On the defensive end, he’s just average when guarding on-ball. Weaknesses:Īlthough Rudy isn’t a liability in any one area there are a few weaknesses to his game. Overall his ability to shoot, attack closeouts, and make simple plays with the ball in his hands makes him perfect for Utah’s offense. He also is a pretty good passer and handler for his size, which will help keep Utah’s offense flowing and not kill advantages created by teammates. Gay can also shoot it from the mid-range as well, and while he isn’t super efficient from that spot on the floor (43% from mid-range over the last two seasons), just being able to have that skill in his arsenal helps keep defenses honest. He shot 39.5% on spot up 3’s last year, which should make him a seamless fit in the Jazz 3pt heavy attack. On the offensive end the main value Gay adds is as a floor spacer. Rudy’s length also helps him guard on the ball as well, where he’s fairly versatile and can at least survive on most players. But if he’s assigned a weak/non-threatening shooter, he’ll sag off a bunch and be ready to help out around the rim on any drives. If he’s matched up on a high level shooter, he’s disciplined enough to stay tight to them and not give up open looks. One thing I especially like about Gay’s off-ball defense is that he has a high awareness of who he’s guarding. Rudy combines his excellent length with a good understanding of defensive rotations, which allows him to be one of the better weak side rim protector’s in the league. The main area where his size shows up is around the rim on defense, where Gay is still very effective at this stage of his career. The first thing that stands out about Gay is his size and length for the forward position, as he’s listed at 6’8, 250 pounds, with a 7’3 wingspan. Let’s take a look at what we can expect him to contribute to the Jazz next season. Although Gay is far past the prime of his career, he’s shown over the past couple of years that he’s still an impactful player. After spending the last 4 years of his career in San Antonio, veteran forward Rudy Gay decided to sign with the Utah Jazz this offseason on a 3 year deal worth roughly $18 million total.