fishonjazz
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Who do you guys view as the "core" of this Jazz team? I'm not sure that question has been asked here but I feel like it's an important question to ponder. In my view the core of this team going forward are the following players...
Donovan & Rudy- Of course. 2 All-NBA level talents. Superstars. The two most important players to our franchise.
Ricky Rubio- Our current #3 to the big 2. Whether he is the long-term #3 or just a bridge to whoever that guy may be is up for debate. But his value to us right now is unquestionable.
Dante Exum- He's the guy that I believe that the FO really wants to become that #3. DL and Quin have never wavered in their support of Dante and their faith in him as a prospect.
Joe Ingles- The ultimate glue guy and team player. Very important to the team on AND off the court.
Those are the guys that I view as the "core" right now. And if that's the core then the pieces that we surround them with need to compliment their skills. I don't see how Rodney fits into that core. Rodney is a high usage volume shooter and scorer. That's his best skill as a player. That doesn't mesh well with a Donovan, Rubio and Dante trio. Donovan NEEDS to be a high usage scorer because he's a star. Rubio is not an off ball player, he needs the ball in his hands a good amount because he's a good playmaker. And what have the coaches been preaching to Dante ever since he got here? Attack, be aggressive offensively, get to the rim. With just those 3 I think we can make things work. But 4 guards who all require the ball doesn't seem like a good recipe for success to me. Someone would have to play out of their comfort zone (and that didn't work very well for Rubio this year). So, if the Jazz end up keeping Hood at the deadline and we match an offer on him this summer the question becomes who ends up leaving between Rubio and Exum?
I really think that moving Hood now for the best offer (whatever that may be) is the move. Rubio is a better player than Hood. And Exum has more upside than Hood and will be far cheaper to keep.
Might able to throw Royce into that core. Maybe sample size it too small though, I dont know.