2007 Utah Jazz Offseason Report

After a highly successful play off run, the Utah Jazz is in a good position to become one of the strongest contenders coming out of the Western Conference for the 2007-2008 season. While at first glace, it seems that the Jazz off season could be a slow one, but there are still some very important decisions that need to be made over the course of the coming months.

The majority of the roster for next year is already set. The entire Jazz core group of players (Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, and Carlos Boozer) is signed to contracts at least through the 2008-2009 season and with contract options probably through the 2009-2010 season. Matt Harpring and Derek Fisher are also signed for the next three seasons. The only veteran player that will be entering into the last year of his contract is Gordon Giricek. Rookies Paul Millsap and Ronnie Brewer also have contracts that will keep them with the Jazz for the foreseeable future.

Going into the 2007 offseason, the Jazz have three players with expiring contracts. Rafael Araujo came to the Jazz last offseason from a trade with the Toronto Raptors. All though he didn't see the floor that often this season, he has a big body and is the type of hard worker that Coach Jerry Sloan likes. He will not get an offer anywhere near the contract he is coming off of (his contract was based off of him being the 8th draft pick in the 2004 draft) but he will probably get some type of offer from the Jazz. Dee Brown is another player that did not get a lot of playing time in the regular season, but played some big minutes against the Warriors in the playoffs. He will also probably get an offer from the Jazz to continue to be the third point guard. The most interesting of the decisions that the Jazz will have to make will be in regards to CJ Miles. Miles was picked two years ago directly out of high school. While he has spent some time the past two years in the developmental league, he has also shown some potential with the Jazz as well. Also, the owner of the Jazz, Larry Miller, has made it known that he thinks highly of Miles. But will that be enough to bring Miles back? Only time will tell.

The Jazz have three areas of need that they should try to address this off-season. First, they are in need of a two guard that can guard bigger opposing two guards. Derek Fisher and Gordon Giricek played the majority of the minutes for the Jazz at the shooting guard position. Even though Fisher played decent defense, his size against larger two guards was puts him at a big disadvantage. Giricek has never been a great defender. The Jazz had multiple games over the course of the season where they game up 50 points or more to the opponents shooting guard. Over time, Ronnie Brewer could develop into the defensive stopper that they need, but the Jazz might also look for help in free agency. The Jazz also could use a big body that can block shots in the paint and some one that can consistently hit the three point shot.

The Jazz have two pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Their first selection will come with the 25th pick. Looking at the roster, it is hard to see any rookie getting any playing time next year. Because of this, the Jazz might look to draft an international player that can stay overseas for at least one season. Players that fall into this category that the Jazz may look at include SG Marco Belinelli out of Italy, C Ante Tomic out of Croatia or possibly C Tiago Splitter if he is still available. Looking at the history of the Jazz, there is also a fair chance that the Jazz will trade this pick.

On the free agent front, the Jazz don't have really any money under the salary cap, but they might look the use the mid-level exception. If they are looking to shore up their shooting guard, there are a number of free agents that the Jazz might target. Players such as Jason Kapono and James Posey could fit the bill for the Jazz, but the player that might be the best fit for the Jazz is Morris Peterson. He is a good defender and is able to hit the open shot. He is also the type of blue collar player that fits well in Jerry Sloan's system. Whether he would sign for the mid-level exception remains to be seen.