Patrick Kinahan: Jazz can't go halfway on tanking

SALT LAKE CITY — For a franchise built on stability and consistency, the Utah Jazz enter this season with more unknowns perhaps than any time in recent memory.

At issue is the desire to win as many games as possible — or not. To tank or not to tank is the question.

Halfway in on either side makes no sense. The Jazz need to pick a lane and stay in it the entire season.

Jettisoning the proven talent during the offseason except for Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson has drastically lowered expectations for a team that has made the playoffs the last six consecutive seasons. Virtually every preseason prognostication has the Jazz buried in the Western Conference standings with no chance at competing for anything beyond lottery draft positioning.

At its essence, owner Ryan Smith and his team of executives broke up a virtual guaranteed playoff team, albeit one that never advanced beyond the second round, by trading All-Stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. In return, the organization acquired financial flexibility and a host of draft picks stretching out over the next several years.

A losing record likely beckons, but at the same time a host of unanswered questions has created an interesting dose of intrigue that presents a level of excitement. Think of this season as a blank canvas with a full assortment of colors ready to be tapped.

It all starts with the coach, a 34-year-old rookie minus a track record. Jazz management, led by Danny Ainge, believed enough in Will Hardy to pluck him off the Boston Celtics coaching staff, but to a certain degree the faith is without works.

Mirroring the recent NFL trend of hiring young first-time coaches, the Jazz decision to take a chance on Hardy was met with positive reviews. But like with any coaching hire, proof of competence requires time.

In Hardy's case, he will have ample time over the coming seasons to prove his merit. Much like during the Quin Snyder era, the roster's lack of talent will dictate looking beyond the team's record to make a legitimate assessment on Hardy's ability to coach.

As with any coach, Hardy's agenda is to produce the highest win total possible. No coach is comfortable looking to years in the future, knowing the tenuous life expectancy in the occupation.

Here's where it gets tricky, giving significant minutes to the few veterans at the expense of developing the young players. So far, based on the four preseason games, Hardy will go with experience while sprinkling in the kids.

Note that some of the veterans — namely Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt and Colin Sexton — are all under 25 or younger, meaning they still have plenty of time to develop but aren't starting from scratch. Depending on availability, Hardy has started three players — Conley, Clarkson, and Kelly Olynyk — 30 or older and has given significant minutes to 36-year-old Rudy Gay off the bench.

Except in rare instances, usually involving future Hall of Fame players, youth doesn't win in the NBA. It's easy to understand Hardy's choice to go with veterans, but the decision may not be in the organization's best interests.

Unless the Jazz are showcasing Gay for a trade, there's no point in playing him beyond garbage time. He has no future with this team.

To an extent, the same can be said for Conley, Clarkson and Olynyk. While all have value in the short term, none figure to be on the team when it is playoff ready.

There's validity to the argument the trio's mere presence in the locker room will help the youngsters develop. Their professionalism can set the tone for the team in the manner that John Stockton and Karl Malone did for nearly two decades.

From a competitive standpoint, Hardy also must guard against doling out undeserved playing time for the sake of developing young players. He needs to set the standard that all minutes are earned without any entitlement.

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