MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 20: Joakim Noah #55 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts against the Houston Rockets on March 20, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Joakim Noah
At 33 years old and having clearly lost a step or two, Joakim Noah wasn’t high enough on anyone’s priority list to find an NBA home this past summer. Nevertheless, he actually put up some good minutes on the Memphis team for which me most recently played. Noah averaged 7.1 points per game in 16.5 minutes per contest on 51.6 percent shooting from the field.
But the good thing is that Joakim wouldn’t exactly be asked to score, instead it would be more important for him to be able to defend. As a former Defensive Player of the Year, that end of the floor has long been Noah’s specialty and focus. Although he’s lost some of his athleticism, the fundamentals, understanding and attention to detail are all still there and he could provide enormous help as a backup to Rudy Gobert and against teams with two bigs.
Noah would also bring a lot of the grittiness and toughness that the Jazz lost when they traded away Jae Crowder. He’s a guy that doesn’t care what the opposition thinks and isn’t afraid to get nasty and physical, if needed. Considering how frequently the Jazz have been ‘out-physicaled’ this year, that would be a very beneficial trait.
And standing at six-foot-eleven, Noah could help contain opposing bigs and provide more flexibility and depth for the Jazz when facing enemy frontcourts with twin towers.
He wouldn’t be a flashy pick-up or a guy that moves the needle unbelievably, but he could very well provide just the slightest uptick in toughness and size that could help the Jazz be better equipped to compete.
alluded to a willingness to rejoin the Jazz</a>.</p>
<p>Booker is one of the league’s ultimate spark plugs as he never lacks in effort and brings about a determination and hustle off the bench every time he enters the game. He has a lot of that toughness and nastiness we’ve discussed up to this point, and wouldn’t back down from any opposing big in a matchup.</p>
<p>He’s versatile enough to challenge centers as well as power forwards and bigger small forwards, making him a dynamic frontcourt presence to go along with the six-foot-eight, 228 pound frame he possesses.</p>
<p>The bad news with Booker is that he didn’t look great in his most recent NBA stint with the Indiana Pacers. Yes, he brought the intangibles he’s so well known for and he was a great veteran presence and energy guy, but his numbers were a bit cringe-worthy. He shot just 46.4 percent from the field and a career-low 21.4 percent from the perimeter.</p>
<p>The Jazz wouldn’t necessarily be relying on Booker for points or shooting, but you’d like to see him be a bit more consistent there. Still, Booker’s fit and familiarity in Utah would be a definite plus. He’d know what to expect in Utah, and the Jazz would know what to expect from him, and that predictability could be a strength for a team that is still searching for stability and needs reliable glue guys.</p>
<p>Booker has long been one of my favorite players thanks to his toughness and tenacity. Factor in as well that his size would fill a major need for the Jazz, and he’s certainly a player that should be on their radar if they’re looking for subtle ways to improve.</p>
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<p>More size and depth in the frontcourt is far from Utah’s only need, but it definitely has been a noticeable one during their recent slump. After December 15th when players who were signed this summer are eligible to be traded, we could start to see some movement around the NBA. I’d be surprised to see the Jazz make a trade, but once some activity starts up, I wouldn’t be shocked to see them make some sort of move to bolster their weak bench.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">