As of today, is it fair to doubt the organization's commitment to the playoffs next year?

[LogGrad98]

Agree. Jazz went 19-10 to end the season (that's a 53-win pace). They did so with Hayward sitting out a few games, no Burks, and terrible production from the PG's.

If Utah had an older team, then yes, make some changes. But we're young at every position. Anyone who can't see something special happening is completely blind. It's WAY to early to dump Exum for a veteran starter, or claim Burks can't fit in, or declare Hood injury-prone.

At the end of the season they obviously threw in the towel on about 5 games (Favors/Hayward sitting out). They could have won 3 of those easy. It was not a stretch for them to have been 22-7 after the break, which is crazy good (on pace for 62 wins). So I think there is great cause for optimism if we just plug a few holes. If your boat is sailing fine, but some water is leaking in through some small holes you don't get out an axe and chop it apart, you cram some chewing gum in those holes and keep sailing. That is what we are doing. Pleiss and maybe another small piece and we have the means to get far. Hood is going to be better than anyone thinks. So is Gobert actually. I think Favors will be about the same, and so will Hayward, but that means borderline all-stars that are capable of taking over games. We are going to be dangerous next year as we stand right now. No need to flip out. I guarantee you they are trolling to see what bites, but they are not rolling out the gill-nets. No reason to. I cannot wait for the season to start.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

The offense isn't close to what its going to take to hang with some of these top teams in the west in a series. that's just being realistic.

I disagree. The offense wasn't good enough last year, and they probably aren't quite there this year, but they are close. Keep in mind, the Jazz offense doesn't have to be as good as other teams, because their defense is elite. Yes, the offense has to be better than last year and it will be. Again, not quite there, but they are close. Burks absence was huge on the offensive end. Hood will be better offensively and Exum just because it would be impossible not to be better will be better. Favors will continue slight improvement. Gobert should at least be just a bit better.

Jazz have five guys who can get them 20 on any given night. Burke, Burks, Hood, G-time, Favors. Four more who can get them double figures - Exum, Ingles, Gobert, Booker. With as well as they play defense, that should be enough fire power to compete.

 

[NAOS]

I disagree. The offense wasn't good enough last year, and they probably aren't quite there this year, but they are close. Keep in mind, the Jazz offense doesn't have to be as good as other teams, because their defense is elite. Yes, the offense has to be better than last year and it will be. Again, not quite there, but they are close. Burks absence was huge on the offensive end. Hood will be better offensively and Exum just because it would be impossible not to be better will be better. Favors will continue slight improvement. Gobert should at least be just a bit better.

Jazz have five guys who can get them 20 on any given night. Burke, Burks, Hood, G-time, Favors. Four more who can get them double figures - Exum, Ingles, Gobert, Booker. With as well as they play defense, that should be enough fire power to compete.

You can disagree with PG_AB, and you make some decent points. But those points are more of a speculated variety than they are stocked with actual evidence. I think Q would be the first to say that our offense is a long way from what he hopes. A long way.

I think that AS OF TODAY the evidence suggests that a top-seeded team in the West could clamp down on the few things we do well. They could probably do that well enough to make a 7-game series fairly short.

Now, we could have tons of internal improvement between now and next April, rendering that statement obsolete. But that's a faith argument. We could also play well enough that we are one of the top-seeded teams and get to beat up a first round opponent. That'd be awesome. But, in the end, I have to agree with PG_AB right now. Our offense isn't good enough to carry us in the West. That's why I've been hoping for a splashy free agency period.

 

[fishonjazz]

No. Because we have a lot of talent already at every position and we want to develop them and go to the playoffs with them, and we believe we can, and we believe in them.

/thread

This

 

[fishonjazz]

Also, I didn't realize that the free agency period was over and the trade deadline already passed.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

You can disagree with PG_AB, and you make some decent points. But those points are more of a speculated variety than they are stocked with actual evidence. I think Q would be the first to say that our offense is a long way from what he hopes. A long way.

I think that AS OF TODAY the evidence suggests that a top-seeded team in the West could clamp down on the few things we do well. They could probably do that well enough to make a 7-game series fairly short.

Now, we could have tons of internal improvement between now and next April, rendering that statement obsolete. But that's a faith argument. We could also play well enough that we are one of the top-seeded teams and get to beat up a first round opponent. That'd be awesome. But, in the end, I have to agree with PG_AB right now. Our offense isn't good enough to carry us in the West. That's why I've been hoping for a splashy free agency period.

There is no question I am waxing optimistic. My comments are definitely based on hopes and projections and I deserve to be called out on that. Having said that, that's how I'm rolling this offseason, so that's how it's gotta be.

 

[NAOS]

Also, I didn't realize that the free agency period was over and the trade deadline already passed.

make two lists:

the first list contains all the free agents that were available on June 30th

the second list contains all the free agents that are currently available


Free agency isn't over, you're right. But the options are drying up, son.

 

[green]

The Jazz future comes down to Exum, Gobert and Favors.

If those three pan out, we compete for titles. If they don't, we become Deron's Jazz.

So, we should be doing everything to develop those three. If we make the playoffs, great! If not, as long as those three take steps forward, the season is a success.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

Which of the contracts signed so far do you wish the Jazz had done. In other words, it makes no sense to say I wish the Jazz had gotten Carrol if you would not have been willing to pay the amount he was able to get.

 

[kabenac]

Remember where DL comes from - the Spurs - the team who drafts players and develops them.

 

[Coach Ellis]

Remember where DL comes from - the Spurs - the team who drafts players and develops them.

And signs other team's scrap heap players and develops them. Boris Diaw, Danny Green, Marco Belinelli and Patty Mills were all value free agents that they've developed into key rotation guys.

 

[fishonjazz]

make two lists:

the first list contains all the free agents that were available on June 30th

the second list contains all the free agents that are currently available


Free agency isn't over, you're right. But the options are drying up, son.

True and I don't think we will do much in the free agency period.
I'm ok with that since we can't get butler or leonard and there are not many all star free agent point guards available.

I would have liked to pick up splitter but I don't think he would have a huge bearing on us winning a championship.
We were never going to pay millsap 20 million per year and he was not going to come off our bench.
Green didn't want to leave San Antonio. Carroll didn't want to leave Atlanta and got overpaid.
Love was never going to leave and he was overpaid and I didn't want him anyway. I don't want to overpay deandre Jordan to come off our bench.
I'm not really sure who the jazz should be going after.

Maybe at the trade deadline the jazz will know more about the talent level of their players and the needs on the roster and that's when they will make their move.

Letting the cake bake is not only an ok strategy..... It might be the only option since the free agents mostly either stayed in good situations with their own teams or saw good opportunities on other teams and got overpaid.

The jazz have young talent that they like at every position so: A. They don't want to overpay for something they don't need. And B. Free agents don't see an open position that they can just come into and have without competition so they don't want to come here anyways.

 

[Coach Ellis]

I'd still consider Tobias Harris, and inquire as to what his market actually is. I'd also look at Jeremy Lin, but it would have to be a great, team friendly contract for me to go down that road.

Other than that, look at young players who might go under the radar as value pick ups (like Carroll three years ago, Booker, Bazemore and Aminu last year.) Sign a guy to a "prove-it" deal and then let them prove it.

And since I'm greedy, I'd still take a good look at Ante Tomic's contract buyout. Adding Pleiss and Tomic to the group we currently have would be a successful offseason for me.

 

[Siro]

I'd still consider Tobias Harris, and inquire as to what his market actually is. I'd also look at Jeremy Lin, but it would have to be a great, team friendly contract for me to go down that road.

Other than that, look at young players who might go under the radar as value pick ups (like Carroll three years ago, Booker, Bazemore and Aminu last year.) Sign a guy to a "prove-it" deal and then let them prove it.

And since I'm greedy, I'd still take a good look at Ante Tomic's contract buyout. Adding Pleiss and Tomic to the group we currently have would be a successful offseason for me.

I would be happy with Harris for Burks. I've always liked Tobias Harris. Other than that, there isn't anyone who will get us over the hump, and it will really all depend on internal development.

Jeremy Lin? Who gives a ****.

 

[Coach Ellis]

I would be happy with Harris for Burks. I've always liked Tobias Harris. Other than that, there isn't anyone who will get us over the hump, and it will really all depend on internal development.

Jeremy Lin? Who gives a ****.

Lin is used to doing effed up contracts. I'd sign him to a deal similar to Booker and then have that trade chip in my pocket next year, rather than leave the space unused. Still think that Lin would fit very well with what Snyder likes to do. Especially running P&R like he did in New York.

 

[Siro]

Lin is used to doing effed up contracts. I'd sign him to a deal similar to Booker and then have that trade chip in my pocket next year, rather than leave the space unused. Still think that Lin would fit very well with what Snyder likes to do. Especially running P&R like he did in New York.

But he would make very little difference to where we end up. I'd probably rather have him play 18 mpg over Burke, but I can't say it's that meaningful a trade as far as the Jazz playoff fortunes are concerned.

 

[Coach Ellis]

I would be happy with Harris for Burks. I've always liked Tobias Harris. Other than that, there isn't anyone who will get us over the hump, and it will really all depend on internal development.

Jeremy Lin? Who gives a ****.

Why Harris for Burks? There's no need to shed assets until it's in the team's favor to do so. If you're talking about starting Harris, that's a good conversation to have. Especially since Harris projects to a combo forward and can cover the 4 in small ball lineups. Think of him like a poor man's Andre Iguadola. I think that's a solid investment.

 

[Coach Ellis]

But he would make very little difference to where we end up. I'd probably rather have him play 18 mpg over Burke, but I can't say it's that meaningful a trade as far as the Jazz playoff fortunes are concerned.

Oh. I agree 100 percent in terms of wins/losses and eventual playoff production. But, I'm still considering how the Jazz can add assets to leverage at the trade deadline and/or next season. Tobias Harris (as a probable starter) and Jeremy Lin (on a non-guaranteed contract) are the top two that I can come up with.

Everything is set to "bake the cake" this year and have maximum flexibility to make a big move with multiple assets within the next year and a half.

 

[Siro]

Why Harris for Burks? There's no need to shed assets until it's in the team's favor to do so. If you're talking about starting Harris, that's a good conversation to have. Especially since Harris projects to a combo forward and can cover the 4 in small ball lineups. Think of him like a poor man's Andre Iguadola. I think that's a solid investment.

I am talking about starting Harris. I like Burks, but I think Harris is a definite upgrade and a potential All Star. If we get Harris, someone's minutes will disappear. I'd rather roll the dice on Hood than Burks.

Don't get me wrong, I love Burks and I would be happy to just keep the team as is. But I would also consider Harris an upgrade.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I think we are still in on conversations... you never know. I also think we might be in the same place we were with the D Will trade where we are waiting for other chips to fall before making our move... Example

Aldridge decides to go to houston and they need to clear Terrence Jones, Ariza etc and we pick one of those guys up. Someone else brought up Toronto if Wes goes there... Patterson might be available (one aside... don't trade with Massai... just don't even call him... he's a frickin warlock or something... can't believe he got a first for Vasquez.) David West wants to go to SA and they need to clear Diaw and Mills to do so...

Stuff like that. I didn't lose one ounce of faith i just don't think we could get anything done... i know we are trying and I'm glad its quietly trying. I really like how everything our front office does stays under the radar.