Too Many Question Marks

[Handlogten's Heros]

We need more actual projects, the ones like Denver's OPJ and Bol Bol whom their development team will be ecstatic about. Not guys whom everyone know that won't be anything more than your end of bench.

Middle tier projects are also solid. Guys like Royce that can be solid wings at a bargain price are great bets to make. Doesn't have to be wild upside picks.

I do agree though NWG and TB were always WTF is the plan with these guys? NWG doesn't matter much if we just cut him this year but investing a pick, a roster spot for 4 years, and some small cap resources for a guy that at best will be an average backup center with no real differentiating skill is straight dumb.

It is okay to miss on late first round picks... just miss smarter.

 

[jom2003]

You have a weirdly specific definition of a project. There are different types obviously. Niang is a fine roster filler break in case of emergency guy. He does some good things. I do get your point with some of our projects like the 5-6 year pathway to developing Bradley into a average backup center or keeping NWG on the roster because... I don't know... we should have waived him midseason. the other projects make sense... but only if you give them some PT.

The only three projects on this team right now are Morgan, Bradley and Brantley because of their physical profile. But I'm less convinced on Bradley now because of his lack of explosiveness and verticality. Physicality and size are the things I see as foundation to players development since they are what separate NBA players from other basketball players AND these are the things that your coaches can't teach. It is no coincidence to see two of our best players rudy and DM also being the two most physically gifted players on this team.

 

[jom2003]

Middle tier projects are also solid. Guys like Royce that can be solid wings at a bargain price are great bets to make. Doesn't have to be wild upside picks.

I do agree though NWG and TB were always WTF is the plan with these guys? NWG doesn't matter much if we just cut him this year but investing a pick, a roster spot for 4 years, and some small cap resources for a guy that at best will be an average backup center with no real differentiating skill is straight dumb.

It is okay to miss on late first round picks... just miss smarter.

There will always be exception to those rules as we see with Royce and Ingles but we also have seen their physical limitations costing us in playoffs. This team needs physical talents in the worst way right now.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

There will always be exception to those rules as we see with Royce and Ingles but we also have seen their physical limitations costing us in playoffs. This team needs physical talents in the worst way right now.

Lots of guys have popped in that solid wing role that were undrafted or second round picks. Oni is a guy that could be a good wing... has size and athleticism. Problem is... he didn't see the court. I think you have to invest 8 minutes a night in guys like that to see what they can do and help them get comfortable.

I think the front office and coaches need to be a little more lined up when it comes to some of this stuff. Miami, Toronto, Boston, all have young guys in their rotation that they invested playing time in this season and they received dividends in the playoffs.

Not sure who comes back next year, but we really have no sense if any of them are keepers except Morgan. Now there is even more pressure to find ready to use additions as well. Just adds some limitations.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I dont see it.

Jazz have a lot of certainties.

DL's job is pretty freaking easy this year, at least as decision making. He has to make some improvements on the margins and assess where guys like Morgan/Brantley/Oni are. Bradley should be an easy dump/look to upgrade, but everything else is pretty much gravy. Obviously the challenges that come with GM'ing in Utah will always exist in the free agent field.

Make the draft pick and make it right (obviously hard).
Sign Clarkson to a fair deal (also hard, because convincing people to stay in Utah for fair market value is always difficult)
Sign one or two defensive specialist.

1st year late 2nd rounder players usually don't see the court. They got plenty of development time in the G-League. I think holding that against Quin is kind of ridiculous.

And DL has said as much interviews. They are going to target athletic guys who are committed to defense this off-season to round out the roster.

 

[LoPo]

The most important thing to monitor is the financial status of the NBA. It's concerning to me that the league had to delay the draft and free agency. We still don't even have those important dates. We don't know the start date of the next season which usually is a handful of weeks from now.

It's hard to say what's going to happen or who our FO might trade. We still don't know if Gobert is staying long term. Or Clarkson.

Logic will tell anyone that Conley would be the first to go if finances are truly an issue. Not keeping Clarkson is a close 2nd. Dumping Ed Davis' $5 million would be cute, but not really scratching the surface of any kind of huge financial dent from COVID. Same with Tony Bradley.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

All depends on the circumstances. Brandon Ingram was a talent hidden by the dumpster fire that was the Lakers. Julius Randle excelled in NOLA when there was some sort of system. Jordan Clarkson shined for us after wasting away in LA and Cle. Jerami Grant is shining in Denver.

Sometimes, there are young players who desperately need a change of scenery.

You are basing all of this purely on basic stats lmfao.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Yes, Julius Randle "thrived" in the NOLA run n gun system where they played no defense and went 33-49.

 

[LoPo]

You are basing all of this purely on basic stats lmfao.

No, I based it all off of assumptions others made about players. Many guys, especially on that Lakers team for example, were considered bad players or not worthy of winning basketball. When they were removed from the Laker circus, they actually all thrived in their own way. If anything, Kuzma took a step back when winning basketball came to LA.

A team could have gotten Brandon Ingram rather cheaply two years ago. Now, he's probably one of the hardest young guys to trade for in the entire league.

 

[LoPo]

Yes, Julius Randle "thrived" in the NOLA run n gun system where they played no defense and went 33-49.

Randle was a very sought after player in free agency last year due to his play in NOLA. If AD had stayed healthy, that team could have done so much better. Randle didn't thrive in NY this year, but do you blame him? He was set up with a number of PF's, a rookie wing, a 2nd year wing and no true PG. Nobody would have looked great on that roster with that coaching.

 

[jom2003]

Not sold on Randle. Good player. But doesn't fit what we are looking for. Share similar problems with Harrell. Not good enough as a 3 point shooter to play as a 4. Not good enough as a defender to play as a 5. He'd thrive elsewhere, but not here

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Yes, when you run more of the offense through a player, that player is going to have better stats.

And yes, when your team brings in better players so they can win basketball games, the guy who put up stats on a bad team are going to be reduced to smaller roles where they put up worse stats.

Kuzma in no way took a step back. His defense has improved and he's become better at doing the little things. Yes the stats look worse, but that's because every single game he plays in now is a meaningful basketball game, not the stat stuff who cares fest that becomes the NBA when your team has no chance at making the playoffs.