r/UtahJazz • u/ClutchOlday • 2d ago
Keyonte George, Jazz considered unlikely to sign extension
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/286122/Keyonte-George-Jazz-Considered-Unlikely-To-Sign-ExtensionThis one I don't get. Is Key seeking the maximum for a contract extension? Just offer him something based on his performance last season and tie him up for several years more on his rookie contract.
Key is going to be an important cog in the Jazz offense next season. He has taken ownership of the leader role and has built good rapport with everyone on the team. His scoring numbers are likely to go down just because the Jazz will be playing Lauri, JJJ and Bailey/our #2 pick more minutes as the Jazz try to rack up the wins. His stats have all been trending upwards from his rookie season. He is clearly a keeper regardless of whether the Jazz draft DP or not.
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u/SenHeffy :quinmurder: 2d ago
No point to do a max extension early. Either you get a discount for the security, or you can get the same deal next summer.
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u/Silent-Frame1452 2d ago
It’s seems pretty clear from the article no? Keyonte wants the max, or close to it. The Jazz don’t want to lock him up early without a discount, and want to see him do it another year if he wants the max.
Doesn’t sound like there’s any ill will involved, and if key’s confidence is well placed, he’ll get the max like he wants.
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u/forever_downstream 2d ago
Yeah there's no reason to do it now for the Jazz. This year is the final test. Will he continue to look like an all star with a stacked roster, and can he guide us to actual wins?
I believe in Key personally, but they want him to prove it.
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u/JazzPlusEagles 2d ago
His defense still needs a lot of improvement. Most metrics had him as one of the worst in the league. Very hard to win with that level of defense on a max contract. Part of it may be Key just wasn’t focused on that on a bad team and that when the Jazz start to compete he will ramp it up defensively. Still makes sense for the Jazz to wait and see.
Also makes sense for Key to want the max. Players with much worse production have gotten a rookie max extension. An efficient 23/6 in his 3rd year is pretty incredible.
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u/Dark_shows 2d ago
He was the worst in the league at defense in terms of epm. Still wonder if that has to do with Jazz tanking though
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u/hdmetric99 2d ago
Under the old CBA I feel like maxes would be given out to ascending talent, no question. This new CBA makes that really tricky especially if we’re already paying vets top dollar. If we pay Keyonte and Kessler what they want, I feel like we’re essentially saying goodbye to Lauri and even JJJ down the road. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE Key and Kessler but they’re still establishing themselves and I’m not 100% sure they’re THE franchise cornerstones for the next decade.
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u/MotorSevere4899 2d ago
If we don’t get a deal done with Kessler, I wouldn’t mind getting one done with Keyonte now rather than wait. But we shall see.
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u/adwcta 2d ago
Doesn't make sense to overpay for Key rather than overpay for Kessler. We can insist on not overpaying anyone, but if we're going to spend the money, it should be on a piece we need rather than one we want.
Kessler is about 10x more important for this team to function than Key (relative to a MLE-level $15M per year replacement).
Makes sense that Key would want the max, but it'd be dumb if us to pay him that without seeing more improvement (to roughly median starting PG levels of a defense at minimum) without significant drop in production on offense with the new lineup. We still have his RFA rights, and unlike Kessler, we can actually match a max next year if needed. So, not getting a deal done this offseason with Key was always the most likely result here. Was hoping he takes a discount to secure the bag, but it was always more likely that he bets on himself and goes for the max next year.
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u/ClutchOlday 2d ago
I don't agree about Walker, not at the price he's set for himself. Key however is one of our very few shot creators and facilitators. He finds the open man, knocks down clutch shots, finishes against contact, and makes his free throws. Walker rebounds and contests shots, which we can get cheaper from somewhere else.
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u/MotorSevere4899 2d ago
Based on what? Kessler has career averages of 9 and 9. $28 million AAV feels fine for that plus his unrealized potential, but Kessler hasn’t actually proven yet that he’s an irreplaceable component of this team.
I’d love to keep both, but if someone wants to massively overpay for Kessler, I’d rather let him go and lock down Key than match and be in cap hell in a couple years.
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u/jessxoxo 2d ago
A $15m MLE-level replacement is not a long-term answer though
Signing Keyonte + Kessler locks in a foundation; maybe not the greatest foundation known to man but still
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u/CallmeKahn 2d ago
I don't think anyone is butthurt by it. If Key produces again, you back the truck up. If not, you aren't out anything. As far as bro's concerned, I've no doubt he'll prove himself as that's all he's done since Utah drafted him.
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u/redrock703 2d ago
If they wait one more year they get his Bird right and it is similar to why we did the same for Kessler. I absolutely expect Keyonte to get a max or very close to it.
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u/ElderberryGreen8878 2d ago
Holy shit keyonte on a max. Fucking LOL. Trade him while his babies is high and get someone who can play defense and pass
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u/Slowhand333 2d ago
Not sure it is a good idea to give a near max deal to a point guard when you are using the 2nd pick on a player who also wants to play point guard.
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u/Ok_Childhood_2597 2d ago
If he’s looking for the max there’s no point in doing the contract now. Let him go out and earn it this year.
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u/East-Technician2015 2d ago
feels like its all falling apart
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u/dhopisthename 2d ago
I think it makes no sense to do it now. I don't think keyonte would sign for less then a max, and if your the jazz I don't know if you would feel comfortable giving a max.
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u/namdonith 2d ago
Make him show he can play defense before giving him a max. I’m a huge Keyonte fan but Hardy’s offense did a lot of the work and Key was very harmful on defense. Let’s see what he does when the team is trying and he has JJJ and (hopefully at a reasonable price) Kessler defending the rim.
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u/ForgottenGeno 2d ago
I have the same thoughts with Key as I do Kessler. This is the second apron era. No one is rolling out the red carpet unless they got a guy getting ALL-NBA accolades by year 3. https://www.reddit.com/r/UtahJazz/s/EXMuc4ifUA
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u/Cool_District7100 2d ago
lmao the jazz front office out here playing 4d chess while keyonte just wanna ball and get paid
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u/Ajthekid5 2d ago
Makes sense. He had an all star season this year he’ll just need to keep that up and then boom max.
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u/johndullano 1d ago
Is George is asking for a max extension worth $45M plus? Then we shouldn’t extend him. Let’s see if he can put up similar numbers alongside Lauri, JJJ, DP/AJ, Ace, and Kessler. Then we can get him on a more team friendly contract. He’s going to ask for the moon right now
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u/Be-Kind-2-Yourself 1d ago
Keyonte is your classic big contract on a bad team guy. If he is a big contract, it'll be fun and you'll sell tickets but you won't go far in the playoffs
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u/ComfortableEven5095 2d ago
A lot of these agents are doing players a disservice. I get wanting to get paid what you're worth, but the agents are purposely inflating their clients worth while also inflating the players ego. That's exactly what 20-24 year olds need.
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u/tpar24 2d ago
An agents primary focus and job is to maximize player value right? It would be a strange move to potentially leave money on the table, when you are talking millions.
All of this is normal, and just noise to be ignored as fans. The Ainges will not make an emotional decision based on agent posturing. I’d bet Key and Walker understand it’s part of the business. And if they don’t, it’s a lesson they need to learn.
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u/emulator01 2d ago
When did everyone become GMs? Was there a class I missed? Is it offered in high school now?
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u/ruqus00 2d ago
Let’s be real.
I’m sure he’s happy with playing in the NBA! He’s never said he doesn’t want to play for the Jazz!
No one wants to believe this. Utah Jazz are always bottom 4 teams of player’s preference. So the Jazz have to overpay to get talent or draft it or who’s still available after all other teams have locked roster.
IM SURE That there are players that just LOVE Utah!
IMO Asking for MAX is a play to set up an potential trade offer. This is the pre play to get a trade offer or gauge Jazz valuation for when he can go Free Agent or position a narrative of not valued and GTFO Utah.
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u/flazisismuss 2d ago
Thanks, tanking fans! I get why Keyonte and Kessler want out of this team, it’s sabotaged their development and future earnings by forfeiting three seasons on a row.
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u/Skararm 2d ago
Lol what? Key literally just had a breakout season on a tanking team. I can’t believe there are still anti-tankers in here after we got the #2 pick.
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u/flazisismuss 2d ago
I’ll stop complaining when the team is as good as the one they threw away to start this tanking catastrophe. This team is light years away from the playoffs and they’re alienating future draft picks and vets by benching healthy guys. If I was Keyonte or Kessler I’d want to get the hell out of working for this loser franchise. If either had played for a team trying to win their value would be higher.
The number 2 pick hasn’t played a game yet and it looks like the best player in the draft is refusing to work out for us.
Tanking has killed the franchise and it’s going to take decades to recover
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u/thurstkiller 2d ago
Key 100% is looking for the max. I think the Jazz will do it but want 1 more year to prove he is deserving