I think its interesting to see how very few Jazz fans are not upset with the Jazz management and actually praising them. I have no choice but to assume that you weren't around to see the Larry H. Miller days. There is a reason why I can't praise the Jazz management. Before passing judgment, let me explain. When the Utah Jazz arrived to Utah it was a temporary location for the team as it was supposed to be sold to either Minnesota, Las Vegas or Oakland. Larry Miller bought 50% of the team in 1985. In 1986 the sale to Minnesota was almost finalized and the team would move to Minnesota by the start of the 1987 season. It was obvious when Larry purchased the Jazz that the community in Utah had no interest in buying tickets to see the Utah Jazz play. The Jazz were televised on KXIV and you could see the empty chairs in the stands. Larry Miller told the marketing manager to go out on the streets and give away Jazz tickets for free.
The stands eventually started getting filled and if you were watching on TV you would think the Jazz were selling tickets. The ratings on KXIV started to show outstanding results because of every seat in the house being filled in the old Salt Palace.
When the sale to Minnesota was about to be completed, Larry bought the remaining 50% of the team that he didn't own to keep the Jazz in Utah. During this time he had drafted John Stockton and Karl Malone. Karl was a 2nd round pick and just like today, most 2nd rounders didn't amount to anything.
With a team that now had attracted interest from the community, there was a new problem. KXIV tv station was going to take Jazz games off the air because of a few years of low ratings. Thats when Larry Miller bought the tv station and within a couple years renamed it KJZZ. This way he could televise Jazz games. In 1991 he built a state of the art arena, Delta Center. We know it today as the Energy Solutions Arena.
In 1994 the Jazz trade Jeff Malone, 1994 1st round pick for Jeff Hornacek, Sean Green and a 2nd round draft pick. The Jazz would continue to make good decisions with trades adding pieces to the team with a winning record and without the luxury of any top draft picks. The Jazz made the playoffs every year from 1983-2002.
The tables have turned.
In 1999 The Jazz hire Kevin O'Connor from the 76'ers.
Since John Stockton and Karl Malone retired, KOC had said that we need to stay flexible for the future in our draft picks. Here is a list of who he drafted.
In 2009 the Jazz could have drafted these players instead of Eric Maynor
Chase Budinger, Taj Gibson, DeJuan Blair, Danny Green, Marcus Thorton and Darrin Collison were all still available when the Jazz selected Maynor.
1999 KOC drafts Scott Padgett while Manu Ginobili is still available. He also drafted Quincey Lewis that same draft while Manu Ginobili was still available.
2002 KOC drafts Curtus Borchardt instead of
Luis Scola, Nenad Krstic, John Salmons, Matt Barnes, Tayshaun Prince and Carlos Boozer*
2008 KOC drafts Kosta Koufos instead of
Serge Ibaka, Nicolas Batum, George Hill, Nikola Pekovic, DeAndre Jordan, Goran Dragic, Omar Asik and Mario Chalmers.
2004 KOC drafts Kris Humphries instead of
*Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, J.R. Smith, Jameer Nelson, Tony Allen, Kevin Martin and Anderson Varejao were all still left on the board.
2007 KOC drafts Morris Almond instead of
Aaron Brooks, Arron Afflalo, Tiago Splitter, Carl Landry, Glen Davis, Ramon Sessions and Marc Gasol
2001 KOC drafts Raul Lopez instead of
*Jamaal Tinsley, Gerald Wallace, Samuel Dalembert, Bobby Simmons, Mehmet Okur, Gilbert Arenas and Tony Parker
What happened to KOC?? The Utah Jazz promoted him to President of Basketball Operations. He is basically the puppet master behind Dennis Lindsey's decisions.
How can you praise the Jazz management?? We have been rebuilding for the “future” since 2011. The future of 2011 was yesterday. How can you or anyone be contempt with losing?? When will you want your team to win?? There are still New York Knick fans that think there team is heading in the right direction. Will you feel this way when the Jazz are in the same situation 20 years from now?? Because 20 years of failure is starting from now, and what worse is there are “Jazz Fans” that are ok with settling for losing team. A losing teams of 4 years. Your ok with that?? Go right ahead.