Jazz general manager Justin Zanik said he looked at many possibilities ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, but ultimately decided that trading for Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Juan Hernangomez was the best move for the group, writes Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune. Zanik still believes Utah can compete for a title this season, when healthy and connected.
“I feel really confident in the amount of information we knew about the market and what was going on. And every opportunity that came our way, we were able to look at and understand and make really good decisions from where we stand as a team,” Zanik told reporters. “We’re a very competitive team. When we’re healthy, when we’re connected, we have a chance to contend for a title. … I’m excited about this group. We want to make a bet on this group. We have proof of concept with this group.”
Alexander-Walker has been very inconsistent to this point in his career, but has flashed upside at times as a versatile shot-creator. As a third-year former first-round pick, he’s eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer. If the sides can’t come to an agreement, he’ll become a restricted free agent in 2023, if Utah tenders him a qualifying offer. The possibility of team control on a young player appealed to the club, Zanik said.
“We look at those opportunities whatever our timeline, in terms of the competitiveness of our team, whether we’re a young, rebuilding team, or a playoff-competitive team, or we’re trying to be a championship-contending team,” Zanik said. “It’s not just, ‘What are we doing for the next four months? What are we doing for the next year?’ Nickeil has a chance to be here on a multiyear timeline, and you always have to have a chance to add some of those guys.”
Here’s more on the Jazz:
- When asked by a reporter if the team considered trading a future first-round pick, Zanik said everything was on the table to improve the team, but the opportunity cost wasn’t worth it with the deals that were available, as Walden relays. “There’s always a value proposition of the assets that you have, and that goes for future picks. … This trade deadline window, we investigated every possible situation and the value coming back: Can it make us better? Can it definitively make us better? That’s a high bar with this group because we’re really good,” Zanik said. “… There was just not anything definitive that reached a bar, whether using a future first or not.”
- Alexander-Walker spoke to coach Quin Snyder about his role with the team, and he recognizes that his role will be different with Utah than it was in New Orleans, per Walden. “Really helping defend, being a good perimeter defender. Giving that good spark off the bench defensively, and allowing the offensive end to come,” Alexander-Walker said. “The team’s full of great guards and All-Stars, so my role is not to be that spark plug of scoring.”
- Zanik said Danuel House brings a lot to the table for the Jazz, which is why the team opted to sign him to a contract for the remainder of the season after multiple 10-day deals, as Ryan McDonald and Sarah Todd of The Desert News relay. “His activity level, the ability to defend, his ability to make a shot — we wanted to give him a shot and he has integrated seamlessly within this group … when he was still available and we got through the deadline, it made sense. He’s done well with his opportunity and we’d like to see it continue,” Zanik said.
Alexander-Walker could turn it around find some consistency and be really good but idk about it being in Utah.
As I’ve said in the past would love to see him link up with his cousin Shai in OKC.
The Jazz are good at developing talent…Gobert, O’Neale, Ingles and even Mitchell are proof of that. I think Walker would really shine as an eventual upgrade/replacement for Clarkson when the time comes.
Every team has some players they developed.
But what about Enes the 3rd overall pick didn’t develop until OKC, Burks at 12 didn’t develop, Muhammad at 14th, Exum at 5, Lyles at 12 and Grayson Allen at 21….
Paschall is another who has gone backwards since looking promising at GSW.
I just don’t see NAW getting many opportunities and settling in. But OKC would give him a good opportunity and freedom, plus would fit in great at that locker room with his cousin Shai.
NAWt is a terrible shooter also, not a good fit for Utah at all.
People said the same thing about Clarkson. Look at how he blossomed into a 6th MOTY. This coaching staff know how to utilize guys strengths. Look at how they help been utilizing their bench while Gobert has been out. They figured it out and are on a 5 game winning streak. Those games without our starting lineup showed just how well they’ve kept their bench prepared. Those games were close except towards the end.
If you don’t play very much then you don’t know to pace yourself to some degree.
That’s why veteran players in their prime are so valuable. They’re smarter but still have the endurance to play longer.
In the Jazz’s case, the end of the bench guys just needed more playing time to get in game shape. Training can only take you so far.
That’s not true about Enes. Who do you think showed Enes his post moves? He was the backup to Jefferson. Jefferson made a big impact on all the big men on the roster. He had amazing foot work and pump fakes. Enes just needed more playing time. He was also likely a distraction in the locker room. I seem to remember him getting more verbal about playing time. So they traded him. Dumb thing is the Jazz eventually just let Jefferson and Millsap walk when Favors and Gobert were ready. Should’ve at least did a sign and trade for a TPE and a pick or two.
All those guys you mentioned all developed with the Jazz. They just didn’t have the playing time for them. Someone better was ahead of them. More playing usually means more production. Doesn’t mean they magically developed away from the Jazz. They all had big games with the Jazz here and there. They were just too inconsistent to keep on the roster vs what they had or what they got in return.
The other big factor is injuries. Our health team could be terrible for all we know. Guys do tend to be injured a lot, but so do guys on every team. Then there are some guys that are just fragile. That’s the biggest reason the Jazz traded Exum. Maybe they saw that in Hayward as well and why they didn’t offer him the max. I think that’s paid off really well!
Some guys don’t take care of their bodies until they’re older. That could be information from their health and training coaches or just wisdom accumulated. Hard to say. I wouldn’t call that development in the traditional sense, but that does make a huge difference on their endurance and conditioning. Most superstars don’t become that without strict conditioning and nutrition.
Proof of concept being a shoot out with the Nugs in the bubble and an embarrassing performance against the Klaw-less Clips last summer? Losing Joey and adding NAW puts them over that edge? Don’t think so
Donovan was playing hurt in that Clippers series. Conley was out and he killed the Clippers in the regular season. The Nuggets series both Conley and Donovan were fresh off of injuries. That’s why the Jazz have been so careful this year. We’ve lost more games because of it, but we’ll be healthier in the playoffs most likely
As for Joe, it’s just a salary dump move for Portland. Joe already said he was okay with the team moving him if it helped the team. He also said he would still want to come back. He hadn’t been very aggressive all year, so I wonder if he’s also relieved he has some time away from basketball.
As for NAW, he’s actually a potentially great player. He just needs the right environment to help him fine tune his weaknesses. A lot of young guys have terrible shot selection. Being around more veteran guards like Conley will help him as well as Donovan and Clarkson. They’ll teach him what they had to do to get more efficient. That should help those veterans to remember by teaching. Teaching is the best way to remember something the longest.
NAW ‘s shot mechanics and instincts getting around defenses is already really good. He also has great size, speed, and durability. Just needs that defined role to help him get started. Probably won’t need very long to impress the coaching staff and teammates, IMO.
Happy they signed House for the rest of the year! He’s been really solid! Isn’t afraid of anyone it seems. That’ll be very helpful in the playoffs if any of the starters get cold, timid, or injured. He definitely helps the Jazz’s depth.
NAW and Juancho have enough time before the playoffs to get familiarized with the offense and defensive schemes. I can see both being very capable off the bench or even starting in a pinch. Will likely need a full training camp to get totally comfortable. Every player is different. Although, House seemed to fit right in. Kudos to House!