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The offseason has just started, but I do have some good stuff.
The NBA is going to try and push the start of the 2021 season to happen on Christmas Day. We will see some post-season matches too. The games will also be played in the teams home arena but weather fans will be permitted is unknown. I'm told the league will try for 5 games on Christmas.
Nets @ Knicks
Mavericks @ Clippers
Lakers @ Heat
Jazz @ Nuggets
and another west coast game. Probably involving 2 of the follow: Phoenix, Golden State, Portland, New Orleans or Memphis.
If the NBA starts on Christmas, don't expect teams to make many huge moves. especially the playoff teams.
This means money is not as good as expected, and with less time to scout players and develop chemistry.
Jazz are likely keeping Mike Conley. I'd put it at about a 70% chance he is back with the Jazz when the season starts, but depending on what happens a 50% chance he is with the Jazz come the playoffs.
The Jazz have talked about Chris Paul, but if they are involved in a Chris Paul deal it's likely as a third team facilitator. One interesting deal I heard had CP3 going to Milwaukee, Conley to Detroit, Griffin to Utah, Rose to Lakers, Kuzma to Detroit, and a lot of other pieces moving too. Jazz would send Tucker to LA but I am unsure about other pieces.
There are some truths to the Jazz have interest in Blake Griffin. But I doubt the Jazz add him until the deadline if the make a move from him.
Donovan will sign the extension for 5 seasons. He likes Utah, but knows he can always force a move if need be. He does have some issues with some fans. But a lot of people in the know think as long as the Jazz can keep a competitive team around him, he will stick around.
Rudy is still 50/50. Jazz dont want to trade him, and he doesn't want to leave. Jazz are going to offer a deal 4 year 130 millionish deal. Rudy of course does want the supermax, but that number may be enough to sway him to staying.
Rudy and Donovan have never been best friends, but they are getting along well enough.
Donovan is really upset about blowing the 3-1 lead. He feels it was partially on him. Expect him to come out a lot more focused next year. He is studying the game a lot more and working on his shot, especially his catch and shoot.
Jazz will try to keep Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson was not thrilled to be traded to Utah, but he seems to have warmed to being here. The Lakers will also make a play for him, and he has a lot of friends in LA. Jazz have bird rights so that may help.
The Jazz did talk about firing Quinn Snyder after the blown series lead. He will be on the hot seat somewhat this year. management is not happy about blowing 500 10+ point leads in his tenure. The Jazz have not lost all those games, and have done it multiple times in the same game. But the Jazz have had 15 20+ point leads blown where they than trailed in his tenure. They are 9-6 in those games. For referrence in the last 6 years the other 28 teams minutes New York and Utah have done it 18 times. (New Yorks done it 31 times)
Jazz primary offseason focus is going to be building depth. Jazz and Derrick Favors do have mutual interest, but the Jazz dont want to spent too much on bringing him back. Another former Jazz man that the Jazz could get for cheap is Paul Millsap.
Some other names I've heard that the Jazz are interested in:
Trevean Graham
Joe Harris
Winston Chandler
Tyler Johnson
Shaq Harrison
Christiano Felcio
Courtney lee
Marcus Morris
Josh Jackson
Pat Connaghton
Evan Turner
Bobby Portis
DJ Augustine
Harry Giles
Jakob Poetl
Jonathan Williams
Jazz will also try to retain some of their own guys, but most will probably be let go. Mudiay and Morgan are the two they are highest one. Williams-Goss and Oni will be kept on the roster until final cuts just in case they need to make a trade.
Jazz are also actively shopping Ed Davis. The Jazz will not cut him though. His salary is a good trade chip for later and if half the year has passed they'll keep him.
The NBA is actively looking to expand. Seattle is all but guarenteed to be the 31st NBA team. The 32nd team will be: Las Vegas, Louisville, St Louis, Kansas City,Tijuana, or Montreal. The Raptors will likely be playing the 2021 season in Louisville so that will be a good test for that market.
The Thunder have some problems. The state legislature is not happy with the BLM protest and one member wants to evict them. If the season were to start right now there is a good chance they would be homeless. The election may change this, there is one particular state legislator who is really leading the charge on this and he is unpopular and may be out of office. But if it gets pushed the situation could turn very very ugly and the Thunder would play their home games in Las Vegas.
The BLM hasn't created as big of issue as you might think. The NBA is attributing the low viewership to playing in the bubble and competition from other leagues and events. What seemed to hurt ratings most was teams like Milwaukee, Utah and Dallas losing. Those teams had a lot of viewership of the 18-35 crowd and when they were out that number took a hit.
I'll have some more in a few days.
The NBA is going to try and push the start of the 2021 season to happen on Christmas Day. We will see some post-season matches too. The games will also be played in the teams home arena but weather fans will be permitted is unknown. I'm told the league will try for 5 games on Christmas.
Nets @ Knicks
Mavericks @ Clippers
Lakers @ Heat
Jazz @ Nuggets
and another west coast game. Probably involving 2 of the follow: Phoenix, Golden State, Portland, New Orleans or Memphis.
If the NBA starts on Christmas, don't expect teams to make many huge moves. especially the playoff teams.
This means money is not as good as expected, and with less time to scout players and develop chemistry.
Jazz are likely keeping Mike Conley. I'd put it at about a 70% chance he is back with the Jazz when the season starts, but depending on what happens a 50% chance he is with the Jazz come the playoffs.
The Jazz have talked about Chris Paul, but if they are involved in a Chris Paul deal it's likely as a third team facilitator. One interesting deal I heard had CP3 going to Milwaukee, Conley to Detroit, Griffin to Utah, Rose to Lakers, Kuzma to Detroit, and a lot of other pieces moving too. Jazz would send Tucker to LA but I am unsure about other pieces.
There are some truths to the Jazz have interest in Blake Griffin. But I doubt the Jazz add him until the deadline if the make a move from him.
Donovan will sign the extension for 5 seasons. He likes Utah, but knows he can always force a move if need be. He does have some issues with some fans. But a lot of people in the know think as long as the Jazz can keep a competitive team around him, he will stick around.
Rudy is still 50/50. Jazz dont want to trade him, and he doesn't want to leave. Jazz are going to offer a deal 4 year 130 millionish deal. Rudy of course does want the supermax, but that number may be enough to sway him to staying.
Rudy and Donovan have never been best friends, but they are getting along well enough.
Donovan is really upset about blowing the 3-1 lead. He feels it was partially on him. Expect him to come out a lot more focused next year. He is studying the game a lot more and working on his shot, especially his catch and shoot.
Jazz will try to keep Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson was not thrilled to be traded to Utah, but he seems to have warmed to being here. The Lakers will also make a play for him, and he has a lot of friends in LA. Jazz have bird rights so that may help.
The Jazz did talk about firing Quinn Snyder after the blown series lead. He will be on the hot seat somewhat this year. management is not happy about blowing 500 10+ point leads in his tenure. The Jazz have not lost all those games, and have done it multiple times in the same game. But the Jazz have had 15 20+ point leads blown where they than trailed in his tenure. They are 9-6 in those games. For referrence in the last 6 years the other 28 teams minutes New York and Utah have done it 18 times. (New Yorks done it 31 times)
Jazz primary offseason focus is going to be building depth. Jazz and Derrick Favors do have mutual interest, but the Jazz dont want to spent too much on bringing him back. Another former Jazz man that the Jazz could get for cheap is Paul Millsap.
Some other names I've heard that the Jazz are interested in:
Trevean Graham
Joe Harris
Winston Chandler
Tyler Johnson
Shaq Harrison
Christiano Felcio
Courtney lee
Marcus Morris
Josh Jackson
Pat Connaghton
Evan Turner
Bobby Portis
DJ Augustine
Harry Giles
Jakob Poetl
Jonathan Williams
Jazz will also try to retain some of their own guys, but most will probably be let go. Mudiay and Morgan are the two they are highest one. Williams-Goss and Oni will be kept on the roster until final cuts just in case they need to make a trade.
Jazz are also actively shopping Ed Davis. The Jazz will not cut him though. His salary is a good trade chip for later and if half the year has passed they'll keep him.
The NBA is actively looking to expand. Seattle is all but guarenteed to be the 31st NBA team. The 32nd team will be: Las Vegas, Louisville, St Louis, Kansas City,Tijuana, or Montreal. The Raptors will likely be playing the 2021 season in Louisville so that will be a good test for that market.
The Thunder have some problems. The state legislature is not happy with the BLM protest and one member wants to evict them. If the season were to start right now there is a good chance they would be homeless. The election may change this, there is one particular state legislator who is really leading the charge on this and he is unpopular and may be out of office. But if it gets pushed the situation could turn very very ugly and the Thunder would play their home games in Las Vegas.
The BLM hasn't created as big of issue as you might think. The NBA is attributing the low viewership to playing in the bubble and competition from other leagues and events. What seemed to hurt ratings most was teams like Milwaukee, Utah and Dallas losing. Those teams had a lot of viewership of the 18-35 crowd and when they were out that number took a hit.
I'll have some more in a few days.
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