The Jazz failed to make the playoffs for the second straight season. CEO Danny Ainge will look for difference-makers this offseason to change their fortunes, according to Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune.
“We’re ready to go big game hunting,” Ainge told reporters on Tuesday, adding that the Jazz will ideally trade for an All-Star level player in the prime of his career.
We’re not really interested in dinosaurs,” he said. “We’re interested in like, good six or seven years guys, those are good players. I’m not saying that we wouldn’t go get some veteran players for a short-term fix while we take buy us some time. But that’s not as likely.”
Naturally, acquiring one of those players is easier said than done. There aren’t many of them and they’re rarely available in trade discussions. However, Ainge said he almost landed that type of player last offseason.
“We felt like we were close (on a trade) once in this process that would have changed the dynamic of our team immediately,” Ainge said. “But that hasn’t happened.”
Larsen speculates that player was Jrue Holiday before he was dealt to Boston.
What Ainge doesn’t want is to go into training camp with a roster relying heavily on rookies and second-year players, according to Sarah Todd of the Deseret News. Utah currently has three of the top 32 picks in this year’s draft. The Jazz had three first-round picks last June.
“If we start all over, then we’re three years, possibly four years from being anywhere. We feel like we’re closer than that, and we have a chance. We’re going all in this summer,” Ainge said. “When I say ‘all in,’ that doesn’t mean that we’re going to throw all our chips in, like championship or bust. I’m saying our mindset is that we’re doing everything only to try to win. That’s our only objective … and if we don’t land anything, we don’t make any deals, we don’t land anything, then our direction could change.”
For what big horned sheep up in the mountains?
Based Cecil
He’s in Utah, there’s lot of Big Horns there.
Be very very quiet… I’m hunting rabbits…
i was thinking fishing.
Selling low on those Wolves picks seems like a bad idea. Even more so if the biggest fish out there is Trae Young or worse…
They’ll probably kick the tires all over but never make a deal because of the asking prices. I would think by the trade deadline or the following Summer they’d make a deal. That way both teams have time to tweak their offers.
That and it highly depends on who is available. I doubt they want more players with little defensive ability.
That’s a pretty bold direction! Doesn’t mean it’ll happen, but at least it tells us that they don’t sound like a team trying to tank next year.
In reality, it probably has more to do with Ainge not being able to handle losing for very long. Lol
Ainge seems to be talking bs here. So much waffling typical of him. Big game hunting but we’re not putting all our chips in to win a championship. What does that even mean?
Danny Ainge likes his youth and draft picks and on into perpetuity. Besides which big game player is available?
Lavine lol
Sounds like something Jerry Jones would say – then not follow through on.
I wouldn’t make a big trade unless it is really really worth it. The jazz have money to entice a quality player or two. No need to do that unless you have a real proven asset player. Perhaps jazz look at rozen or monk.
Perhaps pelicans trade Ingram or Knicks move randle. Can’t see the jazz wanting to give up much in terms of picks. This is where the league is heading. Teams can’t move their player because ask is too high as the new cba has change how to trade.
Teams that have picks are hoarding them. Thunder jazz spurs. How dare they!
Warriors are out and so will be Paul and Thompson.
The jazz should consider another big. Jonas for example or harkenstein.
Also, jazz have a roster problem with three new picks and three rookies from last year. Somebody is getting cut.
Jazz should avoid trae but Murray cheaper and better fit.
Bucks will be a bust and so will the suns.
Lots of off season intrigue.
Jazz might find some upgrades….
Who are Rozen and Harkenstein?
He means DeRozan and Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Jazz have plenty of cap space if needed and a lot of picks, they could make something happen.
I could see this simply being a huge over sell on getting someone like DeRozan or LaVine.
DeRozan is obviously a FA and they have a small need for a SG or SF, a number 1 or number 2 option on offence and someone to be a leader.
Zach on the other hand is closer to the 7 year vet status, fits closer to everyone timeline and is more in Ainges price range, which would allow him to keep some of the picks.
LaVine is a career loser and can’t even stay healthy anymore these days. That’s why the Bulls didn’t find any takers for him on the trade market. The last thing the Jazz need is an Otto Porter 2.0 situation.
Two things:
1) I know DeRozan’s sister. She said he’s a big Bulls fan from the Finals years. He wouldn’t join the Jazz cuz they were the enemy. lol
2) Ainge said he doesn’t want “dinosaurs” unless they were fit guys to round out the team for need. Sounded like they’d be temporary solutions, if they needed it.
Grandiloquent FO drivel to fool Markkanen into an extension, nothing more.
The Jazz’s mediocre FRPs aren’t worth enough to trade for the caliber of All-Star/All-NBA talent, necessary to turn Ryan Smith’s and Danny Boy’s train wreck into a serious contender. And no star player will go to Utah on his own volition. As a matter of fact, most would fight tooth and nail to avoid getting traded into NBA purgatory.
Ryan Smith intends to leverage as much profits as possible out of the Jazz franchise in order to finance his other business ventures. He won’t spend any serious money on a long-term commitment to winning. And Danny Boy is merely his lying mouthpiece in charge.
In years past, maybe. However, in today’s market, a late first round pick can get you a decent starter and a young prospect (Olynyk and Agbaji cost the Raptors 1 late first round pick). Teams have become a lot more stingy lately. Probably because they want to lower the prices of players from the Gobert and Mitchell craziness. lol
Brogdon, Murray and Lavine Trent and Schroeder. We shall see what Danny does.,
That’s squirrel shootin’ rather than “big game hunting”.
Use your cap space to sign some younger vets and then nail your draft picks. Don’t foresee anyone out there as being a real difference maker that’ll catapult this team into title contention
No star wants to play in Utah…
Just tank and hope you land Flagg.
Boozer was a star and went to the Jazz on purpose. Bogey was a $17M free agent who had multiple teams after him. Fonntechio was considered the biggest FA in Europe at the time. Spida, Conley, Gobert all re-signed contracts to stay in Utah. Conley, a transplant, really wanted to stay in Utah and was devastated when he was traded. Markkanen keeps saying how much he loves playing in Utah and really wants to stay.
In other words, people love to quote brainwashing cuz they’re too lazy to do actual reading and research. The natural man, as it were, gets the better of some more than others, more often than it should. I would add that haters love to bully nice people cuz they won’t talk back. Well, I love to take on bullies. Bring it. lol But seriously, instead you could say that your own perception is this or that.
Keep in mind, Utah just got an NHL team. They already have an NBA team and a MLS team. Plus, there’s lots of minor league teams to watch and big college school sports action all over the area. Plenty for a sports junkie. They have awesome concert venues, more outdoors options than practically anywhere, the best movie theaters I’ve seen in the many states I’ve lived in, plus plenty of clubs, etc, for those that like that kind of thing. I’m sure there’s a lot more stuff that I have no clue about because I don’t look for it. But you get the idea. =)
Boozer was a 3rd option maybe 2nd never viewed him like a star. Good player and that was like 20 years ago. He was a 2nd round pick and wasn’t a star when he left the Cavs.
Bogdanovich…not a star you are really reaching.
The Fonn dude…come on like really.
Spida & Gobert were drafted so they were able to make the most money possible with them. Conley was traded and again could have gotten more, every player states “I would love to stay____( insert current team that can offer the most).”
No one considers Utah in FA KD, Bron, Kawhi, Kyrie in recent memory never once mentioned Utah. PG13 likely declines player option and becomes a FA this year you know who he won’t consider…Utah.
Never a trade destination.
You’re describing every smaller market, not just Utah. But hey, you gotta justify your hate of “Mormons” somehow. Lol
Anyway, not to burst your fantasy land bubble but Dame has said on multiple occasions that he had Utah as one of his preferred trade destinations, if he were to be traded by Portland. I guess that slipped your mind to prove your bigoted point. Lol
P.S. Look up why he uses the number 0.
In reality, I would correct your statement from “Utah” to “Small Market”. Although, that’s an old school mentality since social media campaigns have made it completely irrelevant where players live. Then add VR, AI and flying cars and it really won’t matter where you live. =) haha
I guess Ainge is getting some heat for the over the top tank job he’s orchestrated, and wants to encourage a different characterization of what he’s done and is doing. Get people to focus on his words and ignore his actions.
All Star players in the prime of their career? LOL. In the unlikely event that one becomes available, is he really going to commit longer term to UTH? Putting aside whether UTH is (generally) an attractive destination, what All Star in his prime wants to go play for an organization run by a FO as predisposed to tank as this one? They had two All Star level players in their prime, and traded them to tank.
I do agree that all these moves does send an unstable signal. I do really like all the young guys they’ve brought in. I’m one to not care so much about bringing in an All-Star right now. I’d rather build it organically, like OKC did. Perhaps trade for a young stud that fits the timeline. Markkanen might be too old to fit the rest of the group, but maybe not. Guess we’ll see what he really means by training camp next season.
Organically like Okc did!
That’s special material there
I’m not talking about CP3 and before. I’m talking about when they made years of draft picks, which is what they’re using now as starters.
The only starter that wasn’t theirs was through a trade, SGA, right?
Plus, look at all the draft picks they still have. That’s what Utah has built in short order. Just need the Cavs and TWolves to start losing next year onward. Lol
Kuzma and dejounte murray. Then we sign a veteran big man and 3 and D guy and we make the playoffs for sure.