Utah Jazz -- Franchise Building 101

Lose two Hall of Famers in the same off-season?

No problem.

Unable to sign any free agents with the resulting cap room the first year you have it?

No big deal.

League opinion says you have the talent to challenge the all-time record for losses in a single season?

Puhleeze.

Why let minor details get in the way of a quest for an NBA Championship?

The Utah Jazz have proved yet again that they are the model for which every other team in the NBA should follow. Before I go on, here are few pieces of information for you to chew on:

1. The highest selection the Jazz have owned since 1983-1984 was number 13 used on some guy named Karl Malone.

2. The Jazz have been to the postseason every year since 1983-84 until this season.

3. The Jazz record has not dipped below .500 for a season since 1982-1983.

This is a franchise that has made two finals appearances and has been home to two of the best players and one of the best coaches of all-time.

What makes this all so breathtaking?

One full season after the whole thing was supposed to fall apart, the Jazz are back in title contention!

Yes, I said title contention.

Last year's roster won an astounding 42 games led by incumbent and the always cordial, Jerry Sloan.

Holdovers from that roster include:

* PG. Carlos Arroyo, who averaged 12.6 points and 5 assists in only 28.3 minutes per game.

* PG. Raul Lopez, a former first round draft pick who proved to be a legitimate NBA backup/ borderline starter.

* SG. Matt Harpring, a deadeye shooter who flashed star potential two years ago, but had his season cut short by injuries last year.

* SG. Raja Bell, a finalist for the NBA sixth man award last year.

* C. Jarron Collins, twin brother of the Nets' Jason and a capable young big off the bench.

* C. Curtis Borchardt, an injury plagued center that needs one healthy season to prove he can contribute.

* SF. Gordon Giricek, a straight up scoring machine who fits the Utah system.

And, of course...

* SF. Andrei Kirlenko -- An entire column could be written for this first time all-star, but it is safe to say this 23-year-old is on the verge of becoming a franchise-type talent.

You know, one of those rare players who can lead a team to a title without scoring a point, a player in the same ilk as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.

I am not kidding, he is THAT GOOD.

These eight players represent a good portion of the core that almost led the Jazz to the playoffs in the tough Western Conference last year (they would have been the fourth or fifth seed in the East last year).

The oldest player in this group is Matt Harpring at 28, which means most of these players are still improving.

Scary? Keep reading.

The Jazz owned three draft picks, No. 14, No. 16 and No. 21 this year.

With No. 14, they added Kris Humphries, a 6'9" freshman PF out of Minnesota.

Humphries is player who is a physical specimen and an ever elusive "energy player."

He will need time to develop, something the Jazz can provide with their depth in the frontcourt.

With No. 16, they added Kirk Snyder, a 6'6", 225 lb scorer who many have called the steal of the draft.

He will contribute right away.

With No. 21, they drafted Pavel Podkolzine, a 7'5", 315 lb, 19 year old giant.

They ended up trading him to Dallas for a future first round pick.

I honestly questioned this move, because I predict big things for Pavel, but the Jazz made the decision that they wanted to conserve cap room and created future flexibility by having a future draft with multiple picks.

Out of three picks, the Jazz drafted two players who have the makings of stars and helped maintain flexibility to make future moves, not bad.

The Jazz also had $30 million dollars in cap room after signing their draft picks.

They used a good portion of it to resign their own free agents, but had enough left to sign two big free agents.

Mehmet Okur being the first.

Mehmet will be their starting center next year and is only 25 years old. They gave him a six-year, $50 million contract.

At 6'11", 250 lbs, Okur is a gifted shooter who can score inside and grab rebounds.

He has been accused of being soft on defense, but that is a small price to pay to team a player like this with Andrei for the next six years.

Carlos Boozer was the second Jazz free agent signing.

This transaction came with controversy.

The Cavs, Boozer's old team, declined his player option for this season reportedly having a verbal commitment that Boozer would immediately agree to a contract extension.

Instead, after being let go, the Jazz jumped at Boozer and signed him to a six-year, $68 million contract, an offer that the Cavs simply could not match due to salary cap restrictions.

Boozer is a 6'9", 258 lb bulldozer of a player.

He is only 22 years old and averaged 15.5 points and 11.4 rebounds a game last year.

This signing gives the Jazz a young low post presence and an enforcer to protect Andrei.

After this off-season, the Jazz have proved once again they are the model franchise.

The lineup they will feature next year will be young, signed, and deep.

Take a look:

C. Mehmet Okur PF. Carlos Boozer SF. Andrei Kirlenko SG. Gordon Giricek PG. Carlos Arroyo

PG. Raul Lopez SG. Matt Harpring SG. Raja Bell C. Jarron Collins C. Curtis Borchardt PF. Kris Humphries SG. Kirk Snyder

The frontline is young, talented, can score, rebound, and shoot and will cause match up problems for NBA teams for the next 6 years minimum.

Their franchise player is young, still developing, can lockdown any player at any position, and wants to be there.

They have depth, youth, and veteran experience at every position and will contend for a title this season and for years to come.

To think, only one year ago, they had the talent to challenge for the most losses in a single season.

You can see more of Stephen's writing at http://www.thesportmanagementnetwork.org or discuss this article with the him at http://smasters1.proboards31.com/index.cgi.