The Jazz got off to a rough start in free agency, losing power forward Carlos Boozer and sharpshooter Kyle Korver to the up-and-coming Chicago Bulls. But after star point guard Deron Williams quietly voiced his concern about the state of the franchise, the Jazz quickly responded by trading for center Al Jefferson and then signing guard Raja Bell shortly after. Though the Jazz will have their issues competing in the tough Western Conference, the moves definitely get the Jazz back on track for what should be another winning season.

The reality of the NBA is that one player, no matter how dynamic, is nowhere near good enough to do it all by himself. The closest to winning a championship without much help was LeBron, who nearly did exactly that in Cleveland with a slew of mediocre role players. Jazz point guard Deron Williams is widely considered either the best or second best point guard in the league but the void left by Carlos Boozer would be simply too big if they hadn’t Viagra Jelly brought over Jefferson to fill the shoes. Though Boozer is the bigger name, Jefferson is also a very talented player who has been shrouded in obscurity due to a lackluster Minnesota Timberwolves squad. Teaming with Williams, Jefferson has a great opportunity to play on a much more prominent team, one that has consistently been in the playoffs and has a nice young nucleus to build around.

At the age of 25, Jefferson is just now entering his prime, though he’s already established himself as a force on the block. With Deron Williams’ ability to get into the lane, Jefferson will provide nice balance and someone else to run the pick-and-roll with besides Paul Millsap. Though Boozer is probably more polished at this point, Jefferson is also cheaper and younger, which suggests that the Jazz could be better off in the long run. Many also believe Jefferson to be the player with the higher ceiling and Boozer’s departure will give talented backup Paul Millsap a chance to start.

The other major loss for the Jazz was Kyle Korver, though they have yet to find a player that can make up for his ability to knock down three-pointers. Korver led the league in three-point percentage last season and is capable of carrying an offense during stints off the bench when he finds his stroke. But even though the Jazz weren’t able to lure any of the other prominent shooters available to Utah, they were able to persuade guard Raja Bell to sign, giving them a tremendous boost on the defensive end and some offense game to boot.

Bell may not sell tons of Utah Jazz tickets but he’s a good player with playoff experience. Though Bell has been out of the limelight since departing Phoenix in the 2008-2009 season, many will certainly remember the battles he had with Kobe Bryant in the playoffs. Bell has earned his reputation as a tenacious defender who also scores in double figures. Though not the same caliber shooter as Korver, Bell is still a solid perimeter shooter when he can set his feet, which shouldn’t be a problem with Williams’ ability to get into the lane and finding open players.

If the Jazz want to compete with the Lakers and other up-and-coming teams like the Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, bringing in a quality low post player like Jefferson was a necessity. Also not to be forgotten is the drafting of Gordon Heyward, the 6’9″ small forward with excellent range and a perfect fit for the Jazz offensive system. Most importantly, though, the Jazz sent a message to their best player that they won’t sit back and waste his best years with a subpar roster. The Jazz should once again be in the playoff hunt in 2010-11 and could very well be good enough to get home court in a first-round playoff series.

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