Top > Sport > 2006 > January > 2006-01-29

Jazz Changing Tune

Although their offseason moves may not reflect that, the Utah Jazz have done quite well for themselves. Jerry Sloan now has the right point guard to run his system in Deron Williams and a center to clog the middle. Many people were shocked to see the Jazz trade for Greg Ostertag, a player they were trying to move for several seasons while he was still under contract with the team.

The Jazz didn?t bring back Ostertag for nostalgia nor were they looking to dump contracts. The Jazz`s biggest weaknesses last season was the lack of interior defense, something Ostertag provides. Though it is only for short spurts in the game, it is more than any of those three former draft picks could provide. So this trade could be looked at like a win for the Jazz but you have to look a little closer than that.

The Jazz traded three former first round picks (Borchardt, Snyder, Lopez) for a guy that Utah fans have loved to hate for years. The biggest thing that you first notice is that the Jazz gave up on three players that were expected to really help the team at one time.