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Rest Easy, The Jazz Will Be Awful

Lakers 10/40 from 3 tonight. They literally could have traded Westbrook for two of the best three-point shooters in the league but decided nah we’re good.
 
Elizah Huge said:
Lakers 10/40 from 3 tonight. They literally could have traded Westbrook for two of the best three-point shooters in the league but decided nah we’re good.
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Surrounding Lebron and AD with Conley and Bogey would've improved them a ton. Even Gay might've been a somewhat useful bench player for them.
 
Elizah Huge said:
Lakers 10/40 from 3 tonight. They literally could have traded Westbrook for two of the best three-point shooters in the league but decided nah we’re good.
Click to expand...
They coulda had three of the best shooters… could have done Bogey, Mike, Beasley for THT and Russ… it’s just wild they are going to punt on a year of Lebron and prime AD… unless something big shakes loose they will be soooooo mid… with two top 10 (maybe 12-15 for AD). It’s hard to be this mid around those two.
 
Ferguson_Mellochill said:
Normally pre-season is a good chance to get rookies and other young players some reps in a low-pressure situation. Ochai not getting a chance to get in the rotation stood out to me, especially for an older rookie, but maybe the whole damn season is so low-pressure that there's no hurry.

The problem with Fontecchio is that he's not used to the speed and athleticism of the NBA. He's getting blown by and faked out of his shoes on the defensive end. Keep an eye on his defense to see if it's passable enough for him to get on the floor and stay there.
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But he is competing against other young players who we are going to find out if they're any good and worth keeping or potentially trading if they turn out good. We don't need to know what Ochai is capable of at this point, he is team controlled for the next 4 years.
 
Jingled said:
Surrounding Lebron and AD with Conley and Bogey would've improved them a ton. Even Gay might've been a somewhat useful bench player for them.
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Handlogten's Heros said:
They coulda had three of the best shooters… could have done Bogey, Mike, Beasley for THT and Russ… it’s just wild they are going to punt on a year of Lebron and prime AD… unless something big shakes loose they will be soooooo mid… with two top 10 (maybe 12-15 for AD). It’s hard to be this mid around those two.
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Meanwhile Westbrook says Ham benching him in the last pre-season game contributed to him getting his hamstring injury lmao.
 
Elizah Huge said:
Meanwhile Westbrook says Ham benching him in the last pre-season game contributed to him getting his hamstring injury lmao.
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And Pelinka got an extension… I’m sure they have their eyes on Dame or Beal but they may not have the goods to get that done. Adding all the Jazz rotation shooters likely Doesn’t make em a contender but it puts them in the feasible range and maybe a buyout or two come to town.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
I mean its pretty common for preseason minutes to go to players that are playing for their job NAW fits the bill...THT is a different story as I think he's just better than Ochai. He also brings more unique things they want to evaluate. I still think he sucks but oh well.

I would say THT is definitly ahead of Ochai in the rotation. NAW may very well have been on the roster bubble.
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Right not unusual at all. I dont think THT is ahead of him either per say though. Maybe after the trade deadline given more usage in a tank commander situation and they both are on the floor. I think THT is a decent albeit prone to tunnel vision, ball handler ,with elite length for height, and a overrated basketball awareness label. He is a poor shooter outside of close range, which kills his ability off ball spacing in any situation. Ochai is almost the opposite archtype. He is an elite outside shooter.This proved true especially in catch and shoot plays at KU including with defenders in his space. He also however has work to do as he lacks the reliable handles to create offense, off the dribble, at even an average level.
I don't see how either of these guys cancels the other one out, or how one is ahead of the other in any way. Who plays when in preseason has nothing to do with who does in the reg, and how much has more to do with balancing the entire unit, not just who is a better +- odds. Especially as is player on a team focussed on rebuilding, and teaching, not one expecting to win enough to gift minutes to guys fighting for their next contract, or a chance to prove themself worth staying on their current one. I do think Beasley if he gets his shot going should be worth something at the trade deadline but I doubt its a first. NAW may very well have made a case as a 3rd pg at best
 
Elizah Huge said:
Lakers 10/40 from 3 tonight. They literally could have traded Westbrook for two of the best three-point shooters in the league but decided nah we’re good.
Click to expand...
Handlogten's Heros said:
They coulda had three of the best shooters… could have done Bogey, Mike, Beasley for THT and Russ… it’s just wild they are going to punt on a year of Lebron and prime AD… unless something big shakes loose they will be soooooo mid… with two top 10 (maybe 12-15 for AD). It’s hard to be this mid around those two.
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Here’s the thing, though:

Prior to the season, Lebron and Jeannie Buss could sit there and pretend that magic was gonna happen. Or maybe it was worth waiting and seeing. But they can’t pretend because now they’re seeing (again) that this isn’t gonna work.

Furthermore, Laker fans were talking real big about heading back into this Russ experiment, but now that they’re presented with the nightmare once again, they’re already bucking.

There’s gonna be a push to do something. They really should’ve gone after Bogey (and I guess they still could), but maybe they’ll kick the tires on the offer they were never gonna consider in the off-season that has Mike in it. I just hope if it comes to that that Ainge isn’t obstinate.

(Alternatively, maybe they wait out a pretender bailing on their dream of being good like Portland and position themselves for a different trade.)
 
NUMBERICA said:
Here’s the thing, though:

Prior to the season, Lebron and Jeannie Buss could sit there and pretend that magic was gonna happen. Or maybe it was worth waiting and seeing. But they can’t pretend because now they’re seeing (again) that this isn’t gonna work.

Furthermore, Laker fans were talking real big about heading back into this Russ experiment, but now that they’re presented with the nightmare once again, they’re already bucking.

There’s gonna be a push to do something. They really should’ve gone after Bogey (and I guess they still could), but maybe they’ll kick the tires on the offer they were never gonna consider in the off-season that has Mike in it. I just hope if it comes to that that Ainge isn’t obstinate.

(Alternatively, maybe they wait out a pretender bailing on their dream of being good like Portland and position themselves for a different trade.)
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Lebron already saying they don't have shooters is telling of where this will go. He said it nicely tonight. It will get more and more passive aggressive.

I get the argument that they couldn't sell out their future for a team that isn't a contender... but no trade with those two picks will make them a favorite. If you have Lebron and AD with good supporting cast you have a punchers chance. The fact that we couldn't find middle ground is a failure by Pelinka and Ainge/JZ tbh. We shouldn't hold out for both picks.

There is a chance they get lucky and Dame gets moved there... but they still have serious depth issues. Beal is less likely imo.

Making this failure even better is they are $20M into the tax and aren't an ownership group with the megabillions. Saving $25-40M by doing a deal that makes you more respectable will look more and more attractive as the season goes on.
 
Lakers opening schedule is rough... could see them being like 2-5 when we get our first matchup with them.
 
Still think the Jazz should offer up Conley, Clarkson and Gay for Westbrook and a ‘27 super swap with any of the Jazz, Wolves or Cavs picks that year.
 
framer said:
That has been clear since the second game of preseason.
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Ehhhh Bev was declared washed the season he ended up helping the Clips make the conference finals too.
 
Meanwhile in Indy... Myles Turner sprains his ankle on a ball boys foot. I watched OKC close with Poku and a guy I've never heard of... and I go to ****ing summer league every year.

This tank race will be fierce. We best not **** around too much here.
 
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