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Mitchell went 13th in 2017 (I still can’t believe Frank Ntilikina, Dennis Smith and Malik Monk went ahead of him). Think about how the Jazz did: Gobert was the 27th pick in 2013. But combinations like Mitchell and Gobert are tough to come by. Mannix: No one is suggesting the Jazz stand still. We’ve seen multiple stars with long-term contracts force trades in recent years. The Jazz can’t keep tinkering and expect Mitchell to keep cool, no matter how many years are left on his deal. Stars start getting impatient and (cough, cough) asking for trades-either for themselves or for their co-stars. You don’t get much longer than five years to build a contender in this era, especially if you’re perpetually stuck in the good-not-great tier, which is where the Jazz are. In the half-decade Gobert and Mitchell have been co-stars, James Harden and Kyrie Irving have played for a combined five teams! The Kings and Knicks have gone through (approximately) 57 coaches and GMs in that span! So the Jazz have some offensive concerns, too-including an overdependence on Mitchell.īeck: Rushed? Rushed?! Five years is a lifetime in this league. Also per Marks: Mitchell shot 33 percent during clutch time-the third-worst rate among the 37 players with at least 50 attempts in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, with the game within five points. As our friend Bobby Marks at ESPN noted, the Jazz ranked 23rd in clutch time net rating this season. You’re telling me the Mitchell/Gobert tandem won’t be more dangerous with a group of defenders around them?īeck: I’m telling you the Jazz’s issue goes way beyond defense (which, we should note, is always excellent in the regular season, albeit exploitable in the playoffs). Bogdan Bogdanovic is a terrific scorer, but he can’t defend either. Mike Conley is a terrific offensive player, but he’s not the answer defensively. And I completely disagree that they can’t win without the right role players. That said, I’m not ready to give up on Mitchell/Gobert. You can’t win when your best defender is your only defender, and that’s what Gobert was.
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He said the Jazz wanted Gobert to guard everyone. I talked to one Mavs assistant after that series. But the idea that it was Gobert’s fault, when his perimeter defenders failed him, is crazy. The slander directed toward Gobert last week was ridiculous. Mannix: First, a disclaimer: I am the lead attorney for the Rudy Gobert defense team.