Eric Walden: Wemby or tradition? If actually the Jazz’s alternative, newest tank job is probably not desired payoff, both

SALT LAKE CITY — “Tradition” has been a buzzword surrounding the Utah Jazz for the higher a part of two seasons now.

The dialog across the phrase obtained a revival Wednesday night time with Victor Wembanyama’s newest go to to the Delta Heart. The French phenom racked up 19 factors, eight rebounds, six assists, and 5 blocks, because the Spurs held on for a 118-111 victory.

The Jazz, in the meantime, racked up their seventh consecutive defeat. And Utah now boasts the NBA’s worst file because the commerce deadline at 3-18 — and was formally eradicated from playoff competition with the loss.

For the second consecutive season, Utah has belatedly embraced the tank. And so, for the second consecutive season, Utah ought to have one other top-10 draft choose.

Soooooo … Taylor Hendricks and the 2024 model of somebody Taylor Hendricks-adjacent? OK, or Keyonte George and somebody Keyonte George-adjacent?

Does that transfer the needle on the group’s quest to develop into championship-competitive?

Wemby, in fact, represents the trail not taken. However was that on account of strange circumstances, or was it due to “tradition?”

Within the 2022-23 season, the Jazz obtained off to an unbelievable 10-1 begin, just for the entrance workplace to drag the plug midseason with an enormous commerce that decimated each the general expertise stage and locker room morale.

There was some hypothesis the group bolting out of the gate caught the front-office brass abruptly, that they anticipated a gaggle of newcomers taking part in for a younger first-time head coach would inherently wrestle. And when that did not occur, the decision-makers needed to take drastic motion to maximise draft positioning.

Regardless of the rationale, the late-arriving tank job wound up feeling like a half-measure. It is the identical with this season, when the Jazz really did get off to a foul begin however then began discovering their manner, just for Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik to ship out some key rotation items midseason, thus facilitating one other late-season collapse.

Why so wishy-washy?

There have been whisperings that Ainge and Zanik are below orders from group proprietor Ryan Smith to not permit the group to completely backside out, to not permit the group to be able to develop into a league-wide punchline (this present stretch however).

Why? “Tradition.”

The alleged rationale is that none of Smith nor Ainge nor Zanik needs shedding to develop into commonplace or anticipated or acceptable. That they do not need destructive vibes to permeate the locker room and take root.

Admirable objectives.

However had been they pointless worries?

The reward for San Antonio’s blatant badness is a 7-foot-3 franchise centerpiece who, whereas not persistently dominant but, is already wonderful and has the instruments to doubtlessly be epic. Positive, the three groups with the league’s worst information final season had solely a 14% probability apiece to land the No. 1 general choose, however hasn’t what he is proven to this point confirmed the danger was price it?

Sure, the Spurs stay a foul group this season. However that is on account of the general expertise surrounding Wembanyama being substandard, not as a result of Gregg Popovich allowed some horrific, irreversible, gangrenous rot to take maintain.

Does anybody have a look at the Spurs now and imagine them to be unsalvageable?

Did not assume so.

No, San Antonio hasn’t develop into an on the spot championship contender. And sure, they’ve plenty of work nonetheless to do.

Wemby is an incredible constructing block, although.

The Jazz went one other manner. We’ll see if their manner finally works out.

However on Wednesday night time at the very least, it was arduous to look at what Wembanyama did, and to return away feeling like sacrificing an opportunity at him within the identify of “tradition” was one of the simplest ways to go.