Let's start with the obvious (and also probably overwrought and trite): tanking is ugly and lowly. But you don't win **** in the NBA without star power which takes luck, and sometimes you have to make your own luck. Players are also generally their best with the team that drafted them and a team like the Jazz aren't going to lure a superstar in free agency anyway. To keep the stink of throwing games off your players and coaching staff, your front office has to be committed to depleting the product on the court how they can while still keeping an eye on the future. When you're one of two teams in a conference of 15 that have no real hope of making the playoffs and the best player that you currently have for the future is not very explosive and is on the more diminutive side of things, actual victories are more moral than they are practical. Starting with this caveat is important because it's important to note that getting in the trenches is rarely the most ideal way to do things. Unfortunately for the Jazz, this probably IS the most ideal way to do things.
Here are my suggestions:
Trade all vets worth half a **** away for worse (or virtually no) players
That specifically means Marvin Williams and Richard Jefferson. Take back whatever future asset you can so that you can continue to peddle this notion that you're doing the trade for any reason beyond the ugly and obvious. Taking back non-expiring contracts might be necessary, but in those cases, you can ask for more in terms of future assets and do it with a straight face. Here are some ideas that have been mentioned in a different thread or two;
-Marvin Williams for Caron Butler (which would also make the Bucks better)
-Richard Jefferson for Ben Gordon (which would also make the Bobcats better and destroy the Jazz)
-Marvin Williams and Richard Jefferson for Danny Granger and Chris Copeland (franklin)
-Marvin Williams for Steve Nash (and SOME kind of asset if one even exists, I also think Nash could be a nice asset for Burke and/or the coaching staff)
-Marvin Williams for Kendrick Perkins and a 1st rounder (they own Dallas' pick which is top-20 protected through 2017, then unprotected in 2018).
-Richard Jefferson for Emeka Okafor
The Jazz might also consider trading Evans and/or Garrett as well. Staggering the timing on the trades might help with destabilizing the chemistry as well.
Fire Corbin
Hire Sydney Lowe as interim coach.
Experiment
Dedicate game time to workshop ideas. Work on sets that aren't already in the offense. Dedicate the team to playing different defensive schemes (2-3 zone, 3-2 zone, triangle and 2, box and 1, 2-1-2/full-court press, forcing teams middle into help, etc.) for games on end to develop a depth of understanding. Play Evans at SF, Burks at PG. Use all of these experiences to broaden your eventual options and gather data on how they work when implemented.
Play Kanter
The Jazz play like hot dog**** when he's on the floor. His role and primary directive need to be altered. He should be shooting threes and the offense modified as such. Then he should be told that as long as he's not dogging it or fouling out, that he gets first-crack at minutes. For his mistakes short of dogging it (for which you unceremoniously pull him), just coach as you go and just see if he figures it out. This could really be a make or break decision for him, but that's a risk I think is worth taking since he'll have to figure this out sometime (or not).
Trade Hayward?
I don't know about this one. I like Hayward. Depending on the cost, he could be a really nice piece to have. But on a team of legit options, he may be more of a luxury than a necessity. He's important for what the Jazz do right now, and depending on how the Jazz feel about what he might get offered and what they're willing to match, trading him could accomplish a lot of goals simultaneously.
Any other suggestions?
Here are my suggestions:
Trade all vets worth half a **** away for worse (or virtually no) players
That specifically means Marvin Williams and Richard Jefferson. Take back whatever future asset you can so that you can continue to peddle this notion that you're doing the trade for any reason beyond the ugly and obvious. Taking back non-expiring contracts might be necessary, but in those cases, you can ask for more in terms of future assets and do it with a straight face. Here are some ideas that have been mentioned in a different thread or two;
-Marvin Williams for Caron Butler (which would also make the Bucks better)
-Richard Jefferson for Ben Gordon (which would also make the Bobcats better and destroy the Jazz)
-Marvin Williams and Richard Jefferson for Danny Granger and Chris Copeland (franklin)
-Marvin Williams for Steve Nash (and SOME kind of asset if one even exists, I also think Nash could be a nice asset for Burke and/or the coaching staff)
-Marvin Williams for Kendrick Perkins and a 1st rounder (they own Dallas' pick which is top-20 protected through 2017, then unprotected in 2018).
-Richard Jefferson for Emeka Okafor
The Jazz might also consider trading Evans and/or Garrett as well. Staggering the timing on the trades might help with destabilizing the chemistry as well.
Fire Corbin
Hire Sydney Lowe as interim coach.
Experiment
Dedicate game time to workshop ideas. Work on sets that aren't already in the offense. Dedicate the team to playing different defensive schemes (2-3 zone, 3-2 zone, triangle and 2, box and 1, 2-1-2/full-court press, forcing teams middle into help, etc.) for games on end to develop a depth of understanding. Play Evans at SF, Burks at PG. Use all of these experiences to broaden your eventual options and gather data on how they work when implemented.
Play Kanter
The Jazz play like hot dog**** when he's on the floor. His role and primary directive need to be altered. He should be shooting threes and the offense modified as such. Then he should be told that as long as he's not dogging it or fouling out, that he gets first-crack at minutes. For his mistakes short of dogging it (for which you unceremoniously pull him), just coach as you go and just see if he figures it out. This could really be a make or break decision for him, but that's a risk I think is worth taking since he'll have to figure this out sometime (or not).
Trade Hayward?
I don't know about this one. I like Hayward. Depending on the cost, he could be a really nice piece to have. But on a team of legit options, he may be more of a luxury than a necessity. He's important for what the Jazz do right now, and depending on how the Jazz feel about what he might get offered and what they're willing to match, trading him could accomplish a lot of goals simultaneously.
Any other suggestions?
