2016 NBA Draft: Detailing the Biggest Need for Each Team
From the moment Ben Simmons' name kicks off the 2016 NBA draft to the time Mr. Irrelevant is revealed as the newest member of the Utah Jazz, each team will fight to add players who fit their schemes. They'll seek out the best prospects who feature prominently atop their draft boards, but they'll also be trying to fill distinct needs.
Every team with a pick in the draft has a primary need, even if they're more out-of-the-box desires like finding the best player possible or consolidating future assets into immediate help.
Do note that we're only identifying the needs associated with each organization's initial pick, as it becomes easier to spurn logic for potential steals later in the proceedings.
Note: The Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards will not be featured in this article, since none have even a single pick on June 23.
Interactive Mock Draft
1 of 25Latest mock draft from B/R's Jonathan Wasserman.
Atlanta Hawks: Wing Depth
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1st-Round Picks: No. 21
2nd-Round Picks: Nos. 44, 54
Primary Solution: DeAndre Bembry
Thabo Sefolosha and Kyle Korver are both in their 30s, and you can see their primary skills beginning to erode. The former is no longer quite as reliable on the defensive end, while the latter hit "only" 39.8 percent of his three-point attempts in 2015-16—his worst percentage since 2008-09.
Coupled with Kent Bazemore's upcoming free-agency stint and the developmental failure of Tim Hardaway Jr., that leaves the Atlanta Hawks in rather dire straits on the wings. Though they could be tempted to draft another big man or point guard, digging into this class' depth at shooting guard and small forward makes more sense.
DeAndre Bembry should be the top priority. Even if he doesn't immediately possess the sharpshooting skills to fit head coach Mike Budenholzer's schemes, he's a versatile player who's ready to contribute right away.
But if the St. Joseph's prospect is off the board before No. 21, the Hawks shouldn't hesitate to look at Malik Beasley, Denzel Valentine, Timothe Luwawu, Caris LeVert and Patrick McCaw before abandoning the quest for wing help.
Boston Celtics: A Superstar
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1st-Round Picks: Nos. 3, 16, 23
2nd-Round Picks: Nos. 31, 35, 45, 51, 58
Primary Solution: Buddy Hield
The Boston Celtics are swimming with draft picks, and that should foster their short-term quest for a star. Even if they're not sold on Buddy Hield and his impressive scoring ability at No. 3, they can package some of their eight draft-day selections in exchange for a singular asset.
Maybe general manager Danny Ainge will turn some of the second-round and late first-round choices into another lottery selection. Better still, he could sell them off with an incumbent player for an established star.
Don't rule out the possibility of the C's pursuing Jimmy Butler or Blake Griffin in a draft-day trade. Either one would drastically elevate the ceiling of this competitive squad, since Boston won't win a championship until it's led by someone better than Isaiah Thomas or Jae Crowder.
If it feels Hield—or another top prospect—could be that player, pull the trigger. If not, work the phones ceaselessly.
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Brooklyn Nets: Luck
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1st-Round Picks: None
2nd-Round Picks: No. 55
Primary Solution: A.J. Hammons
The Brooklyn Nets are in quite the pickle.
They have some money to spend in free agency, but lack the appeal necessary to lure any franchise-altering studs. It's unlikely they get so much as a meeting with Al Horford, Kevin Durant or any of the other top players.
Plus, the Nets are almost devoid of draft picks. Barring trades—general manager Sean Marks doesn't even have many appealing assets at his disposal—they'll be left with nothing more than the No. 55 pick.
It's time to swing for the fences. Let it rip. Use whatever other cliches you can think of that mean forgetting about risk and going for the biggest reward.
One deep second-round possibility could be Purdue's A.J. Hammons. The 7-footer has all the physical tools the Nets could desire, as well as a game that may see him become a true two-way threat. It's his mentality and lack of motor that held him back with the Boilermakers.
But again, the Nets have to forget about risk at No. 55. They're not seeking a typical late second-rounder.
Charlotte Hornets: Wing Depth
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1st-Round Picks: No. 22
2nd-Round Picks: None
Primary Solution: Denzel Valentine
The Charlotte Hornets could have plenty of holes if free agency doesn't go according to plan—Al Jefferson, Nicolas Batum, Marvin Williams, Courtney Lee, Tyler Hansbrough and Troy Daniels all have expiring contacts. But none are more pressing than the wings.
Even if the Hornets re-sign both Batum and Lee, they need more depth. The established players have all proved injury-prone over the past few seasons (yes, especially Michael Kidd-Gilchrist), and Charlotte still needs additional shooting from both shooting guard and small forward.
So imagine if it landed Denzel Valentine (assuming his own medical concerns, per A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com, are false flags).
The former Michigan State standout drained 44.4 percent of his threes as a senior while taking 7.5 per game, and that doesn't even begin to sum up his contributions. He thrived in nearly every area, even averaging 7.8 assists for the Spartans.
Valentine is ready to contribute right away, and his versatility would take significant pressure off the incumbents—including Kemba Walker, who probably wouldn't mind taking on a bit less ball-handling responsibility before the stretch run.
Chicago Bulls: Guard Help
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1st-Round Picks: No. 14
2nd-Round Picks: No. 48
Primary Solution: Malachi Richardson
As Sam Smith detailed for NBA.com, there's one need that stands out above the rest in the Windy City:
"There’s not enough shooting in that Rose/Butler backcourt. Butler and Rose were one of the league’s poorest shooting backcourts from long distance, Butler at 31 percent and Rose at 29 percent, even as they averaged close to 40 points per game combined.
I’d say with his athletic ability and threat to score, Butler would be ideal as a small forward running the court for outlet passes. I’d like to see a knock down shooting guard to spread the court.
"
Fortunately for the Chicago Bulls, this class has plenty of 2-guards who can score from the perimeter—even if they're only backing up Jimmy Butler and adding to the team's overall depth.
There's a minuscule chance Jaylen Brown falls to No. 14, but it's more realistic that Chicago is looking at Malachi Richardson, Dejounte Murray, Wade Baldwin IV, Denzel Valentine and Malik Beasley. Richardson may well have the most potential of the bunch, and he's coming off a freshman season in which he knocked down 35.3 percent of his triples while taking 6.1 per game.
Adding someone like him is already a priority. It becomes even more pressing if the Bulls trade away either Derrick Rose or Butler.
Dallas Mavericks: Point Guard
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1st-Round Picks: None
2nd-Round Picks: No. 46
Primary Solution: Gary Payton II
"Point guard," Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News responded when asked about the Dallas Mavericks' most-pressing offseason need. "Deron Williams hasn't had his hernia surgery yet and there is no guarantee he will return. This team needs at least a player who can do what Williams did last season, if not an upgrade. Center would be the obvious second choice for major construction work."
If that's the goal, it's going to be difficult to achieve in free agency. Williams is the No. 4 point guard available in this summer's shockingly weak class, and the Mavericks will be hard-pressed to land Jeremy Lin, Rajon Rondo or Mike Conley—if they even want to.
Of course, pulling off an upgrade will also be nearly impossible in the draft. The Mavericks don't pick until No. 46, at which point they could be left choosing from Isaiah Whitehead, Gary Payton II, Tyler Ulis, Anthony Barber, Kahlil Felder and a number of other long-shot options.
But at least one of them has an impressive pedigree. According to NBA Math's total points added, Payton II was the nation's No. 4 player in 2016, trailing only Denzel Valentine, Ben Simmons and Buddy Hield.
Denver Nuggets: Star Power
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1st-Round Picks: Nos. 7, 15, 19
2nd-Round Picks: Nos. 53, 56
Primary Solution: Consolidation
Do the Denver Nuggets really need more young players? Even if Darrell Arthur opts out and signs elsewhere, their projected depth chart for 2016-17 will be rather crowded as we enter the offseason:
| Emmanuel Mudiay | Gary Harris | Danilo Gallinari | Kenneth Faried | Nikola Jokic |
| Jameer Nelson | Will Barton | Wilson Chandler | Joffrey Lauvergne | Jusuf Nurkic |
| JaKarr Sampson | Axel Toupane |
That's already 12 players, and the Nuggets have five selections during the 2016 NBA draft. There's no way general manager Tim Connelly can use all of them, as adding even three first-rounders would prevent this team from capitalizing on its upside-laden positioning.
Don't be surprised when the Nuggets chase trades throughout draft day, attempting to move up higher than No. 7 to add a true stud or trying to package picks for an established star.
Detroit Pistons: More Shooters
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1st-Round Picks: No. 18
2nd-Round Picks: No. 49
Primary Solution: Wade Baldwin IV
So long as Stan Van Gundy is running the show, the Detroit Pistons will seek players capable of spacing the court around Andre Drummond so they can maximize four-out, one-in stratagems.
Even while employing these ideals this past season, the Pistons finished 10th in three-pointers made. Worse still, they shot below the league average from downtown, knocking down just 34.5 percent of their treys.
So more shooters are desperately needed, and drafting one who can play point guard (see: Baldwin, Wade) would fill another need by knocking Steve Blake out of the picture. As DraftExpress' Derek Bodner details, the Vanderbilt product excelled as an off-ball sniper:
"Offensively, the first thing that jumps out on Baldwin, both on his stat sheet and when watching film, is his perimeter shooting, as he's made 40.6% of his 199 three-point attempts during his two seasons in college. He's most prolific as a shooter off the catch, where he shot 42% on the season and over 43% when left unguarded, both numbers which, when accounting for the fact that the vast majority of those attempts were from three-point range, were well above average, yielding 1.246 and 1.267 points per shot, respectively, according to Synergy Sports Technology.
"
Detroit should be crossing its collective fingers that he is still available at No. 18.
Golden State Warriors: Best Player Available
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1st-Round Picks: No. 30
2nd-Round Picks: None
Primary Solution: Thon Maker
Even though the Golden State Warriors blew their 3-1 lead in the 2016 NBA Finals, they shouldn't feel the need to make many substantial changes. That is, of course, unless Kevin Durant wants to come to town during free agency.
With Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Andrew Bogut, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston and Kevon Looney still under contract, most of the core is still intact. And coming off a 73-win campaign, the Dubs won't have any trouble getting their own free agents to re-sign—or inking new veterans to assist with the redemption campaign.
There's no reason to chase needs during the NBA draft because there aren't any true needs to fill.
That means Golden State can adopt the best-player-available strategy, taking a risk on a high-upside prospect (cough, Thon Maker, cough) who might fall to the end of the first round.
Houston Rockets: Frontcourt Help
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1st-Round Picks: None
2nd-Round Picks: Nos. 37, 43
Primary Solution: Ben Bentil
Dwight Howard has officially opted out of his deal with the Houston Rockets, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas are both restricted free agents. Josh Smith played this past season on an expiring deal.
The frontcourt will look quite different going forward, and the front office must be willing to take fliers in the second round. Sure, they'll pursue big names in free agency and could re-sign some of the aforementioned players, but it still wouldn't hurt to go after one high-upside target via a pick.
Ben Bentil, who averaged 21.1 points and 7.7 rebounds while displaying three-point range during his sophomore season at Providence, is arguably the best option at No. 37. But if he's already off the board, the Rockets shouldn't veer from the same strategy.
Though this team has plenty of needs after a disappointing campaign, none is more urgent.
Indiana Pacers: Wing Help
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1st-Round Picks: No. 20
2nd-Round Picks: No. 50
Primary Solution: Malik Beasley
"Beasley will start his career with a jumper, line-drive game and defensive motor," Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman wrote about Florida State prospect Malik Beasley.
"He projects as a similar three-and-D 2-guard to the Dallas Mavericks' Wesley Matthews. They're complementary shot-makers and opportunistic scorers, though you wouldn't want them first or second in your offensive pecking order."
That's exactly the type of player the Indiana Pacers should put alongside Paul George and the other established pieces under new head coach Nate McMillan's purview. They need someone who fits the defensive mentality of this franchise, but they also need a shooter who can help space out the court for George's drives and the developing interior games of frontcourt pieces like Myles Turner.
Landing a three-and-D specialist couldn't be more perfect.
Los Angeles Clippers: Best Immediate Contributor Available
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1st-Round Picks: No. 25
2nd-Round Picks: No. 33
Primary Solution: Brice Johnson
The Los Angeles Clippers' never-ending search for convincing depth continues.
With Jeff Green, Jamal Crawford, Pablo Prigioni and Jeff Ayres coming off the books, the search only gets more dire. That could be magnified if Austin Rivers, Cole Aldrich and Wesley Johnson choose to utilize their player options and seek out new deals in different locations.
But the Clippers remain in win-now mode, which is why they can't just adopt the best-player-available strategy. Instead, they have to take the best player available who can make an immediate impact. Drafting a project isn't an option at No. 25.
There are plenty of directions LAC could go, but our favorite involves adding Brice Johnson, whose athleticism, explosiveness and scoring ability would make the frontcourt far deeper from day one.
Los Angeles Lakers: A Superstar
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1st-Round Picks: No. 2
2nd-Round Picks: No. 32
Primary Solution: Brandon Ingram
Does Brandon Ingram fit with the Los Angeles Lakers? Let's allow Bleacher Report's Michael Pina to take it away:
"As currently constructed, the Lakers have a gaping hole on the wing. They don't have any reliable three-point shooting in their frontcourt and should be desperate for someone who can handcuff (or at least bother) the league’s top perimeter scorers on the other end.
In one package, Ingram may be the answer. Additionally, his positionless features and unselfish nature should be perfect in Luke Walton’s versatility-based system.
"
Embarking into the post-Kobe Bryant era, the Lakers can't afford to whiff at the top of the 2016 NBA draft. They need to land a sure thing, and there are only two in the current class—Ingram and Ben Simmons.
With Simmons set to be the No. 1 pick, as first reported by Cleveland.com's Chris Haynes, L.A. may as well start getting excited about the forward who looks an awful lot like Kevin Durant when he explodes to the basket and shows off his body control in traffic.
Memphis Grizzlies: Point Guard Help
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1st-Round Picks: No. 17
2nd-Round Picks: No. 57
Primary Solution: Wade Baldwin IV
Mike Conley has spent his entire professional career with the Memphis Grizzlies, but there's no guarantee that remains true in 2016-17. The point guard is hitting the open market as the clear-cut No. 1 at his position, and he'll receive overtures from plenty of organizations who can offer him a fresh start and a role as a team leader.
Even if Conley does return, point guard will remain a need. With Jordan Farmar's contract also expiring and Mario Chalmers already off the books (he was released following his Achilles injury), Memphis doesn't have a single backup option on the roster.
Fortunately, there should be plenty of viable choices during the draft.
The Grizzlies can desperately hope Vanderbilt's Wade Baldwin IV slips out of the lottery and falls to them at No. 17. Ditto for Washington's Dejounte Murray. They could also justify reaching for Notre Dame's Demetrius Jackson. But if none of those options work, they can always take a flier near the end of the second round and make re-signing Conley even more of a priority.
Milwaukee Bucks: Defensive Big
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1st-Round Picks: No. 10
2nd-Round Picks: Nos. 36, 38
Primary Solution: Deyonta Davis
The Milwaukee Bucks don't seem willing to commit major minutes to John Henson, as they shrank his role this past season immediately after inking him to a contract extension. They're also looking to trade Greg Monroe, per Sheridan Hoops' Michael Scotto.
Those two decisions don't mesh. Monroe would only be traded because he's a defensive liability and doesn't fit with the overall schemes of the organization, but the Bucks weren't willing to turn to the backup who was already on the roster.
They can fix this by adding a new rim-protecting presence in the draft. A fresh face who can anchor head coach Jason Kidd's defensive strategies would do wonders for Milwaukee's attempts to get back into the playoffs, and it would ease the pain of trading Monroe so soon after handing him a gaudy contract.
Though big men will be flying off the board by the time the 10th pick rolls around, the Bucks should have their sights set on one above all others—unless Jakob Poeltl drops out of the single digits. That primary target is Deyonta Davis, fresh off a freshman season in which he led Michigan State in defensive points saved, per NBA Math.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Floor-Spacing Guard
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1st-Round Picks: No. 5
2nd-Round Picks: None
Primary Solution: Jamal Murray
The Minnesota Timberwolves already boast an incredible amount of talent. Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine have all showcased All-Star potential, and it's not like Ricky Rubio is a liability at point guard.
However, the team still doesn't roster enough players who can space the court.
Part of this was due to the style former head coach Sam Mitchell employed, but the Wolves made more triples than only the Milwaukee Bucks during 2015-16 and finished tied for 25th in three-point percentage. That's indicative of far more than a stylistic decision, as you'd expect such a team to at least shoot efficiently.
Adding a shot-maker of Jamal Murray's caliber would aid the inevitable playoff push rather significantly. During his lone season at Kentucky, the combo guard took 7.7 treys per game and connected at a 40.8 percent clip. That was in addition to displaying his growing pull-up proficiency.
Buddy Hield is another option at No. 5, but Minnesota should be targeting a player such as Murray who can also slot in as a backup point guard.
New Orleans Pelicans: Best Player Available
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1st-Round Picks: No. 6
2nd-Round Picks: Nos. 39, 40
Primary Solution: Jaylen Brown
What don't the New Orleans Pelicans need?
They could use another point guard, whether as a backup to a healthy Jrue Holiday or as the new starter. They need a shooting guard now that Eric Gordon's albatross of a contract has finally expired. They don't have enough shooting from the forward spots, especially with Ryan Anderson hitting free agency.
And since Anthony Davis can play either power forward or center, they can draft any type of frontcourt player to pair with him.
So the Pelicans are one of those teams that can truly adopt the best-player-available strategy with no fear whatsoever. They can hope Oklahoma's Buddy Hield falls to No. 6. They can pray Cal forward Jaylen Brown falls out of the top five, allowing them to capitalize on his immense upside and athleticism. They can cross their fingers that another top prospect is still on the board when it's their turn.
Almost anything should work.
Orlando Magic: Frontcourt Defense
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1st-Round Picks: No. 11
2nd-Round Picks: Nos. 41, 47
Primary Solution: Jakob Poeltl
Nikola Vucevic does a lot of things well, but he struggles to play effective defense on a consistent basis. Similar to Brook Lopez, he has improved at defending what's in his vicinity, but an utter lack of mobility and limited lateral quickness prevent him from even resembling an anchor.
Despite rostering some quality perimeter defenders and burgeoning frontcourt stud Aaron Gordon, the Orlando Magic could only muster up a 106.8 defensive rating in 2015-16, putting them behind 15 other squads. That's not going to cut it for this team on the rise, so adding a legitimate interior defender is key.
Utah's Jakob Poeltl qualifies, though hoping he's still around at No. 11 is a risky proposition, as he's the best true big man in this class. In the opinion of CBS Sports' Sam Vecenie, he's a great fit for the Magic: "He'd be a bit of a different look than Nikola Vucevic due to his mobility."
If Poeltl is off the board, don't be surprised when the Magic also take long looks at Michigan State's Deyonta Davis and Kentucky's Skal Labissiere, even though neither fits the need for an immediate defensive impact nearly as well.
Philadelphia 76ers: Best Player Available
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1st-Round Picks: Nos. 1, 24, 26
2nd-Round Picks: None
Primary Solution: Ben Simmons
You can make convincing arguments for each of the top prospects here, but Ben Simmons is the clear-cut No. 1 player in this year's class, and his ball-handling ability will do wonders for the Philadelphia 76ers. He may not have the perimeter jumper a team is looking for, but the rest of his profile makes him a strong fit.
Philly can't afford to overlook this type of superstar potential.
Brandon Ingram is the best option from a fit standpoint. His knack for spacing the court and overall offensive game would open up easier opportunities for the incumbent bigs, and there's a chance he could develop into the 2016 draft class' premier representative.
Kris Dunn isn't on the same tier as the two aforementioned prospects, but he's a talented point guard who could make an immediate impact. If Ish Smith helped unclog the Philadelphia offense, just imagine what Dunn could do.
But let's not kid ourselves. We know it's going to be Simmons. He's already posting Instagram pictures of himself in a Sixers practice jersey while adding the immortal phrase "Trust the process" as a caption.
Phoenix Suns: Forward Assistance
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1st-Round Picks: Nos. 4, 13, 28
2nd-Round Picks: No. 34
Primary Solution: Marquese Chriss
"[Marquese] Chriss is one of the biggest boom-or-bust picks of this year's draft," HoopsHype.com wrote in its latest mock draft, projecting the Washington product to the Phoenix Suns at No. 4. "He is likely two years away from contributing anything meaningful. But his combination of length, athleticism and shooting touch has scouts drooling. There's a real chance that Phoenix moves this pick for a veteran."
Whether the Suns roll the dice on Chriss or take a similar gamble on Dragan Bender, they should be looking to improve the frontcourt with the first of their two lottery picks. Maybe with the second as well, since both Jon Leuer and Mirza Teletovic will be free agents this summer.
Given the enduring presences of Brandon Knight, Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker and T.J. Warren, the Suns have plenty of upside in the backcourt and on the wings. Adding more prospects who would compete with that quartet for minutes would be the definition of overkill, forcing Phoenix to tread water as it evaluates the many talented players on its roster.
If the Suns are looking for backups at those positions, they should do so with picks that don't fall at No. 4.
Sacramento Kings: Backcourt/Wing Help
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1st-Round Picks: No. 8
2nd-Round Picks: No. 59
Primary Solution: Kris Dunn
The Sacramento Kings don't have many building blocks on their roster.
DeMarcus Cousins qualifies as one, and Willie Cauley-Stein should be the second in the frontcourt. But beyond the two bigs, the Kings are looking at myriad role players. Rudy Gay doesn't quite qualify as a key cog, while Marco Belinelli, Darren Collison, Ben McLemore and the other incumbents certainly don't.
It stands to reason that when the two core pieces (three, if you want to count Gay) line up in the frontcourt, you should probably target a different position with your lottery selection.
Providence point guard Kris Dunn falling to No. 8 would allow the Kings to phone in their pick without a second of hesitation. But in the event his name has already been called, the organization should be looking to Jamal Murray and Buddy Hield for help shoring up the smaller spots in their lineup.
San Antonio Spurs: Center
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1st-Round Picks: No. 29
2nd-Round Picks: None
Primary Solution: Stephen Zimmerman
Sometimes it seems like the San Antonio Spurs could pick a name out of a hat during the draft and then watch as he developed into a quality contributor. But this year, they may actually have a need, given the potential retirements and upcoming free-agency forays of their current bigs.
"The Spurs say they don't know what [Tim] Duncan is going to do, but they are guessing he will walk away," Buck Harvey recently reported for the San Antonio Express-News. "And if they are right, they will miss him for many reasons other than his refusal to exchange insults on the basketball court."
David West is declining his player option to hit the open market, per The Vertical's Shams Charania. Boban Marjanovic is a restricted free agent, and there's no telling how high his price could rise. Matt Bonner's contract also expired.
There just aren't many incumbents left in the frontcourt, and that makes it more of a priority to reload with a high-quality center at No. 29. Expect the Spurs to look at Stephen Zimmerman, Damian Jones, Cheick Diallo, Diamond Stone and the many other bigs who may be available when they're on the clock.
Toronto Raptors: Power Forward
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1st-Round Picks: Nos. 9, 27
2nd-Round Picks: None
Primary Solution: Domantas Sabonis
If it seems like the Toronto Raptors have long needed a reliable starting power forward, it's because they have. The 2015-16 crop of Patrick Patterson, Luis Scola and James Johnson worked but didn't blow anyone away, and now the latter two are coming off the books.
Patterson is by no means a glaring liability at the 4. In fact, Toronto improved its net rating by 10.3 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor, though that was largely due to his teammates' presences.
But he seems better-suited to the second unit, and the Raptors still need someone who can both space the floor and score on the interior. They need someone to complement Jonas Valanciunas' interior defense, especially if Bismack Biyombo's price is too high as an unrestricted free agent.
That sounds a lot like Domantas Sabonis, who should be a realistic possibility at No. 9.
The Gonzaga product can play both power forward and center, and he's one of those prospects who thrives in a number of different areas. Athleticism will never be his forte, but his unquestionable skill with and without the ball should make him a good fit next to the established studs north of the border.
Utah Jazz: Consolidation
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1st-Round Picks: No. 12
2nd-Round Picks: Nos. 42, 52, 60
Primary Solution: Trades
The Utah Jazz don't have enough roster space for all four of their draft picks, and they should be looking to either move up from No. 12 or use that initial selection in a package to acquire an established stud.
Even with Trevor Booker hitting the open market, the Jazz have 14 players under contract. Those 14 will earn less than $61 million next season, per Basketball-Reference.com, which gives Utah plenty of financial flexibility to make a salary-dump move and then spend big on a free agent. Cutting ties with Shelvin Mack, Patrick Christopher and Jeff Withey, all of whom have non-guaranteed deals, could also open up space, but it's unlikely the team would do away with all three.
If the Jazz don't start making moves up the Western Conference standings, nonstop speculation about the future of the Gordon Hayward-Derrick Favors-Rudy Gobert trio will begin in earnest. Drafting an unproven prospect at No. 12 isn't the way to avoid that.
Making a trade, however, could be.
Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @fromal09.
Unless otherwise indicated, all stats are from Basketball-Reference.com, Adam's own databases or NBAMath.com. All salary information via Basketball Insiders.
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