OKC - How do they do it?

[Saint Cy of JFC]

When did THabeet become intriguing?

 

[BluesRocker]

When did THabeet become intriguing?

I guess busting once isn't enough.

 

[Stifle Tower]

They value high lottery picks over washed up vets. And were willing to be bad for a few years. Something Utah is not willing to do.

Yep. Imagine had Corbin just been told by management to play and develop the young guys this past season. Utah would have had a lottery pick this year. Take your pick between Marshall and Lamb. Would that have been better than a couple more games at the ESA getting pounded by SA? Or decide this season to start the youth movement by trading away Millsap AND Jefferson for picks and young prospects. Utah would miss the playoffs and have perhaps 2 lottery picks (their own & GS') and also 2 mid-first rounders for Millsap and Jefferson.

So you have young starters in Favors, Kanter, Marvin Williams and Hayward anchored by a veteran in Williams. Burks is the 6th man (or Williams or Hayward) if Alec starts. Next season, the Jazz would potentially have 4 picks to use. You could probably trade the picks 2-1, if desired, to get a couple of top-10 picks. Plus have a boatload of cap space.

On the other hand, you can stay competitive, make the playoffs and rely on signing a couple of very good FA's next season to take the next step. Perhaps a higher risk/reward in the first scenario as the picks next year could turn into the next Stockton and Malone. Or they could turn into the next Humphries and Snyder. But we also need to see if having cap space pans out next season. Who will be available? I'm not counting on CP3 or Howard to sign with Utah, but can we get a guy like Boozer or Memo, players who were undervalued by their teams and came to Utah because we could pay them more than anyone else could.

Personally, I favor the 2nd strategy. Utah already has a young core (except at PG). Even OKC traded away one of their youngsters to add a young vet in Perkins. We need more solid vets - and I mean guys with skills - not dregs like Bell. Combine a couple of vet starters/6th-man types with the young core (provided those 4 develop) and I think we will be challenging OKC in a couple of years.