Report Card Time (team grades)

[Miggs]

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If Crowder does that, Mitchell learns to be just a little more efficient (45.5%/35.5%), we get this Rubio and Exum for all of next year and a healthy Sef back, **** man, we could be downright nasty next year.

And that's not even considering Dennis working his magic in FA, trades or the draft.

 

[gandalfe]

Devil's advocate here. Although I'm with you in that DL has done a phenomenal job and tried his best to keep Haywood given the circumstances, I must say that he had SOME control, albeit small. As a GM, he had the ability to trade him (as unlikely or damaging it could've been). He also had access to more information than people who had no control over the situation. Just sayin.

Again, I'm with you on DL but just disagree in your statement that he had no control. He is one of the few people who had some power over the situation (unlike the asteroid analogy)

Just to nitpick, DL had the ability to TRY to trade him. As someone mentioned above, if anyone knew he was planning to leave, then everyone did, and his value would have been low, and we'd now be lambasting DL for getting nothing more than a low 1st round .

 

[uncle f]

Good post. Basically all of our starters are A level players. Really good starting lineup. Some credit has to go to quin for developing them and using them properly and DL for getting them.
Bench is kinda meh but that’s why they are bench players. Most teams bench players are mediocre.

You forgot Ricky Rubio though. Probably an A as well I’m betting. Dude is playing as well as anyone on the team since January and is playing harder than everyone

Ah knew I was forgetting somebody. I see Ricky as good Ricky bad Ricky. Jazz win when he is on and lose when off.

I give him an A+ because he has been carrying this team on his back when the opponents are running away with it and daring him to score. Rubio met that challenge in the first quarter in LA and a ton of other games recently.

I did not expect this performance from Rubio. Plus, I know when he shoots a 3 if it's going down before he releases it. The slacking off Rubio should be a thing of the past. He is deadly when wide open.

 

[uncle f]

Oh, one more thing. This team is smart as hell in fouling on fast breaks that aren't breakaways. I don't know if I've seen a team as efficient at doing it to reset and control pace. More reason QS is COTY.

 

[Hitman]

It's DL's fault that Hayward left a year earlier than he should have. DL royally screwed up that contract. Would he still have left? Probably. But, we let our best player walk for nothing and some of you guys are acting like he's the slam-dunk executive of the year. He's done a good job this year, but he's been a really average GM outside of drafting.

That was KOC, not DL. KOC was negotiating an extension but wouldn't budge from $12M/yr, Hayward wanted $13M/yr for 4 years. Hayward became an RFA and he signed with Charlotte on a 4-yr max deal which we matched, after driving up his price by loudly proclaiming that we would match any offer.

 

[latin jazz]

Just to nitpick, DL had the ability to TRY to trade him. As someone mentioned above, if anyone knew he was planning to leave, then everyone did, and his value would have been low, and we'd now be lambasting DL for getting nothing more than a low 1st round .

Yup. I'm not arguing about what DL should 've done or questioning his decision-making (hindsight is a blessing right?), just the statement made here that he had no control over Haywood's situation. As a GM you need to keep your options open: we oftentimes hear they wouldn't be doing their job if they weren't listening to offers or making inquires to gauge the value of their players. It's very likely a team at some point called the Jazz to inquire about Haywood, DL declined and decided to go all-in last season. And that's fine. I -and many posters- would probably made the same call given the information we had at the time.

 

[karl malone]

Good grades. As long as DL, Snyder, Gobert, & Mitchell are here, I don't see how we won't be successful. We are extremely lucky to have them. And that's not even mentioning guys like Ingles, Rubio, Crowder, Exum, etc. Great time to be a Jazz fan.

 

[uncle f]

That was KOC, not DL. KOC was negotiating an extension but wouldn't budge from $12M/yr, Hayward wanted $13M/yr for 4 years. Hayward became an RFA and he signed with Charlotte on a 4-yr max deal which we matched, after driving up his price by loudly proclaiming that we would match any offer.

That was one of the dumbest KOC steps ever took. They knew the new media deal was going to explode the cap and that Haywood at his then current production plus potential was a steal.

My theory? They are as cheap as it gets plus they cater to everything written on a fan forum, website, survey, and radio call-ins. Face it, fans didnt want Haywood at $11 mill, let alone 13.

Utah Jazz didn't do the obvious transaction because they run the team like politicians game their races. If we are fine with a possible 3rd seed, a fighting chance and options then they will settle for that, with a hand on the holy bible at night praying for draft luck.

 

[Coach Ellis]

Oh, one more thing. This team is smart as hell in fouling on fast breaks that aren't breakaways. I don't know if I've seen a team as efficient at doing it to reset and control pace. More reason QS is COTY.

My problem with this has always been that it can put a key player (like Donovan) into early foul trouble. That hasn’t been so much of an issue because Ricky Rubio and Jae Crowder have both stepped up into key offensive roles. I’m seeing the value of teaching guys to foul to stop breaks and control the tempo. Make them work for and earn every point they get.

 

[David Stern]

That was KOC, not DL. KOC was negotiating an extension but wouldn't budge from $12M/yr, Hayward wanted $13M/yr for 4 years. Hayward became an RFA and he signed with Charlotte on a 4-yr max deal which we matched, after driving up his price by loudly proclaiming that we would match any offer.

Yeah that was 100% DL. KOC was out by then.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-gordon-hayward-offer-sheet-charlotte-hornets


Sent from my iPhone using JazzFanz mobile app

 

[fishonjazz]

I give out straight out A’s sans Burks. Pretty much impossible for me to give out less considering the consistent effort all these guys (sans Burks) seem to put forth nearly every day. Favors has been much better in this regard than season’s past imo. I don’t dock people based on clear limitations in their game as long as they consistently compete and are trying to improve. Dante is incomplete. Maybe an A- for Crowder - sometimes his shot choices make me cringe.

Nothing wrong with burks effort. Whenever he played he played hard.

 

[JAZZGASM]

Grade for Athletic Trainers: Incomplete. Failure to use magic spray.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

All grades are relative to my expectations for each individual player.

DL: He traded for Mitchell and signed solid players: A+

Quin: The team is playing really good : A

Mitchell: He is the best rookie in this draft class : A+

Gobert: He is still a god, but missed a lot of games: A

Rubio: He is the best, but had a bad January: A-

Favors: Favors is really nice: B+

Ingles: He does more but still shoots really great: A+

Exum: He got injured for nearly the whole year but has been great lately : B+

Hood: He scored a lot and won us some games we probably wouldnt have won otherwise during the low point without Gobert. Still got injured, but was overall good: B-

Thabo: He was really good then he got injured : B

Royce O'Neale: Probably our best perimeter defender, but has gotten sloppy lately: B-

Jae Crowder: He is cool and fits personality wise, but he is pretty mediocre as a shooter and just OK as a defender: B-

Jerebko: He is OK and a better shooter than I'd thought he be: B-

Udoh: Great defender and terrible on offense, better than I expected: B+

Neto: Neto was good: B-

Burks: He had a good little run, but other than that has been mostly bad. Thought he might take a bit of step this year. D+

Bradley: Doesnt play : C

Joe Johnson: He was really bad: F

These are almost exactly the grades I'd give. Definitely an A+ for DL. People who are docking him for Hayward are pretending to know stuff that I don't believe they do/did. DL's track record is strong enough that I believe him when he says he expected Hayward to stay. And despite the ridiculous way Hayward left, and the compromised position he put the team in, DL found a way to put a winner on the floor. Simply incredible! I'm amazed that people expect more of him and I'm happy to see that there is at least one other who agrees with me.

My only adjustments are that I'd give an A+ for Snyder. Again, I have a hard time imagining what more he could possibly do. I believe he and his staff are the biggest reason that virtually all of our players are performing above expectations. I think I'd give Johnson a D and Crowder a B+ because he has an intangible presence that I love. I'd drop Hood to a C or even a C-. When presented with a golden opportunity he checked himself out of the opening day lineup, and seemed to find reasons to sit throughout the year.

 

[Coach Ellis]

It's DL's fault that Hayward left a year earlier than he should have. DL royally screwed up that contract. Would he still have left? Probably. But, we let our best player walk for nothing and some of you guys are acting like he's the slam-dunk executive of the year. He's done a good job this year, but he's been a really average GM outside of drafting.

A.) It’s true that he should’ve handled the Hayward RFA situation better. Would’ve been nice to have him for two more seasons at under $20 million per year.

B.) Not sure how you can say he’s been average outside of drafting.

Since he won control over executive decisions in 2014, he has hired Quin Snyder, signed Trevor Booker, picked up Jingles off waivers, traded Enes Kanter (for the 1st round pick that would later be traded for Ricky Rubio), traded a 2nd round pick for Shelvin Mack, oversaw the move (and re-branding) of the Idaho Stampede into the Salt Lake City Stars, traded a 1st round pick (in a weak draft) for George Hill, traded away Trey Burke (for a future 2nd round pick), signed Joe Jesus, extended Rudy Gobert, got San Antonio to give him a 2nd round pick and cash for Fat Boris, traded Trey “we talkin’ bout 3 hour practice” Lyles and the 24th pick in the draft for ROY candidate stud franchise altering superstar - Donovan Mitchell, didn’t overpay to keep George Hill, but stole Ricky “Prettyboy Spainiard” Rubio for the pick that came from getting rid of Kanter, added Ekpe Udoh, Thabo Sefalosha and Jonas Jerebko for team friendly two year contracts, discovered Royce O’Neale, extended Jingles for a reasonable team friendly contract, traded Joe Johnson and Rodney Hood for Jae Crowder, has used the Stars as a player development investment tool for the young guys. . . oh. . . and brought David Stockton in for a helluva feel good story this year.

His biggest misstep outside of not giving Hayward the 5 year max was signing Tibor Pleiss to a crap contract and then selling two 2nd round picks in a strong draft to get rid of him.

 

[fishonjazz]

These are almost exactly the grades I'd give. Definitely an A+ for DL. People who are docking him for Hayward are pretending to know stuff that I don't believe they do/did. DL's track record is strong enough that I believe him when he says he expected Hayward to stay. And despite the ridiculous way Hayward left, and the compromised position he put the team in, DL found a way to put a winner on the floor. Simply incredible! I'm amazed that people expect more of him and I'm happy to see that there is at least one other who agrees with me.

My only adjustments are that I'd give an A+ for Snyder. Again, I have a hard time imagining what more he could possibly do. I believe he and his staff are the biggest reason that virtually all of our players are performing above expectations. I think I'd give Johnson a D and Crowder a B+ because he has an intangible presence that I love. I'd drop Hood to a C or even a C-. When presented with a golden opportunity he checked himself out of the opening day lineup, and seemed to find reasons to sit throughout the year.

I believe that if there is a hole in the roster then the gm cant get an A+. Bench scoring is a hole.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

Disagree. I knew for years he would go to Boston or Indiana.

You're an idiot.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

I believe that if there is a hole in the roster then the gm cant get an A+. Bench scoring is a hole.

This team is a stepping stone on the way to becoming elite. The fact that it is not a finished product in the first year after they got screwed by a guy they invested everything in is to be expected, and not a knock against the GM to me... especially because the second unit will look a lot different with Dante.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

It seemed like every few years or so a report would break that he was unhappy in Utah and wanted to be traded.

Link?

 

[JAZZGASM]

You're an idiot.

Maybe. Was told he liked both teams even before Stevens was hired. Was surprised he tried to go to Charlotte. Wish he would have stayed. Was always a supporter, even when many weren't.

 

[Coach Ellis]

I believe that if there is a hole in the roster then the gm cant get an A+. Bench scoring is a hole.

They started off with Hood/Joe Jesus in those roles, but circumstances dictated trading both of them. They could’ve tried harder to move Burks, but that might’ve cost them a significant asset. The roster was expected to perform significantly less that it has over the course of the year. There’s always holes on a roster. It’s very, very rarely perfect. Injuries, deterioration of skill and bad luck always creates some issues that require attention the next year. DL has done enough to put this team within a stone’s throw of 3rd place in the BRUTAL western conference. That’s an A+ considering that they’ve lost or traded 5 of their top 7 scorers from last year - 1.) Hayward, 2.) Hill, 4.) Hood, 6.) Johnson, 7.) Mack. That’s insane.