Utah Jazz to-do list as team moves on from Kanter


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SALT LAKE CITY- NBA fans, the best part of the regular season has finally arrived- the stretch run to the NBA Playoffs.

You've endured pre-All Star games of poor defense; you've made it through stretches where teams rest players. Now, it's all-out for a majority of the league, as teams try to qualify for the playoffs, and free agents try and improve their value on the offseason open market.

The Utah Jazz are in a peculiar spot for NBA franchises. They're not in strong contention for a playoff spot, yet they have much to play for.

All of these factors make it important to contemplate what benchmarks the Jazz need to hit in the second half of the season to demonstrate they're continuing to improve.

Before shortly reviewing Utah's accomplishments from the first half of the season, it's important to quickly review one of the rare deadline deals made by the team, sending center Enes Kanter to Oklahoma City for the rights to Kendrick Perkins, among other things. While many fans are bemoaning the trade on social media, Kanter forced Utah's hands with his comments to local reporters in Dallas. The franchise needs no influential player, much less a starter, speaking ill of its rebuilding plans, and had to move on, without him. Kanter was a likable guy, and generally kind to media. It will be interesting to see where his career goes from here.

While Utah didn't receive a blockbuster player in return, it did receive a trade picks and salary cap room, courtesy of buying out the contract of Kendrick Perkins. Picks and cap room are pawns general manager Dennis Lindsey has coveted, and the plan has produced results- turning into players like Trey Burke. Draft picks are valuable, and can be packaged into deals that turn into All-Star players.

#UJ

With all of the future talk out of the way, it's important to see what the team has accomplished to this point, even with some trade distraction. Jazz coach Quin Snyder has led the team to a record of 19-34, while the record at this point last season was 19-33. Even though the records are similar, there is a feeling around the team that is more positive and more productive. It's tough to represent those emotions, quantitatively, but there is a feeling in Salt Lake City and beyond that the Jazz are going places, albeit the final destination is largely up for debate.

What isn't up for debate is how the team is developing, and the individual players who are growing as part of that. For instance, forward Gordon Hayward, after averaging 16.2 points on a shooting percentage of 41 percent last season, is scoring 19.2 points on a shooting percentage of 46 percent this season. That's a step in the right direction for Hayward, who is the face of the Utah franchise for the foreseeable future.

Scott G. Winterton/Deseret News
Scott G. Winterton/Deseret News

Another player to compliment is center Rudy Gobert. Gobert, who was rarely used last season under the Tyrone Corbin regime, is getting significant minutes under Snyder, and has received national attention for his work as a shot blocker. This season, he is averaging 6.9 points and 2.2 blocks a game.

Gobert's development tells a larger story about Utah's slowly-but-surely improving defense. The Jazz are giving up 4 points less per game than their season average last season, and have improved from the league's 16th-ranked defense to the 10th-ranked defense. But hey, that's progress- right?

It's important the Jazz use the second-half of the season to continue to improve- improve the record, improve their defense, and improve their individual crafts within the confines of the game. Those goals are fine, but what individually must happen to achieve those ends?

Three things have to happen, and they come from the perspective of players and management.

Move on without Enes Kanter ----------------------------

Again, dealing with Kanter's loss is important for this team. He missed time this season with an injury, but locker rooms are like work places- when a co-worker is missing, the entire complexion of the office changes. Kanter's trade will allow Gobert to move into the starting lineup (more on that in a moment), but it will also cause the Jazz to lose a player who averages 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds a game. Who will step into that role, and who will produce at his level.

Kanter leaving could provide a short-term negative on the floor, but what is most unknown is how will affect practice and buy-in. It seems he has been unhappy for sometime with his role, and frustration tends to spread from the source. The interpersonal side of this trade is most unknown, and the effects will be interesting to watch.

What is known- this means more time for Trevor Booker, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. Jazz fans will enjoy that.

Open up Rudy Gobert

Gobert will move into the starting lineup with the Kanter trade, and will have additional opportunities to showcase his abilities and weaknesses. Utah's defensive improvement has largely come from Gobert's ability to draw a circle around the rim, from which teams struggle to drive into. When teams aren't comfortable driving to the hoop, it forces them to take more mid-range jump shots. Statistically, mid-range shots fall less-often than layups, so you see the point.

While moving Gobert to the starting role will help the Jazz utilize his strengths more, it will also help Gobert get more development. He still needs a great deal of improvement in his all-around offensive game, and can still become better at closing out on mid-range shooters. All of this will come from playing against the best competition available to him, from the starting lineup.

Develop as much as possible

It wouldn't be wrong for Jazz fans to wonder how this team would be if Alec Burks was healthy and available to play, and Rodney Hood was available to be his backup. It's also not wrong to question how much their development within the Utah system is going to be slowed by their injuries.

Burks is a more versatile player than backup Joe Ingles, and has more ability to drive and play off that role. It seems he is a part of Utah's future plans, unless a better option becomes available. However, his ability to integrate with the team's core on the floor has been hampered by his inability to play.

The point is- the Jazz have to continue to focus on development at all costs, which comes through having the team's future play together as much as possible. Keeping Dante Exum in the starting lineup is crucial; getting Gobert into the starting lineup is crucial. The Utah core is building, but it's important to build it as rapidly as possible.

Bottom line to fans- this team isn't as far away from contention as some may think.

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Jon Oglesby

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