https://www.lockedonjazz.net/jazz/l...ve-and-jeremy-woo-of-si-com-on-the-nba-draft/
#LockeWatch: "The more I talk to people around the league, the more I think about things I'm guessing a large portion of what the Jazz do this off-season is going to be done PRIOR to July 1st"
-Jazz want talent upgrade - significant interest in doing it at PG
-less of an interest of doing it at PF if you can keep Favors.
-slight upgrade at PF? if you keep Favors (i.e. what Locke did in the mock draft - TRADE THE FIRST ROUNDER for player who cannot stay on the floor in the playoffs!!!!)
-Kemba is probably not possible - he's not leaving supermax to come to Utah, also has options for NY and LA...
-Jimmy Butler - probably not interested in
-Middleton - not likely - MKE probably going to pay him
-Harris - if Butler leaves PHI, Harris is going to stay, but if he leaves, there are lots of of other options for him
-he seems to think the Jazz don't have much of a chance with the FAs above
-the only options left - Russell and Conley
-He's heard Russell and PHX are tied together and likely destination for DLo
-if you can, why not just do Conley deal now then? That's the safe route. if you can do it without losing Favors, is it even more appealing?
So in essence - Locke is selling the security of getting Conley and not risking being left empty-handed. I hate this mode of thinking so ****ing much. It's the exact frame of mind that has us in the position we are - keep picking the safest route with the highest floor and keep avoiding taking chances just so you don't end up in the worst case scenario.
