HOW Did The Utah Jazz Get Away With This...

[Isaiah 1:13]

Anyone that thinks we are somehow guaranteed to be a playoff team next year doesn't have a grasp on the western conference. The parity in the western conference is insane this year and I have a news flash for you it is going to be even harder next year. There isn't a single team that you look at and think they are likely to take a step back next year. Not one team. In fact it is the opposite for almost every team. Just look at the teams that are currently not in the playoffs.

Blazers- These guys are struggling right now but they have a really solid starting 5. The bench is the issue. They have a guy in Sharpe though that has insane upside and I would put money on him being a major contributor for them next year. In the draft they are likely looking at pick in the 10-18 range.

What a coincidence then that their own and sole pick this year is 1-14 protected!

Seems they had an even more abrupt correction to a fast start than we did.

 

[HermanG]

Anyone that thinks we are somehow guaranteed to be a playoff team next year doesn't have a grasp on the western conference. The parity in the western conference is insane this year and I have a news flash for you it is going to be even harder next year. There isn't a single team that you look at and think they are likely to take a step back next year. Not one team. In fact it is the opposite for almost every team. Just look at the teams that are currently not in the playoffs.

Blazers- These guys are struggling right now but they have a really solid starting 5. The bench is the issue. They have a guy in Sharpe though that has insane upside and I would put money on him being a major contributor for them next year. In the draft they are likely looking at pick in the 10-18 range. A guy like Jarace Walker or Fili would make a lot of sense for them. They just got Payton back who is a really good defensive wing. Then I would expect them to use the tax payer exception as well to add one more piece to the bench. Likely a vet big.

Thunder- They are set to make a huge leap next year. I can't wait to see Chet in the starting lineup with SGA, Dort, Giddey and Williams. I also expect them to use their capspace this summer to bring in another key piece.

Lakers- They have Lebron and Davis locked up plus a ton of capspace. It should be interesting to see how they put it all to work.

Spurs- There direction likely hinges a lot on if they get that top 2 pick. If they end up with Scoot or Victor then I think they transition right away to win now mode. They already have 2 stud wings in Keldon Johnson and Vassell. Add in either Scoot or Victor and I think they get pretty aggressive with their cap space. With Pop being as old as he is I think he will want to exit this rebuild as quickly as possible. The three rookies this year will have a lot to do with how quickly they transition to win now but I really like all 3.

Rockets- In a normal rebuild I think they would stay patient for another year but their 1st rd pick is only top 4 protected otherwise it goes to the thunder and I don't think they want to risk an early lotto pick to the thunder if they can avoid it. I think they finish with the worst record so they likely add Victor, Scoot, Amen or Miller. To a decent young core already. In free agency I think they go hard after Myles Turner or Jakob. Turner being their first choice. I could also see them having a lot of interest in Jordan Clarkson as a vet presence.


With our pick being top 10 protected and the western conference being such a beast I could see us having a better team next year and still having a worse record.

You actually tried to make a case for all the bottom 5 teams to be competitive? Lmao. Which team are you a fan of.. as I cannot determine the color of glasses you are wearing. Maybe just "anti-Jazz"?

"Rockets have a decent young core"
Not if you ask Rockets fans they dont. They also were without first round picks for what, 4 or 5 years? Only 2 picks into their rebuild from scratch and even their own fans think that one is a bust and even the other one might never become elite. Where are their AS level guys?


"Spurs are gonna be agressive with their cap space"
And who is the big name FA that wants to go there? Pop is old but doesnt seem to be in a hurry... plus they just sold their best player in DJM. You dont sell your best player if you plan to be win now a year later.

Lillard is not getting any younger, and he has carried the Blazers a lot. Their core is not that good. Grant is solid though.

Lakers have 30M of space next year. Yay! Not gonna fix that mess with 30M, especially since you dont have picks to draft cheap rookies in or as trade assets.

Only team I agree will likely come up is Thunder.

But on the other hand I see 3 teams trending down (GSW, Suns, Clippers) that all have issues (core age and youth failing for GSW, depth issues and ownership/FO mess at PHX, constantly injured aging stars in LAC).

 

[sip]

You actually tried to make a case for all the bottom 5 teams to be competitive? Lmao. Which team are you a fan of.. as I cannot determine the color of glasses you are wearing. Maybe just "anti-Jazz"?

"Rockets have a decent young core"
Not if you ask Rockets fans they dont. They also were without first round picks for what, 4 or 5 years? Only 2 picks into their rebuild from scratch and even their own fans think that one is a bust and even the other one might never become elite. Where are their AS level guys?


"Spurs are gonna be agressive with their cap space"
And who is the big name FA that wants to go there? Pop is old but doesnt seem to be in a hurry... plus they just sold their best player in DJM. You dont sell your best player if you plan to be win now a year later.

Lillard is not getting any younger, and he has carried the Blazers a lot. Their core is not that good. Grant is solid though.

Lakers have 30M of space next year. Yay! Not gonna fix that mess with 30M, especially since you dont have picks to draft cheap rookies in or as trade assets.

Only team I agree will likely come up is Thunder.

But on the other hand I see 3 teams trending down (GSW, Suns, Clippers) that all have issues (core age and youth failing for GSW, depth issues and ownership/FO mess at PHX, constantly injured aging stars in LAC).

You are seriously blind if you don't think all 5 of those teams are capable of competing for a playoff spot next year. I love how you think actually understanding the reality of the situation makes me anti jazz. Some of you fools just love living with blinders on and not paying attention to the outside world.

 

[framer]

You are seriously blind if you don't think all 5 of those teams are capable of competing for a playoff spot next year. I love how you think actually understanding the reality of the situation makes me anti jazz. Some of you fools just love living with blinders on and not paying attention to the outside world.

I am entirely comfortable in discounting the Rockets, Blazers, Spurs, and Lakers for next year. I also feel like leaping the Suns probably won't be too much of a chore. I think the Suns are where we were if we had rolled it back with Gobert and Mitchell. There is a stink there that just isn't washing off.

 

[fishonjazz]

We could very easy be worse next year if we give major minutes to three rookies, Abaji, and Kessler while cashing out our vets, especially Clarkson.

I'm not sure we will do that, but I can see a future where we do. In that case though, we would have even more future assets then we do now.

Could we? Sure.
I dont think we do that though cause i think we want to re-sign Lauri when his contract ends. I bet we want to start winning as soon as next season to make Lauri want to stay. And i think the jazz love clarkson and keep him.


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[fishonjazz]

Fair enough. But that means DA and Zanik have to make the right moves with the assets that we have. That's the real challenge. How do we make sure that at least 50-60% (arbitrary number) of the moves make us better. Making an incorrect draft decision or trade decision this season/offseason can significantly set us back.

I dont think it sets us back to make a wrong move unless the wrong move is trading kessler, lauri, clarkson.

I think if we have those 3 surrounded by sexton, ochai, NAW and a few other ok players then we wont take a step back due to one wrong move.


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[fishonjazz]

You actually tried to make a case for all the bottom 5 teams to be competitive? Lmao. Which team are you a fan of.. as I cannot determine the color of glasses you are wearing. Maybe just "anti-Jazz"?

"Rockets have a decent young core"
Not if you ask Rockets fans they dont. They also were without first round picks for what, 4 or 5 years? Only 2 picks into their rebuild from scratch and even their own fans think that one is a bust and even the other one might never become elite. Where are their AS level guys?


"Spurs are gonna be agressive with their cap space"
And who is the big name FA that wants to go there? Pop is old but doesnt seem to be in a hurry... plus they just sold their best player in DJM. You dont sell your best player if you plan to be win now a year later.

Lillard is not getting any younger, and he has carried the Blazers a lot. Their core is not that good. Grant is solid though.

Lakers have 30M of space next year. Yay! Not gonna fix that mess with 30M, especially since you dont have picks to draft cheap rookies in or as trade assets.

Only team I agree will likely come up is Thunder.

But on the other hand I see 3 teams trending down (GSW, Suns, Clippers) that all have issues (core age and youth failing for GSW, depth issues and ownership/FO mess at PHX, constantly injured aging stars in LAC).

I agree.


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[sip]

I am entirely comfortable in discounting the Rockets, Blazers, Spurs, and Lakers for next year. I also feel like leaping the Suns probably won't be too much of a chore. I think the Suns are where we were if we had rolled it back with Gobert and Mitchell. There is a stink there that just isn't washing off.

You will be sorely disappointed if you think the suns are just going to fall apart. The core of Booker, Bridges, Johnson and Ayton are just entering their prime and the new owner isn't going to want to do some kind of teardown with a superstar in Booker in his prime.

 

[Nate505]

Just my opinion but I think this is very possible. If we trade Conley, Clarkson, Beasley, Vando between now and the start of next season getting back only picks and expiring contracts. Plus we have a reason to be bad next year. Our pick is top 10 protected so if they lean on the young guys next year, keep the pick and clean up the books we are set going in 25 with what could be a very good, young, up and coming team.

Ugh. One year of sucking is bad enough. Two years? That's how teams like the Magic are made

 

[kcgar]

poor kcgar thumbs down everything I say right after I own his boy Cy. You really are the same person.

 

[Isaiah 1:13]

Could we? Sure.
I dont think we do that though cause i think we want to re-sign Lauri when his contract ends. I bet we want to start winning as soon as next season to make Lauri want to stay. And i think the jazz love clarkson and keep him.


Sent from my iPad using JazzFanz mobile app

That’s the Disney version of the story I like with a happy ending. But there’s another restricted Horror show, real cloak and dagger $hit, where it turns out that Danny Ainge really is the devil incarnate that is obsessed with hitting the lottery and is determined to redeem our lone 1-10 protected 2024 pick. I think there was more to Snyder’s decision to step down than I initially realized.

 

[framer]

You will be sorely disappointed if you think the suns are just going to fall apart. The core of Booker, Bridges, Johnson and Ayton are just entering their prime and the new owner isn't going to want to do some kind of teardown with a superstar in Booker in his prime.

And yet, here they are totally falling apart. Booker, Bridges, Johnson and Ayton minus CP3 is proving nothing. I guess you can say that "When Booker comes back!" everything will change. OK, but, on paper, there should be enough talent to do much better than they are doing, as they are just getting pasted night after night and aren't even in the play-in right now. Also, their cap situation is disastrous, and they have little flexibility without cashing in on one or more of their marquee players.

Again, they look like the alternate universe where the Jazz just re-up last year's team and roll with that. There are probably some underlying team issues that are just unfixable.