Star searching: Danny Ainge particulars Utah Jazz rebuilding plan

SALT LAKE CITY — In 2007, Danny Ainge — then the final supervisor of the Boston Celtics — had his eyes set on Kevin Durant.

The Celtics had been dangerous. That they had endured a 19-game dropping streak and the second-worst file within the league. Durant was imagined to be the prize; nevertheless, lottery night time appeared disastrous. The group fell from No. 2 to No. 5, which meant lacking out on a possible franchise-changing participant.

So Ainge modified course. Quickly sufficient, he had swung trades for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen and a yr later, the Celtics had been hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy.

“We had been capable of finally land Ray Allen and KG, who had been by no means accessible earlier than that second in time,” Ainge mentioned. “However we had been there and we had been prepared.”

The Jazz really feel they’re prepared for such a transfer. They’ve Lauri Markkanen as a constructing block, younger expertise, and veterans in Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and John Collins. Utah was terrible to finish the season, however a few key strikes may change their fortunes instantly.

The issue: They do not know when these strikes can be accessible.

“We’re looking for good gamers,” Ainge mentioned. “That is our goal. We have been shut. We felt like we have been shut as soon as (to a transfer) on this course of that will have modified the dynamic of our group instantly and the course.”

The potential for these kinds of offers is why the Jazz do not wish to backside out utterly. Gamers like Markkanen, Sexton, Kris Dunn and Clarkson may assist a contending group in the best roles. Ainge mentioned that if the Jazz had been to commerce everybody away, it could add years to the rebuilding challenge.

“If we simply have a bunch of younger gamers … and we had the power to go commerce for a franchise-changing participant, we must change the entire group,” Ainge mentioned. “However as a result of we’ve Lauri Markkanen, for instance, we do not really feel like we’ve to make a wholesale change.”

So whereas the Jazz aren’t within the playoffs, the postseason is sort of essential to the franchise. Will Luka Doncic get impatient in Dallas if the Mavericks are bounced within the first spherical? Will the Pelicans look to reset if issues finish poorly? Will the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George duo name it quits with the Clippers if an early exit comes?

With how stacked the West is that this season, there are certain to be a couple of disenchanted groups on the finish. Disappointment breeds drama. The Jazz can be ready if that comes alongside.

“Our goal is to discover a participant or two, and we’re able to roll, we’re able to go,” Ainge mentioned.

That transfer wasn’t accessible on the deadline, so the Jazz pivoted. They traded away function gamers for draft picks to be versatile sooner or later. Earlier than these offers, the Jazz had been taking a look at having zero picks on this yr’s draft. Now, they will have three.

These now can be utilized to draft gamers or to sweeten a possible deal.

Free company, although, would not appear to be in play to get a kind of gamers. For one, Utah has by no means been a gorgeous vacation spot to prime free brokers within the league. Secondly, the free agent pool is drying up. The brand new collective bargaining settlement has made it a lot simpler for gamers to signal honest extensions, so most prime gamers aren’t even hitting free company.

“There isn’t any ensures on this enterprise in any respect,” Ainge mentioned. “That is why you possibly can’t simply have a plan.”

Agine mentioned that he did not have all of it mapped out with the Celtics when he traded Garnett and Pierce. That deal finally landed them Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — gamers who’ve led the Celtics to the Finals and the very best file within the league this season.

“These issues they work out,” Ainge mentioned. “However you set your self able to try this.”

The Jazz are able to make some strikes. The query is that if any turn into accessible.