Utah
Jazz

Jazz Team Report

Updated: May 28, 2012 04:19 EST

Compared to most teams in the NBA, the Utah Jazz have a big advantage.

Not only does the team have two proven veteran post players in center Al Jefferson and power forward Paul Millsap, but the Jazz also have a pair of promising post players in youngsters Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter.

One popular opinion in Utah this offseason is that the Jazz should trade either Jefferson or Millsap to procure a much-needed shooter or pass-first point guard and to give Favors and Kanter more playing time and experience.

That isn't how Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor sees it.

"What we've got to do is add to (our core)," O'Connor said after his team was eliminated by the Spurs in the first round. "I don't think we've got to blow it up and start over again, and I don't think we've got to be in a position where we're looking at it and saying we've got to trade some people."

Jefferson is hopeful the team remains together.

"If I had it my way, yes, I'd love to see everybody come back, because this is a team that we did well," Jefferson said. "All of us have the same goals and all of us have the same mindset just getting better as a team. We got a little taste this year. Now we're greedy. We want more."

Jefferson plans on working out this summer with Favors and Kanter at a Santa Barbara performance clinic, showing solidarity with the two young players who'd like to earn some of his minutes in the future.

Big Al believes that can help them improve and continue to gel.

"It's a wonderful business. It's a blessing to be here," Jefferson said. "I'm not going to not help someone because they might take my job. I don't look at it like that. I look at like I'm helping another brother succeed."

Both Jefferson and Millsap said they hope to stay in Utah past next season when their contracts expire. For one thing, Big Al is excited to see what Favors and Kanter turn into.

"I could see (Kanter) and Derrick dominating the league like Tim Duncan and David Robinson at one point in time if they could stay together," Jefferson said. "I would like to see that. It's amazing just to watch these two boys just grow in front of our eyes, and I feel like I had a little part to do with that."

SEASON HIGHLIGHT: With Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan and All-Star point guard Deron Williams no longer with the team, most people didn't expect much from the Jazz this season. But they defied most people's cynicism and overcame injuries to key players and a mix-and-match roster to persevere and make the playoffs.

TURNING POINT: The Jazz lost 11 of 14 games during a particularly ugly stretch in February, making a playoff appearance look unlikely. But Utah bounced back with an 11-8 March despite a road-heavy schedule, and then the Jazz began a critical five-game winning streak to push their way into the postseason with a triple-overtime win over Dallas.

--The Jazz and Golden State Warriors could make a deal before Wednesday's draft lottery.

If the Warriors end up having a pick that falls to No. 8 or lower, it belongs to the Utah Jazz because of a previous deal with the New Jersey Nets in which the Warriors dealt a pick that the Nets later sent to the Jazz as part of the Deron Williams trade in February 2011.

The Warriors have a 72 percent chance of getting the No. 7 pick, but the Warriors reportedly do not want to chance it.

Because the Warriors' and Jazz's seasons are over, they are allowed to make trades, though May deals are rare.

--General manager Kevin O'Connor showed confidence in his coach's ability to communicate even after Raja Bell called Tyrone Corbin "unprofessional" for the way he dealt with him.

Al Jefferson also spoke highly of Corbin's second season as head coach.

"Me personally, I think Ty did a wonderful job. The position he was put in, for a short season, short training camp with a young team, he got us here (in the playoffs)," Jefferson said. "I think he communicated well. I think that's one of the things that stand out to me for Ty because he's not afraid to come out and say what's on his mind."

--Reflective of their team's surprisingly good season, Josh Howard and Jamaal Tinsley both came out of nowhere to get their careers back on track in Utah.

"Nobody expected us to even make it to the playoffs, let alone be a threat in the playoffs," Howard said. "Unfortunately we ran into a hot team in the Spurs. Give them credit. Overall, for my personal goals and my team goals, we exceeded."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I can see this team actually growing to be something very special." -- Jazz center Al Jefferson.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Al Jefferson proved to critics this season that he could rack up big numbers while helping his team win. The result was his first playoff trip since his rookie season of 2005. Big Al was the most consistent offensive player for the Jazz, and the closest thing the team had to a star.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Raja Bell hasn't lived up to expectations in his second stint with the Jazz since signing a three-year deal two summers ago. Aside from his deteriorated play, the 35-year-old's ongoing dispute with coach Tyrone Corbin is an unneeded distraction, so it's likely his desire to be traded will be acquiesced.

BIGGEST NEEDS: Outside shooting was nonexistent in the playoff sweep and at times during the season. Management hopes Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks continue work on their perimeter play, but that long-distance weakness is a high priority this offseason. The Jazz also need to determine whether Devin Harris is the long-term solution at point guard.

FREE AGENT FOCUS: Josh Howard, C.J. Miles and late-season D-League call-up Blake Ahearn will be unrestricted free agents. Miles will likely have to find a second NBA home after spending his first seven seasons in Utah, but the Jazz loved the experience and versatility Howard provided when he was healthy and have expressed interest in bringing him back. It would be a surprise if the Jazz didn't exercise team options on potential free agents Jamaal Tinsley and DeMarre Carroll while trying to retain athletic restricted free agent Jeremy Evans.

PLAYER NOTES:

--F Derrick Favors played well at times throughout his sophomore season, but the athletic and powerful 20-year-old had a coming-out party during the playoffs. He was the Jazz's most consistent player against the Spurs.

"He feels like he can just jump over and dunk over everybody," Jazz center Al Jefferson said of his young teammate. "Once he learns how to play the game, it's going to be trouble. I hope I'm his teammate for the rest of my career."

--F Paul Millsap has spent the first six seasons of his NBA career in Utah, and he hopes to make it many more. Like Al Jefferson and Devin Harris, the 2012-13 campaign will be a contract year for the undersized-but-overachieving power forward.

"I'm hoping," he said, "to stay here (in Utah) forever."

--G Alec Burks is excited to have his rookie season in the rear-view mirror, if for no other reason than to be able to ditch the pink backpack his more experienced teammates made him tote around most of his first year.

His offseason plans for the backpack?

"I'm going to light it up on the Fourth of July," he said, smiling.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--G Earl Watson (left knee) continues to rehab from surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus on April 17. He hopes to resume basketball-related activities in July and is expected to be ready for training camp.