What should the FO do if we are 0.500 by January?

[SoberasHotRod]

This isn't a discussion about how probable it is for us to be 0.500 by January, but just a hypothetical in to how Jazzfanz posters think.

Just pretend that we are 0.500 and in a play in position in the West. We clearly aren't a contender, but we are doing this on the backs of our young guys for the most part, so there is a lot of promise. We are definitely in position to lose our first round pick to OKC. There is still time to give us a really good chance at keeping our pick, but we are definitely out of top odds contention. What should the FO do at that point?

 

[SoberasHotRod]

FWIW, 0.500 on January 1st would be 15wins and 15 losses.

I can see arguments for each position, so I'm kind of waiting for someone to sway me.

 

[fishonjazz]

If we are .500 by january then we are likely ****ed already. I hope that isn't the case.

In answer to your question, I have no idea what should be done if that horrible scenario presents itself. Great topic for discussion. Im interested in others responses.

 

[fishonjazz]

I guess my top, ideal choice would be to sit healthy dudes but I just dont really think that is a realistic option. Kessler certainly wouldn't stand for that as it would cost him money and he shouldn't be asked to stand for that. He would likely get really noisy with trade demands and hurt his value in a trade. Lauri is probably pretty sick of sitting as well and it might costs him some awards or an all star spot. I just dont really see a chance for that option. I after typing this out I would choose ethical tank but unfortunately I already chose unethical tank.

I think I would try to trade them unfortunately

We should be playing cody williams as much as possible to lessen the chances of being in this scenario lol.

 

[infection]

We’re just in such a tough spot. Honestly the best possible case is that we’re somewhat competitive but miss the playoffs and are able to win the lottery from the back of it. That’s asking for the moon. But deliberately choosing has so many drawbacks on each side. We need to tank above all, but it’s harder to do that and comes with more cost. But the reality is also very likely that we tank and get ****ed, just like last year.

We’re in this situation as a result of stacking so many bad decisions, justifying each one as “it doesn’t matter.” I just hope it works out but I look at all the scenarios nominally and see like one possibility out of the 10 as being good (we are competitive and win from the back of the lottery) and all of the other 9 scenarios ranging from bad to worse.

 

[HadAnEffectHere]

The Jazz had the opportunity to be good though not great long-term the first season after trading Mitchell and Gobert, but they decided against that and now have to tank as their young guys and picks have minimal value. They are probably trading Lauri to the Spurs between December 15th and the deadline. Hopefully he can return the Hawks' picks and the 2031 Kings pick.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I really hate these polls that make these things so binary. You can tank and keep Lauri/Walker and play them plenty of games. All you have to do is play Cody/Ace/Brice/Flip more minutes l.

 

[HadAnEffectHere]

I really hate these polls that make these things so binary. You can tank and keep Lauri/Walker and play them plenty of games. All you have to do is play Cody/Ace/Brice/Flip more minutes l.

Play over whom, lol.

It's not like Svi is some world beater that replacing him with Brice would make the team worse.

You have to just stop playing Lauri, Keyonte, and Walker (as those are the three guys providing everything so far) and all three of them would be furious about this at this point.

Kessler in particular would obviously demand a trade if we refused to extend him and then started sitting him for tanking purposes.

 

[fishonjazz]

I really hate these polls that make these things so binary. You can tank and keep Lauri/Walker and play them plenty of games. All you have to do is play Cody/Ace/Brice/Flip more minutes l.

I think if Lauri and Walker dont miss games and both play over 30 minutes and play like they are playing then we are too good to tank properly regardless with how many minutes you give those other guys.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

I really hate these polls that make these things so binary. You can tank and keep Lauri/Walker and play them plenty of games. All you have to do is play Cody/Ace/Brice/Flip more minutes l.

I thought about adding that as a poll option, but it's pretty close to play it straight, especially since I said our record was on the back of playing our young guys.

 

[Step-Back Lauri]

I don't know. What Cy said, probably. We can see the defense sucks so it doesn't need many more minutes to minus defender for developmental reasons to lose games..You can also trade Nurkic unless you have plans for his salary thought in some roster building reasons.

You definitely can't ask Lauri to sit games; in this scenario he's heading to all star game again. And definitely can't ask Walker or Keyonte sit out any games for no reason whatsoever.

 

[slc]

Jazz have to do whatever it takes to keep their top 8 pick

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Also, remember this is a hypothetical. I don't actually believe we will be at 0.500 on January 1st.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Jazz have to do whatever it takes to keep their top 8 pick

Once we already have 15 wins by January first our chance at a top 3 pick will not be great. Is it really worth trading Lauri and Kessler or pissing them off by sitting them for a 5-8 pick?

(Just playing devil's advocate)

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I think if Lauri and Walker dont miss games and both play over 30 minutes and play like they are playing then we are too good to tank properly regardless with how many minutes you give those other guys.

We just lost to the Blazers at home with the Blazers missing 3 key rotation pieces. People really need to relax.

 

[fishonjazz]

I really hate these polls that make these things so binary. You can tank and keep Lauri/Walker and play them plenty of games. All you have to do is play Cody/Ace/Brice/Flip more minutes l.

To soberashotrods point, your choice would seemingly be #3

 

[fishonjazz]

We just lost to the Blazers at home with the Blazers missing 3 key rotation pieces. People really need to relax.

Ya the blazers look pretty good, I agree.
At least the blazers are one less team to worry about in the tank race.

 

[HadAnEffectHere]

I really hate these polls that make these things so binary. You can tank and keep Lauri/Walker and play them plenty of games. All you have to do is play Cody/Ace/Brice/Flip more minutes l.

The issue also becomes again what's the point of doing any of this as Ace and the rest of the young players are years away (Keyonte probably is good enough to play semi-real postseason minutes? Maybe not high level minutes but some) and the Jazz don't have the assets to get players around Lauri.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Play over whom, lol.

It's not like Svi is some world beater that replacing him with Brice would make the team worse.

You have to just stop playing Lauri, Keyonte, and Walker (as those are the three guys providing everything so far) and all three of them would be furious about this at this point.

Kessler in particular would obviously demand a trade if we refused to extend him and then started sitting him for tanking purposes.

No, you dont. I dont know why people convince themselves of this. I guess it's a kind of homer effect where you think everyone is great on your team and will experience a uniform line of progression.

Svi isnt a world beater, but he has been a solid player on both ends. Brice/Ace/Cody have not proven they can do that. They will lose you more games simply on the back of how many more mistakes they will commit per 48 minutes. Maybe Brice develops in season to the point where he can match or surpass Svi, but he's a walking red target on defense (same with Flip).

Nurkic has been our best rebounder by a country mile to the point where it's kind of tough for us to consistently rebound without him (there were long stretches where Clingan was treating Kessler like his son on the boards, particularly in the 3rd quarter). If he isnt playing and you're giving Flip his minutes, the team will greatly suffer.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Ya the blazers look pretty good, I agree.
At least the blazers are one less team to worry about in the tank race.

Yeah, I'm not worried about them. They could enter it if they trade Jrue/Grant, but we will see. They've never been the type of team to really commit to a tank for enough of the season to be a bottom team.