How do you upgrade this team?

[mg]

I think it would probably be Beasley + Olynyk for Collins.

Beas and Olynyk are on very manageable contracts and the sum of their parts could probably help ATL more than Collins this season. Beasley is from Atlanta too. The Hawks are looking to save money and avoid some lux tax payments in the future. The Hawks are really hurting for shooting after giving Huerter away in the offseason. Trae and Collins have never been a good fit.

I believe Collins is overpaid but maybe Ainge sees something in him. They've already had success buying low on a few other guys in the trade market who are showing improvement this season (Lauri, Sexton, NAW, etc).

[BigJimFinn]

I think it would probably be Beasley + Olynyk for Collins.

Beas and Olynyk are on very manageable contracts and the sum of their parts could probably help ATL more than Collins this season. Beasley is from Atlanta too. The Hawks are looking to save money and avoid some lux tax payments in the future. The Hawks are really hurting for shooting after giving Huerter away in the offseason. Trae and Collins have never been a good fit.

I believe Collins is overpaid but maybe Ainge sees something in him. They've already had success buying low on a few other guys in the trade market who are showing improvement this season (Lauri, Sexton, NAW, etc).

For me the question is, do you consider fit or look at Collins strictly as adding a distressed asset to your portfolio at low price. To me, it is unlikely that Markkanen and Collins could play effectively together as core starters. Collins' contract would both limit your moves somewhat in the short term and create a likely forced choice a year from now, when you start considering an extension for Lauri. The proposed trade would cost you two good catch-and-shoot threats and one of the only two smart veterans and good passers on the squad, meaning the offense would probably suffer, and it would be harder for Collins to look good and regain his value, while the impact of Markkanen would likely also drop.

So, this move would only make sense to me if you are happy to play worse while adding a potential value asset. This is obviously a realistic approach for a rebuilding team, but not one I would like to see.

[Crunch 99]

Olynyk brings us 13.2 ppg on 68.6% TS%, including a team leading 45.5% from three. Only Kessler, who gets most of his points on dunks and putbacks, has a higher TS%. Olynyk has a high basketball IQ. He competes hard. He passes well. He is unselfish to a tee. He isn't a great defender, but we are getting a lot of value from Olynyk for a $12.8 million dollar contract.

[FranchisePlayer]

Olynyk brings us 13.2 ppg on 68.6% TS%, including a team leading 45.5% from three. Only Kessler, who gets most of his points on dunks and putbacks, has a higher TS%. Olynyk has a high basketball IQ. He competes hard. He passes well. He is unselfish to a tee. He isn't a great defender, but we are getting a lot of value from Olynyk for a $12.8 million dollar contract.

I agree. Olynyk for Collins isn't the greatest trade proposal.

[SoCalJazzFan]

I'm not sure why Olynyk fits with Markkanen, but there is concern whether Collins would.
Neither is much of a rim protector, but Collins averages more blocks and rebounds than Olynyk. Is Olynyk really even a center, or more of a PF?
In the past, Collins has hit the outside shots at roughly 40% and scored roughly 20ppg.
Sure, Collins is paid a lot more, but Collins is 25 and has 3 more years on his contract. Olynyk is nearly 32 and has 1 more year, of which only $3M is guaranteed.
If I'm the Jazz and the Hawks are calling, I'm considering it.

[BigJimFinn]

I'm not sure why Olynyk fits with Markkanen, but there is concern whether Collins would.
Neither is much of a rim protector, but Collins averages more blocks and rebounds than Olynyk. Is Olynyk really even a center, or more of a PF?
In the past, Collins has hit the outside shots at roughly 40% and scored roughly 20ppg.
Sure, Collins is paid a lot more, but Collins is 25 and has 3 more years on his contract. Olynyk is nearly 32 and has 1 more year, of which only $3M is guaranteed.
If I'm the Jazz and the Hawks are calling, I'm considering it.

You just made a strong argument why the Jazz shouldn't give Olynyk three more years at $80 Million. I agree.
Nobody is thinking that Olynyk is an important building block for the future, but with his contract, Collins would need to be, or at least easily tradable for something better. Considering how long he has been mooted available, the market for him isn't too hot.

Kelly fits with Markkanen and the whole team on offense, because he is a smart team player who makes right decisions, hits open shots and passes very well. I'm not sure any of that applies to Collins, though you have to assume his shooting recovers to career levels to consider him at all (and those career averages are 36% and 16ppg, equalizing that to 40% and 20ppg is rough indeed).

On defense, Collins should be better with his athletic gifts, but he hasn't really been. Better than Olynyk, yeah, but not as good as Vando. None of Kelly, Lauri, Vando or Collins can guard the few big bully centers, and Vando and Lauri are better switching to perimeter guys. So if we assume next year Kessler is starting at center and Lauri in one forward spot, does Collins really fit the other spot much better than the current options or, preferably, a new 3&D big wing?

[zero24gravity]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/269689/Jazz-Hawks-Suns-Talked-Three-Team-Trade

Playing with the trade machine to trying and make this rumor work, it would seem to need to include a lot of players, since the 3 mentioned players have such varying salaries. (Collins $23.5m, Vandy $4.1m, Crowder $10.2m)

Maybe something like:

Utah gets: J. Collins + F. Kaminsky or A. Holiday
Utah gives: J. Vanderbilt + R. Gay + T. Horton-Tucker + 2nd round pick or highly protected 1st

Atlanta gets: J. Crowder + T. Horton Tucker + D. Saric (expiring contract) + 2nd round pick or highly protected 1st from Utah
Atlanta gives: J. Collins + F. Kaminsky or A. Holiday

Phoenix gets: J. Vanderbilt + R. Gay
Phoenix gives: J. Crowder + D. Saric


For the record, I'm not a fan of trading Vanderbilt, but also see the overall talent upgrade from JV to Collins.

[FranchisePlayer]

We need to acquire a starting PF with a bigger contract and lower skill set than our current one? Uh, ok, makes sense.

Or just let's focus on the starting PG since we haven't got one for the next season?

[zero24gravity]

We need to acquire a starting PF with a bigger contract and lower skill set than our current one? Uh, ok, makes sense.

Or just let's focus on the starting PG since we haven't got one for the next season?

I don't know about "lower skill set" being accurate. Collins is more talented than KO or JV (even though I really like JV).

PG for next year.... haven't you heard? Scoooooooot

[FranchisePlayer]

We need to acquire a starting PF with a bigger contract and lower skill set than our current one? Uh, ok, makes sense.

Or just let's focus on the starting PG since we haven't got one for the next season?

I don't know about "lower skill set" being accurate. Collins is more talented than KO or JV (even though I really like JV).

PG for next year.... haven't you heard? Scoooooooot

Obviously I was referring to Markkanen. I don't see a reason to put all the eggs on one basket or position.

Yeah, one can dream and hope... *thumbs up*

[Crunch 99]

Trade veteran Mike Conley to a serious contender and go back to losing close games. Get a high draft pick from the poor win/loss record playing without Conley, along with a first rounder? or promising younger players for Conley. But I am having a lot of fun watching the Jazz win heart stopper games! I am also hoping Sexton and NAW are learning some things from Conley. Go Jazz!

Another possible way: Hope Minnesota keeps struggling and strike gold with a top ten pick from Minnesota.

[TNJazz]

With the way they are playing, high percentage of wins in crunch games, 3-0 on OT, and the excitement and love everyone is showing, let watch MN continue to struggle, get their top 10 (or higher) pick, continue to watch Kessler, NAW, and Sexton develop, and make this rebuild much faster than originally expected.

This team is so much fun to watch and easy to get behind. I originally thought it was a mistake keeping Conley but his professionalism and ability to lead this team to wins is already and will continue to pay huge dividends in the reboot journey. I no longer think its a rebuild, its now a reboot!

[FranchisePlayer]

Trade veteran Mike Conley to a serious contender and go back to losing close games. Get a high draft pick from the poor win/loss record playing without Conley, along with a first rounder? or promising younger players for Conley. But I am having a lot of fun watching the Jazz win heart stopper games! I am also hoping Sexton and NAW are learning some things from Conley. Go Jazz!

Another possible way: Hope Minnesota keeps struggling and strike gold with a top ten pick from Minnesota.

IMO tanking is for losers. The Jazz just won back-to-back games against the Conference leaders so they certainly are not a trash team.

I hope they try and go as far as they can. Their might just be able to prolong their cinderella run.

[Crunch 99]

Naz Reid?

Naz is a free agent this summer. I am not certain whether he is restricted or unrestricted, but the Wolves may not be able to hold on to him as third string center behind Gobert and Towns. A Reid/Kessler center rotation with Olynyk at PF and Markkanen at SF sounds interesting to me. At 6'9" 269 lbs, Naz would bring muscle to the paint and he can knock down a three. He's barely 23 years old and he can get better.

The Wolves just won two games in a row playing without Gobert or Towns and with Naz starting, albeit against weak teams. Naz led the Wolves with 28 points, 9 rebs, 3 stls and +21 in the win over OKC. And last night against Chicago, Naz scored the Wolves' first ten points on perfect 4-4 shooting, including two threes, before leaving the game with trapezius tightness.

The Wolves' depth chart according to ESPN:
https://www.espn.com/nba/team/depth/_/name/min/minnesota-timberwolves

[TNJazz]

Naz Reid?

Naz is a free agent this summer. I am not certain whether he is restricted or unrestricted, but the Wolves may not be able to hold on to him as third string center behind Gobert and Towns. A Reid/Kessler center rotation with Olynyk at PF and Markkanen at SF sounds interesting to me. At 6'9" 269 lbs, Naz would bring muscle to the paint and he can knock down a three. He's barely 23 years old and he can get better.

The Wolves just won two games in a row playing without Gobert or Towns and with Naz starting, albeit against weak teams. Naz led the Wolves with 28 points, 9 rebs, 3 stls and +21 in the win over OKC. And last night against Chicago, Naz scored the Wolves' first ten points on perfect 4-4 shooting, including two threes, before leaving the game with trapezius tightness.

The Wolves' depth chart according to ESPN:
https://www.espn.com/nba/team/depth/_/name/min/minnesota-timberwolves

Agree with this upgrade and moving of players around a bit. Kessler/Reid Center, Olynyk/Vandy PF, Markkanen/Beasly SF, now that's a front court rotating group of interchangeable players that can adapt to several roles. Power and length inside, and 3 point shooting at all positions.

[WinterSoldier]

Trade veteran Mike Conley to a serious contender and go back to losing close games. Get a high draft pick from the poor win/loss record playing without Conley, along with a first rounder? or promising younger players for Conley. But I am having a lot of fun watching the Jazz win heart stopper games! I am also hoping Sexton and NAW are learning some things from Conley. Go Jazz!

Another possible way: Hope Minnesota keeps struggling and strike gold with a top ten pick from Minnesota.

IMO tanking is for losers. The Jazz just won back-to-back games against the Conference leaders so they certainly are not a trash team.

I hope they try and go as far as they can. Their might just be able to prolong their cinderella run.

As an objective fact treadmilling strategies creates losers who perpetually stay losers. Not tanking because some Id driven personalties get off on meaningless victories would be a terrible strategy for long time success.

[Crunch 99]

Naz Reid?

Naz is a free agent this summer. I am not certain whether he is restricted or unrestricted, but the Wolves may not be able to hold on to him as third string center behind Gobert and Towns. A Reid/Kessler center rotation with Olynyk at PF and Markkanen at SF sounds interesting to me. At 6'9" 269 lbs, Naz would bring muscle to the paint and he can knock down a three. He's barely 23 years old and he can get better.

Spoiler:

The Wolves just won two games in a row playing without Gobert or Towns and with Naz starting, albeit against weak teams. Naz led the Wolves with 28 points, 9 rebs, 3 stls and +21 in the win over OKC. And last night against Chicago, Naz scored the Wolves' first ten points on perfect 4-4 shooting, including two threes, before leaving the game with trapezius tightness.

The Wolves' depth chart according to ESPN:
https://www.espn.com/nba/team/depth/_/name/min/minnesota-timberwolves

Agree with this upgrade and moving of players around a bit. Kessler/Reid Center, Olynyk/Vandy PF, Markkanen/Beasly SF, now that's a front court rotating group of interchangeable players that can adapt to several roles. Power and length inside, and 3 point shooting at all positions.

The Wolves just won their third straight game in a row led by their $2 million dollar, third string center, Naz Reid, while their two $200 million dollar centers, Gobert and Towns, sat on the sideline in street clothes. Naz had 27 points on 19 fga with 13 rebs, 2 steals, 2 three pointers and 1 block in a decisive win on the road in Dallas. The Wolves had 58 points in the paint led by Naz, while the Mavs only had 18 points in the paint.

The Wolves have a logjam at center and like to play Gobert and Towns together. NBA.com's lineup pages doesn't show Naz with any minutes playing alongside Gobert or Towns this season, nor any mins playing alongside Towns last season, so it doesn't look like the Wolves' coaching staff sees playing Naz alongside Gobert or Towns as a good option. (Not sure if there is a minimum number of mins required to show up on the lineup pages). I suspect neither Gobert's max contract nor Towns' max contract are easily tradable, and the Wolves just gave up a lot of assets to acquire Gobert a few months ago, so Naz is likely the odd man out.
https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/traditional?slug=traditional&TeamID=1610612750&GroupQuantity=2&Season=2022-23

I am still not sure whether Naz is restricted or open free agent this summer. Anyone know? Edit: Real GM profile says UFA.

[Crunch 99]

Watch on YouTube

[AingesBurner]

Does Lavine make sense in Utah?

[FranchisePlayer]

Does Lavine make sense in Utah?

No. I followed him for years in Chi. The epithet of empty-calorie scorer. He makes players around him play worse. Low basketball IQ, lazy defender.

Very flashy, athletic, in his better day he makes any contested shot look easy, but not a good clutch player. Definitely not worth of max, a good 3rd option on a well constructed team.