The off-season strategies (Jazz have limited options)

[Joncolton]

Not even JB. A guy like Josh Richardson or even Shake Milton would help out a ton. We need 3D players that are 6'6 and more who can simply make DM the smallest guy on the floor. Have him focus 100% on offense and let his teammates take care of the rest.

Good points. I wonder what the Jazz front office thinks about Jrue Holiday. Rumor is the Pels don't think they need him. Dell Demps drafted him so that could facilitate things.

 

[LoPo]

Good thread @Joncolton

I think our offseason takes one of two directions:

Same Path which is likely - we try to keep Clarkson, we try to trade Ed Davis, maybe move around in the draft, and we try to get the best possible player with the MLE all while staying under the luxury. If we knock it out of the park with the MLE signing (and no, that's not Favors), maybe we get some of that Toronto fortune and contend because everything aligns perfectly in our favor. This isn't going to happen, but that's the pipedream our FO might be thinking.

Change Course which is unlikely - maybe we trade Rudy because we can't come to terms on a long term extension. Maybe we trade Conley because money is an issue due to COVID or we realize he's not as essential due to Don's emergence. Maybe we realize that the current roster is on the cusp of being extremely old and we need to trade some while they have any value at all.

If we went in a different direction, there are many options. Overall, I think the Lakers, Clippers and Warriors represent the west contenders. Denver is also better equipped for the present and future. We can't surpass the Lakers, Clippers or Warriors without amazing fortune. I think we need change unless we know without a doubt we can compete in the next two years without needing perfect luck. It concerns me that Don is our only great piece under the age of 28. Every relevant playoff team this year has leaned on young talent to win games. The Lakers maybe not as much as Denver, Boston, Miami and others, but they have two absolute super stars. We don't. We need more good youth.

 

[416Klawzz]

I'm not sure if that's true. We might not have Bogdanovic without the Conley trade (presumably based off his statements) but furthermore, I'd wager Mike Conley can fetch more on the trade market than Favors and Grayson Allen could have, or even Jae Crowder (and he'd only be tradeable assuming the Jazz had signed him to an extension this year).

The Bojan Conley connection is a myth

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

The Bojan Conley connection is a myth

There were experts that called the Bojan deal a pretty big overpay. We offered the most money and were a solid location.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

We don't have a ton of options... at least options we will consider. If we could find that rangey PF that can space the floor and is a difference maker defensively then you move Royce or Bojan to the bench and I think we are in the running. In FA and trade those guys are rare and command a premium unless you find an absolute diamond in the rough.

We really need to hit a solid double or HR with a pick in this draft. Or we need Brantley/Oni/Morgan to be the absolute ceiling of the players some think they can... and we need them to get there fast.

The guys we get with the MLE or in some re-arrange the deck chairs type trades will likely not make a monumental difference. They will help but we likely still run into an issue when facing the best in the West.

So my opinion is unless we really hit on a pick or young player... we likely are just a slightly different/better version of the team we saw this year. A very good team but not quite enough to make it to the finals.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I feel like the Jazz are one player away from being a 70+ win team, and it doesn't have to be AD, Lebron or Steph.

Imagine if they had signed Jimmy Butler instead of Mike Conley (obviously their only window was when he was with Minnesotta - and they SHOULD have traded Gordon Hayward for him - but I digress).

Gobert - Bogdanovic - Butler - O'Neale - Donovan

That would have taken care of our defensive problems, rebounding issues, toughness and offense. I'm not saying that we should go try and trade for JB, I'm just saying the next big move they make - they need to get it exactly right.

This is what the Jazz need to get to the next level -- a dynamic, 2-way, triple-threat wing to play between Donovan and Rudy. It could have been Gordon Hayward, but yeah, a Jimmy Butler would work.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

If the Jazz wanted to roll the dice, they could move Gobert in a deal that brings back James Wiseman plus a dynamic wing. This would set the timeline back two years, but it would give the Jazz another solid rim roller/ rim protector, plus open up cap space. The idea is that a quality FA would want to team up with Donovan and Wiseman in a year or two.

 

[LoPo]

If the Jazz wanted to roll the dice, they could move Gobert in a deal that brings back James Wiseman plus a dynamic wing. This would set the timeline back two years, but it would give the Jazz another solid rim roller/ rim protector, plus open up cap space. The idea is that a quality FA would want to team up with Donovan and Wiseman in a year or two.

We have a better chance of winning a title with this line of thinking than what we currently have.

Hypothetically, we could trade Rudy for Wiseman and Wiggins then trade Conley for Horford, Thybulle and picks. We stock up on young talent and picks around Don, Wiseman, Thybulle, Joe, Royce and even Bojan. It's not super exciting to fight for the playoffs, but I bet we could make the playoffs. In a few years, we become a power without having to worry about Steph Curry, LeBron James, James Harden, Kawhi, etc.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

We have a better chance of winning a title with this line of thinking than what we currently have.

Hypothetically, we could trade Rudy for Wiseman and Wiggins then trade Conley for Horford, Thybulle and picks. We stock up on young talent and picks around Don, Wiseman, Thybulle, Joe, Royce and even Bojan. It's not super exciting to fight for the playoffs, but I bet we could make the playoffs. In a few years, we become a power without having to worry about Steph Curry, LeBron James, James Harden, Kawhi, etc.

There will always be a Curry, James, Harden... it was Duncan, Dirk, Nash... Hakeem, Jordan...

I'd want to do much better than #2 in a bad draft and a ******, ****** contract in Wiggins. I'd want the Minny pick they own. I'm only trading Rudy if he isn't willing to re-sign at less than the super max.

This Heat run has kinda emboldened me not to give up on a really, really good player because he doesn't fit perfectly in an smallball/analytics world (even though the advanced analytics on Rudy are pretty amazing).

I think Rudy is one of the pieces you need to compete with the Lakers. We have to find a way to add to it. If he isn't willing to stay I'm all for a major shakeup type deal that gets pieces that help us be competitive now and maybe increase our ceiling in the future. There will always be superstars you need to contend with to be the best... that's why its hard/almost impossible.

 

[LoPo]

There will always be a Curry, James, Harden... it was Duncan, Dirk, Nash... Hakeem, Jordan...

I'd want to do much better than #2 in a bad draft and a ******, ****** contract in Wiggins. I'd want the Minny pick they own. I'm only trading Rudy if he isn't willing to re-sign at less than the super max.

This Heat run has kinda emboldened me not to give up on a really, really good player because he doesn't fit perfectly in an smallball/analytics world (even though the advanced analytics on Rudy are pretty amazing).

I think Rudy is one of the pieces you need to compete with the Lakers. We have to find a way to add to it. If he isn't willing to stay I'm all for a major shakeup type deal that gets pieces that help us be competitive now and maybe increase our ceiling in the future. There will always be superstars you need to contend with to be the best... that's why its hard/almost impossible.

We beat Hakeem, Robinson, and others when we had 2 top 20 players of all time. And I don't consider LeBron or Curry to be that same caliber anyway. We never beat Pip and MJ because we never made the right moves.

I definitely think we are better right now with Rudy no doubt. I also don't believe we have a shot against the Lakers and many others. We can't even get out of the first round. Sure, Bojan was hurt, but who will be hurt next year? We just don't have the depth anyway.

We need layers of good players like Miami. We don't have the superstars OR the layers of depth.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

We beat Hakeem, Robinson, and others when we had 2 top 20 players of all time. And I don't consider LeBron or Curry to be that same caliber anyway. We never beat Pip and MJ because we never made the right moves.

I definitely think we are better right now with Rudy no doubt. I also don't believe we have a shot against the Lakers and many others. We can't even get out of the first round. Sure, Bojan was hurt, but who will be hurt next year? We just don't have the depth anyway.

We need layers of good players like Miami. We don't have the superstars OR the layers of depth.

Yeah I'm just saying there will always be transcendent talents. If James fades you enter the era of Luka, Zion, or some other guy out there... hell maybe its Murray and Jokic that leveled up and become the team to beat. I don't think extending the window to 3-5 years from now is smart. I like Wiseman but he won't help you win for a few years.

I think we have to figure out a way to keep Rudy in the paint more. I think zones being so prevalent will help Quin add some variation. I think Rudy and DM are both stars, but Rudy has some unique strengths and weaknesses that add some limitation... but... I think you can work around it.

Depth can be fixed. We need some draft luck and every title team needs injury luck. Even Lebron has needed some luck in his title runs... and even GS the MegaSuperTeam lost because they had bad injury luck.

I'm just not ready to send Rudy out for a gamble yet. Jimmy was dismissed by 3 teams (kind of). The game is evolving so rapidly that you might send Rudy out and realize you need exactly what he brings. Unfortunately unless you go full process trading Rudy doesn't help us become a contender imo.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

The big swing would really be moving Conley and that isn't easy. It likely isn't even something they are considering. There is also a scenario where it leaves us worse and in worse shape financially.

So short of finding the next Christian Wood or really nailing a pick we will hopefully be a slightly better version of our current team next year. Plug a couple obvious holes but can't really improve on our top 7 guys.