Dalek wrote:deeps6x wrote:Dalek wrote:
I would like a prospect who is bigger and has some skill finishing or shooting. Ryan Dunn could replace Ochai's defense or Tristan Silva has an all-around game. Even back up PG like KJ Simpson is a bigger need than Ochai.
We have had guys like Stanley Johnson, Landry Fields, Rasual Butler - these guys who get the yips playing pro ball. I don't know if Ochai ever gets over his nerves, but he looks nervous out there.
I don't think Ryan Dunn or Tristan da Silva will still be available at #29. And I sure hope we are drafting a better back up PG then KJ Simpson.
Plus, everyone seems to be ignoring the financial reasons why they took KO with this trade, and why they extended him before the end of the season.
You have to explain KO to me because I don't get it. He is soon to be 34 and is a negative defender and doesn't fit our timeline. I just don't get the move given his limitations. He is a guy for a playoff type team to add not a rebuild.
They're trying to teach a very specific offensive system to a group of young players and build good habits and a foundation. Kelly's skillset is hard to find in a big, yet is a seamless fit for the offense. They will continue to look for it in someone that fits the timeline, but that will take time. Kelly allows them to upskill everyone in the offense until they find that guy. Without his skillset, they delay the development of everyone else on the team. From a roster standpoint, Kelly is an investment in their core. He probably doesn't change the short term equation all that much in terms of wins either, so it doesn't put short term wins in front of long term development.
From a cap standpoint, they can now go into the season with essentially an MLE signing already done. Yes, in the event that they open up cap room, they could have signed him into it. And if they operate above the cap, they could have given him the MLE regardless. However, now If they decide to operate above the cap, they essentially created a second MLE slot by extending the outgoing salary through the next 2 seasons. And if they go the cap space route, signing Kelly allows them to delay denouncing any cap holds until they find a move they like. In general, it allows them to make the best move available to them, whether it be a trade for Brown or waiving Brown and re-singing, denouncing, or sign and trading Gary, knowing they already have their FA target under contract and are under no time pressure to make the moves.
They essentially paid the price of a 2nd round talent in any other draft to 1) invest in their core and offensive system 2) create cap flexibility and 3) take a flyer on a former lottery pick who a year ago was deemed untouchable by the Jazz. I still don't understand how anyone doesn't see this as a win. Jazz fans think we robbed them.