Jazz: What Now?

[RonnieBrewer (Reverse Layup)]

Jazz: What Now?

By  Travis Heath
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Jul 18, 2007, 13:24 

The Utah Jazz lost point guard Derek Fisher to the Los Angeles Lakers during
free agency.  Of course, this was not the way a team traditionally loses a
player.  The Jazz organization exhibited the utmost amount of class when they
granted Fisher his release so he could move to a city where his daughter
Tatum could get the best medical care possible.  As it turned out, that city
was Los Angeles.

While the Jazz unequivocally did the right thing by assisting Fisher in
putting family before basketball, not having D-Fish on the squad next season
will be a tremendous hit.  While many people frequently mentioned the
intangibles Fisher brought to the table -- and rightfully so -- it's his
production and versatility which will be missed most next season.

When head coach Jerry Sloan had some trepidation about starting some of the
younger shooting guards on the roster, he simply moved Fisher to the two-guard
where he started most of last season.  With that luxury gone, Sloan will have
no choice but to lean on one of his youngsters this season.  That's assuming,
of course,  he doesn't view Gordan Giricek as the answer.  And since he hasn't
viewed Giricek as the answer up to this point, why should anyone believe that
will all of a sudden happen in 2007-08?

Further complicating matters is the fact Morris Peterson decided to sign with
the New Orleans Hornets instead of the Jazz.  It's not like Utah has been
completely quiet this offseason as they recently signed career journeyman
point guard Jason Hart, but will he be enough to fill the void left by Fisher
after the team's inability to sign Peterson?

The Jazz will have their major pieces returning next season, and that's no
small matter.  Still, when the playoffs role around, it's often veteran role
players like Fisher who tend to have the biggest impact at the most crucial
times.

Of course, the offseason will continue for the next couple of months, so it's
not like Utah won't have the opportunity to make something happen.  It's just
that when you scour the free agent marketplace there just aren't a whole lot
of options left that would help fill Utah's needs.

A trade is always a possibility, but the players Utah is willing to move --
think Jarron Collins and Giricek -- likely won't bring back a whole lot of
value in return.  What this means is the Jazz may not be able to make another
big change to the roster between now and when training camp kicks-off in
October.

The question is whether or not the roster they have now is enough to help
Utah make another run to the Western Conference Finals or beyond.  And while
you might be tempted to say no big deal, ask yourself this: would you have
traded Derek Fisher straight up for Jason Hart at any point last season?

Didn't think so.

The Jazz are simply not as good right now as they were last May.  And unless
they can make a trade or C.J. Miles (assuming the Jazz match any offer sheet
he gets), Ronnie Brewer, or Morris Almond can have a true breakout season, an
encore performance of last season's brilliance will be hard to attain.


                                http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_22810.shtml 

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