What if........

[fishonjazz]

The jazz were buyers at the trade deadline and gave up all 3 of our picks in this coming draft (all three look to not be all that good so no big loss but they looked to be ok at deadline time) and a couple of future picks (the lakers one and another one or two) to get Durant? In this scenario he doesn't get hurt obviously.

Now im an idiot when it comes to salary stuff and trade rules so I dont know what we would have to give up to match salaries. And I dont know if the nets would do it for only 5 or 6 draft picks and garbage like rudy gay and udoka thrown in (expirings might have some value to them) or if they would demand a good young piece like sexton thrown in. Would we have to include conley for salary purposes? Clarkson? KO?

Anywho in a wide open western conference would a roster of Kessler, Markennan, durant, clarkson, Conley, Ochai, THT, KO, Sexton, etc make the finals? (take out who you think would have to be included in the trade due to salary matching or whatever)

 

[HermanG]

First off, I think KD and Lauri would be a smashing duo. How the fk do you defend those two? Who has the personnel? Add Kessler and 2 good defenders and you have a legit concept team that might destroy others since its unprecedented to have two 7 footers who can score like KD and Lauri. Could also be a concept that fails, because someone finds a way to counter it somehow.

However Durant specifically asked to be traded to the Suns. There was no bidding war, no information about him being available. It was done between those two clubs behind close doors, because thats what KD wanted. So there never was a chance to get him.

 

[fishonjazz]

First off, I think KD and Lauri would be a smashing duo. How the fk do you defend those two? Who has the personnel? Add Kessler and 2 good defenders and you have a legit concept team that might destroy others since its unprecedented to have two 7 footers who can score like KD and Lauri. Could also be a concept that fails, because someone finds a way to counter it somehow.

However Durant specifically asked to be traded to the Suns. There was no bidding war, no information about him being available. It was done between those two clubs behind close doors, because thats what KD wanted. So there never was a chance to get him.

Thanks for the response.

 

[LogGrad98]

I am not convinced KD can carry a team like that. He had a much better set up in OKC and bailed on that after they got knocked out of the playoffs on a deep run. Then he rode the coattails to a few rings, then did nothing with absolute overwhelming star power in Brooklyn. I do not believe he is the kind of player that can be a leader on a championship team. He needed a team that had already been there and were likely to go there again. He is not capable of being that guy, imo. I guess time will tell, but I do not think he is the guy to do it.

Now, if you have the chance then yeah, sure, you always go get the best talent you can. I just don't think he is strong enough mentally to carry a team to the championship, and not a very good leader of a team. He bitches too much and doesn't seem to connect with his teammates and that doesn't bode well for sustained success.

 

[jom2003]

Durability would be a major concern. We talking about a guy who's missing nearly a month of actions due to hurting himself in pregame warmups lol.

For a 34 year old, soon to be 35, you don't go for him unless you are absolutely desperate to achieve something in the next couple of seasons. And there's absolutely no reason for this relatively young jazz team to force a short timeline upon themselves like that.

Had they not taken the gamble on a 32 yr old Conley, we'd still be competing with a 25yr old Mitchell/29yr old Rudy now and for many years to come, instead of doing the full rebuild last year.

Similarly, if we fail to achieve something with Durant the next couple of seasons, we are in the risk of losing this entire young core prematurely because we threw away all cap spaces/roster flexibility in acquiring him and the only way moving forward is to do another rebuild.

 

[Coach Ellis]

I think the Jazz could’ve gotten into the Nets/Suns trade with Mikal Bridges as the target instead. KD is not realistic, but it would’ve been a good gamble to go after Bridges. Not sure what the price tag was though.

Had the Jazz been buyers, I would’ve preferred they just keep one or two of Conley, Beasley and Vanderbilt (depending on who has to get moved to make the salary and value work) for depth into the playoffs. I’m fine with how it went down. Hopefully that Laker pick hits - or gets flipped into a bigger deal elsewhere. They cleared their books and have a great start with guys they want, cash and cap flexibility and a boatload of assets to use. It’s all good.