WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:01.760 It's been a while, but our good friend from the 2 00:00:01.760 --> 00:00:05.960 Desert ret News, Sarah Todd, stops by on a Tuesday afternoon. Sarah, 3 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:06.719 Happy Tuesday. 4 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:09.880 How are you happy Tuesday? Since Tuesday? 5 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:12.720 What a beautiful day it is. It is a beautiful day. 6 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:13.800 And we've got a lot to. 7 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:15.679 Do with you because it's been a minute since we've 8 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:16.559 been able to connect. 9 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:18.800 So we'll start with the little Jazz draft stuff. 10 00:00:18.839 --> 00:00:21.920 And I just wonder what your understanding is of this 11 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:25.359 narrative surrounding Ace at Ace Bailey, who the Jazz landed 12 00:00:25.399 --> 00:00:27.480 on a number five and the whole Hey, he doesn't 13 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:30.839 want to be here, his camp doesn't want him to 14 00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:33.240 be in Salt Lake City, and then there's rumors that 15 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:37.799 he won't report all of the things, and I can't 16 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:40.159 cooperate any of them. But your thoughts on the Jazz 17 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:44.719 drafting Ace and your understanding of the narrative surrounding that selection. 18 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:49.600 Yeah, I mean I think that what I expected to 19 00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:55.200 happen is what happened, right like, once once Ace Bailey 20 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:57.679 was here, once you get him in the building, you know, 21 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:02.280 once the rows behind the dollar sign are made clear 22 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:05.159 on the rookie contract and everything else, kind of falls 23 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:07.719 into place, and that's how I kind of expected this 24 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:10.400 to play out. I didn't expect him to not report. 25 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:14.159 It's my understanding that the top five team that he 26 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:17.680 was rumored to have his team to have not said 27 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:20.239 that he would report to was not the Utah Jazz. 28 00:01:20.519 --> 00:01:24.200 But you know, that's neither here nor there at this point, 29 00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:28.840 right But I think that the biggest thing that I 30 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:32.519 can say is that the narrative that kind of started 31 00:01:32.519 --> 00:01:37.000 to formulate about maybe Ace being entitled and not really 32 00:01:37.319 --> 00:01:39.760 you know, knowing how this process works and being like 33 00:01:39.799 --> 00:01:42.280 an arrogant kid, that it was expecting too much. That's 34 00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:47.640 the part that I didn't appreciate, because you know, we're 35 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:49.560 talking about an eighteen year old kid. We're talking about 36 00:01:49.560 --> 00:01:53.840 a literal teenager who had people in his corner handling 37 00:01:53.879 --> 00:01:56.680 his business and that they were the ones that were 38 00:01:56.920 --> 00:01:59.640 representing him and speaking on behalf for him during the 39 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:03.159 pre process. And I think that that was all done 40 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:09.479 in a very misguided fashion. And now we move on 41 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:09.879 from it. 42 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:13.960 As far as what you think he can be as 43 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:16.560 a player for the Jazz as he grows, I mean, 44 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:19.599 it's gonna be tough because there are very few eighteen 45 00:02:19.639 --> 00:02:21.759 year olds in our name Lebron James. 46 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:23.039 That step in and look like they're ready. 47 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:25.360 But and we'll get to some of the decisions that 48 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:28.599 have already been made, it does indicate that there should 49 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:29.840 be plenty of minutes for him. 50 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:32.240 I think a lot of fans are excited about that. 51 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:34.800 So I'll ask a two parter, what do you think 52 00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:37.479 it looks like immediately and what s your Jazz fans 53 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:39.199 hope it looks like eventually? 54 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:44.400 Immediately? Probably not gonna look great, right, you said it. 55 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:46.280 There's not a lot of guys that come into this 56 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:51.240 league and look perfect and ready and you know, polished 57 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:56.879 right away. But I think that prior to Draft night, 58 00:02:57.479 --> 00:03:00.520 on the Utah Jazz roster there was probably not a 59 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:03.840 single player on the roster, But Jazz fans could have 60 00:03:03.879 --> 00:03:07.039 gone out and got his jersey and been like, yes, 61 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:08.960 this is going to be a guy that's going to 62 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:11.599 be a part of the future, no questions asked. Right, 63 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:15.439 even if we're talking about guys like Lowry, Markinen and 64 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:18.120 Walker Kessler, those are not guarantees. Like the Jazz are 65 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:21.520 going to hear offers that come in for them and 66 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:25.159 if one makes sense, they'll make it. And so there 67 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:28.039 and like the young guys on this roster currently, Like, yeah, 68 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:30.560 there's been some flashes of potential, but there's nothing that 69 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:33.960 we've seen at this point that says like absolutely no 70 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:38.159 questions asked. Isaiah Collier is a building block for the future, right, 71 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:39.879 Like there's just not a player on the team, and 72 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:43.599 so then Draft night comes in. Ace Dailey is someone 73 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:47.800 that has potential to be a clear building block, So like, 74 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:51.599 what could we see in the future. This kid could 75 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:56.240 be really good. He has all star potential, and we 76 00:03:56.280 --> 00:03:58.360 don't know if he's going to reach that feeling. We 77 00:03:58.840 --> 00:04:00.639 don't know what's going to happen, and that's part of 78 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:03.360 like the risk of all of this and building teams. 79 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:06.319 But if you're looking towards like what the Jazz are 80 00:04:06.360 --> 00:04:09.400 trying to do, he could be one of the certain 81 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:10.159 building blocks. 82 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:13.000 I feel the same way, And I also feel like 83 00:04:13.080 --> 00:04:15.479 this fan base has been a little and look it, 84 00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:17.800 we should be very clear, Sarah, as you and I 85 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:19.879 visit throughout the course of the off season then into 86 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:24.040 next season. This appears that it will be another very 87 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:27.639 long year from a standpoint of wins and losses, but 88 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:30.920 at least there's like a plan starting to formulate a 89 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:33.680 little bit, and I do feel like there's genuine excitement 90 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:36.839 in the community for Jazz fans about what Ace could 91 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:37.480 eventually be. 92 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:39.079 Are you getting kind of the same vibe? 93 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:42.279 Yeah? Absolutely, I mean I think that you know me 94 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:45.319 and you both said when you know Austin Ainge was hired, 95 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:48.439 and the question was asked why Sean O'Connell, like, you know, 96 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:51.720 what's your philosophy on manipulating player minutes and availability in 97 00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:53.439 order to tank? And he said, you won't see that 98 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:58.120 this year. The sub tweet on that was because we 99 00:04:58.199 --> 00:05:00.199 won't have the players on the roster that we need 100 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:04.639 to manipulate their minutes, right, And that's what we're seeing. 101 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:08.199 You don't need to sit Jordan Clarkson out anymore because 102 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:10.519 they've bought out his contract. You don't need to worry 103 00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:14.920 about sitting a healthy Colin Sexton because they've traded him. 104 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:17.199 Now they bring in use of Nurkic, and a lot 105 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:20.240 of fans see that and they think, why would you 106 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:22.879 give up like a twenty six year old guy who's 107 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:26.560 really efficient shooter for someone who's basically like a washed 108 00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:29.439 backup center. Well, because the Jazz don't want to win, 109 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:32.160 that's why. And so they got what they wanted out 110 00:05:32.199 --> 00:05:34.519 of that deal. They got the exact amount of expiring 111 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:36.720 money that Colin Sexton would have been on, and they 112 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:39.279 got someone that they don't have to worry about sitting 113 00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:42.639 on the bench when he's healthy. And so I think 114 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:46.000 that you're yes, Jazz fans are absolutely in for another 115 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:48.519 long season. It's not going to be very good, but 116 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:53.040 at least you are going to see exactly what we 117 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:55.000 have out of all of the young guys there is. 118 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:57.759 There will be no lack of opportunity for them to 119 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:00.120 get on the floor and they're going to be competing 120 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:03.040 against each other and competing for their next contracts. 121 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:06.480 So that brings us to and it's Walt. It's not Walter, 122 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:09.040 it's wall Clayton Junior. That's what he wants to be called. 123 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:10.759 And if that's what he wants, we'll give it to him. 124 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:14.040 So I'll call him Walt. And I'm a little conflicted 125 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:17.639 about this. I think where I've landed. And I thought 126 00:06:17.720 --> 00:06:21.120 Brad Stevens comment was interesting when he asked he was 127 00:06:21.160 --> 00:06:24.560 asked about Austin trading up for wal Clayton Junior, and 128 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:26.199 he said, I could have told you two years ago 129 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:27.040 Austin was going to go. 130 00:06:27.079 --> 00:06:27.759 Trade up for him. 131 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:30.839 So this is a player Austin has liked for a 132 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:33.720 long time, and so where I've landed on it is 133 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:35.480 and look, only time will tell. 134 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:37.920 We'll see how it manifests. But if that's your guy, 135 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:38.480 go get them. 136 00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:41.720 Okay, if that's the guy you've identified, you've done your calculation, 137 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:45.199 go get them. But you trade twenty one for eighteen, 138 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:48.079 and then you also trade three second round picks, which 139 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:51.560 is also not nothing to only move up three spots. 140 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:54.199 Like I said, my net net is, if Walt's the guy, 141 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:54.879 go get him. 142 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:56.759 But what's your take on the transaction? 143 00:06:57.959 --> 00:07:00.759 I think it's fall And let's say places you like, 144 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:02.720 if that's the guy that you wanted, if that's the 145 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:04.600 guy that you singled out and you really wanted to 146 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:07.720 get him, and you heard that Miami was gonna pick 147 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:11.040 him before you wanted to, and all you had to 148 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:13.720 do was to give up some seconds to move up, Sure, 149 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:16.360 go get the guy that you really really want. Of course, 150 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:18.240 how that plays out in the future is going to 151 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:21.000 determine whether or not it was a good a good 152 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:24.079 move to make. And also with you like, three seconds 153 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:28.199 isn't nothing. But if it's three second round picks for 154 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.040 a guy that you really believe in that then turns 155 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:32.879 into somebody that could be like a full rotation player 156 00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:36.800 for a good number of years. Then, like it's hard 157 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:38.879 to find those players in the second round, right, Like 158 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:41.879 those are those are such like luck of the draw 159 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.319 picks in the second round that you don't always know 160 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:48.199 whether it's gonna be you know, Nikola Jokic or some 161 00:07:48.279 --> 00:07:50.160 guy that you never heard of even after Draft night 162 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:52.279 because he never even played a day in the NBA, right, 163 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:55.600 And so it's kind of a this or that and 164 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:58.839 time will tell. But I'm fine with it, you know, 165 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:02.720 Like I like I like that the Jazz took Walter 166 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:05.160 Clayton junior and even in the second round when they 167 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:07.800 picked John Tanji, like a couple of guys that just 168 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:10.360 aren't eighteen. Right, You've got a bunch of guys who 169 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:13.959 came in off one and done years in college. And 170 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:15.879 I just like that they have some guys that are 171 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:17.920 going to come in and like actually can play some 172 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:21.600 basketball and maybe don't need like the maturation time that 173 00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:23.800 the others need. That doesn't mean that they're going to 174 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:25.360 be great, but I just think that it's good that 175 00:08:25.399 --> 00:08:28.480 it's on the roster, that not everybody is an actual teenager. 176 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:31.959 Well said, let's let's go back to the Sexton deal. 177 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:35.200 You outlined it well, and we could just bottom line 178 00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:37.399 it with your answer, but I'll follow up asking if 179 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:41.600 you are surprised that there wasn't better value out there 180 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:43.720 for Colin who's coming off a good year and he's 181 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:46.559 one of the players that has shown up shown he's 182 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:49.120 a pro shot over forty percent from three years, about 183 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:52.200 nineteen points a night. And to your earlier point, that 184 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:54.720 may have been the only motivation. They wanted a matching 185 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:56.559 salary and a player that you don't need to play 186 00:08:56.600 --> 00:09:00.399 because Nurkicch is no longer, you know, anything other than 187 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:02.000 a vet. They can give you ten or twelve minutes 188 00:09:02.039 --> 00:09:04.960 to night. But were you surprised there wasn't more value 189 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:08.000 in return with that transaction for the Jazz. 190 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:12.399 A little bit? Right? I think that, especially if you're 191 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:14.919 thinking about John Collins the way that he has kind 192 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:17.759 of improved his offensive game since coming to Utah, and 193 00:09:17.799 --> 00:09:19.679 then Colin Sexton, he showed that he can be a 194 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:22.000 little bit more of a distributor. Right Like, it looked 195 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:24.240 like these were positive value guys. But I think there's 196 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:26.320 a couple of things that came to mind kind of 197 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:30.360 right after the initial like sticker shock. And that's obviously 198 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:33.120 not to say John Collins is gone, but I assume 199 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:38.639 that he will be at some point. Number One, these 200 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:42.080 are guys that looked really good on the Jazz, and 201 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:44.440 that is a bar that is very low in the 202 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:47.960 NBA as of today. I mean, when you're playing on 203 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:51.960 the absolute worst defensive team in the league and you're 204 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:53.759 playing on a team that has the least amount of 205 00:09:53.799 --> 00:09:57.480 wins and the minutes that you play look good, that's relative. 206 00:09:58.279 --> 00:10:01.720 And number two, the value of these players might not 207 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:05.360 necessarily been the value of them in particular, but maybe 208 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:08.360 just the value of the Jazz is negotiating power in 209 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:12.039 these situations. The rest of the NBA knows exactly what 210 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:15.000 the Jazz are doing. They know that they need to 211 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:17.759 get off these veteran expiring deals. They know that they 212 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:19.960 want a runway for the young players to play, and 213 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:24.120 so they the Jazz don't really have leverage here. It's like, well, 214 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:25.759 you want us to take on a contract that you 215 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:29.519 don't want, and you want a player that's also on 216 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:32.000 expiring to come back, like what's in it for us, 217 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:34.720 especially for like, let's look at Charlotte, like, it's not 218 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:38.159 like they need a bunch of guards. And so it 219 00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:40.600 doesn't really really shock me once I start to think 220 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:44.000 about it that the rest of the league is like, hey, 221 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:47.399 utadd what can you even show us that proves that 222 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:49.519 the Ers are good players? That they played kind of 223 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:51.440 good on the worst team in the league. That doesn't 224 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:52.159 really say much. 225 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:55.639 Yeah, no, well said, all right, now this moves us 226 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:58.840 over to Jordan Clarkson couple of different layers to this question. 227 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:02.799 I have been a little bit surprised at how sad 228 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:05.960 a lot of people are to see JC go. You know, 229 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:08.840 last couple of years, the on court stuff just wasn't great. 230 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:12.399 The advanced numbers weren't great, the usage, the true shooting percentage. 231 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:14.279 He just none of us are as young as we 232 00:11:14.360 --> 00:11:16.720 used to be. And you know, he's not the guy 233 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:19.799 that won six Man of the Year. You know, in retrospect, 234 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:23.639 the trade that that xanak and and that group made 235 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:26.200 for him was really good, sending Dante in a couple 236 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:28.799 of second rounders to Cleveland for him. But I think 237 00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:31.399 you'll have better perspective on this than I do. As 238 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:33.080 somebody who's on the beat, and I always say this, 239 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:35.039 you should listen to the beat writers. They know more 240 00:11:35.080 --> 00:11:38.080 than any of us. It does feel like throughout this 241 00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:42.480 four year pivot, clunky rebuild that at best has been 242 00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:45.000 mediocre and at worst has been embarrassing, he's kind of 243 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:48.759 been a north star, like a bright spot for the organization, 244 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:51.480 bright spot for the locker room. So as as Clarkson 245 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:54.480 walks out the door and reportedly he is going to 246 00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:56.559 sign with the Knicks, can you put some perspective on 247 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:58.279 why a lot of people feel like this is kind 248 00:11:58.320 --> 00:11:58.960 of a sad day. 249 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:03.519 Yeah. I think even the on court stuff, you know, 250 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:08.360 is has context, right, Like, you know, Jordan getting the 251 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:11.240 ball from a bunch of rookies or second year guys 252 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:13.440 with five seconds on a shot clog is not really 253 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:17.320 the best way to operate, and you know, or another 254 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:20.559 situation if you imagine, you know, Jordan's in an ISO 255 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:24.320 situation on the right wing and he looks over and 256 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:27.159 the guy that's open from three is Isaiah Collier, who 257 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:30.080 can't shoot threes, and I probably wouldn't want to pass 258 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:32.519 the ball either, And so I think that it was 259 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:35.159 just a really weird situation and so that led to 260 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:38.360 some bad numbers. Part of it is obviously what you said, right, 261 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:41.600 father time is undefeated. He's not the man that he 262 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:43.519 used to be. All of that's true too, But I 263 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:47.600 think that he was also like the last three and 264 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:49.720 a half years really took a toll on him. I mean, 265 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:54.919 even that last year with the Donovan and Rudy team, 266 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:58.080 that took a toll on those players. And he was 267 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:00.759 the last player on this team that had ties to 268 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:03.679 that team, and so I don't think that he ever 269 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:06.519 really got to recover and move on from that because 270 00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:11.120 he was still here. And so, yeah, it didn't look great. 271 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:14.159 And I'm I'm honestly really happy that he gets a 272 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:16.159 chance to go play for a team that's actually gonna 273 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:19.759 play for some meaningful basketball, like the game's mattering. Makes 274 00:13:19.799 --> 00:13:22.840 me happy for Jordan, and he was kind of a 275 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:25.039 bright spot. And I think that's probably one of the 276 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:27.399 reasons that the Jazz held on to him a little bit, 277 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:31.120 is because he was a familiar face, he was a 278 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:34.080 sellable name. He's somebody that could get butts in seats. 279 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:37.799 He was also I mean, he has an incredible wealth 280 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:40.559 of knowledge about the NBA, like he might not have 281 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:44.120 ever been the guy on a team, but he has 282 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:47.279 been on good teams and he's been around a lot 283 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:50.279 of really great players, and so he was a good 284 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:52.960 guy who was fun to be around for these young guys, 285 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:54.879 and he could also take them under their wing. And 286 00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:57.639 it wasn't weird when he was offering advice because it 287 00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:59.840 felt like it came from a good place. And so 288 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:03.440 he was great for this team and he was great 289 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:06.320 for the fans. It is absolutely no surprise to me 290 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:08.919 that someone was his personality and the amount of slagger 291 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:11.960 that he has endeared himself so much to the fans 292 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:16.559 so quickly, and it's gonna really leave a hole for 293 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:19.600 the Jazz. I mean, there's no one like Jordan Clarkson's. 294 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:22.639 Now I'm going to ask you a follow up, just 295 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:24.519 like I did with Colin, and the answer could be 296 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:27.120 exactly the same, and it's fine. But I am curious 297 00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:29.840 as to whether or not you're a bit surprised that 298 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:33.440 the Jazz only option with Jordan was essentially they cut him. 299 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:35.679 I mean, it's a it's a buyout situation where it 300 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:38.399 saves the team some money, but are you surprised they 301 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:41.399 couldn't get anything on the open market for Jordan Clarkson. 302 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:46.639 No, I'm not super surprised. I know that they tried 303 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:48.960 to move him, you know, at least last year and 304 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:51.639 weren't able to get some I think the thing is, 305 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:55.480 it's like, do you want to take on another contract 306 00:14:55.960 --> 00:15:00.240 and possibly give up maybe a second or any kind 307 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:03.679 of picked to attach to him when what you really 308 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:06.320 want is money off the books and to keep the 309 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:08.840 rest of your assets. I mean, I think that it 310 00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:10.799 makes a little bit more sense when you're looking at 311 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:14.399 Colin because there was more money involved there and they 312 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:16.600 were able to get a backup center in the process. 313 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:19.200 But for Jordan, I think that it made a lot 314 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:22.000 of sense to just like cut ties and just give 315 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:23.679 him a chance to go sign with someone else who 316 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:27.039 wants him. And for those teams who you know, I 317 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:29.679 think the Knicks are I'm going to be putting him 318 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:31.799 on a vat minimum this year, which is basically the 319 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:33.759 amount of money that he gave up in the buyout, 320 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:37.240 and so he doesn't lose money this year, the Jazz 321 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:39.320 save a little bit of money and get his contract 322 00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:41.360 off the books. I think that this is kind of 323 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:44.600 a win win in a bit of a lose lose situation. 324 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:45.679 If that makes sense. 325 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:46.639 It does so. 326 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:48.840 As I talk about all the time when it comes 327 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.720 to teams that are in the spot the Jazz are in, 328 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:54.039 there is a salary floor that you have to hit. 329 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:56.960 Everyone talks about the second apron, the salary cap, the 330 00:15:57.000 --> 00:16:01.240 luxury tax. Well, you also have to spend a minimum 331 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:03.919 amount of money on your roster. And this year's salary 332 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:06.919 floor is just about one hundred and forty million. If 333 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:09.519 my numbers in front of me are correct. The Jazz 334 00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:12.559 are at one hundred and fifty point six million right now, 335 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:16.240 which leads us to John Collins. Now, any transaction they'll 336 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:19.000 bring money back. My point is John just might be 337 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:21.159 a guy that you're fine paying for one more year. 338 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:25.159 You know, doesn't necessarily distract or dissuade you from what 339 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:29.080 you're trying to accomplish this season. But more noise around 340 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:33.480 John Collins potentially being moved off of by the Utah Jazz. 341 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:35.679 Any insight on what's next for the Jazz and John. 342 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:39.440 I know that the Jazz have been working to move 343 00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:42.320 off of him to find a trade partner. So far, 344 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:44.840 it's been hard for them to find something that like 345 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:49.360 nets them a positive result. Looking at the same thing 346 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:51.320 as Collinsext and right, like, no one was going to 347 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:54.919 give the Jazz good things to take on a contract 348 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:57.200 that they didn't want anymore, and so they had to 349 00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:59.200 add a second and so then that's kind of a 350 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:01.159 negative net, right you got to give up something to 351 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:03.840 get it, And that's not really what the Jazz wanted 352 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:06.160 to do with John, considering how much he kind of 353 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:09.880 revamped his offensive games. That being said, the league still 354 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:11.920 knows that he's not really a great defensive player, and 355 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:14.000 he didn't really show that he was much better with 356 00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:16.799 the Jazz. I mean, it's hard to show that you're 357 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:18.839 a great defensive player when you're on a team that 358 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:22.839 is the worst defensive team. So I think that it's 359 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:26.119 been difficult. That being said, if he ends up being 360 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:28.319 a player they keep and tell him he doesn't have 361 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:31.440 to report. If they want to buy him out, that's 362 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:34.880 a possibility too. They could also keep him around, like 363 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:37.480 they are not the Jazz are not opposed to just 364 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:41.839 letting John Collins deal expiring, because once you've got you know, 365 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:46.279 John Collins, Colin Sexton or use of nurkice now Jordan 366 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:48.759 Clark sends the money off the books for all those 367 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:51.039 you know, contracts at the at the end of this 368 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:54.279 upcoming season. That gives them a lot of wiggle room 369 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:57.319 and a lot of cap space, and so I just 370 00:17:57.880 --> 00:17:59.920 I think that you're right. If he ends up being here, 371 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:03.480 I think that they can maneuver around that. But they've 372 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:05.920 still got options to go and maybe they'll be able 373 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:08.799 to pull something together and find a trade partner before 374 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:09.799 the end of the offseason. 375 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:12.400 I know we've discussed this, but it's been a minute. 376 00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:14.240 So I'm just going to bring up the two names 377 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:18.799 that you know, feel like they're very good players, but 378 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:21.160 do they fit the timeline? And it's weird to say 379 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:24.119 that about Walker Kessler, but you know, I'll ask you 380 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:26.799 whether or not you have any recent intel on the 381 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:30.160 Jazz potentially fielding and phone calls and either Walker or Lowry. 382 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.960 I mean, I talk about this now every day now 383 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:34.559 that Austin is in charge. It's not marry to any 384 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:36.720 of these guys. Didn't draft him, didn't trade for him. 385 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:39.000 Like I said, I have nothing but good things to 386 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:41.079 say about both these players. I think they both have 387 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:43.759 played well here. But your thoughts on the potential of 388 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:46.519 the Jazz doing anything at all with either Lowry or Walker. 389 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:51.240 Yeah, I think that. You know, if you ask me 390 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:54.640 the same question maybe a year ago, i'd had a 391 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:57.079 little bit of a different answer, and at that point 392 00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:58.680 it'd be like, you know, these are the guys that 393 00:18:58.680 --> 00:19:00.160 it's going to be really hard to take out of 394 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:03.279 the jazz team. They want to keep them. I'm a 395 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:05.839 little bit still in that camp, but I think that 396 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:08.359 now the way that I've changed is at this point 397 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:11.039 it feels like it's kind of fifty to fifty if 398 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:13.960 the right deal comes along and someone sweetens the pot 399 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.759 for the jazz in a way that makes it hard 400 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:18.960 to say no, you're right, Austin is not married to 401 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:22.599