Derrick Favors News

The Jazz have six players under contract next year, with the assumption that Marvin Williams doesn't opt out, and all need to improve in an area to make allow the team to step into the playoffs.

Here in Jazzland, amid the search for signs of hope that the hometown franchise can return to a competitive playoff level after three disappointing seasons, the makeup of the NBA's conference semifinalists offers some encouragement.

The Utah Jazz started the process of restructuring their point guard position Saturday, when Texas' Myck Kabongo and South Dakota State's Nate Wolters were among six players participating in a pre-draft workout at the team's practice facility.

Texas' Myck Kabongo shoots over Iowa State's Will Clyburn and Melvin Ejim, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb.

The NBA draft is about two months away and that is the next big event for the Jazz to look towards.

General manager Dennis Lindsey believes there are a number of NBA teams who'd want to "trade spots" with the Utah Jazz this offseason.

After making the playoffs last year, it was supposed to be a year where the Utah Jazz took the next step.

In a discussion of ESPN Radio in Salt Lake City Wednesday, sportscasters and the Jazz's leading beat writer agree that while Utah got some "intriguing pieces" for Deron Williams , Williams is a "superstar." When the deal went down on February 21, 2011, most in Utah praised it.

The morning after their fathers walked off the court together for the last time as Jazz teammates, David Stockton went to school as a sixth-grader and Karl Malone Jr.

Utah general manager Kevin O'Conner is interviewed after Johnnie Bryant and Roy Hibbert worked out with the Jazz at Zion's Bank Basketball Center in Salt Lake City, Utah Wednesday, June 4, 2008.

I was thinking about that while watching Deron Williams lead the Nets' effort against the Bulls in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday.

Utah finished this season fighting for the eighth seed once again but ultimately fell short.

9, 2011. That night, the Jazz went into a game with the Chicago Bulls having amassed a solid record of 31-22 behind Deron Williams surrounded by free agents brought in after the departure of Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur.

As we all know, the Jazz let the deadline come and go without dealing Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap .