IIRC David Locke said on his podcast that Mike isn't eager to be traded because his wife and kids are going to remain in SLC regardless throughout the school year. When it comes time to go full tank commander I could see him sitting out with a phantom injury and then we return the favor by trading him to a competitive team next off-season on the last year of his contract. I could see us doing something similar with Clarkson as well.
I know... they wouldn't get away with it this year because 6-7 other teams would complain... there will be a microscope on this stuff.
I see. Honestly looking across the NBA landscape though the only teams that I think will be tanking, tanking are the Jazz, Rockets, Thunder, Spurs, and Pacers.
the Hornets will join the tank race real fast... they gonna be awful. I think the Jazz are better than all those teams... so you are at 5... one team slips under and you are at 6... bottom 3 should be the target... bottom 4 is acceptable. 5 I think is most likely but not ideal... 6/7 is unacceptable.
The Hornets aren't that smart
I hope that Pop raises the Spurs floor, SGA/Giddey ball for OKC, Jalen Green takes the next step in Houston, and the Pacers end up holding onto Turner/Hield.
lol... it won't be by choice. Their second best player won't play one minute. Gordon already got knee soreness. The East is nasty. They were mid last year... they will be right in the bottom 7 mix.
Pacers have strong veterans like Turner and Hield (they are better and younger than Mike and Jordan) with better supporting cast. It look like SPURS and I hope the JAZZ are only teams to be focused on tanking.
Spurs are lead by the OG of tanking... Pop knows whats up. OKC is a maybe. SGA/Giddey and Dort are good and won't want to be managed... but they also have a lot of projects that could drag them. Jalen Green is more likely to lose you a game all by himself than win one. He's just not a winning player at all yet. Pacers a slight wild card. I could see them saying "oh tanking teams are selling veterans... lets buy some on the cheap and rise to the middle... where we like to be"
Turner plays 50% of the time... Hield is uhhhh not exactly a guy who has done a lot of winning. They may actually add a vet cuz they weird but I think they will be pretty awful.
