The Utah Jazz have been known to stay relatively quiet during free agency. Beyond re-signing their own players, they haven't done much to change their roster in past years. Being one of the few teams to really commit to a core has paid off; they now have an incredibly promising young squad.
Young talent abounds
Alec Burks, while only playing 31 games last season, is a 3-point assassin when healthy, and is now coming into his prime. Gordon Hayward is one of the league's finest young small forwards, a vital position in the NBA. Derrick Favors, a near double-double player, is a bothersome matchup no matter who he goes up against. Holding down the paint is Rudy Gobert, a devastating shot blocker whose length aids him in grabbing plenty of rebounds. This core has had time to grow together and, when healthy, is one of the better teams in the league. Subpar options at point guard and a mediocre bench are the two things that have kept this team from reaching elite levels.They resolved their point guard predicament by trading their first-round pick for George Hill; he is a defensive-minded lead guard whose underrated production fits in perfectly with the culture of the team.
Existing bench has much promise
The Jazz also made a few quiet moves that have re-upped the bench and will make it one of their most valuable assets. Dante Exum missed the entire 2015-16 season due to injury, but he is a young point guard filled with potential and one who could be very dangerous off the bench. Another option is Shelvin Mack, who, once traded to Utah, surprised many with his production in the final half of the season. They have the luxury of bringing Rodney Hood off the bench at shooting guard. With Burks sidelined, Hood excelled in a starting role and earned himself a spot in the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend. Last year's lottery pick, Trey Lyles, is a raw prospect but has the physical and mental attributes to be a solid stretch-four.
Additions give bench validity
What was missing in this already talented bench was a couple of veterans to give them cohesiveness. This is exactly what the Jazz front office provided them with last week. First, they locked up Joe Johnson on a two-year deal, giving them a proven shooter off the bench who can play both the three and the four. Johnson had received a lot of flack for his deteriorating play while on a huge contract with Brooklyn, but he proved late last season with the Miami Heat that he still has much to give to a team. The Jazz then acquired Boris Diaw in a salary dump, getting him for next to nothing. Though he is 34 years old, Diaw is still one of the most versatile players in the league. His level of passing is unseen at his position, and he is a very good defender despite his lack of athleticism. He is also viewed as one of the most professional players in the NBA, an immense boon to a young team. These simple but smart measures have given the Jazz a brutal bench that will surely win them games next season. Look out for Utah to rise the ranks of the Western Conference and even make some noise in the postseason.