After the Utah Jazz’s struggles over the past few years, the owners decided to go a different direction and choose me, 30 year-old Jaxson Williams, as the new GM for the 2013-2014 season. It was a bold move, met with much backlash from the media as I was a complete unknown, having previously been the head basketball coach for the Oregon Institute of Technology Hustlin’ Owls. After a solid 16-13 season, the Jazz called me up and I instantly accepted the job.
The Roster:
Point Guards:
Trey Burke
6-1 190
20 Rookie
Burke was the ninth overall pick of the 2013 draft and looks to make an immediate impact. He is a solid outside shooter, ball handler, and defender. Burke will be the unquestioned starter from day one. **1/2
Jamal Tinsley
6-3 185
35 10 Years Pro
Tinsley was a part-time starter for the Jazz last year, but is altogether unspectacular. He is an average defender with solid ball handling and court intelligence. Won’t get too many minutes this year. *
John Lucas
5-11 165
31 5 Years Pro
Lucas is the most disciplined and also the best ball handler on the team. He lacks any other viable skill and doesn’t look like a rotation player for us. *
Shooting Guards:
Alec Burks
6-6 193
22 2 Years Pro
Burks is an athletic wing who is a solid all-around player, but is better suited to a bench role while right now he is the best 2 guard on the Jazz roster. **
Ian Clark
6-3 175
22 Rookie
Basically just roster filler.*
Small Forwards:
Gordon Hayward
6-8 211
24 3 Years Pro
Hayward is a solid player who has improved every year so far. All around good player that can do a little bit of everything. He is the unquestioned starter at the 3. On the last year of his rookie contract and appears to be one of the Jazz’s biggest trade chips. ***
Marvin Williams
6-9 240
26 8 Years Pro
Williams is a jack of all trades, but he isn’t better than average in any facet of his game. **
Brandon Rush
6-6 210
27 5 Years Pro
Rush has been recovering from a torn ACL he suffered at the start of last season. He is just another unspectacular player for the Jazz. **
Richard Jefferson
6-7 225
32 12 Years Pro
His game has vanished over the past few years and he is nothing more than an expiring $11 million contract warming the bench. *
Mike Harris
6-6 240
30 2 Years Pro
Signed to fill out the roster. *
Jeremy Evans
6-9 196
25 3 Years Pro
Evans is a hyper-athletic forward who lacks any fundamental skills needed to give him a spot in the rotation. *
Power Forwards:
Derrick Favors
6-10 245
22 3 Years Pro
Favors is the best player on the Jazz roster as of now. He looks to be the leader of the team now that Al Jefferson and Paul Milsap have departed. He is a strong rebounder and inside scorer. He was signed to a big extension over the offseason.***1/2
Centers:
Enes Kanter
6-11 259
21 2 Years Pro
Kanter, like Favors, looks to benefit greatly from the increase in playing time due to the departure of the Jazz’s starting frontcourt. Kanter plays solid defense and is also a decent scoring and rebounding. ***1/2
Rudy Gobert
7-2 238
21 Rookie
The lanky Frenchman has potential as a rebounder and shot blocker. **
Andris Biedrins
6-11 240
27 9 Years Pro
The best defensive big on the roster, not much else of note. *
The Jazz have a very inexperienced roster with all of their starters having 3 or less years of experience in the NBA. The bench is also dismal. Look for the Jazz to be outmatched on most nights this season.
Prediction: 17-65