Tired Dad Energy

@jazzwithtaz @DLocke09 Agreed. The tone of their social media posts is unprofessional and their basketball knowledge seems way more “casual” than I would’ve expected from a LockedOn podcast.

So… @DLocke09 is the “content” this account has been tweeting for the past couple days really what you want Locked On’s reputation to be? Because it has seemed pretty starkly out of step with the brand you’ve worked hard to build.

@les_boulez @JudahBF Nobody meaningful. But again, that’s irrelevant to if the state deserves a team. Having a large population of people who love to play basketball is meaningless if people don’t support the team. People in Utah worship the Jazz and constantly sell out games even during rebuilds.

@rn2mx @JudahBF We’re talking born in UTA.

Ryan Smith is an amazing owner. Ainge Boys is a top FO. Will Hardy primo. SLS has 200k residents. Utah has incredible nature but why does this state even have a basketball team?

@INTERIORPORN1 I’ve traveled to 43 countries (for fun, not work) and have 2 beautiful kids. The true flex is to have both types of life experiences, not to overindex on one.

OMG, do you know how much of a flex this is?? 😭

@les_boulez @JudahBF Are you asking top 5 of NBA players who were born in Utah? That number is small and the players are unimpressive. If you’re asking about the best players to be drafted by the Jazz, then that’s different. Players born in a state is irrelevant to whether it deserves an NBA team.

@rn2mx @JudahBF Basketball itself is as popular in DMV as anywhere — we actually export talent globally. Who is your top 5? Byron Scott and Tom Chambers? We lap yall any day time or place. You can only import expensive players.

@les_boulez @JudahBF Everything you said is accurate. Utah is massively white, which definitely deters players. But once they’re there then they truly love it. But yeah, Utah is very ethnically and culturally homogeneous. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a team.

@rn2mx @JudahBF Just a question — what pct of Utah is white? It’s true y’all love ball. It’s also true few NBA players want to go there. It’s also true most that go love it. If you had a poorly run franchise and awful lane ownership for almost 50 years UTA wouldn’t have a franchise.

@JudahBF @les_boulez Check average attendance at Wiz games compared to Jazz games and you’ll understand why Utah has a team. It’s extremely well loved and supported.

@les_boulez Yeah. The DC area is bigger for sure.

@_Mast3rC @HPbasketball This iteration of the Jazz is way younger, longer and more athletic than the DMitch/Rudy version. Also has a surplus of picks moving forward. It’s just a better built team with a much higher ceiling, even if #2 is only very good (and it could easily be a superstar).

@rn2mx @HPbasketball Idk man, unless this #2 pick is a superstar they're probably not gonna be better than they were when they had DMitch & Rudy. So they traded their young superstar and have nobody close to as good as he was. Wouldn't say they crushed it. They're in a position to be competitive

So... I just don't know if that's the right approach. Like, does that mean trading Ant? Because you may not get a player as good as him for another 15 years. Trading everyone for picks and taking two gap years? That's wasting two years of his career and the Jazz are the only team willing to do that. I think you try and find deals that make sense to reconfigure while your picks restock.

@_Mast3rC @HPbasketball Keep the Jazz out of your mouth. Not only were they steadily competitive across multiple permutations over the last few decades, but they crushed this rebuild in a relatively swift manner. Jazz are the model to follow, not a cautionary tale.

@HPbasketball Sometimes teams just dont win it. The Harden Rockets probably win one if the Warriors weren't dominating the league. As a fan, id much rather be a fringe contender with a small chance of Ant going on a run than hoping the lottery works out and risking being like The Kings or Jazz

@ArtTakesNote If we truly decided that we’re equally happy with any of AJ, DP or Booz, then I’d do this trade. I agree that getting that second pick in this first round - backup PG that can shoot, backup C, defensive wing - would go real far. Good idea.

I think Memphis probably has their eyes on Cam Boozer themselves but let’s say they didn’t and we wanted him. 2 for 3 + 16 is something I’d do in a heartbeat. I love a lot of guys in the 12-18 range.

@ArtTakesNote Those front court lineups would mostly work well together, aside from Cam not being able to guard SFs and Lauri maybe struggling to stay at SF as he ages. Problem is it forces Ace to be a full-time SG, and he just doesn’t have the handle or playmaking to do that. It’d stunt him.

If the Jazz want to maximize Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler we should heavily consider drafting Cam Boozer. Lauri and Kessler playing together in three-big lineups with a big who is an above average passer and can handle the ball has worked extremely well. These lineups in the picture below only account for 11.6% of Kessler’s total minutes over the last 4 seasons so it is a small sample size but the results can’t be overlooked. With the addition of Jaren Jackson Jr to the team already, adding Boozer on top of that would unlock so much lineup versatility due to Cam’s ability to play multiple positions. The Jazz could have three of Lauri/Cam/JJJ/Kessler on the floor at all times. Lauri/Cam/Kessler — Cam/JJJ/Kessler — Lauri/Cam/JJJ — Lauri/JJJ/Kessler These all work very well positionally and play-style wise. The combinations are endless with two of them on the court at all times as well. Utah would undoubtedly have the best front-court in the entire NBA and leaning into that would result in a ton of success on the court.

@bobbybon1324 @KonartistNupe Y’all won the “battle” last year in the WCJ trade, but lost the “war” when you couldn’t outmaneuver us to get Ace Bailey. You even had a trade lined up with CHA and we were able to prevent it. Make sure that gets reflected on the scoreboard when talking about the 2025 draft.

@KonartistNupe The most bizarre part is they think Ainge is undefeated in trades. Yeah he’s a good GM but the draft day trade last year was a clear win for Washington. Jazz fans try to say that Walter Clayton was traded for JJJ but it’s not like he was the make or break piece lmao it’s funny

I’ve learned over the last 3 days that Jazz fans aren’t the smartest fans in the NBA …

@CoachBreeze_ Finally, an accurate description of the situation. It was beginning to feel impossible. Both teams are winners. Both teams are happy. Life is good in DC and Utah. That's all.

OK. So somebody is lying to somebody. Because 99% of the wizards fans/pages I know want to stay at 1 and pick AJ Dybantsa. The overwhelming majority of Utah Jazz fans and pages who have responded to me seem to be perfectly fine with staying at 2 and taking Darryn Peterson if AJ is gone at 1. But somehow, everybody thinks we want to trade back and they want trade up.

@BrysonAkinsNBA They want AJ so bad that they're willing to happily draft DP at #2 and to wait patiently - without giving up excess assets or negotiating with terrorists - for an eventual, but not even likely, option to maybe sign AJ in the future. Obvious sign of Utah desperation.

Jazz fans want AJ so bad they are willing to wait nine years to sign him as an UFA lmao

@jazzwithtaz Build around from the ground up, as an expansion team or a hopeless, poverty franchise (i.e., Nets or Kings)? Yeah, Booz is the perfect floor raiser and a great player. As a finishing touch on a strong, well-rounded roster that needs a push to reach champion levels? AJ or DP.

If I were drafting a player to build around, with no other roster pieces in place, I think I’d choose Cam Boozer

@LJ314pi This is as level-headed and reasonable as every other proposal I've seen from Wiz fans (especially given that Jazz fans repeatedly emphasize that we're totally fine staying at #2). So sure, let's do it. Agreed. Fantastic. You've won the "leverage" game. Bravo.

Yk what I’ll bite, hey Utah, #2 this year, Lauri Markkanen, and 4 unprotected FRPs, do you want him or not?

@KonartistNupe Wizards Fans: Give us your entire franchise for the #1 pick! Jazz Fans: No, thanks. We're cool with #2. Enjoy AJ. Wizards Fans: QUIT BEING SO UNREASONABLE. WE'RE NOT GIVING YOU #1!!! Jazz Fans: Sounds good. Wizards Fans: PRY IT OUT OF OUR COLD DEAD HANDS!()!)*!@$)*(!@$)*!)*!

Why would the Wizards be begging to move DOWN to the 2nd pick in any circumstance?!? Jazz fans really losing they shit over not getting AJ 😂

@SamQuinnCBS A truly thorough and thoughtful article that does a great job of parsing the issues/considerations at play. Very well done.

There's been a lot of talk about the Jazz potentially trading up to No. 1 for AJ Dybantsa. I don't sense a deal is likely, but I wrote about the dynamics involved here, and why history says the return for Washington would probably be lower than you think. cbssports.com/nba/news/jazz-…

@pointmadebball 1) He plays the same position as our 2 best players (Lauri and JJJ) and/or as one of our other young cornerstones (Kessler) 2) He didn't choose the state or develop a relationship with it in the same way that AJ did; his DAD chose the state. That's different. 3) He isn't "sexy"

Why isn’t there a bigger piece of the Utah fanbase that wants Cam Boozer there after his dad spent his prime with the Jazz???

@Dunzod I think "at least" makes this a no. I'm willing to do it for 1 FRP - prob the pick we have in 2027 given it's a weak draft, we still have lots of young players and it's just the 2nd best of MIN/UT/CLE when all are good. That's it. The max I'd give. Otherwise, just stay put.

If the cost to move up to #1 in the draft is at least an unprotected 1st round pick, would you want the Jazz to make the deal or stay put?

@ArtTakesNote I'm so superstitious that it feels like if I talk about it too much or acknowledge it as a certainty, then it's gonna disappear or be revoked. Truly surreal. Good things never happen to us. We've had to "make" our luck via draft steals for decades. Having a top pick is a miracle.

It is insane that we are in a position to draft someone like this. I still can’t believe it.