Utah Jazz: 2015 Projected Lineup

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The Utah Jazz are loaded with young talent. It’s only a matter of time before their talent develops to the point where the Jazz will be a legitimate playoff contender. However, at the moment, the Jazz are still trying to sort through their talent and find the best fits at each position. Let’s take a look at the lineup that the Jazz will most likely bring out on day one of the NBA season.

Point Guard- Trey Burke: Burke hasn’t showed the talent the Utah Jazz surely hoped he would when they drafted traded for him after he was drafted ninth in the first round of the NBA Draft. Last season he averaged 12.8 points per game and 4.3 assists per game while only shooting 36.8% from the field. Granted, he is only 22 and still has lots of room to develop. Regardless, the Jazz don’t have a better option at the moment. It can’t hurt the Jazz to continue to develop Burke as they build up their young talent.

Dante Exum is also a starting option at point guard, but he is still incredibly raw. If Burke doesn’t begin to up his numbers in the next two years then Exum could be his likely replacement at point guard. For now though, Burke has the job.

Shooting Guard- Alec Burks: Burks is the Jazz most talented shooting guard at the moment. Last season Burks shot 40% while scoring 13.9 points per game. Burks biggest asset though, is his defense. Burke is an offensive minded point guard, so Burks’ defense is welcome in Utah’s backcourt.

Dante Exum will be Utah’s primary backup shooting guard this season. However, at only 20 years old he is still too raw to get a starting job right off the bat. He showed flashes of potential against the competition at the Utah Summer League; but the competition there isn’t stiff enough to earn him a starting job. Right now, while Exum continues to figure out the NBA, backup shooting guard is the right spot for him.

Small Forward- Gordon Hayward: This may be the easiest position to project on the entire roster. Hayward’s talent mixed with the lack of talent behind him makes him the natural choice here. Hayward averaged 19.3 points, 4.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 44.5%. He is also an above average wing defender, which only adds to his appeal. Hayward is just entering his prime at 25 years old and is set to be the leader of this team as they look to transition from a lottery team to a contender.

Power Forward- Derrick Favors: Favors is another absolute lock to get a starting job. The 6’10” power forward averaged 16 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season at only 24 years old. He is a blossoming low post scorer that is just starting to show his true potential. He is going to be a vital piece of this Utah team for years to come.

Trevor Booker will most likely be Favors’ primary backup on day one. Booker is a solid bench scorer that will be able to come in and give a big boost to the Jazz’s second unit. However, Booker could be challenged for minutes by the rookie Trey Lyles out of Kentucky as the season wears on. Lyles has potential to become a very good NBA player at the starting level. However, he will need a year or so on the bench to develop his game. Lyles will be used off of the bench to provide some mid range scoring in the front court; something that Favors and Rudy Gobert lack.

Center- Rudy Gobert: Gobert is a defensive and rebounding machine. He is not much of a scorer but Favors and Lyles will be able to provide that. At only 23 Gobert only figures to improve. He will be the defensive anchor that every team needs.

The only person that could possibly challenge Gobert for minutes is Lyles. Though Lyles figures to be a bench player for the season atleast. Favors, Gobert and Lyles should act as a sort of three man rotation, all seeing nearly equal minutes with Lyles most likely seeing the least.