1. IMO, Ainge does not have to make any other moves to "justify" adding Murray (or a player like him) because Murray fits the timeline that Markkanen, Collins and Sexton are on. He'd be another very good piece in the rebuilding plan and a definite area of need for this Jazz team. Murray is a good perimeter defender and scorer. Key should not be a starting guard going forward but an important bench player for now. Building a team is a process. One brick at a time. Can't do it overnight but Ainge is making great progress even if you can't see it.

You do realize that it takes two to tango right? Ainge cannot just add any player he wants. Other teams have to be a willing partner too.

2. "Which of the top 10 teams do you see falling below the Jazz? Reminder the Jazz won 31 games this year."

Reminder, the Jazz could have easily made a play-in game if they had wanted to. It was far more important to find and develop prospects that will be on the team next year. Going all in on making a play-in game would have meant far less minutes for our rookies and the guys they brought in to evaluate (Bazley, Lofton, Preston) and guys at the end of the bench (Juzang, Potter, Samanic).

The Jazz sat Markkanen for 17 of the final 21 games. Clarkson sat the final 16 games. Collins sat the final 8 games. Sexton the final 4 games. Kessler the final 6 games. Even with that, the Jazz were still fairly competitive in most games playing non-starters against the 2nd hardest finishing schedule against teams still playing hard for playoff seeing right up to the final game.

The thing you're missing about the teams above them is that many of them are not only getting old but due to the new cap rules, they're very, very limited on how they can even get any better.

You think the lakers will be better? bwahahaha There is NO WAY that lebron and/or AD put together another year like this one where they both stayed healthy for most of the year and had their best years in the last few. The lakers can't keep playing lebron and AD over 36 min/game. Add to that, Russell is likely gone. Btw, the lakers have ONE draft pick #55 but could have another IF NOP chooses to defer their laker pick to next year.

The Clips? A few of their top players are UFAs at the end of the year and a few more have player options and can become UFAs. Paul George is rumored to decline his player option. Hardin and Zubac will be UFAs already.

Suns? Hahahaha. Both the Suns and lakers had to scrap by just to make the play-in games (or win the tie-breaker to get the 6th seed). The Suns will have 3 players making over $50M/yr EACH. Really puts a damper on how they can get any better. KD and Beal are not getting any younger either.

3. Memphis ... yeah right.

4. Wemby can't do it by himself and is more likely to hit a Soph Slump than get better or get the Spurs into the playoffs.

"Serious enough?" Maybe, but delusional as well.