Utah Jazz: Is Devin Harris Team's Point Guard of the Future or Just a Stop-Gap?

With all of the talk surrounding the NBA draft and free agency period, fans of each team in the league are speculating on the best options for their players.

The Utah Jazz are no different.

This year they have more options in a single offseason than they have ever had in the past and the amount of speculation of team moves is at an all time high.

One area that holds a lot of this conversation is what the Utah Jazz should do at the point guard position for the future.

In Jazz history, it has been rare that they are searching for a point guard. With players like Pete Maravich, John Stockton and Deron Williams playing the position for so many years, the Jazz have only needed to make changes a few times.

In the past, the team has used players like Ricky Green and Carlos Arroyo to fill the gaps between stars. Jazz management are once again in a spot where they may need to make a move to improve this important player on the court.

It's well known that All-Star Deron Williams was traded away at the trade deadline and they received a good point guard in Devin Harris to run the team on the court. It was and still is interesting to know the specific details with the reasons for that trade, and one could wonder what role Devin Harris had in that.

Was the trade primarily to get rid of Williams who may have been leaving in free agency? Was it made to pick up Favors, or was it made to get a point guard of the future in Devin Harris?

At that time, Jazz fans were hopeful to see what he would do, and how he would fit into the offense. Until he was injured, Harris did a decent job of learning the offense and running the team.

During this offseason, there has been so much talk about Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker and even Jimmer Fredette being drafted and taking over the point guard position in the future. Many writers (including myself) have called filling the point guard position in this draft a high priority for the Jazz this offseason.

Has Devin Harris really been written off that quickly among Jazz fans?

As I have examined the roles of other players on the team over the last couple of weeks, let's take a quick look at Harris and see where he fits in the future of the Jazz.

After starring at the University of Wisconsin, Harris was selected in the lottery with the fifth overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft.

Over his career he has averaged 13.3 points and five assists per game. Utah is his third team in his six years in the league. He is known for his quickness on the court, and is a decent playmaker. His best season came in the 2008-2009 season when he averaged 21.3 points and 6.9 assist per game.

There were several games where he showed promise with the Jazz as he learned the system and tried to create chemistry with his front court players. He showed his speed and quickness several times and displayed his ability to create shots for himself.

Having seen him play in the league, and for the Utah Jazz at the end of last season, where would you say that he fits with the future plans of the Jazz.

Is he the answer the Jazz are looking for at point guard in the future? Will he ever measure up to the other great play-makers the Jazz have had, or are the Jazz desperately looking for that player of the future?

If so, what will Harris' role be with the team moving forward? Is the point guard job his, or is he in Utah to be the teacher for a player of the future?

As always, you be the judge and let me know what you think.

Statistics found at basketball-reference.com