[CodySLCParticipant]

 The biggest surprise to me this season for the Jazz without question is Rudy Gobert. We all knew his combine messurements were off the chart. At over 7’1 and a 7’8.5 wingspand to go with a 9’7 standing reach, he had length that made him an intriguing prospect. But his lack or strength and having no resemblance of any offensive game whatsoever hurt his stock. He was the prototypical project big that always come with the chance of becoming a bust.

 As a rookie last season Gobert appeared in only 45 games. With averages of 2.3ppg, 3.4rpg with .9bpg in 9.6 mpg. I was pretty happy with how he played as a rookie and thought he could become a solid back up down the road. But I don’t think anyone expected to see him playing at such a high level so early in his career. This season Rudy is putting up 6.2ppg on 63.8% shooting, 6.7rpg, and is 5th in the league with 2.2bpg, and is 1st in blocks per 48 minutes at 5.1pg, all while only playing 20.4mpg.

Recently with the injury to Enes Kanter, Gobert has had the chance to start and hasn’t disapointed. It’s a small sample size, but in 6 starts this season Rudy has averaged 8.7ppg on 63.6% shooting, 9rpg, 1.2spg, along with an insane 4.5bpg. This guy is a game changer on the defensive side of the floor. And picking him up from Denver for Eric Green and cash was a awsome move by Dennis Lindsey. Sadly for Enes I think he has become expendable and I won’t be surprised to see him moved before the trade deadline or next offseason. 

 

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/2035936-155/utah-jazz-rudy-gobert-wants-to

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Players can’t even shoot 40% at the rim against this guy. 

He still has a lot of improvement to do, but you can’t help but think this guy has a major shot at being the type of defensive anchor that gives you a shot at winning playoff games. 

Yes… Kanter is definitely the odd man out. 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Players can’t even shoot 40% at the rim against this guy. 

He still has a lot of improvement to do, but you can’t help but think this guy has a major shot at being the type of defensive anchor that gives you a shot at winning playoff games. 

Yes… Kanter is definitely the odd man out. 

[mercyman25Participant]

 The west is accumulating some potentially monstrous big men, and I love it! Gobert for Utah and Alex Len for phoenix Steven Adams in okc! These young bigs have a ton of potential that is showing up now! Just think in about 2- 3 years these guys may even be great! How long has it been for Utah and Phoenix to have legit bigs. Mark Eaton UT Alvin Adams Phx. 

[mercyman25Participant]

 The west is accumulating some potentially monstrous big men, and I love it! Gobert for Utah and Alex Len for phoenix Steven Adams in okc! These young bigs have a ton of potential that is showing up now! Just think in about 2- 3 years these guys may even be great! How long has it been for Utah and Phoenix to have legit bigs. Mark Eaton UT Alvin Adams Phx. 

[zcnumerounoParticipant]

 It would be nice if he were to work on his offensive game to make it somewhat solid. But his defense alone makes him a good starting center.

I can hear Jay Bilas now… 

[zcnumerounoParticipant]

 It would be nice if he were to work on his offensive game to make it somewhat solid. But his defense alone makes him a good starting center.

I can hear Jay Bilas now… 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 "tip one back America"

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 "tip one back America"

[butidonthavemoney]

I never expected him to amount to much, but every time I watch him this season I get more impressed.  He can block shots, run the floor, defend the pick and roll, pick up steals, clean up the glass, and he’s even displayed excellent passing instincts. I think with a couple years of strength training, experience, and maybe a go-to scoring move; he’ll provide everything the team needs from the starting center position.

 

[butidonthavemoney]

I never expected him to amount to much, but every time I watch him this season I get more impressed.  He can block shots, run the floor, defend the pick and roll, pick up steals, clean up the glass, and he’s even displayed excellent passing instincts. I think with a couple years of strength training, experience, and maybe a go-to scoring move; he’ll provide everything the team needs from the starting center position.

 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

What type of return could Utah get for dumping Kanter, since he hasn’t made the type of impact "we" all thought he would make next to Favors?

Personally. I don’t think the assets will be as great as it would have been prior to Gobert stepping his game up.

 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

What type of return could Utah get for dumping Kanter, since he hasn’t made the type of impact "we" all thought he would make next to Favors?

Personally. I don’t think the assets will be as great as it would have been prior to Gobert stepping his game up.

 

[EspressoprodigyParticipant]

 i def saw this coming together with the offensive struggles. his first year in the league ypu could tell that he was a big changer on defense and displayed the feet quickness to keep up on pick and roll. i really saw this coming. not much gave you doubts that he wouldnt adapt to not fouling big time game changer. strong doubts he will mount to much offensively other than oops and causing terror  on the glass. his touch is soft but i just dont think he has much will to take over games.

[EspressoprodigyParticipant]

 i def saw this coming together with the offensive struggles. his first year in the league ypu could tell that he was a big changer on defense and displayed the feet quickness to keep up on pick and roll. i really saw this coming. not much gave you doubts that he wouldnt adapt to not fouling big time game changer. strong doubts he will mount to much offensively other than oops and causing terror  on the glass. his touch is soft but i just dont think he has much will to take over games.

[HitsterParticipant]

 The talk about Utah was they needed perimeter defence but with Gobert as the anchor he has the ability to be a game changer and they can invite teams to shoot on the assumption he will block it. Favours can cover the mid range area with his size meaning Utah have a formidable frontcourt.

If Utah had inked Kanter to a reasonable extension he would have been a tradeable asset but with him being an RFA, they might need to trade him before deadline day to get any return. Teams always like good big men and Kanter is 22 years old and averaging nearly 14ppg and over 7rpg playing under 27mpg so he’d create some interest and any team who aquired him would hold his RFA rights.

I’d be interested to see who might be suitors for Kanter, no teams jumped out at me immediately. One that did occur eventually was the Spurs as if anyone could improve Kanter’s defensive then it might be Greg Poppovich. Also could the Pacers be an option as Scola is out of contract this summer, David West will be 35 this year and with Big Roy Hibbert as the defensive anchor then Kanter’s defence isn’t such an issue.

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 The talk about Utah was they needed perimeter defence but with Gobert as the anchor he has the ability to be a game changer and they can invite teams to shoot on the assumption he will block it. Favours can cover the mid range area with his size meaning Utah have a formidable frontcourt.

If Utah had inked Kanter to a reasonable extension he would have been a tradeable asset but with him being an RFA, they might need to trade him before deadline day to get any return. Teams always like good big men and Kanter is 22 years old and averaging nearly 14ppg and over 7rpg playing under 27mpg so he’d create some interest and any team who aquired him would hold his RFA rights.

I’d be interested to see who might be suitors for Kanter, no teams jumped out at me immediately. One that did occur eventually was the Spurs as if anyone could improve Kanter’s defensive then it might be Greg Poppovich. Also could the Pacers be an option as Scola is out of contract this summer, David West will be 35 this year and with Big Roy Hibbert as the defensive anchor then Kanter’s defence isn’t such an issue.

 

 

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

Any of you youngins remember Mark Eaton? 7’4 project who also played for Utah with K Malone and Stockton. He moved like a glacier but eventually became a true impact defender without ever developing an offensive game.

point being Gobert can still be a great value even if he doesn’t become an offensive force. Compared to Mark Eaton Gobart is an Olympic sprinter.

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

Any of you youngins remember Mark Eaton? 7’4 project who also played for Utah with K Malone and Stockton. He moved like a glacier but eventually became a true impact defender without ever developing an offensive game.

point being Gobert can still be a great value even if he doesn’t become an offensive force. Compared to Mark Eaton Gobart is an Olympic sprinter.

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

Also why does Utah have to move Kanter by the trade deadline? Why not keep both? Good bigmen don’t grow on trees.

[OhCanada-Participant]

Kanter is a bit of a tweener on the defensive edge. The smaller and quicker PF’s with more skill he can’t gaurd and the bigger and stronger C’s he can’t gaurd.

Favors and Gobert have proven to be game changers playing at C on both ends of the floor thus Utah wants to keep them. Kanter had the same opportunity to prove that he should be the guy they keep but has yet to prove himself defensively while playing with Favors and Gobert. It seems as though Gobert emerging as of late hasn’t necessarily made Kanter expendable but its established Rudy as a core piece of the Jazz going forward and has secured him as many minutes as he can handle. So with Gobert and Favors both promised 30-mpg you now have to have one or two interchangeable bigs to play alongside those two. They dont see Kanter filling that role well although should be able to get relatively high value for Kanter.

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

Kanter is a bit of a tweener on the defensive edge. The smaller and quicker PF’s with more skill he can’t gaurd and the bigger and stronger C’s he can’t gaurd.

Favors and Gobert have proven to be game changers playing at C on both ends of the floor thus Utah wants to keep them. Kanter had the same opportunity to prove that he should be the guy they keep but has yet to prove himself defensively while playing with Favors and Gobert. It seems as though Gobert emerging as of late hasn’t necessarily made Kanter expendable but its established Rudy as a core piece of the Jazz going forward and has secured him as many minutes as he can handle. So with Gobert and Favors both promised 30-mpg you now have to have one or two interchangeable bigs to play alongside those two. They dont see Kanter filling that role well although should be able to get relatively high value for Kanter.

 

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

Also why does Utah have to move Kanter by the trade deadline? Why not keep both? Good bigmen don’t grow on trees.

[j1232eParticipant]

keep all three. have a rotation of those three. Kanter has a very good post moves, averages 15 points and 8 rebounds a game everyone is acting ;ike he is horrible.

[j1232eParticipant]

keep all three. have a rotation of those three. Kanter has a very good post moves, averages 15 points and 8 rebounds a game everyone is acting ;ike he is horrible.

[HitsterParticipant]

 A three man big rotation can work easily and I’ve often said that 96 frontcourt minutes can be shared around, it works well if you have the 4th big man as a veteran who doesn’t need to play much but can easily step in if needed and maybe another young prospect.

Moving Kanter might be more about what they could get back, future salary considerations etc, Hayward, Burks and Favours take up $37 million on the Jazz cap next year, There will be extensions in due course for Burke, Gobert, Exum etc so what they might offer Kanter and what he might get elsewhere could be an issue.

I suppose they could match and look to sort out the cap in the next year or two and maybe if the cap rises they can fit them all in. They just don’t want to risk not getting anything back for Kanter.

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 A three man big rotation can work easily and I’ve often said that 96 frontcourt minutes can be shared around, it works well if you have the 4th big man as a veteran who doesn’t need to play much but can easily step in if needed and maybe another young prospect.

Moving Kanter might be more about what they could get back, future salary considerations etc, Hayward, Burks and Favours take up $37 million on the Jazz cap next year, There will be extensions in due course for Burke, Gobert, Exum etc so what they might offer Kanter and what he might get elsewhere could be an issue.

I suppose they could match and look to sort out the cap in the next year or two and maybe if the cap rises they can fit them all in. They just don’t want to risk not getting anything back for Kanter.

 

 

[username_takenParticipant]

Crazy seeing how far he slipped in a weak draft, and the Jazz got the 27th pick from the Nuggets for only the 46th pick and cash. I can understand the huge risk that he wouldn’t turn into anything more than a bench warmer, but he definitely should have been taken before tons of those mid round guys. Gobert has a real future as an elite rim protector in the NBA.

[username_takenParticipant]

Crazy seeing how far he slipped in a weak draft, and the Jazz got the 27th pick from the Nuggets for only the 46th pick and cash. I can understand the huge risk that he wouldn’t turn into anything more than a bench warmer, but he definitely should have been taken before tons of those mid round guys. Gobert has a real future as an elite rim protector in the NBA.

[rich.homie.mitchParticipant]

 Gobert is the real deal and has some major potential to be one most intimidating guys on the defensive end. Was watching the jazz vs rockets game and he had some nice blocks and made dwight howard look like an average post player. 

On the offensive end he just needs to get stronger and get used to the NBA. He is a good passing big man and will look even better when the jazz as a team get better. Very raw with his post game.. Numerous times he’d get the ball in the post and not even try for a move. Has potential to become a good big man in the league.

 

[rich.homie.mitchParticipant]

 Gobert is the real deal and has some major potential to be one most intimidating guys on the defensive end. Was watching the jazz vs rockets game and he had some nice blocks and made dwight howard look like an average post player. 

On the offensive end he just needs to get stronger and get used to the NBA. He is a good passing big man and will look even better when the jazz as a team get better. Very raw with his post game.. Numerous times he’d get the ball in the post and not even try for a move. Has potential to become a good big man in the league.

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 Gobert’s value will always be on defence as Utah will have other major scoring options in Hayward, Burke, Burks, Favours and eventually Exum but I agree he can learn a few post moves and the PGs will feed him a fair few baskets to keep him interested.

[HitsterParticipant]

 Gobert’s value will always be on defence as Utah will have other major scoring options in Hayward, Burke, Burks, Favours and eventually Exum but I agree he can learn a few post moves and the PGs will feed him a fair few baskets to keep him interested.

[GoJOSH HUESTISParticipant]

Yeah my boy tony jones who writes/covers the jazz has been on his bandwagon for the longest time, I have to agree with him that this kid is the truth. I’ll continue to be the jazz hater though even though they have family on their team (Exum) and now my boy looks like he will get a long term contract (elijah) #JH FOR LIFE

[GoJOSH HUESTISParticipant]

Yeah my boy tony jones who writes/covers the jazz has been on his bandwagon for the longest time, I have to agree with him that this kid is the truth. I’ll continue to be the jazz hater though even though they have family on their team (Exum) and now my boy looks like he will get a long term contract (elijah) #JH FOR LIFE

[Author]

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