.com

8. Otto Porter Jr.

Offensive Fit- 10.0

Defensive Fit- 7.0

Availability- 1.0

Cost- 8.0 ($6-10 million/year)

Organizational Fit/Need- 6.0

Overall score- 6.2

Analysis: With Porter it’s all about health. He’s still a deadly shooter, who has some offensive versatilty, but the Otto Porter two years ago was also effective and versatile defensively. He can’t guard centers as often as Batum or Gay, but he would fit easily into the Jazz team construct and wouldn’t have to take on a huge burden either offensively, or minutes-wise. One time he posted on instagram that he was vacationing in Park City, so I’m emotionally including him in the Jazz’s plans until he signs with someone else. 

9. Robin Lopez

Offensive Fit- 5.0

Defensive Fit- 5.0

Availability- 4.0

Cost- 7.0

Organizational Fit/Need- 9.0

Overall Score: 6.0

Analysis: Everything about Boban is true of Robin Lopez, but I think Lopez will be more highly sought after and probably be signed for higher than the vet minimum.

Forward Georges Niang was instrumental in Saturday’s Utah Jazz victory over the Orlando Magic.

10. Georges Niang

Offensive Fit- 8.0

Defensive Fit- 2.0

Availability- 9.0

Cost- 3.0

Organizational Fit/Need- 7.0

Overall Score: 5.8

Analysis: Niang is a great guy, who is beloved by both teammates and Jazz fans alike. He’s a great spot up shooter, although he offers very little else offensively. He has maximized his defensive ability, but lacks versatility there that the Jazz need. I would think his return to the Jazz would be likely, except I think his new agent will seek a payday for him, and the Jazz probably don’t want to pay more than close to the minimum for Niang’s services.