Fate Of Jazz Rests In O’Connor’s Hands

Posted by James Seaman on June 30, 2009

Kevin O’Connor, it’s time to earn your paycheck. In the days and weeks ahead, you will set the Jazz on a course. Where that course leads, not even you know at this point. But you hold the precious hopes and dreams of countless Jazz fans in your influential hands. As spectators, we can only debate the value of this player or that player around the water cooler, or over frosty glasses in dark taverns. Our only voice is the one we use to holler at the television set or down at the court below from our ESA seats. Times like these—with the team in flux and the future wildly uncertain—remind fans of their own helplessness. Only you, Kevin O’Connor, have the power to make things happen while we sit by, desperately hoping for the best.

Two years ago, you looked like a genius. You’d taken a team that had known only Stockton-to-Malone for two decades and rebuilt it in a relatively short time. Despite drafting such dogs as Curtis Borchardt and Raul Lopez, no one could argue with the results you’d produced when the Jazz burst back onto the playoff scene. When the young Jazz reached the Western Conference Finals in 2007, the route ahead seemed to shine in golden hue.

Two years later, the vessel you so carefully constructed is taking on water while vital crew members threaten to jump ship. Budget constraints limit which holes you can plug and which sides of the boat you can reinforce. Discontent and mutinous behavior among the crew further complicate the matter. Who must stay aboard at any cost, who should be allowed to abandon ship, and who should be forced to walk the plank? Despite countless opinions and chatter from we the fans, only you can, as the Frames sang, “Take this sinking boat and point it home.”

The Jazz might look radically different next year with Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Paul Millsap potentially wearing enemy uniforms come Opening Night. The question of how much of the current core you, Mr. O’Connor, can keep intact should not overshadow the issue of whether you should keep the current core intact. After all, this team bit it hard down the stretch in 2009, even after coming together as a healthy unit. The 2008 Jazz went 4-2 over a final stretch that included two games against San Antonio, and one each against Dallas, Houston, Denver, and New Orleans (all playoff teams). The 2009 Jazz couldn’t even muster enough energy to compete at home against a hapless bunch of no-names from Golden State. Still, this team seems to have so much talent, so much promise.

I can’t do anything now but sit and wait. It’s in your hands, Kevin O’Connor. I have faith in you and I’m willing to get behind whatever decisions you make. But just remember, this is more than a business. You are dealing in a far greater currency than money, for you hold in your hands the hope and faith of an entire community in a state where dreams are still haunted by the unfulfilled promise of basketball glory.

10 Comments

Boondock Saint on June 30, 2009 said:

All I can say is DITTO!

tman11 on June 30, 2009 said:

Wow that’s deep but, come on we all know all three of those guy aren’t leaving yes there is potentail thet they might. I think Kevin is getting his work done though he got thing taken care of with Kyle Korver. So he is still around and Paul liek utah to much to go we got contracts set in place for him as well. Okur or Booze to be honest i see Okur leaving and, not Boozer. Okur has an oportunity to make more money else where Boozer doesn’t have that luxury yet. I think are team or “vessel” as you put it is running fine. We hit a snag last year when pretty much all are players went down to injury and we never got put together after. I think this year though we will see are jazz shine players will step up and Kevin will look amazing again

Samuel Pike on July 01, 2009 said:

well now this is going to be interesting because we still have not heard anything at least I havent anyway about what is going to take place with Paul Millsap but the Jazz said theyd go over the luxury tax to keep him here,but,deservedly so he deserves a lot more money than he made last year,he was among the most underpaid last year and I never heard him complain. If he does get a better offer from another team and decides to take it Ill still like him as a player,he works hard when hes out there and he will be an all star type player in years to come. Hes good good hands like Karl Malone did,and has a knack to block shots as does Kirilenko,so we shall see what goes down in the weeks to come. Go Jazz!!

tman11 on July 01, 2009 said:

call me crazy but teams are going to be offering Milsap about 10 to 11 million dollars for next season. I say let him go and, bring in some one else, I mena with how much team are going to be offering for him him you could either do a sign and trade or get two solid free agent for that price. Milsap is a good player “they key word there is good”. He isn’t a great player or a player that is worth 10 to 11 million a year he has to many flaws to pay him that much. I love paul as much as the next guy but, let’s face it he will never be a starter in the NBA he doesn’t have any out side game to speak of and he is way to small. Cut are looses and, go out and pay for a guy liek charlie Villinauva or how ever you spell his name. You can also look at a guy like Chris Anderson, Gortat from Orlando theres a few other guys you can consider to. If you wanted to waste 11 million dollars on a play go get rasheed Wallace or a potentail starter for you don’t pick up a guy coming off the bench like Milsap. We got lucky we got Okur and Booze coming back so just let Paul go and, go get anther free agent.

donnie brown on July 02, 2009 said:

millsap will be lucky to get a offer 5 year 40 million they can resign him and price for 1.5 if they cut matt harpring lose

Brigham on July 07, 2009 said:

O”connor needs to risk it a bit

John and Kathy on July 09, 2009 said:

Please, Mr. O’Connor, listen to our pleas. Do something to bring in a defensive center, even if it means trading Okur. We want Ronnie back for sure. His tenacity brings teeth to a team that lacks toughness. We’re not sure about Mr. Maynor. Is he Jason Hart revisited? Well, he’s on the team anyway.

tman11 on July 09, 2009 said:

I was think trade for a gy like Tyson Chandler. I mean the Hornets traded him last year so you know they are looking to move him and, we need to get rid of the ball hog Okur. it’s perfect you can’t get better defecne then that guy right now. I was hoping they would trade up in the draft and, make a run for Tabeet out of u conn

mike on September 29, 2009 said:

Thanks to the trail blazers and KOC, MIlsap did get his 10 million a year. Unfortunately KOC didn’t want to pay another 1.5 million for Morris Almond. Silly silly. Call me stupid but Almond is a future allstar in this leage.

tman11 on September 30, 2009 said:

yeah mike sorry not to be mean but, you are stupid Almond is way to passive to be a allstar in this league he will be a solid player but, not an allstar. I will say this though i would have much rather payied him them Paul because Paul isn’t going to do much at all with his career. He is going to be a solid BACKUP power forward but, is no ways will he be a great player in this league. he is to short and, can’t keep taking hits and, play starter minutes. with out getting hurt

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