Utah Jazz: Grading the team's NBA free agency signings

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Utah Jazz. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The Utah Jazz were the best team in the league last season, at least until the playoffs began. That was until they ran into the LA Clippers in the second round, losing the series 2-4. However, what was concerning for the Jazz is the Clippers beat them with Kawhi Leonard missing for the last part of the series.

Naturally, the Jazz front office was not satisfied with this result and set about rectifying the issue as soon as they could in free agency. In order to give some salary-cap flexibility, they traded Derrick Favors to the OKC Thunder with a first-round pick for a future second-round pick.

This then gave the Jazz a level of flexibility in order to make their moves in NBA free agency. He was due $9.7 million next season and then had a player option worth $10.1 million for the 2022-23 season. However, the Jazz had bigger fish to land and Favors was again the one to go. Let’s take a look at the free-agent signings for the Utah Jazz this offseason.

Utah Jazz free-agent signing No. 1: Eric Paschall

While this is not the most earth-shattering move, Eric Paschall showed during the Golden State Warriors season from two years ago that he could score in bunches. He is also able to score at every level which will help the Jazz through the grinding part of the season where they will have some injuries.

What is even better for the Jazz is that Pascall is on a minimum deal which will help them in their quest to pay the lowest possible luxury tax. He also only cost them a protected future second-round pick. Another nice touch is that Pascall is a close childhood from of Donovan Mitchell so their chemistry should not be an issue.

Grade: B

Next: Hassan Whiteside

Utah Jazz</a> were the best team in the league last season, at least until the playoffs began. That was until they ran into the LA Clippers in the second round, losing the series 2-4. However, what was concerning for the Jazz is the Clippers beat them with Kawhi Leonard missing for the last part of the series.</p> <p>Naturally, the Jazz front office was not satisfied with this result and set about rectifying the issue as soon as they could in free agency. In order to give some salary-cap flexibility, they traded Derrick Favors to the OKC Thunder with a first-round pick for a future second-round pick.</p> <p>This then gave the Jazz a level of flexibility in order to make their moves in NBA free agency. He was due $9.7 million next season and then had a player option worth $10.1 million for the 2022-23 season. However, the Jazz had bigger fish to land and Favors was again the one to go. Let’s take a look at the free-agent signings for the Utah Jazz this offseason.</p> <h2>Utah Jazz free-agent signing No. 1: Eric Paschall</h2> <p>While this is not the most earth-shattering move, Eric Paschall showed during the Golden State Warriors season from two years ago that he could score in bunches. He is also able to score at every level which will help the Jazz through the grinding part of the season where they will have some injuries.</p> <p>What is even better for the Jazz is that Pascall is on a minimum deal which will help them in their quest to pay the lowest possible luxury tax. He also only cost them a protected future second-round pick. Another nice touch is that Pascall is a close childhood from of <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/09/utah-jazz-grading-nba-free-agency/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mitchdo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Donovan Mitchell</a> so their chemistry should not be an issue.</p> <p><strong>Grade: B</strong></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/09/utah-jazz-grading-nba-free-agency/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Hassan Whiteside </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434158" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/09/utah-jazz-grading-nba-free-agency/"https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2018/08/16002451.jpeg"> "Utah