David Locke's Podcast interview with KOC

[vj_74]

A few things which stood out to me in the interview:

1. KOC threw Memo under the bus for not being available and the rest of the team for lacking effort. He did not give the impression that he was disappointed in the talent he had assembled.

What did he exactly say about Memo?I find it cheap that KOC would accuse Memo of anything. Memo has been working hard trying to get back in top shape.

 

[YB85]

Memo's injury was not even part of my argument. Okur was having back issues prior to his heel injury. Even though he played through most of his injuries he always seemed hurt come playoff times. Memo also was in his 30's so a guy with back issues in his late 20's isn't going to get better as he gets older. My point was if the Jazz had waited on extending Memo or traded AK they could have kept Wes. The only other chance they had was to offer Wes a CJ similiar contract at midnight on the night of FA signings. Instead they left him hanging to deal with the Boozer issue which most people knew he wasn't going to stay. They let the market determine the price instead of being proactive and offering Wes a contract. To say the Jazz needed to offer him the full except is a weak argument because Wes has said he would have taken less and the Jazz could have signed him to the MLE before allowing Portland to include th poison pill.

As was stated before, Matthews hadn't even been invited to summer camp when the Jazz extended Memo's contract. It was a two year deal at a good price. Rather than lose him, they went ahead and locked up a good big man at a good price.

As for what the Jazz should have done with Matthews, this has been discussed numerous times. Both parties did the right thing. Matthews said what he was supposed to say and the Jazz let the market set itself, rather than bid against themself. Portland swooped in with a deal the Jazz didn't, and shouldn't have, match. Would it be nice to have him back? Yes, but I will never criticize the team for not matching. Playing the hindsight game is nice, but in reality, the NBA is a business and the team made a good business decision.

 

[VINYLONE]

*themselves