r/UtahJazz

The main reason to trade up to take AJ (which should only cost a future first, per history of top 10 trades), is that historically, stars don’t stay in Utah in the modern NBA.

Gordon Hayward left for Boston. Donovan wanted out when he was traded. AJ came to BYU of all places, and loves Utah. I have medium confidence Darryn Peterson would make it past his second contract, while AJ would be a lifer and likely get a statue if he lives up to his 7-10 all-star billing potential.

The third contract will be the peak/top of his career, and KNOWING that AJ would be willing to stay in Utah is worth a future first.

I’ve been following the national media and Twitter, and I’m seeing all these crazy trade ideas that are drastically one-sided against the jazz. The most common ones involve Ace and the 2nd for 1st. What a dramatic overpay that seems to have inspired the national media. I just don’t understand why everyone thinks the Ainge-s suddenly have the intelligence of a gnat.

Well it’s official, they called. The FO must really want AJ.

I definitely do NOT want to give up Ace, Lauri, any starters. Any role guys plus a few future picks? Is this all a reach anyway and you’re fine taking Darryn?

I’ve been toying with potential trades in my head all day

I am sure that the Jazz are going to be a major threat over next several years. A major reason why is the culture that is been on full display over these painful years. Yes, the talent has to be on the team. And, championship teams have a "winning culture." I put that in quotes because it is hard to define. The Jazz are doing an incredible job of developing a culture that will win. Keyonte George is the prime example of a talented young player that is developing into an incredible leader -- if a young talented player sets the standards for the team the other players follow. Over the last three years we have watched Keyonte: 1) be incredibly coachable -- he and Will Hardy have often spoken about their meeting after his rookie year -- look at his improvement in all areas over the last 2 years; 2) understand the importance of team building -- remember the story of him going to Finland with Lauri Markkanen; 3) bridging the young players and vets: all season after wins whether he was playing or not he was pumping up the young players during and after the games; and 4) now he is at the draft lottery meeting with whomever is the next critical piece of the Jazz puzzle. I'm sure that there all other examples -- all of this gives me confidence that not only do the Jazz have the talent; they also have a leader with the attitude and character to lead a winning team.

The Jazz are going to be wicked next season. They have the front office, the coach, the talent, and the player leadership.

timestamp for when he comes on

really great talk, making my way through it still but some notes:

• seems to share an organizational refrain/pitch they've landed on that "players have their best years in Utah". later on talks about how great it is to see players like Jokic/Shai have no qualms about playing for their respective markets
• on how Danny came to work for the Jazz (after he stepped away from the Celtics). said has a 15+ year relationship with Danny. they played golf together all the time, and he found out Danny was still watching 5 games a night with his computer, tablet, etc. even after leaving his Celtics job, and suggested Danny actually get paid for that
• Danny didnt want to leave as Celtics President of Basketball to just pick up the same title as before. and only wanted to scout and be involved in player management. so thats the role that got carved out for Danny
• only hired Austin bc his wife asked him, worst case scenario, what she should do if Danny and him both [died]. he said immediately call Austin to run the team. she said she saw a report Austin was interviewing at other teams for the President position, so that night he realized he had to call Austin and tell him that he was their "designated survivor" (Bill's term that Ryan agreed on). Austin said if he would take that role and leave, it had to be now. so that night he signed Austin as President. then told Danny later who had no idea through that entire process (and told Danny he had to figure out how to work for his son).
• talks ab how he got the call that he could buy the Jazz, says the previous owners asked him for a bid, and he pulled up the Forbes evaluation article to go off of that
• says it got really close actually with buying the Timberwolves before that. admitted the Twolves prev owner was weird about will he/wont he sell. but still got really close to the finish line. but his wife seemed really upset, knowing he'd go all in as a team owner, and their family being Jazz fans— he called Adam Silver and said he wouldnt proceed. called the Jazz owners then ab being interested and got a call 6 months later.
• directly states "our fanbase shouldn't want me drafting this person" (re: the #2 pick). says of course he will opine and share his thoughts but that it's Austin and Danny and the team making the call that should give the fan base confidence.

I have seen a lot pf talk about Utah’s future here on the forum. One confusing thing i have seen is that people tend to not emphasise markkanens role a ton/talk about him enough. The man averaged 27ppg last year. What do you guys think about his future role in this organisation?