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SALT LAKE CITY — With big-name free agents making headlines like LaMarcus Aldridge, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Love, etc., the Jazz are are looking for those under-the-radar guys who could help the team's 2016 playoff push.
It’s no secret what the Jazz need this offseason: shooting, and lots of it.
The Jazz finished in the bottom half of the league in overall field-goal percentage, 3-point shooting percentage and 3-pointers made per game.
The good news: A bunch of shooters become available July 1. The bad news: The really good shooters are going to be very expensive.
The good news: The Jazz have around $12 million in cap space. The bad news: There are other teams, including playoff teams, with just as much, if not more, cap space.
The good news: The Jazz are a team on the rise and have players that other players would like to play with. The bad news: The Jazz have too many young, growing players to sign another project or player of equal talent. If the Jazz sign a veteran point guard, does he come off the bench and hurt Trey Burke’s development or does the veteran start and damage Dante Exum’s development? Does a shooting guard get a lot of minutes with Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks and Rodney Hood already in the rotation, or do Burks or Hood see a minutes reduction? Does adding a stretch four end the need for Trevor Booker and or take away a rotation spot from new draftee Trey Lyles? There are a lot of things to consider during this free agency period.
Here are the list of shooters available that the Jazz could go after starting at midnight Eastern time Tuesday:
Danny Green: Green may be the most talked about free agent in Jazz circles. Green’s ability to shoot 42 percent from 3 and defend quick wings makes him one of the premiere role players on the market. Although Green is seen as a role player, he is expected to receive a max-deal or close to one. Will the Jazz be able to lure Green with four-year, $48 million contract offer?
Update: Danny Green signed a four-year, $45 million contract to stay with the Spurs.
Wesley Matthews: Could a reunion with Matthews’ first team happen? Doubt it. Matthews is being courted heavily by the Trail Blazers after what looks like an inevitable divorce from Aldridge and Arron Afflalo. Matthews is also receiving interest from Dallas, Toronto and New York.
Khris Middleton: Middleton is in the same situation Hayward was in a year ago. Quality wing players are becoming harder to find and Middleton showed last season that he is on the way. Middleton is a restricted free agent, meaning the Bucks can match any offer for Middleton. Expect them to match it.
Update: Khris Middleton signed a five-year, $70 million contract to stay with the Bucks.
Jimmy Butler: Forget it Jazz fans. Butler, a restricted free agent, is not coming to Utah. Even if the Jazz offered him a max-contract the Bulls would match it.
Update: Jimmy Butler signed a five-year, $90 million contract to stay with the Bulls.
Iman Shumpert: Although Shumpert would fit perfectly in the Quin Snyder’s system, he’s not going to leave LeBron James for the Jazz.
Update: Iman Shumpert signed a four-year, $40 millsion contract to stay with the Cavaliers.
Mike Dunleavy: Fantastic shooter. Only one problem. LeBron says he wants Dunleavy to come to Cleveland.
Update: Mike Dunleavy signed a three-year, $14.4 million dollar deal to stay with the Bulls.
J.R. Smith: The Jazz don’t want any part of Smith’s antics. Smith would also disrupt Hood’s development.
Marco Belinelli: Belinelli will be a less-expensive option to the others above. But would Belinelli be willing to play behind Hood and Burks?
Rodney Stuckey: Stuckey is an interesting player. He was highly regarded coming out of college but has never lived up to the hype. Would the 29-year-old take on the role of teacher for the Jazz youngsters?
Jason Terry: Terry won’t play for anyone who is not a contender.
Marcus Thornton: Thornton just came off a larger contract and will probably now be looking to play for the league minimum. Thornton is a career 36 percent 3-point shooter. Is that good enough for the Jazz?
Wayne Ellington: Last season with the Lakers, Ellington played 26 minutes per game and shot 38 percent from 3.
John Jenkins: Jenkins intrigues me. He didn't play much his first two seasons with the Hawks but when he did play, he shot 37 percent from 3. Jenkins could be a low risk, medium reward type of player on a minimum salary contract.
Jimmer Fredette: BYU fans can dream right? The Jazz do not want Fredette.
Mirza Teletovic: With the Nets looking to resign Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young, Teletovic may be on the outside looking in. Teletovic is your typical European stretch four. With a career 36 percent 3-point shot, Teletovic would open up the paint.
Kyle Singler: Singler looks to be out of the Thunder’s plans with Kevin Durant’s future in OKC on the line. Singler has proven he can hit the 3 effectively.
Update: Kyle Singler signed a five-year, $25 million contract to stay with the Thunder
Dorell Wright: Wright has a built-in fan base with the success of younger brother Delon at the University of Utah. Wright shoots well and could mentor Burke, Burks and Hood.
Joe Ingles: Ingles is a fan-favorite, earning multiple nicknames like Slo-Mo Joe. Ingles improved his outside shot as the season progressed. The coaching staff and current roster love Ingles. It makes sense to resign Ingles to a reasonable contract.
There are many others that Jazz will look at, but just don’t expect any big-name guys to make their way over to Utah, via free agency, this offseason. Expect the Jazz front office to do whatever it thinks will help them make a playoff push, whether that’s standing pat and developing the current roster or bringing in another viable option. Nathan Harker is a sports writing intern currently enrolled at Brigham Young University majoring in Broadcast Journalism. Nathan can be reached at nathan.harker32@gmail.com or via twitter @nharker3207.
