2014-2015 NBA Season Preview: Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz enter the 2014-2015 NBA season with hopes of winning more than what they earned in the 2013-2014 NBA Season. Last season, the Utah Jazz missed the playoffs for the third time in four years and was the worst team in the Western Conference with a 25-57 record. The Utah Jazz replaced Tyrone Corbin with Quin Snyder as the new head coach back in June. The team is banking heavily on the quick development of its players to help improve its ranking in the tough Western Conference.

Roster

Power Forwards: Derrick Favors, Trevor Booker, Steve Novak, Jeremy Evans, Jack Cooley

Center: Enes Kanter, Rudy Gobert

Small Forwards: Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood

Shooting Guards: Alec Burks, Dante Exum, Carrick Felix

Point Guards: Trey Burke, Ian Clark, Toure' Murry

Key Additions: Trevor Booker, Dee Bost, Jack Cooley, Dante Exum (rookie, No. 5), Carrick Felix, Rodney Hood (rookie, No. 23), Dahntay Jones, Brock Motum, Kevin Murphy, Toure' Murry, Steve Novak

Key Losses: Andris Biedrins, Diante Garrett, Richard Jefferson, John Lucas, Brandon Rush, Jamaal Tinsley, Marvin Williams

Projected Starters: Derrick Favors (PF), Trey Burke (PG), Alec Burks (SG), Gordon Hayward (SF), Enes Kanter (C)

Season Outlook

Best Case Scenario

The best case scenario for the Utah Jazz is that the young bigs (Favors and Kanter) improve offensively while Gordon Hayward lives up to his new task as the franchise player of the team. The Jazz most likely will not be serious contenders for a playoff spot but returning to the culture of winning will be a positive for the franchise, who has had spent the previos seasons in the lottery.

It would be also encouraging if the young guns in Burke, Burcs and even Dante Exum, show some bit of potential. Gordon Hayward and Trey Burke will assume bigger roles in the upcoming season and they are more than willing to face the pressure that comes along with it while Alec Burks will continue to develop as a legit spot-up shooter in the league. Rodney Hood has the potential to establish himself as a sharpshooter.

Worst Case Scenario

Trey Burke's poor summer league portend little improvement and his shot selection woes continue to hurt him. Synder who might prefer a shooter at the four, proves unable to create a better from the limited-range bigs. Rudy Gobert is unproven and can become so bad offensively that he may not earn considerable playing time while Exum and Hood are also untested at this level and will not be ready to contribute in their first year in the league.