Are fans here up for tanking some of next year?

[countrybama24]

Exactly Montoya. A successful tank doesn't require us being worse than the Bobcats, Wizards, Kings etc. We don't need the #1 or #2 overall pick. We're better at drafting than those teams, and we don't need to take a flyer on an athletic big man. We just need a top 8-ish pick (even top 10) in a very good draft to get a potential all-star wing or guard.

The Wizards / Kings / Bobcats aren't bad because they tank. They're bad because they can't draft well, make poor personel and contract decisions, and don't prioritize locker room chemistry. As a result, they're always in the lottery. The Jazz can take a year off from maximizing our wins and losses, and maximize playing time to the kids who by now have earned it and as a bonus, get a high draft pick in a great draft. Will they make a few million less? Sure. But if you look at the return of getting a great pick and nailing it, over the long term they'll make that money back by going further in the playoffs and generating more buzz around the team.

Tanking isn't a road of bottom dweller status. Bottom dwellers are just always tanking because they suck. Teams like the Jazz get a much greater return on their tanking "investment" than those teams because we're good at drafting.

[Inigo Montoya]

Even the bobcats won't miss on a Wiggins prospect. And plenty of other teams are going to be doing their best bobcats impression.

saying that even the bobcats won't miss on wiggins is like saying they won't miss on anthony davis. they still need to get the pick, and karma may bite them in the ass once again. again, i'm not advocating a losing contest with the bobcats - that's the only contest they'll ever win. but a pick at the 5-8 range could be really good too, and maybe we'll get lucky like the bulls were with rose. who knows.

If you want to start a youth moment... fine... let Al & Paul go. Forget about Mo & Foye.

i'm totally on board with that. i wouldn't be opposed to keeping foye for the right price. every team needs a shooter. he just shouldn't start. of course, if you want to tank proper, the fact that every team needs a shooter is a good enough reason not to sign him...

But still put the best young talent out there you can. If signing Sonny Weems worries you because he is playing out of his mind for CSKA Moscow and he might not "suck" enough... then well that is pretty lame.

we were talking about tomic, not weems. at the NBA level, weems is tofu. he is the definition of meh. he is not a difference maker. so i wouldn't mind if we got him. actually, if he's too cheap, that may be a problem... either way, he got his shot in the NBA before and we know what he's about. if we are going for cheap players, i'd like to go with some young and unproven players who got some potential. is that not your definition of fence swinging? if they pan out during next year, the jazz could either sign them or have a good trade chip. by now, everyone knows weems' value.

[pickIBL]

Weems was just one example. But yes I am all for a 3 man big rotation of Tomic, Favors, and Kanter.

But back to Weems... he's improved since his time in the NBA. He's better than folks remember him.

Sonny Weems was not considered a shooter when he played in the NBA. In the Euroleague this year he's a 89% foul shooter & 44% (on nearly 3 attempts per game) 3pt shooter. I'm intrigued. Very intriqued. From what I've seen the J's are falling.

[StocktonShorts]

I think bringing Tomic over would fit nicely with the plan to do a full rebuild next year. It's going to take him some time to adjust to the NBA, so we may as well make that adjustment period next year. Plus, you could argue that coming to a team with only Kanter and Favors would be more appealing to him than joining a team that also has Paul and Al.

[falcon107]

It is already too late for tanking. This year was the year to tank, but next year Favors and Kanter will be better, and the team will be unable to tank. As simply it is not possible - and ethical - to say your star players not to try too much...

So with Favors and Kanter I do not think that tanking is possible anymore...

[Inigo Montoya]

It is already too late for tanking. This year was the year to tank, but next year Favors and Kanter will be better, and the team will be unable to tank. As simply it is not possible - and ethical - to say your star players not to try too much...

So with Favors and Kanter I do not think that tanking is possible anymore...

i think most of us advocate "tanking" on a front office level, which means to build a team around the young players which will probably not win many games due to the composition of the roster - but ask them to play as hard as they can. i don't think anyone here is on board with telling our players not to play hard or that the coach will deliberately throw away games. this isn't the golden state warriors.

[SoCalJazzFan]

It is already too late for tanking. This year was the year to tank, but next year Favors and Kanter will be better, and the team will be unable to tank. As simply it is not possible - and ethical - to say your star players not to try too much...

So with Favors and Kanter I do not think that tanking is possible anymore...

By Mar 25th, the Jazz could be in position to have the 12th pick in this year's draft, if that is considered tanking.

If it is the difference between the 14th (and the less than 2% chance of getting in the top 3) or the playoffs with the 15th pick, I would take the playoffs, even if we get killed. However, getting the 12th pick sounds better than a playoff sweep, and could make the difference in a player we want this year.

It will be interesting to see if the C4 are not only better than most 2nd units, but able to beat even half of the 1st units in the NBA next year.

[SoCalJazzFan]

this FA class sucks. it's the one after that which is a really good one, so we might as well use this free agency to sign or trade for at least one big expiring contract to enable the jazz some flexibility and a shot at the next free agency class which is loaded. and if we happen to get a bad\meh player attached to a big expiring contract - that will just help improve the chances for a better draft pick.

Anyone in particular you are eyeing in 2014? Other than Lowry or a restricted Bledsoe, I am not sure who the Jazz could get or would want. The 2014 FA class is loaded, but it is mainly due to the high profile players that the Jazz wouldn't be able to sign anyways. There are many more UFAs and players that the Jazz could realistically sign this year, in my opinion.

[Inigo Montoya]

well, i think this free agency class really blows. as for the 2014-2015 free agency class - take a look:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/2014-nba-free-agents/

keep in mind that some of the players on the list may become more available, since there will be two drafts until then with players who can take their place and make them redundant (for a lack of a better word).

example - the hornets drafts marcus smart this year, which makes vasquez relatively unnecessary and more available - so they may not be inclined to match an offer from the jazz.

if you're looking specifically at the PG position for the jazz, there is this year's draft and free agency + next year's draft and free agency to get one. don't want bledsoe or lowry btw. so there's two drafts, two free agency periods and plenty of trade opportunities. like i mentioned, vasquez could be an option. maybe john wall will want out of washington. if khan is gone, maybe rubio could be had for the right deal.

the most important part is that according the the jazz's thinking - teams will either have to get rid of good players because of the new CBA and financial constrains, or could not afford to match big offers to FAs and RFAs for the same reasons.

[VUK1]

Hi Guys - wondering whether any of you follow Euroleage and your thoughts on Milos Teodosic as a starting point guard for you.

Offensively I think hed be perfect, would be top 5 in the NBA is assists for sure and has a good shooting percentage, just not sure how much you'd have to pay to get him away from CSKA Moscow.

And his defence is not good at all, so would have to guard 2's at time (he is 6-5 )

[red4hf]

I don't want us to tank but I refuse to watch another season where short-term gains are valued over long-term progress.

Exactly...... 100% this.......

[FJS]

If tanking is to play our young fellas, then yes, I take it.

But if it's to lose in purpose, then no, I don't want it.
Kanter, Favors, Carroll, Hayward and Burks (or Gordon at SF and Burks at SG with a young PG) aren't gonna be a lot worse than this team. I think we could win 35 wins. Or more with a good coach.
You can let to play Murphy, Evans... and take vet min. who work hard, but in any way being the master piece of the roster.

[Blackie]

I am not in favor of tanking. Our players need to play to win and develop the winning attitude. That goes for everyone including our young players.

[roll]

Does current season (no tanking) develop the winning attitude?