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Jazz hire Celtics Assistant GM Austin Ainge as new President of Basketball Operations

wasn't there also a comment in Locke's podcast around the mood of the players and all the losing really pulling them down?
i thought that was a good comment around the players actually wanted to play to try and win. i can imagine that playing to lose would take it's toll...
 
idiot said:
All the speculation here is good and all, but it's probably worth listening to AA himself explain his answer to the press conference tanking question (start at about 4:30 mark):

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Pretty much exactly what I thought. It was premeditated and his philosophy is to have the team play at its maximum capacity... but it remains to be seen what that maximum capacity is.
 
idiot said:
All the speculation here is good and all, but it's probably worth listening to AA himself explain his answer to the press conference tanking question (start at about 4:30 mark):

Click to expand...

After listening to this interview, I wonder if Ryan told Austin (maybe when he called him about hiring him) that he wouldn’t want us to tank another season the same way we did this season (via lineup manipulation, sitting players, etc.), and Austin then said he'd do what Ryan wanted. But this could be a problem for the Jazz if they’re tanking again next season, because other tanking teams will be using every possible tanking trick. Idk, maybe Austin has already decided that he’ll move (or try to move) Collins, Sexton, and Clarkson (and possibly even Lauri) if the Jazz want to tank for the loaded 2026 draft.
 
underdog said:
After listening to this interview, I wonder if Ryan told Austin (maybe when he called him about hiring him) that he wouldn’t want us to tank another season the same way we did this season (via lineup manipulation, sitting players, etc.), and Austin then said he'd do what Ryan wanted. But this could be a problem for the Jazz if they’re tanking again next season, because other tanking teams will be using every possible tanking trick. Idk, maybe Austin has already decided that he’ll move (or try to move) Collins, Sexton, and Clarkson (and possibly even Lauri) if the Jazz want to tank for the loaded 2026 draft.
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The "customer" reaction to the last few years is getting progressively worse and it has to be obvious to Ryan that he has lost a lot of viewership - particularly now that banking on luck didnt work. I will be very surprised if we sit our best players or pull them in the 4th during close games going forward. The real question is whether we trade our best players. Either way I think going forward we try and win games with whatever talent level we have. A welcome change in my opinion and one that will re-engage many fans.
 
gomretat said:
The "customer" reaction to the last few years is getting progressively worse and it has to be obvious to Ryan that he has lost a lot of viewership - particularly now that banking on luck didnt work. I will be very surprised if we sit our best players or pull them in the 4th during close games going forward. The real question is whether we trade our best players. Either way I think going forward we try and win games with whatever talent level we have. A welcome change in my opinion and one that will re-engage many fans.
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It's also ****ing unbelievable.

Literally back where we started from after the Gobert/Mitchell trades. No, scratch that – we're much worse off. That team was a legit playoff contender (with one or two reinforcements, easily acquired with Danny's treasure chest of assets) and had a younger, cheaper Lauri playing with a chip on his shoulder. Team wide passing mindset, steady vets, no egos…

The current team has lots of youth and little promise, plus a jaded, overpaid Lauri on a downhill trajectory.

Great job by Ainge. Really something that had to be rewarded by hiring his nepo baby.
 
gomretat said:
The "customer" reaction to the last few years is getting progressively worse and it has to be obvious to Ryan that he has lost a lot of viewership - particularly now that banking on luck didnt work. I will be very surprised if we sit our best players or pull them in the 4th during close games going forward. The real question is whether we trade our best players. Either way I think going forward we try and win games with whatever talent level we have. A welcome change in my opinion and one that will re-engage many fans.
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It does look like Ryan hired Austin to explore whether we can find other ways to move forward than tanking. We’ll see. I’d be surprised if everyone at the FO is on the same page.
 
underdog said:
It does look like Ryan hired Austin to explore whether we can find other ways to move forward than tanking. We’ll see. I’d be surprised if everyone at the FO is on the same page.
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Doesnt really matter. Even if they make decissions as a collective the big picture and direction is determined by Ryan 1st, AA 2nd.
 
Tremendous Upside said:
It's also ****ing unbelievable.

Literally back where we started from after the Gobert/Mitchell trades. No, scratch that – we're much worse off. That team was a legit playoff contender (with one or two reinforcements, easily acquired with Danny's treasure chest of assets) and had a younger, cheaper Lauri playing with a chip on his shoulder. Team wide passing mindset, steady vets, no egos…

The current team has lots of youth and little promise, plus a jaded, overpaid Lauri on a downhill trajectory.

Great job by Ainge. Really something that had to be rewarded by hiring his nepo baby.
Click to expand...
We are much worse off. I have no problem with rebuilds or being patient but the problem with this process is it was entirely self inflicted and we counted on the luck of the draw to bail us out. The irony for me is that it now seems like Smith hired Austin to take a different approach from what Danny was doing.
 
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