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Shaquille
O'Neal: "When you are 60, hang out with 60-year-olds, not 20-year-olds.
That is all I got to say about Jerry Buss."
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HoopsHype.com Articles Utah’s
summer ending on a sour note
Back in June, Jazz management gathered in the war room to hash out what would be their most unpredictable offseason in recent memory. They needed improvement across the roster, and to make matters worse, their aging hall-of-famers were seriously contemplating their futures in a Jazz uniform. Now, Utah enters training camp with two injured first-rounders, some lower-level free agent pick-ups and cloud of disapproval from its intensely faithful fans. With eight free agents to sort out, Jazz management knew changes were going to be made, and they were determined to make those changes without overshooting the salary cap. Owner, Larry Miller wasn’t shy about expressing his sincere desire to hold onto to both Donyell Marshall and Jarron Collins, and almost everyone in Utah believed signing them was a given. Collins wrapped-up his new deal right out of the gate. However, Donyell’s fate in Utah made an about face. Marshall’s agent, Dwight Manley, went from a long-time proponent of the Jazz system to a bitter adversary who’s grown furious with team’s alleged disregard for his Jazz clients. The feud between Larry Miller and Karl Malone sparked the fall-out, and Bryon Russell’s supposed mistreatment triggered Manley’s numerous media tirades. “The only mistake I made was trusting the Jazz,” Manley told the Salt Lake Tribune. “I believed the Jazz, and I won’t make that mistake again.” In the end, Marshall signed with the Bulls one day after the Jazz chose to sign Matt Harpring. Russell was left in the cold with no contract offer, as management went with the less expensive Calbert Chaney. As a result, Manley made his feelings public regarding the possible trade scenarios involving his remaining Jazz client, Malone. “Why wait,” Manley voiced. “If the team is rebuilding now, why wait to have those discussions.” Some argue that Marshall isn’t worth the $6 million-plus per year he demanded from the Jazz. And that Harping has the potential to not only fill the void, but also add a tenacious defensive presence to a team sorely needing some stoppers. Realistically, however, replacing the team’s second leading scorer and rebounder will be no small feat. Beyond troubled free agent negotiations, attempts to improve through the draft initially looked promising, and instantly became a disaster. Utah’s 2001 pick, Raul Lopez, re-aggravated an ACL while playing against Russia in an exhibition game before the World Championships, suddenly erasing any visions of him acting as understudy to Stockton next season. Sadly, after paying $1.5 million out of his own pocket to rid himself of his Real Madrid contract, Lopez has been left without a contract from the Jazz, which is now a deal that Utah is hesitating to finalize. Then there’s the 2002 pick, Curtis Borchardt. His draft day status plummeted when rumors of a damaged foot began to surface. Rumors aside, Utah swapped picks with Orlando, bringing the talented 7-footer to Salt Lake. Team physicals revealed nothing, but as the Rocky Mountain Revue opened, Curtis re-fractured the foot which most predict will lead to more surgery. In the wake of all that’s gone wrong this offseason, the Jazz now must field an entirely new set disconcerting questions. First, what to do with the point guard situation? As of today, Stockton’s the only point guard under contract. With Lopez out indefinitely, team management must scramble to find a productive back up in a free agent market already thin on talent. Additionally, the five-spot is still a nuisance to management and fans alike. Collins was a bright spot last season, but his lack of size made the interior defense vulnerable. Greg Ostertag just lost a kidney, and John Amaechi appears to care very little about playing basketball. Most felt Borchardt could help right away, but if his professional career is anything like his collegiate career, fans can count on the foot problems resurfacing. And what’s the Mailman thinking? He’s been surprisingly quiet for the second half of summer, deciding to let his agent do most of the talking. Possibly, he sees the team dismantling itself, making room for younger players like Andre Kirilenko and DeShawn Stevenson. Now that things are changing dramatically, he may be looking towards greener pastures, where his talents can be utilized on team within reach of a championship. No matter what happens between now and the beginning of training camp, it’s highly unlikely that anything can be done to create a significantly positive impact on next season. Fans across Utah have been airing their complaints louder than ever before, and another disappointing season could have them calling for drastic changes in the line-up and the front office. Robbie McKay is a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com Tell us what you think about this article. E-mail us at HoopsHype@HoopsHype.com _____________________ |
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