Summary

under two attempts per game. He also has fit into Quin Snyder's scheme beautifully, as he makes quick decisions on the catch rather than holding the ball and letting the defense reset. On defense, O'Neal has the strength and athleticism to guard bigger wings. While he may not be an elite shooter or defender, wings that can play both sides of the ball without taking things off the table are valuable for competitive teams.

 

O'Neal will already be 27 years old when he enters free agency for the first time next summer, so he will be certainly looking for a significant long-term deal, as he will have spent the first three years of his career making the minimum. 

 

Cap Considerations

O'Neal will be a restricted free agent with full Bird rights and a $2 million cap hold and Qualifying Offer. Having his full Bird rights means the Jazz can offer him any starting salary (theoretically up to his max). Since the Jazz will likely be over the salary cap next summer, re-signing O'Neal has no opportunity cost, as letting him leave in free agency would not free up any cap room. If O'Neal is brought back by the Jazz on a multi-year contract, they should frontload his contract as much as possible, especially since they could do so without losing any cap space.

 

Teams other than the Jazz will have multiple ways to sign O'Neal, as even teams without cap space could possibly use any of the Non-Taxpayer, Taxpayer, Room Mid-Level Exceptions to sign him. However, O'Neal being a restricted free agent will greatly lower his interest among teams, as they will worry that the only way to pry him away from Utah would be to significantly overpay him.

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*Update: O'Neale and the Jazz agreed to an extension during the season.