Tony Jones, one of the Tribune’s Utah Jazz beat reporters, will answer questions submitted on Twitter each week in his Jazz mailbag. Here are this week’s questions and answers.
@tribjazz can the jazz afford to lose favors this offseason without taking a significant step backward #tonytalks
— Chad Nielson (@LordChadeous) April 2, 2018
Derrick Favors obviously is a very good player and very important to what the Jazz do. He’s great as a second interior rim protector, and not many teams in the NBA can put a rim protector on the floor for 48 minutes like the Jazz can. But one should think back to this summer when asking this question. The Jazz lost Gordon Hayward, who was an All-Star and one of the best wing players in the league last season, and they are about to make the playoffs and still have a chance to secure home-court advantage in the first round. So if Utah didn’t take a significant step back after losing Hayward, the Jazz should be fine building around Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.
#TonyTalks Are there any first round matchups in which the Jazz would be favored?
— JazzzyFever (@JazzzyFever) April 2, 2018
The only first-round matchups they would be favored in are the ones that are extremely unlikely. They without a doubt would be the favorite if they met the New Orleans Pelicans or Minnesota Timberwolves. But those probably won’t happen. The good thing is if the Jazz finish in the fifth or sixth spot, they would have a chance against whichever opponent. They just wouldn’t be the favorite.
@tribjazz how much $ are we looking at to have to keep Favors in Utah? #TonyTalks
— I like the Jazz (@the_nastybutler) April 2, 2018
There’s no specific number on that. The Jazz right now are thinking about making the playoffs. Much of what happens with Derrick Favors will depend on the market and his interest from other teams.
How much more expensive has Exum made himself in the last few weeks? What kind of contract do you see him getting? #TonyTalks
— Braden (@3rdGenAggie) April 2, 2018
The Jazz will try to lock up Dante Exum long term. If they can’t do that, they will match whatever offer he receives. The number isn’t really important. The importance is the years, and I think the Jazz will try to secure him for three or four years. They see him as an important piece going forward, and they value him.
Hey @tribjazz I have a question for the mailbag. From the projections I have seen, the most likely playoff scenario is Jazz as a 6 seed facing Portland. If you are coach Q how do you prepare for a backcourt of Dame and CJ? Or am I getting ahead of my self? #TonyTalks #TakeNote
— Tyler Willardson (@TylerWillardson) April 2, 2018
You try to limit Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum to 25-point nights instead of 35-point nights, then you limit everyone else around them. They are too good to completely shut down, so that shouldn’t be the goal. They will score points. But you don’t want them scoring efficiently. You have to make it as tough as possible on them, and that isn’t easy.
#TonyTalks Lots of players and coaches said if they had a ROTY vote, it would go to Don. Most of the media says it goes to Simmons.... Why the big discrepancy?
— Scott Parris (@scottaparris) April 2, 2018
A few have made endorsements, but I wouldn’t characterize it as lots. And yes, there have been media endorsing Ben Simmons, but only select media get a vote. And from my observation, not many who actually have a vote have said much. I think Simmons holds an edge, but I’m not sure there’s a huge groundswell of support either way.
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