The Utah Jazz would need more than retaining all of their three key free agents to actually contend for the championship moving forward. Deseret News columnist Brad Rock thinks the Jazz must find a way to add another game-changing player apart from re-signing Gordon Hayward, George Hill, and Joe Ingles this summer if they are serious in accomplishing the ultimate goal of winning a title for Salt Lake City.
Jazz must pay the price
According to Rock, keeping their core intact would guarantee the Jazz a place in the elite four contenders in the Western Conference along with the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets.
Unfortunately, bringing back Hayward and company won’t get them any closer to winning a title. As what they learned this post-season, the West is too much top-heavy for the Jazz’s current roster to overcome. Rock believes what Utah needs is another bona fide star alongside Hayward.
“The only sobering note is that the chances of the Jazz winning a championship are still remote if the Golden State Warriors remain intact. So if being good is good enough, the Jazz should stand pat and keep as many players as they can. But if greatness is the goal, they’ll need another star,” Rock suggests.
Pulling off a major trade is always risky and complicated. However, for the Jazz to reach its full potential, exploring options on the trade market becomes almost inevitable.
Utah may not be known as a hot destination for free-agents, but they are more than capable of acquiring that missing star through trades. After all, this team has a collection of young players (Rodney Hood, Dante Exum, and Derrick Favors) and draft picks to woe any team.
Updates on Hill, Diaw
George Hill cleared that he wants to stick with the Jazz for more seasons.
The 31-year guard arrived in Salt Lake City last fall after he was traded by the Indiana Pacers. In 49 games, Hill averaged a career-high 16.9 points with 4.1 assists and was instrumental in the Jazz’s 51-31 finish in the regular-season.
According to Tony Jones of Salt Lake Tribune, Hill believes Utah has more than enough talent to win a championship.
Despite expressing strong interest in staying, the veteran playmaker stresses that his family will also play a major factor in his free-agency decision.
As for Boris Diaw, the French big man also expressed a desire to stay with the team next season, but that all depends on the Jazz’s decision on his $7.5 million team option for the 2017/18 season. The 35-year old Diaw averaged just 4.6 points on 44 percent FG shooting, although his leadership makes him a valuable piece for this young squad.
