Rebuild This Team vol. 1

[elcheato]

I don't know if anyone will actually want to do this, but I guess if enough respond, I can post more with other bad teams. Anyway:
 

 
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/utah.htm
 
You have just been hired as the GM of the Jazz, currently they sit at 4-19 and are set for the draft lottery. The team currently has a couple nice pieces to move forward with in Enes Kanter, Derrick Favors, Trey Burke, their first round pick, also own the Warriors first round pick (which at the moment is lottery).
 
Couple of question marks here.
 
1. The big one being Gordon Heyward. Set to become a RFA. He's going to cost a pretty penny, and extension talks already stalled between the two sides. Do you risk going into free agency and losing him for nothing if you don't want to match the highest offer, or do you trade him before the deadline? What do you expect to get in return for him since he's struggling so badly right now?
 
2. Just this past draft, the former GM used the 9th pick (in a weak draft) on Trey Burke. Do you believe he's good enough to move forward with at PG? What is your course of action if you don't? Try to trade him, trade for another PG and make him a back up, keep him as the starter because you do have faith?
 
3. Assuming you get the 1st pick in the draft, who do you target? How does he fit in? If you get the #2 pick and that target is taken before you, who/what is your back up plan? List a couple of the players you hope are available with the Warriors pick that is presumably anywhere from 14-22.
 
4. You enter free agency with just 16 million dollars committed to players with two key restricted free agents out on the market in Gordon Heyward & Derrick Favors. How much are you willing to match on an offer sheet for Favors? Who are your realistic free agent targets that you could convince to come to Utah? Do you sit out what looks to be a hectic free ageny period and hold onto your cap for 2015 when it isn't as hectic and most teams spent their cap already in 2014, so there isn't much competition?
 
5. Come up with a trade or two if you wish for players who are currently available or you think will soon become available, if you wish to make a trade.
 
6. What does the team look like at the beginning of the 2014-2015 season?

 

[jonathanlambert33]

1. He is not worth this much, but if he hits the market as a RFA someone will throw a max like contract at him. Because of this, I do my best to meet his demands but also stay at a number I am somewhat comfortable with. He is a true two way player, and is without a doubt someone I want to remain on my team long term.

2. This is a tougher one. I know what the responses will be, but Burke so far in his NBA career (only 11 games) has been what most "experts" thought he would be. Undersized, inefficient, shoot first point guard who plays bad defense. I can't even begin to stress how poor his defense has been. So can you build a team around a undersized PG who doesn't have the ability to play good defense? Obvious answer here is what type of PG does your coach want? Does he need a PG to play good defense to perfect his defensive system? I'd stay with Burke and not necessarily have too much faith in him, but I would give him a fair and equal opportunity.

3. If you get the #1 pick, it has to be Wiggins. Some may say you already have Hayward, but truth is Utah has played Hayward at the two guard the majority of his career and honestly there hasn't been any fall off or improvement when he plays the two or the three. If anything he's been better at the two. If not the #1 pick, I am considering Smart, Parker, and Embiid. I'm not sure who I would pick with Golden States pick, but I would look for improved front court depth.

4. I already resigned Favors, and I would put a deal similar to what Tyreke Evans got in front of Hayward, 4 years and 44 million. Some players I would look at in FA? Avery Bradley, DeJuan Blair, Darrell Arthur, Jodie Meeks, Lavoy Allen, Patrick Patterson, etc. Guys that can defend, shoot, and are physical. I don't go for the "big splash" in free agency. I continue to develop my core and add good rotational pieces around them.

6. Mostly the same as it does now. At PG, I stick with Burke as my starter, but I bring in somebody more proven to back him up. I keep playing Hayward at the 2, and decide if Burks is good enough to be brought back for the last year of his rookie deal. I take Wiggins in the draft, and keep the same frontcourt I have aside from bringing in another PF. Burke, Hayward, Wiggins, Favors, Kanter.

 

[elcheato]

Oh yea, I forgot about the Favors extension. My bad

 

[jonathanlambert33]

It's all good, awesome thread btw.

 

[dez]

Yeah this is a great thread