The Utah Jazz have one of the better young rosters in the NBA — Rudy Gobert, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood, Trey Lyles, Alec Burks, Trey Burke, and they should get point guard Dante Exum back from injury for next season. Despite a rash of injuries last season this team came within a game of making the playoffs in the West.
What takes them over the top and into the postseason? Veterans.
That’s what GM Dennis Lindsey told Salt Lake talk radio host Spencer Checketts (yes, the son of Dave):
Dennis Lindsey: "I'm not going to lie this year, I'd like to find a trade for the RIGHT veteran player to help move us forward."
— Spence Checketts (@spencechecketts) May 20, 2016
DL says the Jazz were approached by a team offering a "good" veteran player on a "solid" contract in exchange for Trey Lyles. Jazz passed.
— Spence Checketts (@spencechecketts) May 20, 2016
It’s impossible to evaluate a potential trade of Lyles without knowing who the other player is, but this is the kind of move the Jazz are going to have to consider to push this team over the top.
In particular, a veteran at the three (behind Hayward) and some depth at the point would be good (even getting Exum back some ball handling guard depth could matter over the long grind of the season). To get those kinds of players the Jazz may need to surrender and asset or two, but that’s the next step in team building.
