Eyeing PG Options Not Named Walker

Dragic is a free agent point guard who could be gettable after a down year due to injuries. (Melissa Majchrzak via utahjazz.com)

Throughout the season, the areas of opportunity for the Utah Jazz became more and more clear. The first-round playoff loss to the Rockets magnified some of those needs, as I wrote earlier this month. With the end of the playoffs drawing nearer, the offseason is almost upon us, and the Jazz will have opportunities to address those areas of opportunity. The team that the Jazz roll out next season could be drastically different depending on the decisions they make in the coming months. 

One of those decisions is going to revolve around the point guard position. As much as we have all come to love Ricky Rubio and what his high character means for both the team and the community, the writing may be on the wall regarding his time here in Utah. 

With that in mind, they will look to fill that point guard need through free agency. The primary name that has consistently come up among Jazz Nation is Kemba Walker. With the need for an additional isolation scorer to pair next to Donovan Mitchell, he would be an interesting fit. Both Mitchell and Walker took on massive offensive loads this past season. If Walker were to join the Jazz, you would be taking two players who each had a Usage Rating over 30 percent, and asking each to take a step back.

Like I’ve said before, I don’t know how realistic it is, but Kemba would be my first choice. Make him tell you no https://t.co/0gF7Pxd6cB

— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) May 16, 2019

The addition of a player of Walker’s caliber would be a huge win for the Jazz organization. That said, there are big questions to ask about Walker’s fit within the Jazz team. First, how would he and Mitchell co-exist after being the primary offensive weapons for their respective teams? Second, are the Jazz willing to take on a player who has a negative impact on the defense? Especially in a western conference loaded with offensive talent at the guard position, Walker’s defense could be an issue.

The Jazz will work hard to bring in a player like Walker, but if that doesn’t work out, who are the next best options to fill that point guard role? Let’s look at three potential free agent options for the Jazz to target this off-season.

Which Point Guard not named Kemba Walker would you want most for the Utah Jazz this summer? Feel free to add a write in entry 👍🏻

— John Keeffer (@john_keeffer) May 14, 2019

Goran Dragic

For just a brief moment around the February trade deadline, rumors floated around about potential Jazz interest in the Miami Heat’s Goran Dragic. The rumors quickly died away, but the thought is intriguing. After struggling with injuries during his age 32 season, many people have begun to write off Dragic as an effective point guard going forward. That said, he was an All-Star just one year ago, and if injuries have derailed opposing team interest, he may be able to brought in at a steal of a deal.

From the 2016 to the 2018 seasons, Dragic averaged 19 points, 5.3 assist, and 4 rebounds, all while shooting nearly 39 percent from three, and with an effective field goal percentage of 51.5 percent. He also played 32.7 minutes per game, and played in 73 and 75 games.

Then last season happened. 

He had knee surgery in the off-season, and he never fully recovered, leading him to have a scoping of his knee done in December. He only appeared in 36 games, and his averages (along with his minutes) dropped across the board.

The question you have to ask yourself is if you think this past season is going to be the new norm for him. He’ll be turning 33, which is typically the age when point guards struggle to keep up. If you believe he has another year or two left, then perhaps the Jazz can offer him a deal similar to Derrick Favors. A 2-year offer with a team option for the second season may be a fantastic option in order to bridge the gap as the Jazz look for their point guard of the future.

Patrick Beverley

People may have forgotten, but during the summer of 2017, the Utah Jazz were in talks with Houston to try and trade for Patrick Beverley. If the interest is still there, he would be an ideal option as he checks off multiple boxes that they are looking to fill.

Beverley is a player who doesn’t jump off the page statistically, but it is impossible to watch a game and not notice him. He is a tenacious defender who is commonly referred to as a “pest” on that side of the ball. His lone nickname listed on the Basketball-Reference website is Mr. 94 Feet. How many players who are 6’1″ and have never been an elite scorer or playmaker have been able to last as long as he has? The list isn’t long.

He is the classic example of a “Hate him when he’s on the other team, but love him when he’s on your own team” guy.

Beverley has remained a positive impact player in the league due to his ability to defend across multiple positions, while knowing his role on offense. He has only averaged 9 points per game throughout his career, but has been a consistent 38 percent 3-point shooter. That number has actually risen to nearly 40 percent over the past four seasons.

His last contract was four years, $25 million, and while the length will likely be less on his next deal, I imagine the dollar amount will be about the same if not more. He can’t fill the need for another isolation scorer to pair with Mitchell, but he would make an already elite defense even scarier, and he would increase the level of shooting on the roster.

Malcolm Brogdon

Saving the best for last, Malcolm Brogdon is one of the best free agent guards available who is not being talked about. The former Rookie of the Year has steadily improved over the course of his first three season, and broke out this season to the tune of 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assist. He has also become an extremely reliable shooter. He shot 42.6 percent from three, and was a league leading 92.8 percent from the free throw line.

Brogdon was one of the most efficient offensive players in the league, and finished in the 96th percentile for points per shot attempt, and the 98th for effective field goal percentage at his position. He is not just a strong shooter, but has the ability to get to the basket off the dribble and finish at a high percentage. Last season he attempted 49.3 percent of his shots at the rim, and finished strongly at 64 percent.

Brogdon has the ability to play either guard position next to Mitchell. He is 6’5″ and has a strong upper body, similar to Mitchell.

There is also no drop on the defensive side with Brogdon. He has a strong defense first background. He played his college basketball at a defense first school in Virginia, and was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. This past season, Milwaukee finished with a defensive rating just a hair better than the Jazz, so you know he is capable of being an integral part of an elite team defense.

The difficulty for the Jazz is going to be the cost and his importance to the Bucks. As a restricted free agent, the Bucks have the ability to match any offer sheet that Brogdon signs. The asking price for a restricted free agent is almost always driven up in order to scare off their existing team. With that said, I’ve seen rumors that he could fetch anywhere around 20-25 million a year. If that is the case, it will be a difficult decision for Utah. They will need to decide if they want to prioritize their off-season budget on a guard to pair with Mitchell, or to target a stretch four like Tobias Harris.

If the Jazz are ever going to overspend on a player, now is the time. While Mitchell is still on his rookie contract, this is one of the last off-seasons for them to be aggressive spenders over the summer. At 26 years old, Brogdon has a high floor and is one of the few guards worth the risk.

Honorable Mentions:

Elfrid Payton, Darren Collison, Terry Rozier, Ricky Rubio, Jeremy Lin, Tomas Satoransky