WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:05.000 NBA Playoff basketball continues tonight. It has been an insanely 2 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:09.359 entertaining start to this spring tournament that, for the third 3 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:11.800 straight year, we don't experience here in Salt Lake City. 4 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:14.359 We are about twenty three minutes away from tip at 5 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:16.320 TD Garden, where the Knicks will try to take a 6 00:00:16.359 --> 00:00:19.199 two zero lead on the Celtics, and then the late 7 00:00:19.239 --> 00:00:22.039 game seven thirty on Turner as the Nuggets and the Thunder. 8 00:00:22.120 --> 00:00:25.480 Our next guest covers the Jazz NBA other things for 9 00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:29.559 the Salt Lake Tribuny is Andy Larson. On a Wednesday afternoon, 10 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:32.759 Happy belated Cinco Day, Mile, my friend, how are we doing? 11 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:37.960 Happy as well? I'm doing good? How about you? 12 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:40.399 I gotta tell I gotta tell the story for our listeners, 13 00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:43.320 So just to give you context, I have a lot 14 00:00:43.320 --> 00:00:46.039 of excuses from people who I enjoy playing golf with 15 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:48.159 as to why they cannot join me, so I'm used 16 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:51.679 to it. But Andy Larson used the most unique and 17 00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:54.719 quite frankly silly excuse that I've ever heard my entire 18 00:00:54.759 --> 00:00:56.679 life when I texted Andy like, hey, can you golf 19 00:00:56.719 --> 00:01:00.840 on Thursday? And his response was it is Sinco, which 20 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:01.640 caught me off guard. 21 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:02.520 Andy I gotta. 22 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:06.719 Say, so, what the full story was. You were trying 23 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:08.879 to set up like a Saturday morning golf and I 24 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:11.359 think it was Friday night a couple of years back 25 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:13.680 to sink of Mile late on, and so I thought like, 26 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:16.719 hey man, I'm going to be out on the town 27 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:19.359 on this particular day. I don't know that I want 28 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:22.359 to get up early for the golf, and you know, 29 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:25.719 given what celebrations might occur on a Sinko. 30 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:28.719 To Miyo, only caveat is I know it wasn't Saturday. 31 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:31.000 I think it was Thursday, because I was surprised that 32 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:32.840 you were going to get that loose on a Wednesday, 33 00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:33.920 even though it was sinco d. 34 00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:37.799 That might be true too. Yeah, that's honestly extremely possible. 35 00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:39.400 All good, All good, my friend. 36 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:42.840 All right, we got some unexpected news this week about 37 00:01:42.840 --> 00:01:46.040 our local basketball team. Will Hardy's contract was not set 38 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:49.680 to expire because he had two years left after having 39 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:51.920 both options picked up for year four and year five. 40 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:54.519 But now the contract goes through twenty thirty one. And 41 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:55.719 you give me your thoughts. 42 00:01:56.359 --> 00:01:58.920 Yeah, I mean, it's kind of clarifies a lot of 43 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:01.040 the things that we've talked about the last year, right, like, 44 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:05.560 I think Will Hardy's really well respected around the league, 45 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:08.159 and kind of the question was is does he want 46 00:02:08.199 --> 00:02:11.520 to stay in Utah or does he want to go 47 00:02:11.639 --> 00:02:14.080 somewhere where he could win more? And then you know, 48 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:17.000 if from a Jazz point of view, is was it? 49 00:02:17.080 --> 00:02:19.159 You know, are they going to stick with Will Hardy 50 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:23.599 for as long as this rebuild takes too? You know, 51 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:26.960 Cole left into hopefully a contending team, And I think 52 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:29.360 the answer is now definitely yes on both cases. I 53 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:32.719 mean to have six fully six more years of Will 54 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:37.319 Hardy under contract. That's a long coaching deal. That's as 55 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:40.800 long as it gets for kind of the non established coach. 56 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:44.960 That's it is nearly unprecedented to have a coach as 57 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:48.639 young as Will have a contract like that. So it 58 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:51.879 kind of reflects it definitely reflects the belief that the 59 00:02:51.879 --> 00:02:53.840 front office has in him that he is the right 60 00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:56.879 coach to coach the Jazz not only through a rebuild, 61 00:02:56.879 --> 00:02:59.919 but through a contending era as well. And then you know, 62 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:03.800 it reflects the desire of Will Hardy to kind of 63 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:07.319 settle down in Utah, to set roots here and make 64 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:12.879 this his home and his competitive situation for the foreseeable future. 65 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:14.960 So a couple of interesting things. 66 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:18.280 You know, Greg Popovich of course has stepped down as 67 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:20.479 the coach of the San Antonio Spurs, and. 68 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:23.599 After coach pop had initially left. 69 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:25.680 The Spurs, there were more than a few people that 70 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:29.520 wondered aloud if San Antonio would try to contact Utah 71 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:32.479 about making Will the next head coach in San Antonio. 72 00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:35.560 Ironically enough, Andy, a few years back, Tim McMahon on 73 00:03:35.639 --> 00:03:39.479 this show surmised that Quinn Snyder might leave the Jazz 74 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:41.680 at the end of his deal to take over after 75 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:44.400 coach pop was done as well. So that was kind 76 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:47.400 of out there. And you asked Will a question postseason media. 77 00:03:47.879 --> 00:03:50.400 I'll paraphrase, if a team that is ready to win 78 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:52.039 comes Colin, are you interested? 79 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:53.039 And he said, I'm all in. 80 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:57.439 I wonder what you think the motivation was for both 81 00:03:57.439 --> 00:03:59.680 these sides to get this done right now, because to 82 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:02.439 your point, stuff like this doesn't happen very often. 83 00:04:03.639 --> 00:04:06.719 Yeah, you know, I think it was the speculation a 84 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:08.879 little bit. And look, I will be honest, you know, 85 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:11.879 I asked the question from a speculative point of view 86 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:14.759 because I you know, I didn't know what would happen, 87 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:17.959 and by I just do know that winning seventeen games 88 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.319 in an eighty two game season is is really tough 89 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:24.519 on coaches. And I know how well how highly regarded 90 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:27.279 Will Hardy is around the league that there might have 91 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:30.199 been some good teams kind of knocking on that door, 92 00:04:30.279 --> 00:04:32.519 you know, whether that's like, you know, you could go 93 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:35.360 to Phoenix and coach Kevin Durant and Devin Booker maybe, 94 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:37.600 or you know, I think they're gonna be in Denver 95 00:04:37.720 --> 00:04:39.920 and Nikola Jokic. Like there there are a number of 96 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:43.240 situations around the league that maybe makes sense for a 97 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:46.319 coach that had his eyes elsewhere, And so I wanted 98 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:48.240 to know if Will had his eyes elsewhere, and you know, 99 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:50.399 I think trail to Woll clear that he did not. 100 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:53.199 You know, I think obviously the San Antonio situation also 101 00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:56.399 would have made sense for him because of you know, 102 00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:00.759 that organization with with Victor wembin Yama, with Popovich and 103 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:03.199 his relationships there, and then you know the fact that 104 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:06.240 his family is there too, right, Like I think that's important. 105 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:11.160 So yeah, look, it's you know, I think it does 106 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:13.560 say a lot that Will decided kind of against those 107 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:16.279 things and the stability and security and the situation that 108 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:19.959 he has here and overall a belief in the jazz's 109 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:22.639 long term plan, even though you know the winds are 110 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:23.360 not there right now. 111 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:26.920 Do you know how this process started? Do you know 112 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:30.879 if the jazz contacted Will and said let's talk. Do 113 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:34.759 you know if Will's agents or representatives contact with Jazz 114 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:35.920 and said let's figure something out. 115 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:37.120 Do you know how this all went down? 116 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:41.199 I don't. I asked Well that question on a day 117 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:43.920 planned the contract, and he kind of slid past that 118 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:45.720 question a little bit and just said, you know, it's 119 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:49.720 something largely the negotiations, as you know, as I put 120 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:53.879 him like, uh, went through his agent rather than through him. 121 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:56.319 So but I don't know, you know how long ago 122 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:00.519 these contracts, you know, talks started and I I don't 123 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:03.120 know kind of who initiated it? No, I asked him. 124 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:04.000 Didn't get an answer. 125 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.519 All right, So I want to be very clear. 126 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:11.920 In a profession with very little security, in a profession 127 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:14.560 where essentially more often than not you are hired to 128 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:17.680 be fired, in a profession where Michael Malone and Taylor 129 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:20.959 Jenkins lost their job, this is something that if you're 130 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:23.800 Will Hardy, you sign and you say thank you, and 131 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:25.439 you take the nine year runway. 132 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:28.120 If he coaches through the rest of his contract. 133 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:32.920 However, there is there's a risk involved here, Andy, There's 134 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:36.040 a risk that Will Hardy has trusted a process that 135 00:06:36.199 --> 00:06:39.800 so far has not manifested itself into a position where 136 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:41.959 he has good players to take into a gym. Now, 137 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:44.839 it's very early on, but what do you make of 138 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:47.000 that kind of portion of this? Where to your point 139 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:48.680 and why you asked him the question, there are plenty 140 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:52.519 of organizations that would be interested in Will, and organizations 141 00:06:52.519 --> 00:06:54.879 that probably have better players where he has a chance 142 00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:59.040 to win right away. He is taking a risk trusting 143 00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:01.360 a process that's so far has been mixed. 144 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:03.439 To be kind, what are your thoughts on it? 145 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:08.519 Yeah, Look, you know, I think what he says, and 146 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:10.800 I think he believes, and frankly, I think you can 147 00:07:11.079 --> 00:07:14.240 make a good case for is that the way to 148 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:18.240 win in the NBA is right now through developing players 149 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:20.800 in the draft. And you know, you look around the 150 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:23.519 teams that have tried to go after the you know, 151 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:27.360 expensive free agent route, and they have not done very 152 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:30.360 well in recent seasons. The teams that have done well 153 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:33.600 are the thunder who built it all through the draft 154 00:07:33.639 --> 00:07:36.759 and you know, one key trade and teams like the 155 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:39.720 Dever Nuggets, who you know, want a championship around Nikola 156 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:42.120 Jokis and Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Junior and guys 157 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:46.800 that they drafted. I think there is this thought, you know, 158 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:51.879 that you can get essentially that this is the way 159 00:07:51.959 --> 00:07:57.600 to build an actually championship contending team again Boston with 160 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:00.879 Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown. He's obviously very familiar with 161 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:04.959 that situation. So I think he thinks that that is 162 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:06.879 that kind of the path that the Jazz are on 163 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:10.120 is the right path. Now, you know, you and I 164 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:13.680 and he both we all know that. Like, the Jazz 165 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:15.879 have a fourteen percent chance at Cooper Flag coming up 166 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:17.879 in the in the lottery next week, right, Like, so 167 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:21.399 the odds are not high, but this is the way 168 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:25.639 that you can build an actual contender rather than just 169 00:08:25.720 --> 00:08:29.480 kind of a you know, an ephemeral one one, that 170 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:32.320 one that doesn't last for very long because you are 171 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:35.639 kind of relying on older guys. Clearly, the Jazz won't 172 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:38.000 be there. Now, you know, a lot has to go right, 173 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:39.600 so much has to go right. They odd have to 174 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:42.840 be in your favor. But like I think the NBA 175 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:45.559 as currently constructed with the second Apron and everything else 176 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:48.879 is a draft and develop league, and that's the path 177 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:49.600 of the Jazz are on. 178 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:53.679 All Right, It's tough to ask you about what the 179 00:08:53.799 --> 00:08:56.320 Jazz offseason is going to look like because we're all 180 00:08:56.360 --> 00:09:00.799 waiting for Monday to see where they will draft. So 181 00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:03.840 we did have the Utah Hockey Club land on some 182 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:06.039 lady luck in year one in a way that it's 183 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:09.360 never landed on the Jazz in fifty years. So take 184 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:15.000 us through the exercise, you know, contingent upon what Monday 185 00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:18.240 brings us. What generally speaking, as you're understanding about how 186 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:21.919 the Jazz you're going to approach this offseason, Yeah, I mean. 187 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:26.600 Stay the course, right like kind of either way it is. 188 00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:29.639 It's I don't expect them to like all of a 189 00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:33.559 sudden ramp up next to either Cooper Flag or Tree Johnson, 190 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:35.679 you know, whoever they get at number one or number five. 191 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:40.679 This is going to be a long development process, right Like, 192 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:42.919 they also hope to get someone good at the end 193 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:44.679 of the first round. They hope to get you know, 194 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:47.480 they hope to make some changes with the veterans, you know, 195 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:52.039 I think finding new homes for John Collins Short and 196 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:54.440 Clarkson Collin sects, and that all makes sense. It's just 197 00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:58.159 kind of whether or not teams other teams are interested 198 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:00.720 in trading for those guys. And you know, I also 199 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:02.759 don't think that the Jazz are interested in like giving 200 00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:05.200 up picks or anything like that dump those salaries, because 201 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:07.480 you know, why would you given that you're not trying 202 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:10.840 to do anything in the next year anyway. Yeah, look, 203 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:14.919 I mean I think there's like a there's a path 204 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:18.159 maybe that hey, you get Cooper Flag and then you're 205 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:21.039 feeling good with that front court and then there's a 206 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:25.559 guard that unexpectedly, you know, becomes available and you can 207 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:27.600 go out and get that guy. But let's be you know, 208 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:30.559 the Jazz aren't trading for Giannis. They would get beat 209 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:33.759 by several other teams in that negotiation, and then ultimately 210 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.679 Gianness would not choose to resign in Utah because they're 211 00:10:36.679 --> 00:10:40.639 probably not going to win that many games. It's just 212 00:10:40.919 --> 00:10:44.240 like it's gonna be another year of kind of build 213 00:10:44.279 --> 00:10:46.639 from within and and you know, I ultimately like the 214 00:10:46.919 --> 00:10:51.720 lottery pick will determine how kind of exciting the youth is. 215 00:10:51.960 --> 00:10:55.480 But I don't expect the Jazz to kind of go 216 00:10:55.559 --> 00:10:58.919 for it this year because you know there's another excellent 217 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:00.919 draft next year. They hope get a top three pick 218 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:03.720 in and they hope to retain the Oklahoma City pick 219 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:06.279 by being one of the worst eight teams in the league, 220 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:08.759 so they don't have to give it to their future 221 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:13.000 Western Conference title contender enemy. You know, if you will 222 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:18.039 your rival. So yeah, look, I don't see the tides 223 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:19.840 all of a sudden turning in the Jazz going for 224 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:20.679 winning next year. 225 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:25.639 Okay, any outside shot. I understand the way you answer 226 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:28.919 the question. I understand the context, but should some sort 227 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:32.399 of because there will be plenty of teams that are 228 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:35.559 looking to jettison talent and maybe some players to your point, 229 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:39.039 Ayiannis who looks to get out any I mean, we 230 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:41.960 know how this organization has thought in the past, being 231 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:45.200 audacious enough to say we are going to sign Paul 232 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:47.960 George and trade for mckel bridges and things like big 233 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:50.679 game hunting for Jazz fans that are chomping at the 234 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:53.480 bit watching playoff basketball for the third straight You're not 235 00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:57.399 having that here. Any shot at all that potentially a 236 00:11:57.399 --> 00:12:01.759 big name is brought in, I mean a little bit of. 237 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:05.759 A shot, but don't buy season tickets because of it, 238 00:12:05.799 --> 00:12:07.919 you know, don't get your hopes up because of it. Right, 239 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:11.000 Like in the end, the players that we're talking about 240 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:14.320 on the market for the most part are older and 241 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:17.080 don't make sense for them to re sign with the 242 00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:22.679 Jazz long term, or or I think ultimately wouldn't want 243 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:25.559 to be in Utah because where the Jazz are competitively, 244 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:29.159 I mean think about it, Like the way you think 245 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:32.039 about the Washington Wizards is the way other teams think 246 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:34.080 about the Utah Jazz right now, and other players think 247 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:36.159 about the Utah Jazz right now. So like if you 248 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:40.320 are Yannis and the Washington Wizards get Cooper Flag, do 249 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:42.679 you still want to go to Washington to go play 250 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:44.840 with Cooper Flag? Or you kind of think to yourself, 251 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:47.120 Oh no, that's really kind of not enough for me 252 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:49.919 to win an NBA championship again, Like I want to 253 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:52.159 know he's going to be thinking about playing with the 254 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:54.519 other better teams in the league. He's gonna be thinking 255 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:57.200 about the Houston Rockets, are they Oklahoma City Thunder or 256 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:59.399 what do the Calves look like if they had you know, 257 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:04.840 like stuff like that. Right, Like the it's just unrealistic 258 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:07.879 in the way today's NBA works, where you have to 259 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:09.879 essentially get a player on board, and you have to 260 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:11.960 get an agent on board, and you have to get 261 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:14.759 the other team on board for you to use all 262 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:17.320 of those bass assets of Jazz have accumulated to all 263 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:20.320 of a sudden go from zero to contention, right Like, 264 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:22.639 we just don't see that. We see up and coming 265 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:25.240 teams trade for players like Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert 266 00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:29.240 like the Cleveland Cavaliers in Minnesota Timberwolves did. We don't 267 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:34.720 see teams go from nothing to having to trading for legit, 268 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:39.200 top tier talent and becoming true contenders overnight. It's just 269 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:41.720 not how the NBA is working right now as it's 270 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:42.399 currently set up. 271 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:44.679 So you and I have spoken about this in the past, 272 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:47.080 but because it's topical based on what we're seeing in 273 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:49.159 the NBA playoffs, and I'm going to bring it back around 274 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:52.240 in case our listeners have not heard the conversation from 275 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:55.759 your prison before, because you're as uniquely qualified to discuss 276 00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:59.080 this as anybody out there, quite frankly, and since we 277 00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:03.240 are seen Rudy Gobert with a historic twenty twenty game 278 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:08.080 against the Lakers to eliminate them, Donovan nearly dropped half 279 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:10.879 one hundred last night, albeit in a losing effort. Since 280 00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:14.679 we're seeing a litany of former Jazz players play well 281 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:17.480 in the postseason, is there ever any part of you 282 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:22.159 that looks at what's happening and questions the decision of 283 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:24.840 this new front office to break that team down brick 284 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:27.480 by brick or was it just simply their only option? 285 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:33.320 I you know, I think it's fair to reevaluate that 286 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:39.200 as the picks have gotten have decreased in value, and 287 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:43.720 as you know, their own rebuild has taken three years 288 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:45.559 instead of one. Right like, the Jazz thought that they 289 00:14:45.559 --> 00:14:47.320 were going to be in the running for victed Remba 290 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:50.519 Yama and instead were kind of played it in the 291 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:53.279 middle for two years that ended up being relatively wasted. 292 00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:59.799 That being said, Donovan Mitchell was just extremely unhappy in Utah, 293 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:02.840 and I do not think that he would have resigned. 294 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:07.360 I understand that publicly he has said that he wanted 295 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:09.879 to stay in Utah. I do not believe it for 296 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:12.080 a second. I do not, you know, Frankly, I have 297 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:14.279 talked to too many people behind the scenes. I have 298 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:16.840 heard too many people who are close with Donovan talk 299 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:19.240 about this. I do not believe that he would have 300 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:21.320 stayed in Utah, and then it's like, Okay, well, then 301 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:23.960 do you really want to keep the Rudy Gobert contract 302 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:29.440 moving forward? Probably not. Maybe there's a world in which, like, hey, 303 00:15:29.559 --> 00:15:31.960 maybe you run it back one more year with a 304 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:37.399 new head coach and see what happened. But ultimately, like 305 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:40.480 that's kind of the same process that the Phoenix Suns 306 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:43.519 tried with Mike Buttonholzer. Just now, you know, replacing Frank 307 00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:47.639 Vogel with Bud and now their situation looks even worse, 308 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:50.879 and now you know their assets aren't credable anymore. Right, So, 309 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:56.320 uh look, I don't think I still think it's probably 310 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:59.720 the right move. I think more of my criticism goes 311 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:02.679 to happened in the last two years, where they played 312 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:04.879 out in the middle, getting the ninth and tenth pick 313 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:08.799 and ultimately not plishing the franchise in either direction in 314 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:11.840 those years looks like a mistake. 315 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:15.600 Right now, you think, Okay, see is in trouble. Last 316 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:17.720 time you and I spoke, we felt, I mean, I 317 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:20.639 felt like we were on the same page. And you know, 318 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:24.200 I'm just INDI I'm always hesitant to simply anoint a 319 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:26.960 team that has not had a deep playoff run together. 320 00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:32.320 And I am fine when I'm proven wrong, because ultimately 321 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:34.799 sometimes teams do rise up, but more often than not 322 00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:38.720 it's right of passage. They swept the Pelicans last year, 323 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:41.600 they lost to the MAVs in six. It's just a 324 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:44.440 different game, man, come playoff time jumps opposed to regular 325 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:47.960 season basketball. And I was just wildly impressed watching the 326 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:51.159 Denver Nuggets. I know it's cliche, and I know it's 327 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:53.840 not something we can use analytics for, but it was 328 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:54.919 championship medal. 329 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:56.159 It was effort to the end. 330 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:58.440 It was not giving up, it was staying in the thing, 331 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:02.639 and then a great final play. What you know, Westbrook 332 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:05.559 finds Aaron Gordon knocks down that game winner. Man, if 333 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:07.920 they don't get it done tonight, it's gonna be interesting 334 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:10.039 to hear the conversation. Do you think, okayc he's got 335 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:10.880 something to worry about. 336 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:14.319 I mean a little bit worried about, certainly. And I think, 337 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:17.680 like you know, they need to play better. I think 338 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:19.839 they need to make some rotation changes, you know, like 339 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:24.039 playing hard and stein more. Probably I think the chet 340 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:29.240 hol grin that is probably less important against December team, 341 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:32.160 and then then needs to coach better. Frankly, like they 342 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:34.759 can't foul up three as early in the game as 343 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:38.440 they did against the Nuggets in Game one. You know, 344 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:41.079 and this is a guy who is last season's NBA 345 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:43.640 Coach of the Year, and I it's really highly regarded 346 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:45.000 and I think it's a very good coach. But I 347 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:48.079 think there are some you know, this is where you 348 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:52.200 need to make Mono Imano kind of matchup changes in 349 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:55.440 kind of a Ti Lou sort of way. And that's 350 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:58.759 a different kind of playoff coaching is very different than 351 00:17:58.839 --> 00:18:00.960 regular season coaching, and and you know, we need to 352 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:05.200 see kind of the best efforts from from Danol. I 353 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:09.079 think ultimately, I'm still picking the Thunder in the series. 354 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:11.079 I'm still picking the Thunder to make it even to 355 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:14.400 the Western Conference Finals. But yeah, you know, like it was, 356 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:18.720 you know, a questionable performance and the Nuggets stole one 357 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:22.039 that they probably shouldn't have. I think there are questions 358 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:26.319 about like whether Shay's and Jalen's offense works as well 359 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:29.960 in playoff basketball as it does in regular season basketball. 360 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:34.039 That all being said, they still I think are the 361 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:36.400 best defense in the league, I think by a significant amount. 362 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:40.960 I do still think like the Nuggets have significant depth 363 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:44.680 issues that like if Michael Porter junior cell phone goes 364 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:47.680 gets it all worse, or if one of their players 365 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:49.680 goes down or something happens like that, then they're in 366 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:53.720 really deep trouble. You still need good games from Jokich 367 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:56.359 and Jamal Murray I think to win games in this series. 368 00:18:56.640 --> 00:19:00.839 And you know, I still think eventually Oklahoma City, besides 369 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:05.519 Jokic is out talents the Nuggets. So yeah, anyway, we'll 370 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:08.480 see what happens. And I do think all four teams 371 00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:12.079 with home court advantage need to be worried right now, 372 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:15.319 given they're down in the series. The Thunder might be 373 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.839 the one team because of what they did in the 374 00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:19.440 regular season and because of their talent, because of the 375 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:24.519 defensive strengths that I'm least worried about among those teams 376 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:24.920 so far. 377 00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:27.720 Who did you vote for? 378 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:29.799 And maybe you sent this out because I know you're 379 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:32.079 a voter, because where I'm at is, Jokic is still 380 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:33.039 the best player in the world. 381 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:35.720 But I do think Shay's the MVP. What's your take? 382 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:40.799 I voted Yoga's MVP. I honestly lost left on it though, Dude, 383 00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:46.279 Like I I just think Shay's season was awesome. He 384 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:49.240 was obviously the best player on the best team, even 385 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:52.720 ignoring that contact like he was clearly at least the 386 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:56.319 second best player in the league. It's so close. Jokic's 387 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:01.400 having his best ever season and Yokic shooting forty five 388 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:06.039 percent from three, and then Jokic making his teammates better 389 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:09.599 I think at a higher level than Shaye does. Probably 390 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:12.519 made a difference for me. But like you know, resuscitated 391 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:15.480 Russell Westbrook's career. Christan Brown had an incredible year this 392 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:19.839 year despite not having much of a bag. Aaron Gordon 393 00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:23.720 revitalizing his career offensively just through like cuts and the 394 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:27.359 space that Jokic provides. It's it's all awesome. So I 395 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:31.680 voted Jokic. I it's an impossible choice. I you know, 396 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:35.400 Shay's NBT makes sense to me too, it is what 397 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:38.519 it is. But yeah, I couldn't not vote for Yoki's 398 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:42.480 base on just the individual season he had all right. 399 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:44.079 Away from Hoop for a moment, just to get some 400 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:46.039 thoughts on some things happening around town. 401 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:47.720