Gordon Chiesa: Why Rudy Gobert Won’t Be Traded
Jun 29, 2022, 12:14 PM
Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz celebrates a basket during the second half of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 23, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz have zeroed in on its next head coach as they lured away Will Hardy who was the lead assistant for the Boston Celtics during their NBA Finals run this past year. Hiring a coach to replace the departed Quin Snyder was the first domino to fall during the Jazz offseason.
The team had no draft picks and is in the luxury tax with little movement to happen during free agency that begins on June 30. Before any moves could be made on the player side, it is imperative to get a coach in place and allow him to have a say in the roster make up of this team.
With Hardy in place, these conversations regarding trades and player movement will be moving forward and very likely in rapid fashion with players officially being able to sign on June 30 at 4 p.m. MT. Most of the movement comes extremely fast and some deals have already been announced, mostly with player-option contracts.
Through the hiring process of Hardy, the Jazz have had plenty of time to determine what their desired roster looks like for the new regime
— Scott Garrard (@ScottyGZone) June 29, 2022
Now with the new coach in place, if there are going to be significant roster moves, I believe they probably happen in the next 48-72 hours pic.twitter.com/Ckl1uCkcLm
If the Jazz are going to make a move, all signs point to Gobert being shipped out of town, but the question is can they get the value back in return?
The Case To Keep Rudy
Count in former NBA assistant coach Gordon Chiesa as being in the minority as he thinks that the new Jazz coach will not be trading Gobert but the new staff will want to get him even better.
“My gut tells me no [that Rudy Gobert won’t be traded],” Chiesa said. “The reason why is that the new head coach, that’s his main job is to try to get him to perform at a higher level, and for his teammates to respect his game.
“It seems to me that his teammates don’t respect what he does well,” Chiesa added. “All I know is this: if we had on our team the leading rebounder in the NBA we would say, ‘we are so lucky.'”
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Having a multiple NBA Defensive Player of the Year on the team is a plus for the Jazz so keeping him wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. However, the Jazz have seen what their playoff chances are with one of the best defenders and rebounders in the league, and it has not resulted in the outcome the team and fans want.
A change might just be needed either in shipping Gobert in exchange for talent, or maybe Hardy and the new staff can get more out of Gobert and achieve the Jazz ultimate goal of bringing owner Ryan Smith a parade he desparately wants.
The next few days and weeks of the offseason will be interesting now that the Jazz have a new head coach in place they can start making moves heading into next season.
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