We shared the news earlier today that the Jazz plan to offer a maximum extension to Donovan Mitchell, but the team is also facing an important decision on Rudy Gobert in what could become the most expensive offseason the franchise has ever seen, writes Bobby Marks of ESPN.
Gobert, whose contract expires after next season, is eligible for a five-year, $221MM super-max deal. Marks doesn’t expect Utah to give Gobert that kind of money, but he is in line for a substantial raise as one of the league’s top interior defenders. Marks notes that the Jazz can offer several other options, including a four-year, $133MM extension, a five-year, $189.9MM extension, or a full super-max for the first year with an 8% decrease every subsequent season, resulting in a five-year, $160MM package.
Marks adds that if Utah allows Gobert to hit the open market next summer and the salary cap remains at $109MM, at least 12 teams will have a minimum of $30MM in cap room to pursue him.
There’s more on the Jazz:
- Another priority will be re-signing Jordan Clarkson, who will be unrestricted when free agency begins, Marks notes in the same piece. After being acquired from the Cavaliers in late December, Clarkson provided some scoring punch to a reserve unit that had been near the bottom of the league in producing points. The Jazz hold Bird rights on Clarkson and will face a weak market where only 10 teams have money to spend apart from their mid-level exceptions.
- Utah overcame a lot of adversity just to reach Game 7, notes Joe Vardon of The Athletic. Gobert’s positive coronavirus test in March led to the league shutdown and created a split with Mitchell. The Jazz also lost an important part of their offense when Bojan Bogdanovic underwent season-ending wrist injury. “Being here has been a challenge in a lot of ways, but I don’t think it’s dampened our enthusiasm for the game,” coach Quinn Snyder said before Tuesday’s game. “So to whatever extent that’s there, certainly you have to fight it, but there’s always things that creep in.”
- Any lingering rift between Mitchell and Gobert was healed by the experience in Orlando, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, who states that the team was galvanized by the restart. Mitchell also proved to the organization that he can take on the scoring load in the playoffs. “Donovan, that kid is tough,” Clarkson said. “He’s a scorer, makes plays. One of the best guards in the league, one of the best guards that I’ve played with.”
Just because teams will have $30 million to sign Gobert that summer doesn’t mean they will want to sign him. He plays a position teams don’t value as much and is more of a 3rd piece for a contender.
Gobert Supermax is $248 million I think
If Knicks fall in love with Clarkson
They can offer 4 years 50 million
Makes no difference what is it, he ain’t getting it.
He’s lucky just to be making $25M/year for the least important position in the NBA right now. It was a big man’s league in the old days, but centers are slowly becoming obsolete. Just like fullbacks in the NFL.
Gobert is well-paid at $26. Utah could do the old-fashioned thing and hope he goes hard in a contract year. They need to get Clatkson & Niang on board. Clarkson’s on a 4/$50 but he was a bad-team starter when he signed that. Now he’s a good-team spark, nimble for his height, and durable. 3/$40? Niang has a cheap team option.
I think Mitchell and Gobert have reached their ceilings together. Mitchell is a young dawg on the come up, DWade 2.0. Gobert a defensive ace but soon going to be old and expensive.
They finished a 7th seed and went to a game seven against the Nuggets.
If they run it back even if they finish higher in the regular season the West is so competitive, they won’t find an easy match up. They might make it to the conference semis once but they aren’t a true threat.
It’s time to build around Mitchell who is the heart and soul of this team. It’s a perfect time considering Gobert still has a high value and in a trade you could fetch a solid return.
Personally I love the idea of Spencer Dinwiddie, Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen. Spence giving your 20-5-4, Mitchell being the star and Allen replacing what Gobert gives you and only being 22.
Another idea could be Gobert for Nurkic and extras. Swapping defence for offence. Gobert with Lillard and McCollum that’s solid for Portland who suck of defence. Nurkic who is only 26 would be a win for the Jazz. He gives you easy 15+ points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks and 4 assists.
Add maybe the 14th pick amd/or Nassir Little and you have a great return. Little was a 5 star recruit from high school who struggled and college and his first year in the league but maybe Mitchell can help him considering he’s only 20, plus you draft a Cole Anthony at 14 then you have 3 young pieces to give Mitchell.
I think it’s just about getting a good return and something that suits Mitchell.
Can also use Conley as a trade piece on a healthy expiring contract.
Crazy idea could be
Utah: S. Dinwiddie, T. Prince, J. Allen
Nets: D. DeRozan, R. Gobert, R. Gay, 45th pick
Spurs: C. LeVert
Utah gets the players they want in return for Gobert to build around Mitchell.
Spurs get a good young player to rebuild with instead of DeRozan on an expiring deal.
Nets get to form a super team with 4 all star level players.
Nets kinda look to be losing the most from the deal but DeRozan is good friends with Irving and would be mates with KD so I could see it happening plus Gobert coming in at centre makes that defence a lot stronger.
Spurs get a huge win from this deal and can pair LeVert with either Murray or White as the new backcourt.
Jazz get a solid win even if it doesn’t result in wins straight away it’s better in the long run for sure
That’s an improvement at least. Still has Dins & Conley in conflict.
Nurkic is only 26, Gobert is just turned 28, not a massive difference, right?
Except Nurkic is signed for what 14/15 mil and 4 years and Gobert is on 26mil and will want a big contract on his next deal.
Plus Nurkic at 26 is closer in age to Mitchell at 23 than Gobert at 28.