NBA Power Rankings: 2014-15 Western Conference Projections
By Shane Young
14. Utah Jazz — 24-58
Hardest month: November (.584)
Weakest month: March (.475)
Back-to-backs: 19
True or False: When your franchise is able to re-sign the best scorer, play-maker, and most aggressive wing player on the roster, things are supposed to head in a positive direction.
True. Unless, you’re the Utah Jazz, and you belong to the Western Conference.
Gordon Hayward initially inked an offer sheet with the Charlotte Hornets that was worth entirely too much money (four years, $63 million), but Utah declared they would match any type of offer heading his way.
Instantly, you begin to scramble for reasons why General Manager Dennis Lindsey would want to dish out so much dough to a non-All-Star, especially when they know it’s going to take money persuasion to get free agents in Salt Lake City — it’s not a location of interest when guys are on the market.
Although Hayward doesn’t appear to be worth the full $15.7 million per season based on his PER of 16.22 (which is just above league average), his trivialized ability to set up teammates and make intelligent plays stood out for the Jazz. Ranking near the top of small forwards in anything has become an achievement since the league has groomed a large number of outstanding wings. Of all small forwards to step on the court last season, Hayward’s assist ratio of 22.1 percent placed sixth overall — even higher than LeBron James‘ 20.6.
Where Utah remains optimistic is in the draft department, as they took a huge risk with 19-year-old Dante Exum at No. 5 in the loaded 2014 class. Exum was viewed as a lengthy, crafty guard that struggles with a true position. He admires the point guard slot, but teams that passed on him would rather have him at the two-guard, with an entirely better shot. Utah drafted their coveted floor general the previous year, getting Trey Burke in a steal. Thus, Burke’s future rides on him showing the franchise they escaped the horrifying 2013 Draft as one of the only “winners.”
If you had to point your finger on a storyline to watch outside of the playoffs in the West, it’s the process of how new head coach Quin Snyder can gel Exum and Burke together on the court, and how it affects the minute allocation of starter Alec Burks. There’s too much “Burk” going on here.
The loss of veteran forward Richard Jefferson stings, but Lindsey had a vision that snagging a valuable Wizards’ backup (Trevor Booker) and the Duke standout Rodney Hood sets themselves up for a better road through the next 3-4 years. Jefferson was durable for the first time in four seasons, playing 78 games, but he just turned the corner on 34 years old, and a group full of youngsters trying to get to their first playoff berth isn’t a perfect match.
Next season, Utah suffers a harsh reality that three other teams also face. The West can be directly compared to old, black-and-white Western style films. They share the same basic connection. Regardless how much you stock up on weapons, others that re-stock even greater are still going to run the towns, and win any duel.
Utah didn’t recede their progression. The conference, from top to bottom, just never ceases to be the devil’s landmark.