What Would it Take to Make the Playoffs?

[The Midnight]

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Ok, here is some buy low/opportunistic trades to make a playoff team.

Jazz would be:

Collier/Keyonte/Harkless
Holiday/Clarkson/Juzang
Johnson/Sensabaugh/Dadiet
Lauri/Filipowski
Towns/Yang

Then use the 5th pick to take Tre Johnson and use the 21st pick to take Yang. Sign a good vet to the MLE (maybe bring back NAW?)

I'm not sure what the exact temperature is on Towns. I think you would have to include a future pick, but nothing crazy high value.

Same with the Holiday deal. Maybe have to include a future pick, but nothing crazy.

I know most will hate this (rightfully so probably) but I would enjoy seeing this team. Having the two best shooting bigs next to Collier would be fun if Collier somehow manages to take a significant leap. Holiday gives us a defensive presence (would be a great mentor to Collier/Keyonte as well).

But more importantly, I dont think getting Towns/Holiday would actually cost all that much in terms of pick capital. Both NYC/Boston will want to save money and get younger, and both these deals do that for those teams.

Included Dadiet because I still love him and people need to be reminded of my most recent draft proclamation fail.

Towns couldn't get to the Finals in the EAST… lol..

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Towns couldn't get to the Finals in the EAST… lol..

Two straight conference finals appearances. More than the Jazz have had in the last 25 years.

 

[framer]

God

Apparently he is over there making BYU a powerhouse. He might be busy. . .

 

[Schrödinger's Gerbil]

Since it's something we are all discussing with the direction of AA, what would it actually take (both internally and externally) for the Jazz to make the playoffs next season?

A decision by the FO that it doesn't care about keeping its first round draft pick. I've a hard time imagining the FO is willing to risk that.

 

[homeytennis]

A decision by the FO that it doesn't care about keeping its first round draft pick. I've a hard time imagining the FO is willing to risk that.

The previous owners' formula for being profitable was to stay out of the luxury tax and have two playoff series. Perhaps Ryan's outside investments are not faring well and he wants to see less red ink on the books.

 

[NAOS_pt2]

We're at least three additional perfectly interlocking pieces away from the play-in. That isn't happening this offseason. Sliding to #5 basically confirmed our tank next year, IMO.

 

[homeytennis]

Here are the pieces we would need: A journeyman point guard, a two guard in the role of Malik Beasley, and a swiss army knife like a healthy Jared Vanderbilt.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

This thread is kind of funny. There is such a wide range of views for how far away we are from the playoffs.

 

[homeytennis]

This thread is kind of funny. There is such a wide range of views for how far away we are from the playoffs.

As horrid as last season was, there were glimpses that the talent level was not that far away: The beatdown of the Blazers in Portland and a couple of wins in Florida are examples. Of. course multiple contusions and illnesses ravaged the team soon thereafter

 

[SoberasHotRod]

As horrid as last season was, there were glimpses that the talent level was not that far away: The beatdown of the Blazers in Portland and a couple of wins in Florida are examples. Of. course multiple contusions and illnesses ravaged the team soon thereafter

I think a good way to think of this exercise is what would we have to do to be better than Memphis next year. They have JJJ, Ja Morant, Bane, and a bunch rotation level players. We definitely need more than a journeyman point guard and Malik Beasley.

 

[framer]

I think a good way to think of this exercise is what would we have to do to be better than Memphis next year. They have JJJ, Ja Morant, Bane, and a bunch rotation level players. We definitely need more than a journeyman point guard and Malik Beasley.

There will inevitably be at least two teams that you have penciled in for a playoff spot completely fall apart like Phoenix and New Orleans did this year.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

There will inevitably be at least two teams that you have penciled in for a playoff spot completely fall apart like Phoenix and New Orleans did this year.

Yes, and there will inevitably be teams that get much better.

I think you have to say that we will be better than Memphis's team this year to say that we will definitely make the playoffs next year.

 

[homeytennis]

I think a good way to think of this exercise is what would we have to do to be better than Memphis next year. They have JJJ, Ja Morant, Bane, and a bunch rotation level players. We definitely need more than a journeyman point guard and Malik Beasley.

We barely loss to Memphis in the home opener last season with Tay Henny playing a lot of minutes. It's not like the Jazz lost every game by 50 points although it seems like it. There were times where the Jazz were competing and then got hit by a walkabout which was probably part of the tank strategy. Maybe the draft picks and everyone back solidifies things.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

We barely loss to Memphis in the home opener last season with Tay Henny playing a lot of minutes. It's not like the Jazz lost every game by 50 points although it seems like it. There were times where the Jazz were competing and then got hit by a walkabout which was probably part of the tank strategy. Maybe the draft picks and everyone back solidifies things.

I think we were a bit further away than you do, but I appreciate your optimism.

 

[KqWIN]

 

[KqWIN]

Jrue + Beal would come cheap and get you right into that area where you contest the play and lose the pick.

 

[NUMBERICA]

We barely loss to Memphis in the home opener last season with Tay Henny playing a lot of minutes. It's not like the Jazz lost every game by 50 points although it seems like it. There were times where the Jazz were competing and then got hit by a walkabout which was probably part of the tank strategy. Maybe the draft picks and everyone back solidifies things.

My dear Homey.

 

[jom2003]

Jrue + Beal would come cheap and get you right into that area where you contest the play and lose the pick.

Both washed and not the players they used to be.

 

[jom2003]

If we can't draft the franchise player ourselves, then just follow the Indiana model.

If you think about it, Pacers really turned their franchise player Paul George into their next franchise player Haliburton. With the fringe allstar Sabonis transitioning in between. Lauri is similar to Sabonis in terms of caliber. A good player but not good enough. Indiana could've held onto Sabonis forever and stayed a mediocre team for the next 4 to 5 years. Instead they stayed aggressive and pulled the trigger when they saw an opportunity.

Not sure who the next "Haliburton" is. Maybe Harper cuz he clearly doesn't fit this Spurs roster. Or Whitmore who's clearly talented and a walking bucket but is massively underappreciated by his coaching staff in Houston. But rest assured there always will be the next Harden(Thunder version), SGA, Haliburton, or whichever young player with MVP/superstar potential who somehow finds himself on the trade market. And Lauri will be the key for us to get to this guy. We just have to be ready when it comes.