Respectably disagree. IMO it started when Larry Miller passed away. Leadership starts at the top, and that's the area that has sorely been lacking through this whole situation.
NBA was always a players' league, just not to this extent leaguewide and not with the Jazz franchise. First, you have the LeBron Decision, then you have Melo holding that Denver franchise hostage, constant CP3 speculation, then some Deron speculation, now Dwight Howard speculation - again still TWO 'FREAKIN YEARS down the road for most of those guys. Then you have LeBron's old team, the Cavs - suffering through a historical losing streak.
Those scenarios have affected how new ownership and management looks at things - and the Jazz have changed their philosophy.
The Jazz have lost players before, and have gone offseasons w/out making big aquisitions. Malone would get mad, but he would keep playing and Sloan put his head down and keep coaching, Deron would get ticked off, but keep playing. Deron played his tail off during the 15-5 start - so much that I was worried he'd be burnt out by the playoffs. I don't think the offseason losses played that critical a role - because competitors like Sloan and Deron think they can win with almost anyone.
I don't think you can blame this on 1 single event or 1 single person. I will say, it all starts with the man at the top - and that's the person I would blame the most.