Jonas Jerebko
2015-2016 stats: 4.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 0.8 apg, .413 fg%, .398 3p%, 10.32 PER
This season, Jonas Jerebko didn’t just provide the overachieving Boston Celtics with a spark, he became a human lightning bolt. He’s the prototypical guy who thrives due to how hard he plays. His energy is contagious, and if you watched the Celtics at all this season, it’s easy to see how it rubbed off on his teammates.
Jazz fans LOVE guys like this. Just ask Demarre Carroll, Matt Harpring or Antoine Carr.
Combined with that energy, Jerebko also has the size and athleticism to play both inside and out. He can finish around the rim, and shoots the three-ball at nearly 40 percent. He also has the ability to play power forward when the Jazz want to go small and punish teams with an uptempo pace and shooting.
And while his season averages aren’t eye-popping, consider that in games three and four of the Celtics’ playoff series against the Hawks, Jerebko churned out back-to-back double-doubles. 13.5 points and 11 boards in 34 minutes is nothing to scoff at.
Energy, hustle and the ability to step up when his name is called? That’s a guy you want on your team.
pic.twitter.com/j2kosxdqNP
<p>— Michael (@BravesAndBirds) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/BravesAndBirds/status/725159285907410945">April 27, 2016</a></p></blockquote>
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<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">Luol Deng</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—></p><hr id="pagebreak"><p><a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"https://thejnotes.com/files/2016/05/luol-deng-nba-miami-heat-toronto-raptors.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-47039"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-47039" src=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_550,w_385/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F05%2Fluol-deng-nba-miami-heat-toronto-raptors.jpg" alt="" width="385" height="550" /></a></p>
<h3><strong>Luol Deng</strong></h3>
<p>2015-2016 stats: 12.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, .455 fg%. .344 3p%. 15.02 PER<br />
<strong><br />
</strong>At 31 years old, it’s safe to assume that <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/denglu01.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luol Deng’s</a> best basketball days are behind him. He’s likely to never be the All-Star he was back in Chicago. But that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be a major contributor if the Utah Jazz were to pick him up this summer.</p>
<p>Much like Jared Dudley, Deng would bring veteran savviness and leadership. The difference is, Luol Deng is a much better player than Jared Dudley. Seriously, have y’all seen what Deng is doing this postseason (17.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, on 53% shooting)? Holy smokes!</p>
<p>Deng is incredibly unique based on his do-it-all ability. He can play both small forward and stretch power forward. He’s also one of the best “glue guys” in the league. There’s a reason every coach he’s ever played for sings his praises.</p>
<p>Deng can score from anywhere on the floor, convert in transition (a huge thorn in the Jazz’s side), initiate and run an offense, create his own shot (and shots for his teammates), rebound, and defend at a high rate.</p>
<p>While he’s not incredible at every aspect of the game, and has reached his peak as a basketball player, Deng doesn’t really have a glaring weakness in his game.</p>
<p>This is a guy you sign if your team is looking to make a big jump into the playoffs.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">Harrison Barnes</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"https://thejnotes.com/files/2016/05/harrison-barnes-nba-playoffs-houston-rockets-golden-state-warriors.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-47040"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-47040" src=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F05%2Fharrison-barnes-nba-playoffs-houston-rockets-golden-state-warriors-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389" /></a></p>
<h3><strong>Harrison Barnes </strong></h3>
<p>2015-2016 stats: 11.7 ppg, 4.9 apg, 1.4 apg, .466 fg%. .383 3p%, 12.32 PER</p>
<p><a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/barneha02.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Harrison Barnes</a> can flat-out ball. He’s also in an ideal situation in Golden State: he puts up nice numbers on a record-setting team that’s well on its way to back-to-back NBA titles. He’s also only 23-years old.</p>
<p>One of Barnes’ biggest attributes is his combination of size, explosiveness and versatility. On one end, he’s strong shooter with good form who can hit from the outside, or dunk on your head. On the other end, he has the ability to effectively guard four positions.</p>
<p>Based on that versatility, Barnes’ greatest strength is his play as a small-ball power forward. With Golden State, he’s become an essential piece to a seemingly unsolvable offensive puzzle.</p>
<p>The biggest question with Barnes remains his future. He’s set up for success in Golden State, but he’s also shown star potential. With <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/curryst01.html" rel="nofollow">Steph Curry</a>, <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompkl01.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Klay Thompson</a>, and <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/greendr01.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Draymond Green</a> collectively filling the Warrior’s star roles, is Barnes satisfied with playing second fiddle?</p>
<p>Would that change if he were to come to Utah?</p>
<p>In a perfect world, I’d like to think so. Barnes could become the versatile sixth-man that the Jazz need to get over the hump and become a contender.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">Nicolas Batum</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"https://thejnotes.com/files/2016/05/nicolas-batum-amare-stoudemire-nba-playoffs-charlotte-hornets-miami-heat.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-47043"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-47043" src=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F05%2Fnicolas-batum-amare-stoudemire-nba-playoffs-charlotte-hornets-miami-heat-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389" /></a></p>
<h3><strong>Nicolas Batum </strong></h3>
<p>2015-2016 stats: 14.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.8 apg, .426 fg%, .348 3p%, 15.69 PER</p>
<p><a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/batumni01.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nicolas Batum</a> signing with the Utah Jazz this offseason is my dream scenario.</p>
<p>Batum may not be an elite-level star, but he’s a guy the Jazz should be drooling over. He can handle the rock, he can score from just about anywhere, he can pass, and he can defend.</p>
<p>After struggling through an injury-riddled 2014-2015 season, Nicolas Batum bounced back to play the best basketball of his career. He signed with Charlotte and immediately became an anchor on an overachieving team that just pushed the Miami Heat to a seven-game series in the opening round of the playoffs.</p>
<p>Despite his third-wheel status in Charlotte, Batum played so well that several NBA insiders considered him an <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2016/05/05/utah-jazz-free-agency-potential-small-forward-targets/2/"http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25465511/nba-all-star-snubs-list-lillard-nowitzki-gasol-dont-make-the-cut" target="_blank">All-Star snub</a>. He’s never looked more versatile or more effective.</p>
<p>In the ever-evolving NBA, Batum has become both a commodity and a necessity. He has a smooth, Swiss-Army Knife style of play paired with impressive size, length and skill.</p>
<p>Batum can force double teams and is a matchup nightmare. Because of his size and quickness, Batum can exploit defenders and make them pay with his playmaking and shooting. He’s also become lethal playing off the ball.</p>
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