Randy Rigby on the injury (thanks Moni) :
Randy Rigby’s message to Jazz fans distraught over Dante Exum’s injury
Keep your head up…And we expect Dante is gonna have his head up, and let’s take this a day at a time. And we’re gonna take it, we’ll take it head-on, with whatever the issue is…and we’ll move forward with it.And we have a player that has remarkable character, and he loves the game. He has great support from a ownership, and from a team, and from a family, and from our fan base. And so, let’s give him our thoughts and prayers. Let’s hopes for the best.
And if we're dealing with something otherwise, let’s get behind him and you know what? This team is going to, if we have to move forward while he’s rehabbing and getting better, for a day or two or r–or weeks or months, you know what, we’ve got other great players that are gonna show that it’s an opportunity for them to rise and the Utah Jazz is gonna move forward, and it’s gonna be an exciting year.
Randy Rigby also talked in length about Trey Burke stepping up to fill in the gap. Rigby praised him for being a young man. He praised him for being professional and always being willing to do what the coaches have asked of him.
Dennis Lindsey gave an interview with 1280 the Zone yesterday. Its the first time I have listened to that station since I think Quin Snyder was named the coach.
Highlights of Lindsey's interview
- The Jazz have weekly communication with players no matter where they are playing. Whether they are playing in international play, gyms or at the Jazz site, the Jazz are constantly in communication with them.
- The Jazz had Jeff Watkinson with Dante in Slovania He called Dennis Lindsey within five minutes of the injury.
- Dante can now straighten his leg and the swelling is down.
- Dennis had a paternal reaction upon hearing about Dante's injury
- The Jazz have tracked ACL injuries clear back to 1970 to see what works and what doesn't work. Spoke of how good Mark McKown was in helping Al Jefferson recover from his ACL tear.
- Working closely with Dante, his representatives and his parents so that all communication is clear. Mindful of Dante's body, mind, and spirit in his recovery.
- When asked about playing in the offseason: "No way to put guys in bubble wrap you have to let them play."
- When asked about acquiring a new player Lindsey said that they have had no conversations with anyone else outside the Jazz organization.
- There will be plenty of time to address team needs. Their job is to adapt and make adjustments. Lindsey talked in length about the adjustments they made went Alec Burks went down last season.
Jody had news on the point guard front:
I'm told the Jazz are interested in pursuing veteran guard Garrett Temple from the Washington Wizards to shore up their point guard platoon.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) August 6, 2015
Jazz coach Quin Snyder established a good relationship with Garrett Temple when the guard played for San Antonio in the 2010-11 season.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) August 6, 2015
The 6-foot-6 Garrett Temple is a big, defensive-minded point guard the Jazz believe could help make up for the loss of Dante Exum's size.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) August 6, 2015
I posed this question on Twitter:
If you could have point guard in the NBA, which point guard best fits the Jazz's team?
— Diana (@dianaallen) August 7, 2015
(Excuse my grammatical error)
These were the responses:
And these:
@dianaallen John Wall
— Dallan Forsyth (@dforsyth47) August 7, 2015
@dianaallen Younger, fits our team and what we need, also is a good defender.
— Dallan Forsyth (@dforsyth47) August 7, 2015
@dforsyth47 @dianaallen Jazz would probably win the championship with Wall & healthy Dante as backup, tbh.
— Bill M (@HipMrBully) August 7, 2015
@dianaallen I dont either. He is older, Wall would continue to grow with the team. And we would win division with Wall
— Dallan Forsyth (@dforsyth47) August 7, 2015
@dianaallen Anthony Davis.
— Garth Gagnier (@Grrr22) August 7, 2015
Non-pouty Deron Williams? Or maybe Non-playoff version of Kyle Lowry? https://t.co/yekBcpvQfK
— Amar (@AllThatAmar) August 7, 2015
@dianaallen mike conley! Plays defense. Knows when to pass and when to shoot. #SmoothOperator
— Roman Mirasol (@broman_official) August 7, 2015
Steph, Wall, Westbrook, Irving, Conley, Beldsoe in that order for me... Think I forgot someone though. https://t.co/TaOD7cm73l
— Spencer Wixom (@JazzJargon) August 7, 2015
@dianaallen can't say it enough, Mike Conley please
— Dula Ally (@Awhosane) August 7, 2015
What is your answer?
Our idol, Zach Lowe wrote a thought provoking article about the Dante Exum situation. Lowe writes about the struggles the Jazz had when Kanter and Burke were in the starting lineup and how things started to change when Gobert and Exum replaced them. I found this interesting:
Knowing your lane has value — to a point. Exum not shooting also meant Burke was not shooting, and the difference is that Burke shoots a lot. Playing Exum meant that Burke’s bricky off-the-bounce jumpers became Hayward drives, Gobert dunks, Favors cutting scores, and other good basketball things. Exum showed all the yips on defense we’d expect from a dude who turned 20 just last month, but he’s legitimately giant for a point guard, and his length created problems on some nights.
And this:
Burke is a craftier driver than Exum, and he actually shot 38 percent on spot-up 3s, per Synergy Sports. He’s awful shooting off the dribble, but Utah might achieve better two-way balance if Burke accepts a less ball-dominant role on offense. That’s on both Burke and the coaching staff. This isn’t Michigan anymore, and Burke’s track record so far in the NBA is borderline disastrous. He perked up late last season as a score-first option on bench units, but that mentality may not translate well in the starting lineup.
Lowe does go over some options the Jazz can do without adding anyone. He also talks about how the Jazz were active in trying to trade out of the draft for a point guard. He mentions talks with Indiana about acquiring George Hill. He said the talks probably won't be revisited now that the draft is over. A few point guards that Lowe said the Jazz might be interested in are:
With about $6.7 million in cap room, the Jazz could open up more by waiving a couple of the four non-guaranteed deals they're carrying. They could absorb Jose Calderon in a salary dump from the Knicks, throw some cash at Norris Cole (presumably alive, hanging with Tristan Thompson), or take a point guard from a team seeking tax relief — Mario Chalmers from the Heat or D.J. Augustin from Oklahoma City. The Bucks don’t have enough minutes for Jorge Gutierrez, Tyler Ennis, and Jerryd Bayless (a hybrid guard) behind Michael Carter-Williams and Greivis Vasquez.
Lowe's bottom line was that the Jazz won't do anything rash. They won't trade assets for a marginally better player. Anyways go read it!
Rudy has this to say about international play
#jazznation You know i love you but don't start with that please.. #dontbethatdumb pic.twitter.com/S5yuvxIqXz
— rudy gobert (@rudygobert27) August 6, 2015
and this about Derrick Favors not being invited to the Team USA mini-camp.
Did @dfavors14 retire? https://t.co/Y1Z25GZBBB
— rudy gobert (@rudygobert27) August 6, 2015
WE LOVE YOU RUDY!!!!