In 2008, the Utah Jazz drafted Ante Tomic from Croatia as the 44th pick. For the past few years, Jazz fans had lost hope that he would ever join their team. But this past season the rumors began to fly that he was coming over. They turned out to be false as Tomic has signed a three-year extension with Barcelona. How does this affect the next offseason for the Jazz?
Tomic’s deal with Barcelona is worth $2.73 to $3.28 million per season. How much were the Jazz willing to offer Tomic? That question may never be answered, but most likely not much more. So at age 28 he had a decision to make: either come to Utah and be Rudy Gobert’s backup or be arguably the best center in the Euroleague.
It’s not known yet if his deal has an NBA buyout. Tomic is talented and is a great passing center, but he is known for being a soft player and can’t spread the floor, something the Jazz need desperately. Not bringing him over allows the Jazz to keep Trevor Booker and sign a “big” who could help in that area.
This past season when playing Derek Favors and Gobert together, the Jazz were great defensively. But on offense, opponents didn’t fear most of the Jazz shooters and were able to clog the lane, making it hard for Gordon Hayward and others to get to the hoop.
The Jazz need to add more shooters that other teams will respect. If Tomic had come over, what would they have done with Booker? Booker shot 34.5 percent from 3, a percentage that didn’t make a lot of opposing teams quake in their sneakers. If the Jazz decided to let Booker go for a better stretch four, they would lose a big piece of their chemistry and the heart of their team.
Tomic’s decision has made life easier for the Jazz; they can have their cake and eat it too. Most likely the Jazz will pick up Booker’s second-year option and be able to add another big man to help spread the floor. To give Booker some credit, before this season he had only shot 10 3-pointers in four NBA seasons; this past season Booker took 84 threes. With an offseason to work on his shot, maybe Booker can become the stretch four the Jazz covet.
The Jazz will have around $10 million in salary to play with and lots of options to explore. They could look into trading, drafting or signing a stretch four in free agency. Tomic is probably no longer tradable now that he most likely will never play one possession in the NBA.
A few players who may be available to trade for are players like Toronto’s Patrick Patterson, who shot 48 percent for 3-pointers this past season or Orlando’s Channing Frye, a 38 percent career 3-point shooter. Ersan Ilyasova from Milwaukee could be an option with Jabari Parker coming back from injury. Houston may need to free up some cap space and be willing to part with Donatas Motiejunas.
The most popular free agent that Jazz fans would be interested in is Paul Millsap. However he is going to get paid this offseason and will be out of the Jazz’s price range. Also, he is not returning to Utah to back up Favors and Gobert. After Millsap the names out there are guys like Brandon Bass, Andrea Bargnani, Matt Bonner or Pero Antic, players who don’t move the needle.
The Jazz own the 12th pick in the draft, which could change depending on the NBA lottery, and they could use that pick on a big man who can shoot. There is the NCAA player of the year, Frank Kaminsky, who is probably the most NBA ready. Myles Turner out of Texas is a talent, but his funky running style worries scouts. UCLA’s Kevon Looney is young and raw and has been compared to Lamar Odom; if he can be anything like him (but without all the Kardashian nonsense), he would be a steal at 12. Trey Lyles for the 38-1 Kentucky Wildcats could be another option. The best stretch four, Kristaps Porzingis out of Europe, is projected to be a top 10 pick. The Jazz could use an asset to move up and get him.
Tomic and fans will never know how good — or bad — he could have been playing in the best league in the world. Quin Snyder, a big fan of Tomic, will eventually stop crying about losing his coveted asset. But this decision allows the Jazz to keep Booker without jeopardizing their chemistry and fix a weakness. Not seeing Tomic in a Jazz uniform may turn out to be a good thing.
Kincade Upstill has lived in Utah County his entire life, graduated from BYU, and would follow the Jazz to the ends of the earth, if his wife and three daughters allowed it. Contact him at kupstill12@gmail.com.or on Twitter @kincade12