You may be right. I've been racking my brain trying to figure out a better win-now strategy, and I just can't think of a better idea than trading away cap space for future unprotected 1st rounders. The Jazz are clearly serious about going all in on winning this year, and getting back into being relevant again by grabbing that 8th seed or (dare I dream?) possibly even the 7th. I say good for them. It really makes no sense to be making future-minded moves when the team is as close as they are to being real contenders. It's like the song says: "Try and enjoy the here and now, the future will take care of itself somehow, the grass is never greener over there."
Good point. Last thing we want is for something to happen like OKC with Harden. Talk about a nightmare.
First off, tanking isn't about throwing games on purpose. It's about making moves that increase your odds of losing, during a time when those odds are pretty good anyway. Sure, there's plenty of grey area to argue about between the black and white, but it still comes down to splitting hairs. The Jazz are not going to come out of the gates trying to lose games by benching their best players with fake injuries, or anything silly like that. If this team can come together and figure out how to win, of course they'll try and go as far as they can. However, things will change if/once the team is mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. That's how the majority of tanking happens anyway, and it's extremely common. That doesn't mean they're going to fake injuries, but you can bet they will err on the side of caution if their starters are banged up whatsoever. Let's just put it that way.
As for how good Utah is at tanking, last time around they targeted a position were they could come away with one of two PGs. Despite getting bumped back two spots, they still came away with their man. No doubt Utah was lucky that Portland bit, but there was nothing lucky about the fact KOC had prepared for the worst, and was still able to grab Deron when we should have missed him. Coming away with the #1 pick is obviously a much tougher task to pull off, but if Utah isn't in playoff contention this year, get ready to have your bright, shiny image of their nobleness completely shattered.
