Utah Jazz: Complete 2017 offseason grades
By Adam Coffman
Upgrading the 4: Jonas Jerebko
The Jazz signed a stretch-4 last offseason in Boris Diaw, but his performance in 2016-17 wasn’t anything more than lackluster. While being pushed into a larger role due to Derrick Favors‘ injury troubles, he shot just 24.7 percent from behind the arc.
Thus, the Jazz sought out to find his replacement this summer, winding up with former Boston Celtic Jonas Jerebko. With eight years of experience, the 30-year-old has proven himself to be a competent floor spacer, shooting 34.7 percent from deep last year and 37.7 percent during his three-year tenure in Boston.
Over half (50.8 percent) of his possessions last year came on spot-ups, with no other playtype coming in at over 10 percent of frequency. On defense, he has just enough mobility to stick with combo forwards, although his rebounding and shot blocking aren’t anything to write home about.
On the whole, Jerebko should be a good fit to play next to Rudy Gobert, spacing the floor without having to demand the ball to succeed. There’s also the possibility that he could play some small-ball center, where he spent 21 percent of his minutes last season.
Like Sefolosha, Jerebko’s $4 million salary is only guaranteed for 2017-18. He is a virtually no-risk signing — at worst, the Jazz will wind up with a league-average power forward at an appropriate price.
Grade: B+