Grantland: Capturing the Noncontenders’ State of Mind - Utah Jazz

[Stifle Tower]

Imo, what we do with Hood (& anyone outside of GH, DF, & RG), should depend on what our plan is moving forward with Exum. We shouldn't make a major trade for an established starter unless we intend on attempting to legitimately compete next year, which would be unrealistic with Exum as our starting PG. Unless we are going to trade him or move him back to the bench (something that could really hurt his development & confidence), I don't see how trading young assets for a more established player makes sense. If we still consider Exum our PG of the future, we should stay the course by drafting the best SG/SF prospect that we can (using Burke/Burks & future draft picks if necessary), bringing over Tomic/Pleiss, & signing a solid backup PG to mentor him. If we don't, then we should go all in by trading him (& anyone necessary, outside of GH,DF, & RG) in order to assemble the best starting 5 possible to go along with a decent bench.

You just draft BPA. Unless Tomic comes over, we have just as great a need for another big as we do a wing. Between Hayward, Hood and Burks, they could eat up ALL the minutes at the 2/3. And you still have Jingles and Millsap to work in. Potentially, you could free up some additional time by cutting Gordon back to 30 to keep him fresher throughout the whole year and playing Rodney and Alec around 28 each. But even that only leaves 10 mins for the 4th wing. At the 4/5, Gobert and Derrick play 30-33 mins each, leaving 15-18 for their backups (Booker and Tomic or Pleiss). Really, the only thing Utah needs is a replacement for Trey. I think it's going to be WAY too expensive to move up for Russell, so depending on how Grant looks, Lindsay should consider moving back in the draft - or maybe he's working on a trade.

Also disagree re: Exum. I don't think you hurt his development by moving him to a back-up role (if the Jazz were to trade for a starter). He needs to man up and fight for his NBA career. If he doesn't develop an edge, he's not the type of player we need. He's just too passive. Make him EARN his spot.

 

[karl malone]

You just draft BPA. Unless Tomic comes over, we have just as great a need for another big as we do a wing. Between Hayward, Hood and Burks, they could eat up ALL the minutes at the 2/3. And you still have Jingles and Millsap to work in. Potentially, you could free up some additional time by cutting Gordon back to 30 to keep him fresher throughout the whole year and playing Rodney and Alec around 28 each. But even that only leaves 10 mins for the 4th wing. At the 4/5, Gobert and Derrick play 30-33 mins each, leaving 15-18 for their backups (Booker and Tomic or Pleiss). Really, the only thing Utah needs is a replacement for Trey. I think it's going to be WAY too expensive to move up for Russell, so depending on how Grant looks, Lindsay should consider moving back in the draft - or maybe he's working on a trade.

Also disagree re: Exum. I don't think you hurt his development by moving him to a back-up role (if the Jazz were to trade for a starter). He needs to man up and fight for his NBA career. If he doesn't develop an edge, he's not the type of player we need. He's just too passive. Make him EARN his spot.

I understand what you're saying & agree that minutes will be difficult if we do draft a 2/3, but this is likely the last time we will be drafting in the lottery & I wouldn't settle for a player who has no chance of becoming an eventual starter on this team (which is why moving up for Russell, even at a steep price, should be our top priority as he could start at the 1 or 2 depending on how Exum & Hood develop). I agree that trading down/out of the draft should be the priority if we can't acquire a potential starter with our pick (& Burke/Burks/future draft picks).

I also agree that if Exum is our future PG he wouldn't allow a move back to the bench to deter him, but right now he is 1 of our most valuable assets. It doesn't make sense to acquire a PG to start in front of him & slow down his development. We need to either continue developing him as our starter or trade him & focus on contending as soon as possible. If Exum is our starting PG of the future, we need to do everything possible to make that happen as soon as possible by allowing him to continue developing as our starting PG of the now.

 

[fishonjazz]

Like the others have said, Hood ain't goin nowhere. I'm into letting the cake bake with maybe one guy added (3&D, and/or floor-spacing big, but a point guard could easily be argued but I believe in Exum and don't think he should get demoted as in his case, I think a demotion might stunt him).

But I like good press. It's fun.

#cakebake
I'm with ya

 

[Stifle Tower]

I understand what you're saying & agree that minutes will be difficult if we do draft a 2/3, but this is likely the last time we will be drafting in the lottery & I wouldn't settle for a player who has no chance of becoming an eventual starter on this team (which is why moving up for Russell, even at a steep price, should be our top priority as he could start at the 1 or 2 depending on how Exum & Hood develop). I agree that trading down/out of the draft should be the priority if we can't acquire a potential starter with our pick (& Burke/Burks/future draft picks).

I also agree that if Exum is our future PG he wouldn't allow a move back to the bench to deter him, but right now he is 1 of our most valuable assets. It doesn't make sense to acquire a PG to start in front of him & slow down his development. We need to either continue developing him as our starter or trade him & focus on contending as soon as possible. If Exum is our starting PG of the future, we need to do everything possible to make that happen as soon as possible by allowing him to continue developing as our starting PG of the now.

Sure didn't hurt Stockton to play behind Green for a few years. And John had FOUR years of college experience. Wasn't until John's fourth NBA season that he became the starter. I don't see the danger of trading for a veteran starter and pushing for the playoffs. Exum is overwhelmed right now. He gives Utah next to nothing when he's out there.

 

[mhindy]

Hood has been really impressive lately. I can't remember watching another Jazz rookie (at least a recent one) who seemed to have such a good sense of what to do with the ball and then had the ability to execute it. His outlet pass to Booker last night for an easy layup was just awesome, and consistently when the ball is in his hands good things happen.

Hard to say he necessarily has a future as an all-star, but he's already quite good.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

The way this team is set up we don't need a true pg. hell, I'd like to find a way to get CJ from Portland. I wanted him in the draft that year and I still like him.

 

[karl malone]

Sure didn't hurt Stockton to play behind Green for a few years. And John had FOUR years of college experience. Wasn't until John's fourth NBA season that he became the starter. I don't see the danger of trading for a veteran starter and pushing for the playoffs. Exum is overwhelmed right now. He gives Utah next to nothing when he's out there.

Stockton wasn't made a starter his rookie year & then demoted to the bench, not that it would have stopped him & if Exum is a future great like Stockton, it won't/wouldn't stop him either. We don't know what Exum is right now & bringing him off the bench will only delay finding out. He is a very valuable asset & the best use of his value (which is based entirely on potential) would be to either have him reach that potential asap so he can help us win or trade his potential for someone who can help us win now. I agree him starting next year would likely limit us to fighting for the 6-8 seed, which this team's core is clearly capable of exceeding (if surrounded with players who are ready to contribute, which Exum likely won't be next year). If we can get good value in a trade without having to give up equal value & the player in return turns out to be a PG, I have no problem with benching Exum. I just dont think it makes sense to trade valuable assets or commit long-term money to a PG unless we are going to try to legitimately contend & having one of our most valuable assets be a bench player (even in the short-term) isn't the best allocation of our resources in doing so. Imo, the better allocation of resources would be to either trade him & go all in or sign a backup PG who we can justifiably sit behind Exum (& then start if he is out playing Exum & we are in contention).

 

[green]

The way this team is set up we don't need a true pg. hell, I'd like to find a way to get CJ from Portland. I wanted him in the draft that year and I still like him.

CJ isn't leaving PDX. He is averaging 16 pts since Wes went down. His play will allow PDX to let Wes walk this summer.