The off-season strategies (Jazz have limited options)

[LoPo]

Even if we moved Rudy it would be hard for us to get to the bottom 7. Unless both Rudy and DM are hurt I don't see how you get there. I could see us trading Rudy and just missing out on the playoffs in the West (it will be a damned bloodbath). Giving a late lotto pick would be kinda sad for DL to do. You shouldn't make decisions based on sunk costs but I don't believe DL is a full subscriber to that ideal.

I would hate to give up a late lottery pick, but if our massively aging roster falls off a cliff after next season, we could end up giving up a really high pick in 2022.

We are literally risking everything in 2022 if we don't have Conley or Rudy under contract going into summer 2021. I can't believe we had to give up that pick to get Conley. Our FO was so stupid. We were negotiating against ourselves.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I would hate to give up a late lottery pick, but if our massively aging roster falls off a cliff after next season, we could end up giving up a really high pick in 2022.

We are literally risking everything in 2022 if we don't have Conley or Rudy under contract going into summer 2021. I can't believe we had to give up that pick to get Conley. Our FO was so stupid. We were negotiating against ourselves.

Its us locking in on one guy again imo. It was one pick too many to offer... then he didn't have a good year. Its the premium plus the disappointment that makes it tough.

 

[Jazzmix]

One thing that worries me is DL isn’t always the strongest negotiator and may just give him the full max for past performance. 4/140 isn’t catastrophic but it makes him less tradeable if there is a need to pivot.

We overpaid Exum, gave loyalty bonus extension to Ingles (that's the only explanation to me).. It doesn't inspire confidence in that matter.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I've decided the hate has gone too far on Bledsoe. He has some really desirable traits I'd want in a backcourt mate with DM. The right type of deal is probably too tricky to pull off but if you flipped Conley for Bledsoe and something (cap space, a draft pick, a useful player) I'd be good with that.

I know, I know... he can't hit shots in the post season... his team is still better with him on the court than off it. Lakers just won the title with Danny Green, who has struggled shooting at times in the postseason, Caruso, and Rondo on the perimeter. I just think Bledsoe fits so much better with DM and JC and can handle the matchups that Royce and Joe struggle with.

 

[Joncolton]

Bill is like super sure we are trading him... I’d place the chances at like less than 5%.

 

[DasJazz]

https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2020/9/5/21332275/the-pistons-dont-need-to-re-sign-christian-wood

Interesting take on Wood from the Pistons side. If they indeed see it as ground zero would they prefer expiring salary and pick for Wood?

Say we offered Ed and TB plus our first that conveys 2 years after the one we owe to Memphis... so 2023 on. Make it top 10 protected for the entire time. Would be a somewhat valuable pick since its a ways out.

Would you do it?
Using those guys we could offer something around 4/55M... Is that enough?

I could see Charlotte or Detroit offering a little more than that but would he rather be in a winning situation if the money was close? Hornets are rumored to want Wiseman and I think they could move to #1 easily if they wanted to.

Even if Wood didn't start you could mix him in to get 25 -30 minutes a game. Games against big teams he could start... if things are working well with him and Rudy then you make a permanent change.

I would do this trade for sure. Like it or not, Jazz are essentially in a win now situation.

 

[NAOS]

I've decided the hate has gone too far on Bledsoe. He has some really desirable traits I'd want in a backcourt mate with DM. The right type of deal is probably too tricky to pull off but if you flipped Conley for Bledsoe and something (cap space, a draft pick, a useful player) I'd be good with that.

I know, I know... he can't hit shots in the post season... his team is still better with him on the court than off it. Lakers just won the title with Danny Green, who has struggled shooting at times in the postseason, Caruso, and Rondo on the perimeter. I just think Bledsoe fits so much better with DM and JC and can handle the matchups that Royce and Joe struggle with.

I could be fine with Bledsoe depending on how we used the cap space + depending on what other minor assets we got by moving Conley.

Without those things turning out pretty well, then I’d rather add a couple of rugged defenders like Harrison and Craig, and then hope that Conley moves to the bench for maximum impact.

 

[jom2003]

I would argue that it might be better to lose it in next year rather than tempt fate in the later years. If Rudy leaves in 2021, gets hurt, regresses in a hurry like many other 30+ bigs, we could give away a really, really good pick to Memphis. Or Don could demand out and others could have really off years.

2021 first round draft pick to Memphis
Utah's 1st round pick to Memphis protected for selections 1-7 and 15-30 in 2021, 1-6 in 2022, 1-3 in 2023 and 1 in 2024; if Utah has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Memphis by 2024, then Utah will instead convey its 2025 2nd round pick and 2026 2nd round pick to Memphis [Memphis-Utah, 7/6/2019]

Yep. Next season we will make some trade to get younger and more athletic, end up 9th or 10th in the West and barely miss the playoff(our odds aren't great from the start anyways considering how old our roster is and 6 playoff spots are already locked by Lakers Clippers Nuggets Rockets Mavs and Warriors so we have to compete against Blazers and Suns for the remaining 2), probably fire Quin midseason to be the scapegoat for our FO's failure and get one of the assist like Dell Demps to be the interim, give that late lotto pick to Memphis, and rebuild a team around DM to compete for the next 5 years.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I could be fine with Bledsoe depending on how we used the cap space + depending on what other minor assets we got by moving Conley.

Without those things turning out pretty well, then I’d rather add a couple of rugged defenders like Harrison and Craig, and then hope that Conley moves to the bench for maximum impact.

I just think with DM, Mike, Joe, JC you have no really good point of attack defenders and Bled may be the best in the league at it. Like the idea of adding Shaq or Craig but they are 15 minute guys and we need a 30 minute guy.

Bled may be the best in the league at navigating screens... is able to top lock for a dropping big (Rudy) and still get back and contest the mid range shot. I think the shooting is an issue, but its an issue that is complicated by their other main ball handler not being a shooter off the dribble or as a spot up guy. They also don't have as many shooters as we do.

I've been listening to a lot of pods and heard Mike brought up by Sam Vecenie and James Edwards as a guy that would fit what Milwaukee needs. Most don't think Milwaukee goes the CP3 route (I am 80% sure he ends up a Laker). I was initially thinking a three team scenario but they might want to do a direct deal. We can't create space in that scenario but we can get a little further from the luxury tax. A deal with Bled, Illyasova, and Lopez plus the #24 pick this year for Conley could work. Illyasova is a Niang upgrade imo... Lopez was trashy last year but has been okay in other years. Could sub in Wilson for Lopez if you wanted. Would have a lot of expiring salaries for a second deal if something interesting came up.

Could still use MLE but would be in the tax in 2022. Paying the tax once every 10-15 years to be competitive is fine. They would also have ways to get out of it if the team sucks. With everyone hoarding space for 2021 FA we should consider spending now if something good comes up.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Bledsoe also isn't a dud offensively. Gets to the line a lot... gets into the paint and has one of the best shooting percentages in the paint for a guard. He actually scores at a higher clip and more efficiently than Mike did last year. He might not make others lives easier though like Mike does with his shooting. I just think Bled's D > Mike's O (I know what I did there and I'm fine with it)

 

[NAOS]

I just think with DM, Mike, Joe, JC you have no really good point of attack defenders and Bled may be the best in the league at it. Like the idea of adding Shaq or Craig but they are 15 minute guys and we need a 30 minute guy.

Bled may be the best in the league at navigating screens... is able to top lock for a dropping big (Rudy) and still get back and contest the mid range shot. I think the shooting is an issue, but its an issue that is complicated by their other main ball handler not being a shooter off the dribble or as a spot up guy. They also don't have as many shooters as we do.

I've been listening to a lot of pods and heard Mike brought up by Sam Vecenie and James Edwards as a guy that would fit what Milwaukee needs. Most don't think Milwaukee goes the CP3 route (I am 80% sure he ends up a Laker). I was initially thinking a three team scenario but they might want to do a direct deal. We can't create space in that scenario but we can get a little further from the luxury tax. A deal with Bled, Illyasova, and Lopez plus the #24 pick this year for Conley could work. Illyasova is a Niang upgrade imo... Lopez was trashy last year but has been okay in other years. Could sub in Wilson for Lopez if you wanted. Would have a lot of expiring salaries for a second deal if something interesting came up.

Could still use MLE but would be in the tax in 2022. Paying the tax once every 10-15 years to be competitive is fine. They would also have ways to get out of it if the team sucks. With everyone hoarding space for 2021 FA we should consider spending now if something good comes up.

I assume you’re taking about Brooke Lopez?

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I assume you’re taking about Brooke Lopez?

Nope Robin