It's not good to count your chickens before they hatch. And the difference between the Thunder and almost every other rebuild ever is that they got Durant. If we have a talent anywhere near the level of Durant, we've yet to see who that is.
And the crop of PGs next year is downright poor.
C'mon, don't be a Debby Downer.
JK - you're a very good voice of reason, Numberica. Right now we're all getting overly excited about "potential." I must admit I'm a bit giddy as well. But that's ok; after all, the word "fan" is derived from fanatic.
I don't necessarily think we need a "Durant" on the team to contend. Not if the Jazz have 5 very good starters and 3 solid backups. Detroit rode the no-superstar model to a championship. They had a great team, no significant weaknesses and a few all-star players, but none I would put in the category of "superstar."
But it is all potential right now.
1. Hayward? Does anyone remember the season-ending games CJ had a couple of times? Who's to say Gordon can translate that last game into a season of dominance. On the other hand, he was the league's BEST 3-PT shooter after the all-star break, so maybe we did see the arrival of of the next great wing in the league.
2. Favors? Showed flashes as a 15-20 min/per game back up. Can he gain consistency and be effective against opposing starters? Can he develop an offensive game?
3. Kanter? Complete unknown. Could just as easily come in and be the next Darko.
4. Burks? A wing who can drive, never met a shot he didn't like and missed most of them from the outside. A cross betweem Ronnie Brewer and CJ or a young Corey Magette?
What I do like is the Jazz have a potentially great rotation at the 4-5 and will be able to match the size and physicality of any team in the league. The Jazz have NEVER had that. Well, maybe with the Malone/Eatonm tandem, but Mark was so bad on the offensive end, it pretty much negated the defensive advantage he provided. At the wings, Hayward looks like the real deal. And I think Burks will be our "Maggette" - a great scorer off the bench, able to create his own shots and draw a ton of fouls. Still need another wing player behind those two (or to start with Burks coming off the bench). I don't think CJ is the answer. And PG is a complete unknown. Harris is serviceable for 2 years. Maybe we get lucky in the draft. But there is also achance we get ZERO picks (if GS picks 7 or higher) and the Jazz sneak into the playoffs.
So let's keep dreaming, but also realize a lot has to fall into place before we say that the Jazz will be legitimate contenders in 3-4 years.
