Will the Jazz pick up Udoka’s option?

[jom2003]

It's not the first time the team overpaid for a backup center. From Bradley to Ed to Favs to Doke. If they end up picking up his team option i’d be very disappointed. They gotta learn their lesson somehow.

 

[LogGrad98]

I think we win it the next year with Seikaly, too, that son of a bitch. It makes me feel like the old woman in What About Bob.

Seikaly would have been our third star and would have made a huge difference. The build didn't have anyone who could guard a dynamic center and a dynamic forward. This is the biggest missed opportunity of the Frenchies besides selling magic Johnson to the Lakers for a bag of chips.

 

[LogGrad98]

It's not the first time the team overpaid for a backup center. From Bradley to Ed to Favs to Doke. If they end up picking up his team option i’d be very disappointed. They gotta learn their lesson somehow.

The team is going to change their name to The Utah "Sunk-cost" Jazz. How many unbelievably ****** decisions have they made based on sunk cost, from keeping Corbin around 2 seasons too long to giving DedEx ransom money to some how thinking Oni is an NBA player just because we "invested" a couple years into his development. Ugh. I'm going to go read about Westbrick proving yet again he is the king of the douchebags in his ejection last night to cheer myself up.

 

[LogGrad98]

Here’s the thing though: he has no way to see the floor (4th or even 5th string center with 0 positional versatility) AND he’s terrible AND he costs money playing for a franchise WAY over the tax.

There’s not a great case for paying that when you can literally go grab any number of unskilled bigs off the scrap heap for the minimum that are probably more playable than he is.

Sunk. Cost.

It's the jazz motto.

Mark my words, they will pick up his option, citing excellent value vs cost and spin it that the got lucky to hold onto him for such a great price.

The poll should have been "should they" pick up his option. I think that's how most people are voting. "Will they" is about a 95% chance that yes they will.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Basically cut his name about and replace it with Tony Bradley’s and we can recycle a **** ton of threads.

I don’t think Whiteside needs to be a one year thing. If he’s good all season just bring him back. He’s in the javale McGee, Dwight Howard, tier of bigs where they will basically get minimums or close to it no matter how functional they are.

If we detach ourself from how Udoka was acquired… would this be much of a discussion? I honestly don’t know. I just think if it isn’t Hassan Whiteside there will always be an Alex Len, Dwayne Dedmon, Javale McGee out there for the minimum… will Udoka be better than those guys next year? What about small ball options?

If it were up to me I’d be calling to try and trade him for a second and hopefully no returning salary. Use the roster spot on something else… that is slightly cheaper. If no takers then I’m declining the option… can groom him still but no guaranteed deal and he can earn it or walk.

I can see Whiteside getting paid next season. I imagine that's what he is looking for, learn from Gobert, look good in our system and attract a team willing to give him some money. I wouldn't bet on it, and will obviously require him to continue to look good for a whole season. It's still a good thing for us if he plays himself out of our price range for next season.

As far as Dok I agree. He can't guard in space and so can't play in the NBA. I'm ok with the contuing to find minimum contract backup centers. If Whiteside really does turn his career trajectory around with us, I'm sure other big men would be attracted the that opportunity.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I dont think Udoka has the mentality to succeed with his skill-set. To be a non-skilled rim runner you have to play hard. Either he's soft or his body doesnt let him condition to the necessary level to play hard. Sucks because he has a lot of potential for his role.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I can see the argument for picking it up though. Let's see what he can do in the G-League for a full year. Maybe all he needs is minutes to work on his game and figure things out. Whiteside might be good this year, but he's older so the fall off point can happen at any moment.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I can see Whiteside getting paid next season. I imagine that's what he is looking for, learn from Gobert, look good in our system and attract a team willing to give him some money. I wouldn't bet on it, and will obviously require him to continue to look good for a whole season. It's still a good thing for us if he plays himself out of our price range for next season.

As far as Dok I agree. He can't guard in space and so can't play in the NBA. I'm ok with the contuing to find minimum contract backup centers. If Whiteside really does turn his career trajectory around with us, I'm sure other big men would be attracted the that opportunity.

Most of those guys in Whiteside's realm don't get paid. If they do its in the BAE level. If he plays at this level all year I'd rather give him the BAE or something similar than carry Udoka and another minimum guy. The other option is just finding another minimum guy... just make sure if you aren't switching scheme that they guy fits the drop scheme.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Also, I'm not sold on Whiteside at all.

He was getting absolutely cooked by Jokic and he has the world's worst short-roll game. I know his on/off data is looking great right now, but I will be shocked if it holds up.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I can see the argument for picking it up though. Let's see what he can do in the G-League for a full year. Maybe all he needs is minutes to work on his game and figure things out. Whiteside might be good this year, but he's older so the fall off point can happen at any moment.

I'm not sure the G league is all that great for development. It may help him with conditioning and learning where he needs to be... I'm guessing he puts up solid numbers down there (every big guy seems to) but will it help him function long term? Probably better than sitting at the end of the bench I guess.

I think the hope is that he could be a Capela type. I remember Clint struggled with his energy early in his career, but he played with a ton of energy and then burnt out... Udoka seems to play with okayish energy and no understanding of where he is supposed to be. He's an okay prospect so I'm good either way, but if the plan is to groom him for backup minutes next year he better murder the G league and show something in the offseason... otherwise they will bring in another vet who will be better than him immediately and prevent any playing time.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Also, I'm not sold on Whiteside at all.

He was getting absolutely cooked by Jokic and he has the world's worst short-roll game. I know his on/off data is looking great right now, but I will be shocked if it holds up.

Yeah I mean if your backup center can't slow down the MVP of the league then what are we even doing?

Let's evaluate him appropriately. He can't guard a guy like Jokic... Rudy got cooked too. He's a minimum player and still provided some good things. In the playoffs he wouldn't spend one minute on Jokic.

 

[KqWIN]

Jokic dominated Rudy and has so many times. What kind of standard is that for your backup C?

Whiteside will get a minimum and maybe even from us. If he walks there will be another C available for the minimum. Backup C is the easiest position to fill and when you supermaxed your starter you should only use a minimum to back him up.

I think Paschall's situation is more interesting. Will he get more than the minimum? Can he if he gets benched once Rudy Gay is back? Will he try to force his way out even if he's restricted to get more PT? To me, Paschall is more of a C prospect than a 4 in our system. Whiteside is playing well, but I'd still like to see us try Paschall out so we can make a better decision on him this summer.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Yeah I mean if your backup center can't slow down the MVP of the league then what are we even doing?

Let's evaluate him appropriately. He can't guard a guy like Jokic... Rudy got cooked too. He's a minimum player and still provided some good things. In the playoffs he wouldn't spend one minute on Jokic.

I mean there is getting beat and then there is getting beat. Whiteside looks painfully slow on both ends to me.

And IDK about that last point. Utah likes to stick with their sub pattern where they let Rudy play against 2nd units, which means someone has to play against the 1st units.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Jokic dominated Rudy and has so many times. What kind of standard is that for your backup C?

Whiteside will get a minimum and maybe even from us. If he walks there will be another C available for the minimum. Backup C is the easiest position to fill and when you supermaxed your starter you should only use a minimum to back him up.

I think Paschall's situation is more interesting. Will he get more than the minimum? Can he if he gets benched once Rudy Gay is back? Will he try to force his way out even if he's restricted to get more PT? To me, Paschall is more of a C prospect than a 4 in our system. Whiteside is playing well, but I'd still like to see us try Paschall out so we can make a better decision on him this summer.

Jokic beats Rudy, sometimes very convincingly. Jokic does not dominate Rudy. I never feel like it's easy for Jokic against Rudy.

And I'm not saying because Jokic beat Whiteside that Whiteside is bad. I'm just saying Whiteside looked bad guarding where he had to make any kind of movements or decisions at all.

Utah has had a cake-walk schedule so far. I'm not sure I can take anything from the schedule thus far.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I mean there is getting beat and then there is getting beat. Whiteside looks painfully slow on both ends to me.

And IDK about that last point. Utah likes to stick with their sub pattern where they let Rudy play against 2nd units, which means someone has to play against the 1st units.

I believe they matched minutes with Rudy and Jokic when they played in the playoffs for the most part. I think in most playoff matchups Whiteside gets DNPs unless foul trouble or a playoff team that utilizes a traditional backup big.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

It’s real early on Whiteside but in his nba career he had been mostly productive and functional. Sacramento is less of a dumpster fire now but still not an ideal
situation for him. I feel like the hate for him and guys like Drummond has gone too far. As backups? Those guys are solid… as starters? Not great.

 

[KqWIN]

Jokic beats Rudy, sometimes very convincingly. Jokic does not dominate Rudy. I never feel like it's easy for Jokic against Rudy.

And I'm not saying because Jokic beat Whiteside that Whiteside is bad. I'm just saying Whiteside looked bad guarding where he had to make any kind of movements or decisions at all.

Utah has had a cake-walk schedule so far. I'm not sure I can take anything from the schedule thus far.

It was very easy for him last night, and last season, and the playoffs, and the season before. Jokic dominates everyone and Gobert is no exception.

It is very early on, but the mention of getting cooked by Jokic like it means something is hilarious.

 

[KqWIN]

It’s real early on Whiteside but in his nba career he had been mostly productive and functional. Sacramento is less of a dumpster fire now but still not an ideal
situation for him. I feel like the hate for him and guys like Drummond has gone too far. As backups? Those guys are solid… as starters? Not great.

Nah Drummond stinks. Everyone was going crazy when the Lakers got him but what I suspected happened to a T. No surprises that he came out of that situation as a minimum guy. With Whiteside, he's actually really good at the things he's good at and it theoretically works well in a team concept. He's great at the rim at both ends, and even if he stinks outside of that those are the most important things for a big. Have him be a rim runner on O and play a deep drop on defense....yeah it makes some sense.

Drummond, on the other hand, completely stinks at those things. He rebounds but besides that he doesn't do anything well. Really bad around the basket on offense and on defense he doesn't just chase blocks but also tries to steal every pass. Overall just terrible in the PnR game on both sides while also being awful at most things outside of PnR. Pretty entertaining when he throws behind the back passes though, I'll give you that.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I mean there is getting beat and then there is getting beat. Whiteside looks painfully slow on both ends to me.

And IDK about that last point. Utah likes to stick with their sub pattern where they let Rudy play against 2nd units, which means someone has to play against the 1st units.

I thought Whiteside did okay against Jokic. The thing with Jokic is that he has so many options theat spins through with fakes, head fakes and subtle moves that he gets Rudy to chase. Whiteside just stands there like he's barely paying attention and it's actually more effective than Rudy who bites on just about everything.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I mean there is getting beat and then there is getting beat. Whiteside looks painfully slow on both ends to me.

And IDK about that last point. Utah likes to stick with their sub pattern where they let Rudy play against 2nd units, which means someone has to play against the 1st units.

He had some bad moments in that game. The fouls and then getting beat... 2 pts is 2 pts though. He also did some good things. In most games the good has exceeded the bad pretty easily... Denver was a push but its a horrible matchup for him.

If we stay big he is about as good as you can get as a backup... if we go another route (which we should at times) then its a completely different player.