Yes, but actually not sure then finally yes and once more no. Here is basically the answer of Justin Zanik – general manager of the Jazz – when asked if Donovan Mitchell is untouchable in Utah. After several years as leader of the team, Dodo Miche is certainly today a must, but the recent transfer of Rudy Gobert to Minnesota has put quite a blow in the wing of the franchise’s sports project.
What is now the goal in Utah? Is it to continue to be competitive by trying to create a game without Rudy Gobert that can be effective, or is it on the contrary to take out the construction helmets to attack the reconstruction? So let’s take the time to quietly answer the two questions, following all it’s Sunday and the sun is shining. If we consider the first option mentioned above, then Donovan Mitchell appears as the cornerstone of the project. Nothing new here, since this is the role he has occupied since his draft in 2017. We take the same ones and start over, still hoping to find a way to compensate for Roudi’s departure via the arrival of lieutenant-caliber players. For the second scenario mentioned, everything already seems darker for Donovan. Why ? Well because if Utah decided to start tanking really revered next season, Mitchell would be forced to bite the brakes and vegetate in a group that will not exceed thirty victories whatever happens, just to keep a real chance in the Draft. Knowing in addition that Rudy went once morest Draft picks as the main counterpart, it gives enough to tear your hair out a little all the same… and that’s where we bring into this equation a nice declaration of Justin Zanik, the GM of the franchise. The comments are reported by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, but don’t think they bode well for a real answer.
“Change is inevitable in the NBA. I’m not trying to send a coded message or anything like that, but Donovan is on our team and he’s a very, very important part of what we’re trying to put in place. Things are changing in the NBA, so I mightn’t be there and say someone is untouchable. We are trying to build a group for the title, but there is no desire to transfer Donovan at all. »
– Justin Zanik
Come on, you have four hours to find out what the real meaning of this question is. In any case, we might paste Spinoza, Kant and even your philosophy teacher in terminal, not sure that they too can find the real objective of the declaration. Finally, if this one was to mean to the 29 other franchises that Dodo was a private preserve, congratulations because you had to be hot to do worse. Yes finally no but yes all the same, and we now clearly have the impression that the situation around Spida is unclear. Pay attention also to the interpretation that the player might make of it, even if Zanik explains in the rest of his statement that the latter would be in total agreement with the movements in the Jazz workforce. Note, however, that if Utah’s objective is to build a team for the title, it’s not particularly smart to have sent Roudi to a team in the West which is already at the dawn of several great epics in Playoffs.
Jazz GM Justin Zanik’s answer when asked if Donovan Mitchell is “untouchable” in trade discussions: pic.twitter.com/yBxZ8UOdPF
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 9, 2022
So is it yes or is it no? This conclusion comes in support of Justin Zanik’s friends, who undoubtedly have a lot to do on a daily basis to try to make a choice of weekend activity or restaurant menu with their moody friend. Regarding the Jazz, it will still be necessary to quickly make a choice as to the direction of the project, because the training camp in September will arrive quite quickly.
Source : ESPN via Twitter @espn_macmahon