Rest Easy, The Jazz Will Be Awful

[Handlogten's Heros]

Didn't NAW get a lot of love in the draft, beyond projections as a sg, because of his ability to step up and play point guard, in his last season of college when the starter got injured?
That's what I remember being the case, and he was a decent shotter then also. As is though in the league he has not gotten better, Not just because his handles are weak for that attacking job, but he has no reliable jumper off ball right now either. So besides good positional size to play defense as a backup playmaker, and the head to make the right plays at times, he will have to have Sexton or some other attacker next to him

He sucks.

 

[Eddie Zero]

It is exhausting to repeat the same, very obvious talking points. If you want to say that the preseason rotation means nothing as far as what the rotation is and you’d rather base the rotation on something make believe, to each their own.

Neither NAW or THT are going to to be used nearly as much as they were in the preseason, and Ochai is used a lot more than he was for certain. Preseason rotations in fact means squat on a rebuilding team.

 

[Eddie Zero]

He sucks.

pretty much has not gotten better at all since drafted, but still in the league. I expect sans an improved jumper and or floater if he gets on ball minutes, he is playing in China next year

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I don’t think NAW, and what he’s done in his 3 years is enough to entitle himself to playing time. I also don’t think we would just give him playing time because he’s a good guy. NAW also isn’t the only guy that is ahead of Ochai. THT was clearly ahead of him, and I don’t think it’s because of his leadership qualities either.

Neither THT and NAW are established NBA caliber players. If they were, I would entertain this idea that they are entitled to minutes, but they are not close to the standard that would make you bench a first round pick for them even if that pick is better than them.

I don’t know if concern is the right word about how I feel about this, but it’s not a good sign if he’s worse than THT and NAW or on the same level. They’re all around the same age, and I don’t think the future outlook on THT and NAW are that amazing.

Ochai was billed as an NBA ready player with a clear skillset. That’s one of the reasons why CLE drafted him. If he’s behind these guys right now it doesn’t mean his career is doomed, but he’s definitely not ahead of schedule.

The reality is that half the guys drafted in this range don’t make it anyways….so I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s behind schedule either. It’s just not a good start if you would were hoping for the higher end outcomes for Ochai.

I think everything factors in... I think you are factoring in draft pedigree a bit more than I would. The other part of this equation is there are other routes to bring Ochai along. You can't put THT or NAW in the G League. You can with Ochai... and it might be a good way for him to develop for the first part of the season.

I also don't see a super high upside prospect. I think his most likely outcome is like a Justin Holiday type wing. I see no reason for him to be ahead of schedule since he had a trade/move midway through his first offseason. I think we just have a little bit of a roster crunch and they know they have other means to develop Ochai that they don't for NAW/THT. When a guy pops in camp or preseason its almost always a surprise to me... regardless of how old they are. JB was supposed to be NBA ready... had a really good preseason... and now he's got no job. I'm just not concerned at all.

 

[KqWIN]

Neither NAW or THT are going to to be used nearly as much as they were in the preseason, and Ochai is used a lot more than he was for certain. Preseason rotations in fact means squat on a rebuilding team.

It means something about what’s happening at this moment. But again, feel free to base what the rotation is going to look like tomorrow on something make believe.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

pretty much has not gotten better at all since drafted, but still in the league. I expect sans an improved jumper and or floater if he gets on ball minutes, he is playing in China next year

I don't think he finishes the season on the Jazz roster... and may get waived when he is moved. His biggest value is as a $5M expiring deal to help massage numbers in a trade.

 

[Eddie Zero]

I think everything factors in... I think you are factoring in draft pedigree a bit more than I would. The other part of this equation is there are other routes to bring Ochai along. You can't put THT or NAW in the G League. You can with Ochai... and it might be a good way for him to develop for the first part of the season.

I also don't see a super high upside prospect. I think his most likely outcome is like a Justin Holiday type wing. I see no reason for him to be ahead of schedule since he had a trade/move midway through his first offseason. I think we just have a little bit of a roster crunch and they know they have other means to develop Ochai that they don't for NAW/THT. When a guy pops in camp or preseason its almost always a surprise to me... regardless of how old they are. JB was supposed to be NBA ready... had a really good preseason... and now he's got no job. I'm just not concerned at all.

Young Och will prove to be as good if not more impactful in a couple seasons as Bane has been in Memphis imo. He is already one of the highest floor players to come out of the draft outside of the top 5. He could regress if he cannot handle the speed of the game, but really don't see an issue there since he is a pogo stick.

 

[Eddie Zero]

It means something about what’s happening at this moment. But again, feel free to base what the rotation is going to look like tomorrow on something make believe.

I am not suggesting the preseason does not tell the coaches something, but what I saw would tell me, those 2 don't deserve minutes over Ocahi. So if anything that you are right about regarding preseason having merit it's that those two stink

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

It is exhausting to repeat the same, very obvious talking points. If you want to say that the preseason rotation means nothing as far as what the rotation is and you’d rather base the rotation on something make believe, to each their own.

I mean its pretty common for preseason minutes to go to players that are playing for their job NAW fits the bill...THT is a different story as I think he's just better than Ochai. He also brings more unique things they want to evaluate. I still think he sucks but oh well.

I would say THT is definitly ahead of Ochai in the rotation. NAW may very well have been on the roster bubble.

 

[NUMBERICA]

pretty much has not gotten better at all since drafted, but still in the league. I expect sans an improved jumper and or floater if he gets on ball minutes, he is playing in China next year

He appears to have gotten worse.

 

[KqWIN]

I think everything factors in... I think you are factoring in draft pedigree a bit more than I would. The other part of this equation is there are other routes to bring Ochai along. You can't put THT or NAW in the G League. You can with Ochai... and it might be a good way for him to develop for the first part of the season.

I also don't see a super high upside prospect. I think his most likely outcome is like a Justin Holiday type wing. I see no reason for him to be ahead of schedule since he had a trade/move midway through his first offseason. I think we just have a little bit of a roster crunch and they know they have other means to develop Ochai that they don't for NAW/THT. When a guy pops in camp or preseason its almost always a surprise to me... regardless of how old they are. JB was supposed to be NBA ready... had a really good preseason... and now he's got no job. I'm just not concerned at all.

I don’t think anyone sees him as a high potential prospect, which is why his immediate level is of more interest. When JB couldn’t contribute right away it also gave me more concern than it would if it were more of an upside pick.

Like I said, I don’t think concern is the right way to put it. He’s not doomed, but his higher end outcomes (which aren’t high to begin with) seem less likely to manifest the less good he is right now. I saw someone day he would be an upgrade over Royce right away when we got him. Reality is he has long way to go to get to that level.

It’s kinda like with THT. Am I concerned he still sucks? Not really, but the idea of him being really good is fading quickly everyday. If you ever believed that was possibility in the first place that is.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I don’t think anyone sees him as a high potential prospect, which is why his immediate level is of more interest. When JB couldn’t contribute right away it also gave me more concern than it would if it were more of an upside pick.

Like I said, I don’t think concern is the right way to put it. He’s not doomed, but his higher end outcomes (which aren’t high to begin with) seem less likely to manifest the less good he is right now. I saw someone day he would be an upgrade over Royce right away when we got him. Reality is he has long way to go to get to that level.

It’s kinda like with THT. Am I concerned he still sucks? Not really, but the idea of him being really good is fading quickly everyday. If you ever believed that was possibility in the first place that is.

And I just think its wild to judge him based on a couple weeks of practice in his rookie year. I see no bad signs... and I don't really care that some thought he'd be better than Royce from day one. Most of the guys that are "ready" still need some time. There are very few exceptions. The fact that he may not be an exception based on training camp and preseason is not something I would read into at all.