Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
The Utah Jazz have been in a tough spot lately. A combination of general injuries and health and safety protocols have left the team ravished. So much so that in their last contest, they were forced to start the 6’5 Royce O’Neale at center.
That’s a particular issue against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who field an unconventional triple towers lineup. Regardless, it’s likely to be a problem against virtually any team in the NBA.
Luckily, there are options. The Utah Jazz have already made avail of the league’s new hardship exception, which allows teams greater leeway to sign players to 10-day contracts. They should do so once again on an expedited basis to ensure they’re not entering games at such a significant size disadvantage.
Readers should note that none of these guys are going to revolutionize the Jazz’s fortunes. That, of course, is why they’re potentially available on 10-day contracts. Regardless, any one of these big men could offer the team size on the interior, and at least a semblance of rim protection and rebounding.
In all likelihood, they won’t get extended either. These Utah Jazz are fairly set in the middle with a rotation of Rudy Gobert, Hassan Whiteside and small-ball option Rudy Gay. These guys would be options for short term relief while none of those 3 are available.
If they contribute enough, another NBA team may see them as something more than that.
Here are 3 potentially available big men the Utah Jazz should be getting on the phone with as soon as possible.
field an unconventional triple towers lineup.</a> Regardless, it’s likely to be a problem against virtually any team in the NBA.</p>
<p>Luckily, there are options. The Utah Jazz have already made avail of <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/14/3-big-men-utah-jazz/"https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nba-covid-hardship-exception-replacement-players-ten-day-contracts-replacement-player" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the league’s new hardship exception</a>, which allows teams greater leeway to sign players to 10-day contracts. They should do so once again on an expedited basis to ensure they’re not entering games at such a significant size disadvantage.</p>
<p>Readers should note that none of these guys are going to revolutionize the Jazz’s fortunes. That, of course, is why they’re potentially available on 10-day contracts. Regardless, any one of these big men could offer the team size on the interior, and at least a semblance of rim protection and rebounding.</p>
<p>In all likelihood, they won’t get extended either. These Utah Jazz are fairly set in the middle with a rotation of Rudy Gobert, Hassan Whiteside and small-ball option Rudy Gay. These guys would be options for short term relief while none of those 3 are available.</p>
<p>If they contribute enough, another NBA team may see them as something more than that.</p>
<p>Here are 3 potentially available big men the Utah Jazz should be getting on the phone with as soon as possible.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2022/01/14/3-big-men-utah-jazz/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Aron Baynes </a>
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Royce O’Neale</a> at center in their last contest.</p>
<p>We don’t need to look back to 2020-21 to justify Monroe’s addition. His basic counting stats from the 3 games he played with the Timberwolves earlier this season tell us all we need to know. He averaged 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 blocks in 21.0 minutes per contest over that stretch.</p>
<p>At 6’11 and 265 pounds, Monroe provides the Jazz plenty of the size they’re currently in need of. Monroe is one of the players that the NBA’s 3-point revolution left behind. He entered the league as a back-to-the-basket scorer right as it decided that those players wouldn’t be valued.</p>
<p>He responded by morphing from a prospective star into a role player. Monroe doesn’t light up scoreboards, but he’s a solid positional defender, a plus positional passer, and a generally heady veteran.</p>
<p>He’d more than fill Utah’s temporary needs.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Ranking every season in Jazz history" data-url="https://thejnotes.com/2021/12/13/ranking-every-season-utah-jazz/" data-call-to-action="Next"
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<p>There could be more options for the Utah Jazz on the open market than just these 3 players. They should explore them. One thing remains abundantly clear: there is no reason for the team not to sign a center to a 10-day hardship contract.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">