The elephant in the room (Rudy Gobert)

[sip]

Absolutly. Rudy is back to his level ( special for youngjefe ) but Mike make a big difference. Yesterday Finch in the after game ITW say that Mike was one of the smartet players he never coach and that he was the team leader there. With young talented like ANT, MAc Daniels who are willing to learn, KAT also accepting his new role very well, this team is clearly good and if Mike don't get hit by ages ( and extend), yes our pick will sucks definitly....the worst decision from DA for me was to move Mike. He was happy in Utah and could help the young here. Benefit go to Minny.

Moving Mike was the correct decision but moving him and NAW to the wolves was stupid. That move made zero sense when the wolves were desperate for some vet leadership to help stabilize things.

 

[fishonjazz]

Moving Mike was the correct decision but moving him and NAW to the wolves was stupid. That move made zero sense when the wolves were desperate for some vet leadership to help stabilize things.

This. Weird to do Minny a solid when we have their future picks.

 

[gomretat]

There are multiple moves that looking back may seem bad. We bet the farm by trading two all stars and even potential HOF who were still in their prime, one of whom loved being in Utah. Danny got very lucky when he blew up the Celtics because the Nets imploded so his picks looked genius. I doubt lightning strikes twice. I just hope we use the picks to trade for some known talent in the near future. There were so many ways to move on from Rudy and Don without blowing it up.

 

[infection]

There are multiple moves that looking back may seem bad. We bet the farm by trading two all stars and even potential HOF who were still in their prime, one of whom loved being in Utah. Danny got very lucky when he blew up the Celtics because the Nets imploded so his picks looked genius. I doubt lightning strikes twice. I just hope we use the picks to trade for some known talent in the near future. There were so many ways to move on from Rudy and Don without blowing it up.

My concern (which I'm sure is much more likely than it is not) is that our path forward at that point, as unlikely as appeared, is still a much higher probability in working out in the end than the path we've taken. The grass always feels greener with unrealized assets because you can mentally deal with the potential and not have to see the glaring weaknesses that manifest in the realization phases. If we ever return to the same heights we were at, we'll be faced with new challenges that lead to significant concern about a pathway forward. I don't think we fully realized or appreciated how unlikely it was we got to where we did and assumed it wouldn't be difficult to replicate that pathway forward but "without" the prior mistakes.

 

[HermanG]

There are multiple moves that looking back may seem bad. We bet the farm by trading two all stars and even potential HOF who were still in their prime, one of whom loved being in Utah. Danny got very lucky when he blew up the Celtics because the Nets imploded so his picks looked genius. I doubt lightning strikes twice. I just hope we use the picks to trade for some known talent in the near future. There were so many ways to move on from Rudy and Don without blowing it up.

Funny thing is, that the much ridiculed Rudy trade suddenly looking worse for us than the initially more of a win-win Cavs trade.

Lauri is a baller, Ochai has turned into a real boy, and Cavs future picks/swaps look way better than Minny picks atm.

If the rest of the Minny picks end up 25ish and turn into some future G Leaguers and the swaps are useless, then the value of that trade depends largely on Walker and George (ignoring tanking benefits here).

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Moving Mike was the correct decision but moving him and NAW to the wolves was stupid. That move made zero sense when the wolves were desperate for some vet leadership to help stabilize things.

I love Mike but he didn't materially change the pick last year and we ended up doing really well on it. In a year I doubt Mike is able to continue to help all that much. He also may be out of their price range. It was a calculated risk but not a big mistake imo since we don't have their pick this year. They are in cap hell starting next year and will not likely retain Mike and/or Kyle Anderson. The still have great building blocks and the pick next year is likely in the 20s without a major injury. We ended up getting cornered a bit since LA really wanted Russell over Conley.

 

[framer]

Moving Mike was the correct decision but moving him and NAW to the wolves was stupid. That move made zero sense when the wolves were desperate for some vet leadership to help stabilize things.

I believe the thought was that we were trading them Mike's hamstring than just Mike. Mike is an oft injured pg with a new contract coming up. That is more of a detrement long term. 2027, 2027, and 2029 are a long ways away.

 

[Fosto]

Imagine thinking trading Conley was a big deal. I'm glad we moved him to a better situation. His effect on winning is quite minimal as is, and he will continue to decline.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

Last year the wolves had a toxic locker room and I’m sure Rudy didn’t have many friends. Winning cures all and Ant being on another level helps.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

@LoPo hows your Donnie boy getting outdated by Gobert?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Zach Lowe said this is the best Rudy has played on either end for his career

 

[gomretat]

My concern (which I'm sure is much more likely than it is not) is that our path forward at that point, as unlikely as appeared, is still a much higher probability in working out in the end than the path we've taken. The grass always feels greener with unrealized assets because you can mentally deal with the potential and not have to see the glaring weaknesses that manifest in the realization phases. If we ever return to the same heights we were at, we'll be faced with new challenges that lead to significant concern about a pathway forward. I don't think we fully realized or appreciated how unlikely it was we got to where we did and assumed it wouldn't be difficult to replicate that pathway forward but "without" the prior mistakes.

Trading both Rudy and Donny never made sense to me and I have taken some shots for saying so. I have been surprised at how much energy this board has had about having "assets" and how comfortable many are with being crappy, especially when there was zero need to be crappy. Some teams are forced into it, we were not. I guess the small percentage of a chance to get a player that completely changes the trajectory of your team is very compelling to lots of fans. Trading one of the two and building around them with some great assets was a pretty simple path forward. Then you could debate on when and if to trade Royce, Bogey, Mike, etc. It is smply very difficult to come across the Rudy's and Donny's of the world by drafting. DL deserves more credit than he gets.