RealGM Blogs -- The Genius Of Kevin O'Connor

finnegan · Post #1 » by **finnegan** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:18 pm

http://basketball.realgm.com/blog/220583/The_Genius_Of_Kevin_OConnor

With a week left in the regular season, the final playoff spot in the Western Conference is down to three teams: the Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz. But while both the Suns and Rockets are firmly stuck on the mediocrity treadmill, not bad enough to rebuild and not good enough to contend, the Jazz have pulled off the high-wire act of committing to a full rebuild without tanking.

The only way for a small-market team to build a championship contender is through the draft, which is why tanking has become increasingly popular. But because O’Connor sold high when he had an unhappy superstar, he was able to get two high lottery picks without needing to blow up the rest of the team.

Utah also has the rights to the Golden State Warriors 2012 first-round pick if it falls outside of the top 7; they could get a playoff berth and a lottery pick out of the 2011-12 season while the Warriors get neither.

Meanwhile, if Golden State’s rather embarrassing attempt to keep their pick comes up short, O’Connor will be able to round out his starting five with a future star at shooting guard. Bradley Beal (Florida) will probably be off the board, but Terrence Ross (Washington), Jeremy Lamb (UConn) and Dion Waiters (Syracuse) should still be available, and all three have All-Star caliber athleticism, shooting and shot-creating ability.

Two years ago, Utah was a capped-out veteran team with a frustrated star eyeing free agency. Now, thanks to O’Connor’s shrewd long-term planning, they have one of the NBA’s most promising young core all while staying in playoff contention. Even if the Jazz end up falling behind the Rockets or the Suns, they are in a far superior position going forward.

countrybama24 · Post #2 » by **countrybama24** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:30 am

realgm wrote:His first priority should be at point guard, as Favors and Kanter need someone who can run a team, find them on the break and get them shots in the half-court. Kendall Marshall (UNC) would make a lot of sense, as Utah could hide his defensive shortcomings while his jaw-dropping passing ability (9.8 assists on 2.8 turnovers this year) would be extremely valuable on a roster full of finishers.

Meanwhile, if Golden State’s rather embarrassing attempt to keep their pick comes up short, O’Connor will be able to round out his starting five with a future star at shooting guard. Bradley Beal (Florida) will probably be off the board, but Terrence Ross (Washington), Jeremy Lamb (UConn) and Dion Waiters (Syracuse) should still be available, and all three have All-Star caliber athleticism, shooting and shot-creating ability.

Too bad we won't have either of those picks because of our short-sighted need to field a veteran team this year. I'll never understand the decision to not do a full-rebuild in basketball terms.

HolyToledo · Post #3 » by **HolyToledo** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 2:59 am

KOC deserves GM of the year. A great job and he has alot of options as Big Al and Millsap values are at all time highs.

russnumber3 · Post #4 » by **russnumber3** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 3:23 am

Anyone else think the writer was comparing Kanter to Dirk freaking Nowitzki??? Sure sounds like it. :lol:

Also...Holy Toledo, don't we get the Golden State pick next year if not this year?

HolyToledo · Post #5 » by **HolyToledo** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 3:53 am

russnumber3 wrote:Anyone else think the writer was comparing Kanter to Dirk freaking Nowitzki??? Sure sounds like it.

Also...Holy Toledo, don't we get the Golden State pick next year if not this year?

I believe it is top 6 protected next year so GSW with their players coming back next year it is likely we get it, but if they suck again then goes to the year after ( 2 second round picks i believe instead of a #1 pick).

HolyToledo · Post #6 » by **HolyToledo** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:00 am

2012 first round draft pick from Golden State
Golden State's own 2012 1st round pick to Utah via New Jersey (top 7 protected in the 2012 Draft, top 6 protected in 2013, and top 6 protected in the 2014 Draft). However, if Utah via New Jersey has not yet received this first round pick by the 2014 draft, then Utah via New Jersey shall instead receive: (i) Golden State's own 2014 2nd round pick and (ii) Golden State's own 2016 2nd round pick. [Golden State - New Jersey, 7/22/2008 and amended 9/21/2009 and then New Jersey - Utah, 2/23/2011]

http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/ ... s/detailed

DeadlyTreeStump · Post #7 » by **DeadlyTreeStump** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:32 am

We don't even need that pick this year. I mean, it would be nice, but it's not a disaster if the Warriors' tank proves successful. There's enough youth movement in the Jazz as is, getting the Warriors' pick next year could even be advantageous as our young players prove themselves and we define more clearly what our true needs are.
And I wouldn't worry too much about the Warriors being too good next year and our pick sucking. People are assuming Bogut and Curry will be healthy and that will translate into a crapload of wins. I don't think things are that simple for the Warriors.

babyjax13 · Post #8 » by **babyjax13** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:06 am

Next year's draft will be stronger anyway - I think this one has gotten too much hype. It is deep, but outside of Beal and Davis I'm not too impressed (as far as "franchise player" talent is concerned).

countrybama24 · Post #9 » by **countrybama24** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:21 pm

I hope y'all are right. It's not that we don't have enough youth, it's that we don't have enough talent and defense in our starting 5. I really like favors / Hayward / burks / kanter, but I'm just not supremely confident we have two true all-stars (not like Okur was an all-star) and I'm skeptical of our ability to trade Al or Harris into something really useful (I think we keep millsap).

KOC has done a great job, he's definitely in the 90th percentile of GMs. Im jut still unsure of how much he (or his superiors) privilege championships over simply being in that second tier of "contenders" (Pacers, Hawks, etc). I would just rather be bad for three years straight playing rookies and dleagers and actually contend afterwards than be bad for one year and cap our upside at a second round out.

Hopefully we get something great next year. I'm not as high on that draft, since it's really shallow (there is barely a solid top 8) and although this draft was really overrated, you could at let expect to find solid starters in the middle of the first round. Although we've been great drafting in the lottery lately, so I think KOC should be able to work some late lottery magic or trade some of our assets to fill our needs. Here's hoping for a poor showing for the 12-13 warriors!

Ming Kong! · Post #10 » by **Ming Kong!** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:47 pm

KOC would of deserved GM of the last season 2011-12 (if not for Miami), when he did the Deron Williams trade and got Gordon Hayward. This summer Kanter hasn't done too much and Burks flies under the radar too. I don't know who deserves GM of the year this year, but I wouldn't give it to KOC.