We're Too Good To Tank, Dammit.

[Inigo Montoya]

And what's worse, this team is actually fun to watch, likeable, and easy to root for, and it's all done in the wrong time. We need that #1 pick.

This team needs to be broken up. The Lakers seems like an ideal partner if they choose to actually compete for a title instead of a spot for the play-in and waste LeBron's last remaining years. A package of Conley and Beasley + extras for Westbrook and those picks seems like a deal that works for both sides as long as the Lakers prioritize winning now. They need shooting badly, and they get that with Beasley and Conley. And Conley is a very good fit for their roster at PG. He can shoot, play off the ball, and make very few mistakes.

Feel free to suggest more scenarios that make the Jazz suck instead of actually being good.

[Skybox]

You guys need to unload some good but not "foundation of a rebuild" talent, IMO. I hate tanking but can't argue with the logic.

Is Sexton someone you expect to build around? (I wouldn't)...he's good, has a fair deal, but limited overall. I could see him as a SG in ORL's lineup with a bigger, stronger defending guard (but impotent shooting) next to him like Suggs or Fultz. Would Sexton settle into an efficient role or is he just a ball-pounding empty stat guy that doesn't win games (we already have that with Cole Anthony).

ORL has a really nice young frontcourt but noone in the backcourt can finish a play. I'd love to see ORL cash in their expirings and maybe ill-fitting but good prospects for some guards that could help (NOT harm at least) the development of our two ball-dominant young wings. Conley, Beasley, Sexton...I'd take any or all off your hands - as long as I'm not overpaying. I don't consider any of them to be more than stepping stones to ORL's backcourt of the future.

Maybe I'm overrating Ainge's desire for financial flexibility and/or his valuation of those players.

[stitches]

Conley, Beasley, Gay, Clarkson.... all need to go IMO. Whoever is not likely to be part of the next Jazz iteration to compete for titles should go - old vets, players with expiring contracts, players who likely will suffer decline by the time this team is ready to compete... All of them should go. Give those minutes to Fontecchio, Agbaji, Kessler, Bolmaro...

[D Rog]

And what's worse, this team is actually fun to watch, likeable, and easy to root for, and it's all done in the wrong time. We need that #1 pick.

This team needs to be broken up. The Lakers seems like an ideal partner if they choose to actually compete for a title instead of a spot for the play-in and waste LeBron's last remaining years. A package of Conley and Beasley + extras for Westbrook and those picks seems like a deal that works for both sides as long as the Lakers prioritize winning now. They need shooting badly, and they get that with Beasley and Conley. And Conley is a very good fit for their roster at PG. He can shoot, play off the ball, and make very few mistakes.

Feel free to suggest more scenarios that make the Jazz suck instead of actually being good.

I agree but from what I have read from various sources including Tony Jones, I believe the Jazz offered a 2023 FRP along with Conley / Bogey and maybe Clarkson or Beasley for Westbrook and both of the Lakers FRPs. The Lakers turned that down. Bogey was probably the best player to be included in that deal.

Olynyk is not part of the long term plans for the Jazz as he is too old. The Jazz could try a package of Olynyk, Beasley and Conley but I don't see how Conley really fits in with the Lakers, they already have 2 small PGs. If the Lakers accepted that I can see the Jazz getting 1 FRP from the Lakers. Is that better than nothing? The reason the Lakers would say no is that Conley has a partially guaranteed contract for next season and Olynyk has a guaranteed contract for next season.

Final thought is a 3 team deal. Utah would have to be compensated with as many picks as possible.
Nets receive Conley / Olynyk / Gay
Jazz receive Westbrook and waive him / Schroeder would probably have to come to Utah for a PG. (at least 1 FRP)
Lakers receive Kyrie and (Beasley or Clarkson) (Lakers tried to get Kyrie this summer)

Something will happen when contenders are sitting at .500 or worse in a month or two.

[Jiipee84]

Conley, Beasley, Gay, Clarkson.... all need to go IMO. Whoever is not likely to be part of the next Jazz iteration to compete for titles should go - old vets, players with expiring contracts, players who likely will suffer decline by the time this team is ready to compete... All of them should go. Give those minutes to Fontecchio, Agbaji, Kessler, Bolmaro...

Also Lauri should be trade block as well.
I watched all Finland's and Lauri's games in this years Eurobasket tournament where Lauri scored 27,9 PPG.
Only Giannis had better PPG ( 29,1 ) than Lauri so the risk is that if Lauri gets as hot in NBA what he was in Eurobasket
and his PPG is somewhere 20,0 or higher that's not good for Utah's tanking plans if the goal is 1st overall pick and Wembanyama.
Because what more Jazz wins too many games that worse are chances for 1st overall pick

So Ainge should keep his eyes open all the time
and when time is right and deal is done then pull the trigger and let Lauri go.

Lauri is in his prime years now so what's the better for Jazz future?
Options are these
1 Keep 25 yrs old 7ft forward who's prime is now and his PPG is 20,0 or higher
2 getting that 1st overall pick and pick your future superstar and franchise player in Wembanyama
Pick your poison.

[MalonesElbows]

Oh's Wells, enjoy a legitimate NBA basketball team and still get a 6% chance at Wemby (a whole 8% worse chance than utter 10 game win suckage)

[dr0welf]

I hate the whole concept of tanking, it very rarely works out. Even though I would like Victor on the team, I don't feel like we have enough luck to actually win the lottery even if we had the best chance. I say you do the best you can and build around it. We have assets to help build the team now and a solid looking team. Way better then I would have thought, and you are right they are fun to watch.

[pickIBL]

Clearly the Jazz are playing the long game. The organization will keep making trades and flipping players until they hold every first round pick for the next 10 years.

[vryadli]

Clearly the Jazz are playing the long game. The organization will keep making trades and flipping players until they hold every first round pick for the next 10 years.

Evidently Jazz can't look for setting NBA record for number of high picks. There are 2 things a missing just now.

1. Getting coach who can explain that there no need in effort just now: there always is next ball to fight, for next game, next season etc Q. was very good at that, actually, but he is gone and Hardy looks like he win-hungry and has no principles or system. It looks like he is ready to do anything just for winning more and more games just today - and is able to seduce players for the same foolishness.

2. Some kind of streaky star player as primary offensive focus. That is difficult one, even DM wasn't quite that, he passed ball too much... and even plays defense sometimes... but Carmelo and Westbrook are still in the league.

[SoCalJazzFan]

Arguably the best/hottest team in the NBA right now. I was concerned they might win too many games, but nothing like this

[DelaneyRudd]

We’re gonna be in the play-in, probably win. Lose 4-2 against the Clippers.

[bkohler]

Seems like this is exactly what Ainge wanted actually. He loves collecting distressed assets and flipping them for value.

Everyone one of our players has to be worth more today then they were a week ago. I could totally see him flipping some of them for more assets (especially ones he thinks he can rehabilitate).

I still think and LAL trade is likely, especially with them looking at possibly going 0-7 to start the season with their next four against good teams.

If he can walk out of this season with a team that barely misses the playin, moves some vets for value and establishes good habits then that’s a win in my book.

[ShulaDon92]

We're not even 5 games in. The wheels will fall off. This is a play in team...yes...too good to tank.

Markkannen is a legit all world player.

[Inigo Montoya]

If he can walk out of this season with a team that barely misses the playin, moves some vets for value and establishes good habits then that’s a win in my book.

How is that a win? We'll still be without top-level talent, and with a low draft pick in what should be a draft with some extraordinary prospects. Finishing just barely out of the play-in is the worst position a team can find itself in. Not even in the playoffs and without a high draft pick. This is what teams try to avoid. It does us no favors to get to that point. I get that we all like the Jazz and want them to win but if we keep doing this we'll end up stuck in the same place we've been to for the next decade. For the love of Thor, we can't be doing this over and over again and expect different results. We already tried the rebuild without tanking and look where we are now, almost a decade later. At some point we need to be willing to take the plunge and endure the pain for at least one season so we could have a future that amounts to more than a decade of first and second round exits as a ceiling.

[pickIBL]

I dropped a grand on the Jazz making the playoffs a few weeks ago.

[Inigo Montoya]

I dropped a grand on the Jazz making the playoffs a few weeks ago.

Then I hold you personally responsible for what's happening. You did this!

[Rauxcee]

If he can walk out of this season with a team that barely misses the playin, moves some vets for value and establishes good habits then that’s a win in my book.

How is that a win? We'll still be without top-level talent, and with a low draft pick in what should be a draft with some extraordinary prospects. Finishing just barely out of the play-in is the worst position a team can find itself in. Not even in the playoffs and without a high draft pick. This is what teams try to avoid. It does us no favors to get to that point. I get that we all like the Jazz and want them to win but if we keep doing this we'll end up stuck in the same place we've been to for the next decade. For the love of Thor, we can't be doing this over and over again and expect different results. We already tried the rebuild without tanking and look where we are now, almost a decade later. At some point we need to be willing to take the plunge and endure the pain for at least one season so we could have a future that amounts to more than a decade of first and second round exits as a ceiling.

I agree. What is the point of trading away all time great talent by team standards to end up in almost the same position we were before? I'd get it if this year's draft was projected to be a dud, but it's not. It's supposed to have great talent. It's nice we have assets of future draft picks, but nobody is going to trade the top picks in this year's draft for future picks. Jazz need to aim for bottom 4 record. Otherwise it's a complete waste of a season.

The majority of this team isnt even likely to be on the future team or be long haul guys. There are maybe 3 or 4 guys worth holding onto for long term. The rest can, and should, be traded when the opportunity arises.

Also, I'm anti tanking, but if the Jazz are going to do it by hitting the reset button Iike they did, then commit to it. Don't half ass it by almost being a play in team.

[SoCalJazzFan]

Increasingly, the media and fans are calling for the Lakers to trade RW. I hope that Zainge don't try to overreach in trade negotations, with the risk that the Spurs or Pacers get the trade. The team tanking this year is probably more important than another unprotected pick six years from now.

[pickIBL]

Increasingly, the media and fans are calling for the Lakers to trade RW. I hope that Zainge don't try to overreach in trade negotations, with the risk that the Spurs or Pacers get the trade. The team tanking this year is probably more important than another unprotected pick six years from now.

Pretty sure the same game plan continues. Danny pulls the trigger when he's good and ready.

[pickIBL]

I dropped a grand on the Jazz making the playoffs a few weeks ago.

Then I hold you personally responsible for what's happening. You did this!

You're welcome. Enjoy the deepest run since malone/Stockton.