Realistic expectations for next season

sirslimjim · Post #1 » by **sirslimjim** » Mon May 24, 2010 5:47 pm

Lets be honest. We all want KOC to pull some blockbuster sign and trade that lands us a potential superstar next season or a top 3 draft pick while at the same time shedding AK's albatross of a contract. That would just the tops wouldn't it. Who wouldn't be happy with that.

So what should we expect to see next season?
Our lineup will probably look something like this-

Deron/Price
Matthews/CJ
Kirilenko/CJ
Boozer/Millsap
Okur/Fesenko/Aldrich

Korver will probably be gone as I see him as the odd man out.

Why? Because our front office believes that just being a 'good' basketball team is sufficient. They think that by putting the same 'good' 50 win team on the floor each season, we will win the championship eventually. It's that same mentality that will prevent KOC from pulling the trigger on a risky gamble that may or may not pan out for us in the long run.

Post #2 » by **DelaneyRudd** » Mon May 24, 2010 5:48 pm

It's completely realistic to expect WCF. If the Jazz won one more game they would be getting swept by the Lakers now instead of last week.

UTJazzFan_Echo1 · Post #3 » by **UTJazzFan_Echo1** » Mon May 24, 2010 6:21 pm

I believe it's fair to expect an improvement. We all are expecting improvement, Deron is expecting improvement and the front office knows that. KOC always talks about how they feel the pressure to keep improving and that they want to improve. I don't see why we shouldn't expect improvements on all fronts.

I think a 50+ win season is reasonable. Heck, we should be expecting a 56+ win season with how talented this team is.

sirslimjim · Post #4 » by **sirslimjim** » Mon May 24, 2010 6:40 pm

I agree. I think we as fans should expect some sort of improvement this offseason after a disappointing sweep in the playoffs. Be that a trade or whatever. Something that shows the front office actually gives a damn about competing next season. However recent history has shown that isn't likely to happen.

J_Ray · Post #5 » by **J_Ray** » Mon May 24, 2010 7:29 pm

DelaneyRudd wrote:It's completely realistic to expect WCF. If the Jazz won one more game they would be getting swept by the Lakers now instead of last week.

Utah would probably get a healthier Kirilenko back by now and would steal 1 game like last year :wink:

HolyToledo · Post #6 » by **HolyToledo** » Mon May 24, 2010 7:59 pm

I think the team remains about he same as usual and wins 47-50 games. Losing Boozer is not a great loss as he is terrible defensively. The problem will be DWILL as he will perceive the Jazz as being cheap not adding players but simply looking at the bottom line...Profit. He may have a worse year if disgruntled.

In any case, I give on the Jazz winning a championship because the organization gave up on that a long time ago after Stockton and Malone retired. The Jazz are happy being good enough to keep fans interested but not good enough to try and win a championship because that would cost too much money!

Post #7 » by **DelaneyRudd** » Mon May 24, 2010 8:01 pm

Ask Dallas how being willy nilly with money works out. The championship teams didn't get there with an open checkbook.

HolyToledo · Post #8 » by **HolyToledo** » Mon May 24, 2010 9:42 pm

You cannot say the Mavs arent tryign to win it all but you definitely can say that about the Jazz!! Thats the difference!!!

Post #9 » by **DelaneyRudd** » Mon May 24, 2010 10:01 pm

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. Just because teams make terrible trades doesn't mean the team isn't trying to make actual good trades.

UTJazzFan_Echo1 · Post #10 » by **UTJazzFan_Echo1** » Mon May 24, 2010 10:52 pm

The problem with Dallas is that they keep trying to build a team to beat the Lakers. Problem is that they keep running into other teams who beat them before they get to the Lakers. That is why you don't build teams to beat another.

Post #11 » by **StocktonShorts** » Mon May 24, 2010 11:08 pm

UTJazzFan_Echo1 wrote:The problem with Dallas is that they keep trying to build a team to beat the Lakers. Problem is that they keep running into other teams who beat them before they get to the Lakers. That is why you don't build teams to beat another.

So true...

You could argue the same thing happened to the Cavs this year. They went and got Shaq to have someone to matchup with Dwight Howard. Unfortunately for them they forgot about the Mo Williams/Rajon Rondo matchup...

nyjazz · Post #12 » by **nyjazz** » Tue May 25, 2010 1:14 am

We should have pretty basic expectations. First, FO needs to take care of business. First, resign Matthews. He won't get a ridiculous contract, will probably be something similar to CJ. Second, let Korver walk (we don't have money for him + AK can fill in). Third, figure out if (i) you want to keep Boozer and (ii) if he wants to be here. If one of those two is not a yes, then get something for him - Gortat/JJ for Booz is by far the best trade I have seen out there (but tricky with JJ's RFA status). If Booz stays, get ready to pay tax for at least a year. Fourth, open negotiations with AK to sign him to an extension that would restructure the last year of his contract so you reduce tax impact. Assuming he is a mid-level guy for maybe 4 yrs (lets say $6m flat for 4 yrs or $24m), drop his $17m next year to $12m and move the $5m to the following year so he would be $12m, $11m, $6m, $6m, $6m, and $6m. Fifth, sign Fes to a "cheap" multi-year, maybe $5-6m over 3yrs. Sixth, bring on Horny as full-time assistant. If Booz stays, bring in Malone to teach Booz to be a man.

GP · Post #13 » by GP » Tue May 25, 2010 1:24 am

I agree with the OP, I would be shocked if any big moves were made. I think the FO is just concerned with making the playoffs, any wins after that is just icing. Jazz will win go 53-29, squeak past the first round and then get smashed by the lakers. Rinse, then repeat.

dr0welf · Post #14 » by **dr0welf** » Tue May 25, 2010 1:31 am

They are limited a bit because they don't have an unlimited amount of funds. I do feel they will look at a lot of offers, but they are pretty conservative and will not pull the trigger unless it is obviously in their favor. Usually trades are not that way.

I don't think Boozer is coming back either way though. A sign and trade would be great if we can pull it off.

eyeontheprize · Post #15 » by **eyeontheprize** » Tue May 25, 2010 1:32 am

I am willing for a "down" year if we are headed in the right direction. I don't
see much difference in being the 7th or 8th seed compared or 5th of 6th when
we aren't going all the way next year no matter what. What would make next season a success is if we are progressing as a team, sort of like the Thunder are now. Their fan base is thrilled about
the future, much like we were the summer after the WCF run. We need to get back on track
so to speak. That means we need to draft the right person @ 9, let Boozer walk,
play out the final year of AK's contract, figure out which one of our young bigs stays, resign Wes, resign Korver, and go after the right FA next year.

blackham9258 · Post #16 » by **blackham9258** » Tue May 25, 2010 2:26 am

I don't think the Jazz will make the playoffs next year if they lose Boozer? Call it a gut instinct but I think they will end up with the 10-14 pick in next years draft depending injuries during the season. I see Houston taking a step forward next year and ending up in the mix at 46-50 wins, same with New Orleans, Clippers and Memphis. All told if those teams all win 6 -10 more games each, that will mean the Jazz will automatically lose 3-4 more. We also will lose some games by the mere fact that we will not have the Boozer/Millsap combo.

That combo is the best PF duo in the NBA and because the jazz's offense is tailored around the PF position, it will be doubling difficult for the Jazz with the two.

I see the Jazz winning between 44-51 games next year. I can see a 6-8 seed, but I can also see a 10-14 lotto pick.

dr0welf · Post #17 » by **dr0welf** » Tue May 25, 2010 2:50 am

Way to keep your expectations low so you won't get hurt..... j/k

Anyways, I will wait to see what all transpires this offseason before I predict where they will be. I don't see Boozer being that piece that drops us to a lottery team. DWill would, but not Boozer. The reason is I feel Boozer's production is easier to replicate. Heck we did better then 46-50 with a bunch of no names lead by AK (in his allstar year).

d-will8 · Post #18 » by **d-will8** » Tue May 25, 2010 7:06 pm

blackham9258 wrote:That combo is the best PF duo in the NBA

Aside from the PF duo that's knocked ours out of the playoffs with ease each of the last three years.

UTJazzFan_Echo1 · Post #19 » by **UTJazzFan_Echo1** » Wed May 26, 2010 3:10 am

d-will8 wrote:
blackham9258 wrote:That combo is the best PF duo in the NBA

Aside from the PF duo that's knocked ours out of the playoffs with ease each of the last three years.

Thats a joke. Just because they have a far superior team does not mean they have a better 1-2 punch at the PF spot. Boozer and Millsap are clearly the best PF combo in the NBA.

Post #20 » by **loserX** » Wed May 26, 2010 4:49 pm

HappyProle wrote:
UTJazzFan_Echo1 wrote:The problem with Dallas is that they keep trying to build a team to beat the Lakers. Problem is that they keep running into other teams who beat them before they get to the Lakers. That is why you don't build teams to beat another.

So true...

You could argue the same thing happened to the Cavs this year. They went and got Shaq to have someone to matchup with Dwight Howard. Unfortunately for them they forgot about the Mo Williams/Rajon Rondo matchup...

Or Orlando last year, who were built to beat the Cavs. And did so rather easily...after having all kinds of trouble with a middling Philly team, and nearly losing to the Celtics. And then of course they got mashed by the Lakers. In the playoffs you have to take EVERY team seriously, not just your favourite rival.