WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.240 I will get to the five o'clock hour the program. 2 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:05.599 Tonight we have some hockey on the station. Game two 3 00:00:05.639 --> 00:00:08.560 of the Stanley Cup Finals comes your way, as we say, 4 00:00:08.599 --> 00:00:11.759 a night at six o'clock. Busy, busy show today, A 5 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:13.519 lot going on. It's been a minute since we caught 6 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:15.199 up with our next guest. But when you hear the 7 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:19.280 Godfather theme music, it means one thing. The Godfather of 8 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:22.960 Utah sports talk radio himself, Gordon Monson on a Friday 9 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:24.760 afternoon Gordo, Happy Friday, buddy. 10 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:25.239 How are we doing. 11 00:00:26.280 --> 00:00:27.239 I'm doing just fine. 12 00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:29.559 How are you doing, Spence? Some things are going well 13 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:29.839 for you. 14 00:00:29.960 --> 00:00:31.480 Yeah, things are great, Things are great. 15 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:34.600 I promise I won't do the entire hit about the 16 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:36.719 following topic, but I've got to start out with it. 17 00:00:37.560 --> 00:00:40.240 Who chose your hat that you wore at your daughter's 18 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:42.119 wedding on the north shore of a Wahoo. 19 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:49.600 It was kind of a toss up. 20 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:53.079 It was not you. It wasn't you. That's all I know. 21 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:54.039 You did not choose that. 22 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:58.479 Hut uh bro was well. My wife and I was 23 00:00:58.560 --> 00:00:59.359 enjoined at first. 24 00:00:59.399 --> 00:01:01.560 There it is there, it is whatever. 25 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:04.560 It was sunny and hot and I had to. 26 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:06.959 Cool waff a little Gordon. 27 00:01:07.079 --> 00:01:10.200 I have looked at the picture of your family seventy 28 00:01:10.280 --> 00:01:14.799 five thousand times, with your beautiful daughters, your beautiful wife, 29 00:01:14.840 --> 00:01:16.959 and then, my man, is that a fedora? 30 00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:18.799 Is where you were? Is that a fedora that you 31 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:19.280 were rocking? 32 00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:22.519 I don't know what you would consider at all I 33 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:23.519 know is it cost me. 34 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:29.480 What I want to know is what the price stag 35 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:31.280 of the whole wedding was. But I'm not going to 36 00:01:31.319 --> 00:01:34.280 ask you that on the radio. Hey, look, you rocked it, buddy, 37 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:37.480 You look good. I mean, I just the thing about 38 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:39.959 the picture is all of your daughters and your wife 39 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:42.640 are so fashion conscious, and they're so dressed up and 40 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:45.280 so nice. It looked to me like you walked out 41 00:01:45.319 --> 00:01:47.159 with your old suit on, and Lisa was like, we've 42 00:01:47.159 --> 00:01:49.480 got to do something, so you're wearing this damn hat. 43 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:55.599 Well, I had a suit, I had a perfect suit 44 00:01:55.680 --> 00:02:00.120 for the occasion, and I pull it out and my wife, 45 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:03.040 but my daughter says, you can't wear that suit. 46 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:07.040 That's what the groma is wearing. So I had the 47 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:10.960 resort to this thing that was like five sizes too 48 00:02:11.080 --> 00:02:11.840 big for me. 49 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:14.439 By the way, those. 50 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:16.360 Pictures, every time I look at pictures at a wedding, 51 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:18.879 and that includes one of my daughters. I think, okay, 52 00:02:18.919 --> 00:02:24.759 it's time to drop a few wellbs. But anyway, it 53 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:28.199 turned out really well, so I was happy about that. 54 00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:31.120 Okay, lastly, the hat just rules so hard. I'm looking 55 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:32.680 at it again. It's such a good look. 56 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:32.919 Man. 57 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:35.319 I'm just I'm proud of you. I'm happy for you, 58 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:38.280 and you've done it right. All the daughters are now 59 00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:41.439 betrothed or with their partners. That's a nice accomplishment for 60 00:02:41.560 --> 00:02:42.120 mom and dad. 61 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:45.039 Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's all taken care of from that 62 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:48.199 same point. But this is my fourth wedding at which 63 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:53.400 I was the officiant, and I'm batting five. 64 00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:55.520 Hundred because two of them ended up divorced. 65 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:01.759 But if you're bad five hundred, that ain't bad. I 66 00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:03.680 guess you know that would lead the league. 67 00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:05.479 That's a hall of fame career. Gordo. 68 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:07.319 You know what, since you brought that up, I need 69 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:10.479 to ask your advice. My little cousin, Madison has asked 70 00:03:10.520 --> 00:03:14.120 me to officiate her wedding in July. I'm not exactly 71 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:16.879 sure what she was thinking, but any advice for your boy, 72 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:19.240 as I'm set to do what you've done multiple times 73 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:21.280 next month This. 74 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:23.080 Is what I would do if I were you, and 75 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:25.800 it's what I've done at most of the weddings that 76 00:03:25.960 --> 00:03:30.759 I have, you know, been the officiants. 77 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:33.879 I interview them beforehand. 78 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:36.719 I find out what they love about each other and 79 00:03:36.759 --> 00:03:42.319 then express that to those congregated and that usually works 80 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:43.199 out pretty well. 81 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:43.639 You know. 82 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:46.919 I like doing it that way since my daughter got 83 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:51.639 married on the beach. This time, I had the groom 84 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:56.400 and the bride both get a container of sand and 85 00:03:56.520 --> 00:04:00.479 pour it into this sea glass container where they're mixing 86 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:04.360 their sand into one and then I had everybody who 87 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:08.599 was there take a small We handed out small shells, 88 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:13.360 and everybody who was there, it was a small gathering, added. 89 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:16.639 A little shell to the to the mix. So I 90 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:19.600 thought that was kind of a nice idea. 91 00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:22.560 I'm very impressed. There's no way that was your idea, though. 92 00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:26.879 I knew it. 93 00:04:26.519 --> 00:04:31.360 I looked up the sand thing, but my wife's idea 94 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:33.560 was for everybody who was there to put a little 95 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:35.959 shell in there, So you know, it was it was 96 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:38.199 very It was very cool. But this is what I 97 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:41.680 found outspense. You know, every so many people go out 98 00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:45.279 there and they spend all this money on on an 99 00:04:45.319 --> 00:04:49.560 elaborate affair and all this stuff and keeping it. 100 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:50.399 Small and quaint. 101 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:51.839 It's kind of nice. 102 00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:55.279 The pictures looked wonderful, and of course I teas, I 103 00:04:55.279 --> 00:04:57.639 love your family. Looks like you guys had a great time, 104 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:00.079 and that just that hat just killed me. 105 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:02.519 Man, I loved it. But let's we can move on, Cordo. 106 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:06.120 We can we can move on because since you and 107 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:08.439 I last spoke, there have been a lot of news 108 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:11.360 locally that I like to discuss with you. Most recently, 109 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:14.560 Austin Ainge has been added to the Jazz front office 110 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:17.480 as they're president of the basketball operations, and Ryan Smith 111 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:20.519 himself said during the press conference that this is now 112 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:23.800 the guy. It's Austin show. He's calling the shots, meaning 113 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:28.079 Danny his dad reports to him. Justin'sanik, the GM reports 114 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:30.879 to him as well. So your reaction and what you 115 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:32.920 think this means for the Utah Jazz is they're going 116 00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:35.920 to try to continue this rebuild that's into your four 117 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:37.240 without a lot of for retraction. 118 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:41.480 Yeah, he says, the tanks he is over. That doesn't 119 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:44.800 mean the losing's over. I mean, I think it's going 120 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:47.600 to go on for a while yet. But Ustin name 121 00:05:47.720 --> 00:05:48.759 seems like a bright guy. 122 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:50.319 You can look at it in one of two ways. 123 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:53.879 I mean, either there's nepotism going on here or you 124 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:56.839 know this, this is a person who can come in 125 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:59.720 here and add energy. He was with the Celtics, all 126 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:03.959 those we remember him, spenceon just being a player down 127 00:06:03.959 --> 00:06:06.600 at BYU. You know, that's the thing. You see these 128 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:09.120 You see these guys grow up, you know, and they 129 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:12.079 turn into adults. And I think Alston names is a 130 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:14.519 fairly capable guy. So we'll see what he can do. 131 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:19.399 So let's dig into what he said about the tanking stuff. 132 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:22.439 And you're the way you articulated I think is the 133 00:06:22.519 --> 00:06:25.319 right way to articulate it, Like, just because the tanking 134 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:29.240 is apparently over, doesn't mean the losing is apparently over. 135 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:33.079 So what do you think it's going to look like, Gordon? 136 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:36.040 Because here's what I perceive to be the number one 137 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:39.959 priority for next season. It's very simple. So if the 138 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:43.600 Jazz did not owe a top eight protected picked Oklahoma 139 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:46.920 City next year, I feel differently about the approach. But 140 00:06:47.079 --> 00:06:50.040 because they do, the worst possible thing that could happen 141 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:52.839 this year is the Jazz winning like thirty five games 142 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:55.519 and we're all sitting here next spring, and Mark Tatum 143 00:06:55.560 --> 00:06:57.959 pulls out the envelope and says, the number nine pick 144 00:06:57.959 --> 00:07:00.279 in the draft belongs to the Utah Jazz. Me mean, 145 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:03.560 it belongs to the Oklahoma City Thunder. They have to 146 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:07.839 maintain that asset. Gordo, that's my opinion. Give me your 147 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:09.560 thoughts on it. And if so, what do you think 148 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:10.680 this year is going to look like? 149 00:07:11.720 --> 00:07:12.480 Uh? 150 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:15.120 You know, especially bring up a great point there, but 151 00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:19.519 I think at some at some juncture, the Jazz have 152 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:23.399 to be able to go out and let those players 153 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:27.319 play as hard as they possibly can and win as 154 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:31.040 many games as they possibly can. Because I don't know, 155 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:33.920 it's interesting a lot of people look at OKAC and 156 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:37.839 they say, oh, that's a blueprint for the Jazz to follow. Well, 157 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:40.480 that'd be great. I mean, Austin Ainge is smart, dude, 158 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:43.720 I don't think he's quite at Sam Presty's level. I 159 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:46.720 mean what that guy did to build that team, you know, 160 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:50.800 trading two all stars and then freeing up some flexibility. 161 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:54.560 That sounds familiar Jazz fans. I mean it is sort 162 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:57.319 of what the Jazz are looking at now, what they did. 163 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:01.279 But what's the difference. Okay, see got an MVP? 164 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:02.319 Uh? 165 00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:06.199 He's traded for an MVP and whether the Jazz can 166 00:08:06.279 --> 00:08:10.360 find that kind of leadership I really don't know. And 167 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:12.040 you have to get lucky, but you have to be 168 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:16.399 Here's the thing. Austin Age has to be smarter than 169 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:19.639 just about everybody else in the league. Is he is 170 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:22.519 he at that level of spence. I don't know whether 171 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:25.759 he is. It may sound unfair, but that's sort of 172 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:29.319 what quote unquote small market teams have to do. They 173 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:31.759 have to they have to get lucky in the draft, 174 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:35.600 but they have to recognize talent and get it one 175 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:37.720 way or the other. They have to figure out what 176 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:41.679 they have and unload what what what they can unload 177 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:46.440 without hurting the building process and get guys who others 178 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:49.799 might not think are as good as they might be. 179 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:53.240 And that's what ulstin Ange has to do, regardless of 180 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:56.159 where the pigs are that they get. I mean, it 181 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:58.759 just has it has to happen that way. The thing 182 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:02.480 about Okay, see though they haven't forfeited many of their 183 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:07.000 draft picks, they could still get better based on the 184 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:11.639 after the smart decisions they've made to build that build 185 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:15.080 that roster into what it is. And of course SCA 186 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:18.000 I mean those guys don't grow on trees. And where 187 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:19.679 the Jazz is going to get a player like that, 188 00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:20.240 I don't know. 189 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:22.799 Yeah, and look a lot of good stuff there. 190 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:26.279 You know, It's interesting to understand the narrative of the 191 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:28.720 finals in front of us, where there are two teams 192 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:32.720 that parlayed Paul George into two star players. If you 193 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:35.720 think about it, I mean, Indiana had Paul George. They 194 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:40.120 traded Paul George DOKC for Victo Ladipo and Domo Sabanas Sabonis. 195 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:43.559 Then they traded Domo Sabonis to Sacramento for Tyree Saliburton, 196 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:46.639 and then Oklahoma City flips Paul George to the Clippers 197 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:49.720 for Shay Gilgess, Alexander a couple of other pieces like 198 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:53.480 Danilo Gallinari and five picks one has turned into Jalen Williams. 199 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:56.159 But the fact of the matter is, look, I know 200 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:58.840 that when they traded Mitchell, When the Jazz traded Mitchell, 201 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:01.399 there was this celebration of the hall they got in return. 202 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:04.799 I don't think they got enough. I really don't. And 203 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:07.480 I like Lowry the Ringer just released our top one 204 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:11.559 hundred players in the NBA. The Jazz have one on 205 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:15.360 the list. It's Lowry who's fifty three, and Donovan Mitchell 206 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:17.080 is twenty eight years old in his prime. He's the 207 00:10:17.159 --> 00:10:20.639 eighth best player in pro basketball according to the Ringer. 208 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:23.879 So look, there are still draft picks that can be conveyed. 209 00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:26.679 They had some other pieces in that deal. Colin Sexton 210 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:29.840 has been fine for the Jazz. Oh Chiobaji was good 211 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:33.639 in Toronto. Didn't work out here, but Sam Presty and 212 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:36.919 the Indiana Front office turned Paul George into cornerstones, and 213 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:39.159 I don't know that the Jazz did that with Donovan, 214 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:41.080 who is a top ten player in his prime. 215 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:44.200 Gordon, Yeah, I agree with you one hundred percent. Spence. 216 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:47.159 I know you study this stuff and you're right on 217 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:52.840 the money in my opinion. I mean, Sam Presty, I 218 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:55.480 have so much respect for that guy. I don't know him. 219 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:56.639 Have you talked with him. 220 00:10:56.679 --> 00:10:57.759 I've met him a couple of times. 221 00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:59.600 He was with the Spurs for a number of years 222 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:02.879 before they the Sonic sired and then obviously okay, see 223 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:04.159 after they left Seattle. 224 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:07.679 People talk about luck, you need luck, and yeah, you 225 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:10.000 do a little bit here and there. But Sam Presty's 226 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:12.759 just been smarter than everybody else. And as far as 227 00:11:12.759 --> 00:11:14.679 what the Pacers have done. You know, there's been a 228 00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:18.360 lot of talk about this small market finals and whatnot, 229 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:22.360 but these two teams have proved to me that you 230 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:25.120 you don't have to be in some huge market in 231 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:26.440 order to make it work. 232 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:27.200 The Pacers. 233 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:32.080 So we talked about what OKAC has done, and but 234 00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:34.759 what the Pacers have done, not only have they gotten 235 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:39.000 some talent. You talked about Halliburton, Holy Casts. He shoots 236 00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:42.519 it like you did back in the days, just in 237 00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:46.720 those clutch moments. I mean, he's just he's just exactly 238 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:51.000 what a team needs. And so that's the second part 239 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:53.360 of the two stage rocket here is you got to 240 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:56.960 get the players and then you've got to implement something 241 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:00.000 that works for them in their best interests. And that's 242 00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:02.679 so the Pacers have done. I'm sure you've broken down 243 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:04.000 what they do offensively. 244 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:05.159 I love it. 245 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:06.759 I love people talk about that. 246 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:07.879 I want to see New York. 247 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:10.039 I want to see the Lakers in the finals, who 248 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:13.279 are not No. I love this matchup. I love what 249 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:17.360 we're seeing the way the Pacers. I mean, I compare it. 250 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:19.399 I was writing to column and compare it to sort 251 00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:21.679 of a Jiffy pop kind of offense. 252 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:24.559 It's conceptual in nature. 253 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:27.279 But I get the feeling that the players are free 254 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:30.200 to do what they want to do. You know, they 255 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:32.559 set all those screens, and they move the ball and 256 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:35.480 they get up the floor, and it's just fun to watch. 257 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:39.840 I don't need to have Lebron James in the finals 258 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:42.879 in order to enjoy it. I mean, what these teams 259 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:46.600 do that game the last night was what basketball fan 260 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:47.200 wouldn't love? 261 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:51.360 That jiffy pop, as in the popcorn that you put 262 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:54.279 on a stovetop like forty years ago. 263 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.000 Is that. 264 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:57.919 They did not have that anymore. 265 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:01.399 I don't know. I mean, you know, but what I mean. 266 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:06.639 Is jiffy pop? Are you kidding? Happier readers have never 267 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:07.559 even heard of that? 268 00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:12.879 Gordon Okay, so I probably could have found a different 269 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:17.000 analogy there. But all I know is that offense explodes 270 00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:20.399 kind of like popcorn colonels, you know. I mean, it's 271 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:22.679 just it's fun to watch. And I'm not even sure 272 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.960 the players know exactly what they're gonna do with the 273 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:27.679 ball every time down the floor. It's they know the 274 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:31.159 basics of what they like to do, and they're familiar 275 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:31.960 with one another. 276 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:33.840 But it's just this kind of. 277 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:38.799 I don't know, yeah, explosive offense. It's that really adds 278 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:42.399 to the you know, the color features of the game. 279 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:45.519 I can't believe you landed on Jeffy Pop, but we 280 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:48.320 can move on that. The good news, Gordon, if you're 281 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:52.639 a jazz fan is there's one top three pick on 282 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:55.879 both of these rosters, and it's Chet. He's the only 283 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:58.200 top three pick on both these rosters. So that's the 284 00:13:58.200 --> 00:14:01.039 good news. The bad news if if you're a jazz 285 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:05.639 fan is Oklahoma City and in a way Indiana. But 286 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:07.960 Indiana has done this a little bit differently because they 287 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:11.120 were able to get Pascal Siakam when Toronto decided to 288 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:14.559 yard sale and they you know, and they already had 289 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:18.159 Halliburton on the roster. Miles Turner has been there forever. 290 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.159 Aaron Ne Smith was a Celtic but couldn't get off 291 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:24.960 the bench. So as far like they drafted Benedict Matherin 292 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:28.960 Andrew Nemhard, but they have not got about this the 293 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:31.960 same way Oklahoma City has. The bad news for the 294 00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:35.080 Jazz is at this point the jury is still out 295 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:38.039 on all of their picks. Like so I can say 296 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:40.480 the good news is they're not. The only top three 297 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:43.759 pick in the finals is chet Holmgren. But whether it's 298 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:47.879 top three, top five, top ten, top fifteen, both rounds, 299 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:51.159 you have to draft the right players. It sounds so 300 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:53.879 reductive and simple, but you have to hit on the 301 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:55.639 picks and you have to start to develop. 302 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:57.720 And they did not draft Walker. 303 00:14:57.799 --> 00:15:00.159 He was part of the go Bear deal, but he 304 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:04.000 has developed under under Will Hardy. There's some things to 305 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:07.039 like about Callier, but dude, I don't think Isaiah Callier 306 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:10.240 and Cante George even make Oklahoma Cities roster, and I 307 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.440 don't think Larry. 308 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:11.960 Starts for them. 309 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:14.639 So the bad news is there just is not a 310 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:17.120 lot in the cupboard which leads us to number five. 311 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:20.360 This feels like as important as a draft for the 312 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:22.240 Utah Jazz in a number of years. 313 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.080 Would you agree with that? 314 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:28.200 Yeah, it's one hundred percent. And there's somebody out there. 315 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:30.960 There's somebody in this draft that isn't going to be 316 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:35.000 picked in the first four selections that can really help 317 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:38.039 a team in a major, major way. And this is 318 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:40.399 where Austin Inge has to. 319 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:42.399 Dial in on that guy. Who is it? 320 00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:45.480 Well, I mean yeah, they say, well, you get lucky 321 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:49.000 sometimes you hit sometimes you miss it. No, the Jazz 322 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:50.360 can't afford to miss. 323 00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.639 They've missed a couple. 324 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:54.720 Times already in my opinion, as you articulated, and this 325 00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:57.919 time they cannot miss. They have to take advantage of 326 00:15:57.960 --> 00:16:01.159 what they have here and then once if they do 327 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:03.600 hit on their draft picks, then they got to do 328 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:06.480 what the Pacers and what okay see you have done 329 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:09.600 and selecting a guy that they can bring in who 330 00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:15.200 may be less thought of than what the Jazz recognize 331 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:19.039 that they can be. I mean you mentioned the trades, 332 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:24.000 the Pacers getting Halliburton and okay See getting a CA. 333 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:29.200 I mean those are just really savvy, smart moves by 334 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:32.720 smart front office people. How smart are the Jazz front 335 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:37.519 office guys? Danny, I don't know, his golf game's probably 336 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:40.919 really good. Austin seems like he's more dialed in and 337 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:43.960 maybe he's on top of these things. But I mean 338 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:48.120 if they miss, if they miss, then they flounder. 339 00:16:48.679 --> 00:16:49.879 And think about it. 340 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:53.000 In the past, when the Jazz hit on draft picks, 341 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:55.360 then it really helped them. I mean, we don't need 342 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:58.360 to go through the stockton A loans the situations of 343 00:16:58.519 --> 00:17:01.159 sixteen to thirteen. I mean, looking at it when they 344 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:05.440 got Downovan Mitchell and others. It was through smart, smart 345 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:09.920 moves by the Jazz, So recognizing the kind of talent 346 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:12.799 that can be utilized in the system that they. 347 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:14.920 Want to run. Here, go get that guy. 348 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:17.480 If it's not Cooper Flagg, because you're not going to 349 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:19.720 have an opportunity to get in. We'll get somebody who's 350 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:22.359 going to be just as good as him that maybe. 351 00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:23.799 Other people don't recognize. 352 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:28.680 I mean, it's I'm not saying it's easy, but it's 353 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:30.640 something that has to be done in order. 354 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.640 For the Jazz to succeed. 355 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:33.440 Yeah, this stuff isn't easy. 356 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:36.480 And you know when you're able and you know, one 357 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:39.559 of the reasons why not grabbing one overall. 358 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:42.480 Stings this year? What are you there? 359 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:43.440 Yeah? 360 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:45.160 I sorry about that. One of the one of the 361 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:47.880 reasons why not grabbing one overall Sting? Well, there are 362 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:51.720 several reasons. Because Cooper's awesome. But when you have the 363 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:56.319 guy like san Antonio has women Yama, then Chris Paul 364 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:58.240 will sign with you. And I know Chris Paul is 365 00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:01.079 you know, not who he used to be. But Daron 366 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:03.519 Fox will greenlight a trade to San Antonio because you 367 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:06.279 have women Yama If the Jazz can find their answer 368 00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:09.279 to that, and it's not Cooper Flag, maybe it's aj Debonsa, 369 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:12.799 then you've got something. Then agents will take your phone 370 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:15.519 call to say, Okay, yes, I want my client to 371 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.519 come play for you because you have this great young 372 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:19.759 piece and all players want to win and get paid. 373 00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:22.559 Right now, the Jazzes don't have that, Like no one, 374 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:25.799 no agent is calling it Austin agent saying, hey, my 375 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:28.599 client would really love to play off of Johnny Juzang 376 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:31.559 Like they just don't have the piece as of now 377 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:33.799 to attract other players, which is why this has to 378 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:36.279 be a long game. One more Jazz thing that I 379 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:38.079 do have some other things for it, then I'll set 380 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:42.440 you loose. Tom Thibodeau just lost his job after going 381 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:45.440 to the Eastern Conference finals and winning fifty games back 382 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:48.319 to back seasons and making the playoffs four or five years. 383 00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:51.640 Michael Malone just lost his job after winning a championship 384 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:54.519 two years ago. Taylor Jenkins, a lot of good coaches 385 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:56.920 have lost their jobs. Will hardly received a five year 386 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:59.799 contract extension. He's won thirty three percent of his games. 387 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:03.079 The Jazz have locked in their front office with Austin 388 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:06.160 Danny and jay Z and other pieces moving forward. So 389 00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:08.240 the problem is, it doesn't matter who you cut your 390 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:10.200 coach is, it doesn't matter who your front office is, 391 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:13.160 if you have bad basketball players. But is there a 392 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:16.319 silver lining that Ryan and Ashley Smith appear to be 393 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:19.359 hiring people they believe in and giving them space to 394 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:21.400 do their jobs and giving them the long game to 395 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:24.200 do this from a front office and coaching perspective. 396 00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:26.200 Yeah, it's been to you and I have had this 397 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:30.920 conversation so many times. That's a single most important element 398 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:34.640 in any franchise is the owner and what the owner 399 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:38.640 is willing to do. And if Austin Ains can bring 400 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:42.640 to this team what is necessary, which we've thoroughly discussed here, 401 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:47.279