Just some thoughts, take it or leave it.
I have been reading wayy too many comments on this sub and others and just have to address this consistent theme.
"No one wants to play in Utah" and then this long list of reasons why Utah will never have a superstar and so on and so forth.
So, I have some thoughts and am curious what others think about this.
Do we think that OKC is some ideal city where every NBA player wishes they could go? Did Shai get the call that he was getting shipped from Los Angeles to Oklahoma City and was stoked about his new home? Do you think Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and SGA all signed max contracts because they love the area?
Nearly all that matters is winning. Do you honestly think if we were true contenders going to the finals or at least conference finals that Donovan would have asked out? Do you think that Hayward would have left?
These guys want to win, and when that isn't happening all the other stuff is a lot harder to take. But at the end of the day, if you have a competitive team that can win big, majority of the players will deal with everything and play ball.
I don't get how people can think that the Jazz are never going to be able to keep any player, when we have OKC being as dominant as they are. At very worst, with DP (or whoever we get at #2) we have 5 years to show that this is a team that can win big. Sure the city they play in matters, but at the end of the day I don't think that plays a factor as much as we all seem to think it does.
I know that it seems rather chicken and egg-esque, how do you have a good team if the players won't stay. But that is the same issue OKC had and they were able to build a solid roster regardless. Hence why tanking made sense for Utah, now we have young building blocks that give us at least 5 years to make things happen.
Curious if this at least makes sense with people, even if you don't agree.