Looking ahead to 2025-2026

[idiot]

For those in the know on the '26 draft, how deep is it said to be?

I know of AJ, Cam, Peterson being mentioned as potentially very high-level. Where does it go after that -- say 4-8?

 

[HadAnEffectHere]

For those in the know on the '26 draft, how deep is it said to be?

I know of AJ, Cam, Peterson being mentioned as potentially very high-level. Where does it go after that -- say 4-8?

The other guys are not nearly as good, but it's like, normal.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

For those in the know on the '26 draft, how deep is it said to be?

I know of AJ, Cam, Peterson being mentioned as potentially very high-level. Where does it go after that -- say 4-8?

Karim Lopez is playing well as a 17 year old in Australia.

 

[idiot]

Karim Lopez is playing well as a 17 year old in Australia.

He had some impressive moments against the Jazz in preseason. But he didn't strike me as a real tanking prize. But, as you say, he's 17. I'm really bad at judging what high NBA potential either looks like or doesn't look like at that age.

 

[idiot]

This article is extremely relevant to this thread. I'm just not sure how much of this is based on intel from the front office or just her opinions:

State of the Utah Jazz’s rebuild: Just how long is this going to take?

How long until the Jazz start winning games? What happens next year?

www.deseret.com

Great article. Thanks for the post. Andy Larsen seems to suggest that it's in line with what he's hearing behind the scenes as well.

It seems that the Jazz are heading toward a (somewhat deliberate, slow) total teardown in order to try to finish bottom-3 at least two years in a row. I'm wondering what's the best results from such a teardown have been from other teams?

Maybe the best example is Cleveland (in various iterations)? I don't think OKC can count, as they really didn't fully tear down, and only got one top-5 pick that (and is still only the second or third best player on the team). Certainly the Duncan Spurs don't count. Maybe current Detroit (we'll see how far they can go)? Certainly The Process 76ers, who maxed out with 2nd-round appearances. Maybe the current Spurs, who like us spent two seasons with win totals in the 30s, before getting down to the 20s? I don't remember how much the Wade-drafting Heat was the product of a total teardown.

Are there others you can think of?

 

[KqWIN]

I don't really even care about historical precedent, I think what matters is the actual decision in front of us. If not tank, what then? Whatever another team did before us isn't really relevant unless they faced a similar decision. I don't even think our decision needs to be centered around the tank/no tank framework....we probably consider the draft too much in our team building considerations. Important questions are what we do with the vets and what we do with our stockpile of assets.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Great article. Thanks for the post. Andy Larsen seems to suggest that it's in line with what he's hearing behind the scenes as well.

It seems that the Jazz are heading toward a (somewhat deliberate, slow) total teardown in order to try to finish bottom-3 at least two years in a row. I'm wondering what's the best results from such a teardown have been from other teams?

Maybe the best example is Cleveland (in various iterations)? I don't think OKC can count, as they really didn't fully tear down, and only got one top-5 pick that (and is still only the second or third best player on the team). Certainly the Duncan Spurs don't count. Maybe current Detroit (we'll see how far they can go)? Certainly The Process 76ers, who maxed out with 2nd-round appearances. Maybe the current Spurs, who like us spent two seasons with win totals in the 30s, before getting down to the 20s? I don't remember how much the Wade-drafting Heat was the product of a total teardown.

Are there others you can think of?

The Sonics/Thunder post Ray Allen immediately comes to mind.

 

[idiot]

The Sonics/Thunder post Ray Allen immediately comes to mind.

Yeah, of all of the teams that coulda/shoulda gotten to the top, they're probably #1

 

[KqWIN]

Having potentially 3 guys in the 2026 draft on Flagg's level makes tanking even more appealing because you have much better odds to get at least one of them. We'll see if they all live up to expectations like Flagg has, but thats part of the calculation here.

I know I keep posting contradictory stuff here, but that's because I don't think the answer to this is easy.

Is it difficult for the emotional reasons? Tanking absolutely sucks so I won't quabble with anyone who doesn't want to do that, but from an unemotional standpoint I don't really know what the other plan is? Do we stand pat as we are? Do we try to go for a Fox/Ingram level player and try to win more?

 

[fishonjazz]

Is it difficult for the emotional reasons?

Yep. For the fun reasons. For the joy reasons. For the love of jazz basketball reasons.
I'm the guy who never missed a jazz game. Didn't matter if it was pre season, or summer league or a game enes kanter was playing in Europe.

Now i miss games all the time.
I miss living and dying by each game. Being excited for each game. Watching the games standing up and pacing and jumping up and down and yelling in my living room. I miss being super bummed when the jazz have 3 days off in a row.

 

[NUMBERICA]

This article is extremely relevant to this thread. I'm just not sure how much of this is based on intel from the front office or just her opinions:

State of the Utah Jazz’s rebuild: Just how long is this going to take?

How long until the Jazz start winning games? What happens next year?

www.deseret.com

Finally read the piece: holy smokes. These cats are locked in on tanking next year more than I thought. Sounds like we should continue to consider the possibility of trading Kessler (and/or Lauri) if it gets in the way of tanking again next year.

 

[fishonjazz]

Finally read the piece: holy smokes. These cats are locked in on tanking next year more than I thought. Sounds like we should continue to consider the possibility of trading Kessler (and/or Lauri) if it gets in the way of tanking again next year.

Trading Kessler just seems weird. I feel like the reason for tanking is to get really good young players on similar timelines.
Basically you are tanking to get players like Kessler.