Jazz a middling franchise?

[silesian]

In the last 3 years The Jazz appear to have been more interested in managing the cap than creating a winning team.

The salary cap has been completely irrelevant the last 3 years. They have focused on accumulation of assets and young talent. One certainly can argue how effective they have been at this.

But the salary cap????

 

[silesian]

I've always argued that under LHM the franchise was not committed to winning a championship. They were trying to financially survive. As a result, they did not invest in building a quality supporting cast in the late 80s/ early 90s.

 

[Stifle Tower]

It's been a rough time going since the Jazz let Boozer go for Al Jefferson. Think about it. We lost our franchise player for...uh...Favors? Kanter? Two guys that led us to the worst record in the West. Our top 10 pick is an undersized PG. We just drafted a HUGE project at #5. We will probably be a top 5 team again this next year. We are still 2-3 years away from contending...for a playoff spot. Sloan quit and Corbin sucked.

In all seriousness, what was the one move the last 5 years that screams we are headed in the right direction? What happens if Exum busts out? If Exum doesn't turn into a superstar, we are the Timberwolves or Kings.

We are right there teetering on the line of team with a plan who will be amazing in 5 years and horrible run franchise stuck in the lottery for the next 5 years.

Our future for the next 5-10 years rests in Exum and our pick this next year's hands. Crazy.

Well, the trade of Deron was really the defining point.
But would you say the Lakers after Magic left, or the Celtics after Bird or Bulls after MJ were "middling franchises?"
ALL teams have to go through periods of rebuilding. Even SA will have to rebuild once Parker, Duncan and "Pops" are gone.

Yep. We have a lot of hope tied up in Exum. But isn't that the case with all teams that draft a top-5 pick? What if Wiggins, Parker or Gordon are busts? What happens if Noel and Embiid don't come back strong from their injuries and develop?

I think there are a LOT of reasons to be excited and optimistic about the future. But if you are so miserable, why don't you just chase the team du jour? Go be a Cavs fan.

 

[Stifle Tower]

Wake the **** up bro. It's all a formula based on perception. They sell what we want to hear, year after year. There's no innovative thinking at the top. It's all about copying a model and selling it to fans. Think about it. How many times did Larry let slip that they needed to make playoff revenue to hit his targeted ROI?

Millers don't care about championships and they screwed over two of the best and most dedicated and loyal players ever in the name of profits. LHM said as much.

Yes, LHM did say on a few occasions he would not exceed the luxury tax. He did give Stockton and Malone weak benches at times. But Utah TRIED to make some bold moves. However, for various reasons, most of them cultural, many players just did not want to play for Utah, even when they were very close to a championship (e.g Seikaly and Harper).

LHM DID exceed the luxury tax to keep Millsap. That was put in motion before Greg took over. He opened his pocketbook to put together what looked like a very good squad in Williams, Okur, Boozer and AK. Of course, we learned neither Carlos nor Andrei had the physical or mental toughness to make a legitimate championship run.

I think we've just been too spoiled by 25 years of very good teams. Now some don't have the patience to go through a rebuild. Please, go ahead and show me any other franchise that HASN'T needed to rebuild. Only case you might make is for the SA Spurs after '89/'90. Amazing luck...the one year they completely "suck" they get the #1 pick and add Duncan.

 

[HighlandHomie]

I truly believe we can't answer the question posted in the subject line until after this season... If one of our guys (most likely Hayward or Burks) doesn't emerge as an obvious All-Star then we may be headed for eternal mediocrity.

But I've got faith in DL's vision, supreme confidence in Snyder's bball mind/development skills and I can't wait to see how the work the guys put in during the offseason translates on the court this season.

 

[franklin]

The 80's were a financial issue and you can't blame them for not being able to build something.

The 90's were LHM's mass accumulating years where he was not willing to spend. Is Core4 the only dolt who doesn't remember the backlash Karl Malone got when he went public with his demands to get paid market value to remain in Utah? John Stockton was on a "Duncan Contract" and LHM couldn't find his Boris Diaw? Bull ****.

The 2000's were no direction, but they did try, several times.

The 2010's are try to copy another team and sell the Spurs Model to fans. That's bull ****. It's not innovative and they've done nothing to show they want to change the game. Anyone can play copy cat and it usually does not work without extreme luck. This franchise couldn't even trade a couple very valuable pieces (Favors and Hayward) for the best shot at a poor man's LeBron James draft.


Miller's either don't want to win or they want don't have the wherewithal to be the best of breed. In either of those two scenarios they will prey on the mentality of the common, loyal Utah Jazz fan.