Do we trust our organizational culture?

[That1UtahFan]

I trust the organizations culture that if they were able to get a big time player and that they could keep said player long term. I don't trust the state of Utah's culture to to keep that player long term.

 

[MTS]

Jazz are OK with just making the playoffs ...….signing Booker who does nothing to make the Jazz better gives ammunition to those of us that think this .

You only hate Booker because he made fun of Enes Kanter.

 

[Soothsayer]

OKC is going to have a payroll of $315m this year in salaries and tax penalties. That would be a record. Not even the Russian mafia boss had that high of a payroll for the Nets. That's not sustainable.

As for the Jazz...well, it's still Utah. Sorry folks, the narrative has changed a little, but not much. You heard it in the interview with Rudy. Media expects players to leave, just like Gordon. Donovan did his best, but PG never seriously considered Utah, nor did Bjelica.

There are only a select group of players who would play in Utah. It does no good trading a bunch of assets for a higher profile guy if he's just going to leave. We have a great team right now. IMO, Lindsey needs to set his sights on keeping Favors and Exum and, at the deadline, using Burks and other expirings to trade for a key veteran.

I’m from Louisville - and became a Jazz fan because of Donovan- so I think I’m unbiased about this.

I don’t understand Utahans’ inferiority complex about their state (and/ or SLC). Utah is a beautiful place, a ton that differentiates it from other states. Beautiful mountains& scenery, great skiing (I’ve been to Deer Valley a few times to ski). I love Louisville but I think the majority of people in this country would choose SLC if given the choice between living in the two cities.

OKC on the other hand has nothing on SLC, or Louisville for that matter. I still can’t believe they got an NBA team before Louisville.

So why the insecurity?

 

[Jack Strop]

Jazz are OK with just making the playoffs ...….signing Booker who does nothing to make the Jazz better gives ammunition to those of us that think this .

Umm no, that's why Lindsey came in and rebuilt. They could have easily just retooled by keeping Millsap, Foye and other vets. All they really needed to do under that scenario was find a PG, since the Mo Williams experiment was a disaster. I criticize Lindsey a lot, but the truth is, the Jazz have improved EVERY year under the Quin/Lindsey reign. Well, I guess last season they were 3 games worse than previous. But bloody hell, look at what they overcame, losing their top-2 scorers.

To say they are just ok with making the playoffs is just plain wrong. Jazz were probably a top-5 team; I'd rank GS, Houston, Cavs and Boston ahead of them. Maybe you could make a case for Raptors, Sixers and Portland? What do you expect from Lindsey? Is he supposed to be a hypnotist who can convince Lebron, PG or Kawhi to come to Utah? Does he have magical powers to get Parker to accept a MLE deal and Milwaukee not to match? He upgraded the team by getting Crowder for Hill. I know the joke about the team KOC assembled is that he said a number of times (paraphrasing), "we don't really know what we have until everyone's healthy." And I'll say that about the current team. The bench is automatically better with a healthy Exum. Donovan and Rudy were both hurt/out against Houston. Crowder has the potential to get back to the Boston Crowder who was so good. Donovan will make another leap. O'Neale will get better. Allen contributes immediately with outside shooting. The top is very competitive, but Utah can be top-5 again.

 

[Jack Strop]

I’m from Louisville - and became a Jazz fan because of Donovan- so I think I’m unbiased about this.

I don’t understand Utahans’ inferiority complex about their state (and/ or SLC). Utah is a beautiful place, a ton that differentiates it from other states. Beautiful mountains& scenery, great skiing (I’ve been to Deer Valley a few times to ski). I love Louisville but I think the majority of people in this country would choose SLC if given the choice between living in the two cities.

OKC on the other hand has nothing on SLC, or Louisville for that matter. I still can’t believe they got an NBA team before Louisville.

So why the insecurity?

It's not insecurity. It's just a fact that most african-american basketball players don't like Utah for the lack of nightlife, the lack of minorities, the strange liquor laws, and the preconceived notion that everything in SLC and Utah is run by conservative Mormons. Let's face it, there is a bias that Mormons are weird and not even Christians. When I lived in SCAL, that was pretty much what the Baptists and other religions taught about Mormonism.

Utah has NEVER been a mecca for free agents. It was that way in the Stockton/Malone days when a couple of players openly refused trades. And it's still that way. The narrative has changed a little, but it takes a certain kind of player (generally family-oriented guys who eschew the clubs) to want to play in Utah. And the media continues to fuel the fire. Donovan and Rudy both are fielding questions about whether or not they want to leave and wanting them to say something negative about the team or city.

 

[Elizah Huge]

It was reported by Woj. He and Shams are really the only guys I trust. They generally only publish very reliable material. Of course, things could always change between now and July 7th.

That’s a fake account bruh. Can you not see “bot” at the end? Lmao

 

[Soothsayer]

It's not insecurity. It's just a fact that most african-american basketball players don't like Utah for the lack of nightlife, the lack of minorities, the strange liquor laws, and the preconceived notion that everything in SLC and Utah is run by conservative Mormons. Let's face it, there is a bias that Mormons are weird and not even Christians. When I lived in SCAL, that was pretty much what the Baptists and other religions taught about Mormonism.

Utah has NEVER been a mecca for free agents. It was that way in the Stockton/Malone days when a couple of players openly refused trades. And it's still that way. The narrative has changed a little, but it takes a certain kind of player (generally family-oriented guys who eschew the clubs) to want to play in Utah. And the media continues to fuel the fire. Donovan and Rudy both are fielding questions about whether or not they want to leave and wanting them to say something negative about the team or city.

NYC, LA, SF, MIA, maybe 1-2 more, probably have demonstrably better night life than SLC. Outside of that, I don’t see nightlife being a differentiating factor. I really don’t think an NBA free agent would choose Phoenix, Milwaukee, OKC, etc. over SLC on the basis of nightlife (by the way, Boston has horrible night life).

As for the Mormon thing, maybe I’m naive, but I really think people care way less than you think they care.

 

[gregbroncs]

I think we have one of the best organizational cultures in the league.

Raja Bell was a turd, Hayward made up his mind ages ago that he was leaving, and D Will has expressed remorse about how his tenure here ended. Outside of those 3, I can't remember a Jazzman/former Jazzman not raving about his time with the franchise.

I think we're generally regarded as having one of the very best ownership groups, management teams, and coaching staffs in the league and there's great continuity across all 3 of those levels. It's a huge asset for us.

Kanter, Burke and CJ Miles had stuff to say on the way out.

 

[Jack Strop]

Kanter, Burke and CJ Miles had stuff to say on the way out.

Kanter and Burke were ********. Miles was hurt Jazz didn't give him a big contract after his shooting stats went down 5 years in a row,

 

[gregbroncs]

Kanter and Burke were ********. Miles was hurt Jazz didn't give him a big contract after his shooting stats went down 5 years in a row,

You said you couldn't remember any but those 3. I just provided a reminder.
Trey Lyles also had less than Flattering things to say after leaving.

There are going to be guys who aren't happy after leaving.

 

[Jack Strop]

NYC, LA, SF, MIA, maybe 1-2 more, probably have demonstrably better night life than SLC. Outside of that, I don’t see nightlife being a differentiating factor. I really don’t think an NBA free agent would choose Phoenix, Milwaukee, OKC, etc. over SLC on the basis of nightlife (by the way, Boston has horrible night life).

As for the Mormon thing, maybe I’m naive, but I really think people care way less than you think they care.

Ok, then cite cultural differences as Utah just doesn't have a huge african-american population. And the Mormon stigma is HUGE. There's a reason Jazz have been successful with foreign players, but not so much with young african-americans. Donovan is an exception. But you also have to look at the family and environment he came from. It was upper middle-class. He was one of a few african-americans in his private school. SLC is culture shock for a lot of athletes.

 

[Jack Strop]

You said you couldn't remember any but those 3. I just provided a reminder.
Trey Lyles also had less than Flattering things to say after leaving.

There are going to be guys who aren't happy after leaving.

You quoted the wrong person. bigmike said he couldn't remember anyone. And add Trey Lyles to the ******* list. Heaven forbid Quin asked him to play defense and had a 3hr practice. Amnesty International needs to look into that. It's clearly an abusive environment the Jazz have.