Yesterday, I attempted to break down the entire Jazz roster, but had to stop before I could do the big men. Coincidentally, the Jazz traded away Mehmet Okur a couple of hours later, so I didn't have to go back and change anything. At first, I thought the Jazz gave Okur away for nothing, but now it looks like they made this trade to make another, bigger, better one. Until that trade is made, let's look at the big men the Jazz do have.
Power Forwards:
Paul Millsap
Millsap is entering his 6th year with the Jazz after he was a surprising 2nd-round pick in 2006. His best season was last year, with 17.3 ppg and 7.7 rpg. After Deron Williams, Millsap really was the most consistent player for Utah. I love his work ethic and his new skill of making the occasional 3. If he can consistently make those 3s, then he might see some time at small forward when the Jazz want to go big. Millsap really is an excellent trade asset, and I can only hope and pray that Utah will resist the temptation to move him. The Jazz might have a chance to make the playoffs with Millsap as a major player. If he is traded, then that means Utah is giving up on the season and focusing on the future of the young guys behind him.
Derrick Favors
Favors was the third pick in the 2010 draft, and was sent to Utah as part of the Williams trade. In 22 games with the Jazz, Favors averaged 8.2 ppg and 5.2 rpg. He found a place in my heart when he effortlessly dunked an offensive rebound with one hand over Kevin Garnett. He has all the tools to develop into the next Karl Malone, and I don't make that comparison lightly. He should get a fair amount of playing time behind Millsap (or more, depending on the upcoming trades). Either way, I think he is one player the Jazz will definitely not move any time soon.
Centers
Al Jefferson
Jefferson was drafted out of high school by Boston in 2004, but then was traded to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett. His best year was in 2008, when he averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds per game. He's not really a center, but that's what he played for the Jazz last year, averaging 18.6 ppg and 9.7 rpg. Those aren't bad numbers, but the Jazz really needed a bit more from him, especially after the Williams trade. He is a strong player, who can command a double team, but he doesn't care much about defense. It's not that he can't — he's shown some really nice D in small stretches — it's just that he won't. He's been in the league for 7 years now, and he's only made the playoffs as a backup in his rookie year. So even more than Devin Harris, Jefferson has lots of experience with going for his own stats and not worrying about winning games. I know last year was a terrible season for the entire franchise, but I think Jefferson could have done better. He looks out of shape and disinterested. If the Jazz are going to trade away one big man (and I'm sure they will), I hope it's Big Al. Normally, I'd say give him some more time, but with our good-looking young big men behind him, I think he's the best guy to get shipped away for a good shooting guard.
Enes Kanter
The Jazz used the third pick in the draft to pick the 19-year-old Kanter, who didn't play any basketball last season because he was banned by the NCAA. Despite that, some people say he should have been the No. 1 pick, anyway. Apparently he is in terrific shape, and he has looked fairly good in the preseason. I'm not sure if he really is a center, or just another power forward playing out of position. Only time will tell if the Jazz made the right choice with that pick.
So that's all the players on the Jazz roster. There's a lot of good guys, but no great guys. During the Portland game the other night, they had a poll for who Utah's leading scorer will be. It was a three-way tie between Jefferson, Millsap, and Favors. That bothers me. Not only do they all play the same position, but it shows me that nobody knows who the leader is. Who is the go-to guy in the clutch? I saw the Jazz lose a lot of games they should have won last year because they didn't know who to give the ball at the end of close games. And it looks like it's going to be the same this year.
I like Utah's depth for this terrible shortened season, but for the long term, we need an undeniable superstar to build around. This team is full of good trade pieces, and I do sense a massive trade coming right around the corner. It could be for Stephen Curry, Rajon Rondo, Mo Williams, or anybody else you can think of. We'll never know until it happens. The Jazz are very good at keeping their plans secret.
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