SportsBeat Afterhours Makes Case For Building Jazz Roster Around Mitchell
May 29, 2019, 6:04 PM
(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – How long will the championship window remain open for the Jazz?
With the reported dysfunction in the Houston Rockets’ front office following their second round loss to the Golden State Warriors, it appears their window has closed.
The Jazz are the obvious choice to become the next Western Conference contender with the young nucleus built around Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.
But they need help.
Bill Simmons makes an interesting point about team-buliding in his book, “The Book of Basketball.” He came to the conclusion that in order to build a championship caliber team, you build around one great player.
The Jazz have two in Gobert and Mitchell.
He goes on to say, “you surround that player with one or two elite pieces that understand their place in the team’s hierarchy.”
The Jazz have two elite pieces, but the last two playoff runs show they need a third- notably a playmaker at point guard.
Don’t miss the House of Highlights Show THIS Friday, 5/31, with special guest @spidadmitchell! 🔥
Send us your questions for Donovan Mitchell using #AskHoH and we'll answer them live. pic.twitter.com/pJa50fBJNn
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) May 28, 2019
This week on the SportsBeat Afterhours podcast, the question was posed to hosts Zak Hicken and Hema Hemuli, along with guest McKay Pett: What should the Jazz do this offseason to take the next step?
To Heimuli and Hicken, the answer is building around Gobert and Mitchell. To Pett, the focus should be on Mitchell and Mitchell alone.
“The Jazz need to show they are ready to win. They have a group they can build around. Ever since Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer and that group left, the Jazz have been in a rebuild mode. They finally got to a point with Gordon Hayward where they thought they had rebuilt to the point that they were a contender. But he leaves, and Donovan picks up the mantle. Instead of taking a step forward, they remain at the same level,” said Hicken.
“The hard realization for Jazz fans is that if this is the right way to go, that if you need to find someone who can make an immediate impact, you’ll need to lose some pieces,” replied Heimuli.
“Who are you willing to lose,” asked Pett.
It’s insane how much Donovan Mitchell is already looking like DWade 😳 pic.twitter.com/Sfo34toj6x
— Hoops Digest™️ (@AllHoopsDigest) May 22, 2019
“Everyone except Rudy and Donovan,” answered Heimuli.
“Even Joe,” asked Hicken.
“Even Joe,” affirmed Heimuli.
“I’ll take it a step further and say everyone except Donovan,” said Pett, drawing surprise from Hicken and Heimuli.
Rudy’s role as a shutdown defensive player is one that the Jazz have based their identity around under head coach Quin Snyder. However, Pett may have a point. Mitchell needs a backcourt partner, badly. Having a second offensive playmaker will open up options for Mitchell, and in turn the rest of the Jazz.
If the team is truly Mitchell’s, the franchise will move heaven and earth to accommodate to his strengths, even if that [eventually] means Rudy.
With one of the most prolific free agent classes in recent league history taking shape, the Jazz front office has plenty of work to do.
The next step begins this offseason.
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