Rubio doesn't move any needle.
Celtics obviously have the best team.
Best record of the three, and were 5-0 against them last season.
Rubio isn't keeping him in Utah. If he stays, it's not because of this move. Miami missed the playoffs in a weak East. They aren't become elite with Hayward.
Again, it stabilizes a position of need for the Jazz + Rubio is cost controlled so it puts them in better financial position to bring back Joe Ingles - who Hayward also really wanted resigned and who shares an agent with Hayward.
This is sneaky good move on their part.
Is it really improving their team though? I don't see an avenue for them to add another star, which is kind of what they need unless they are fine staying as a 4-6 seed in the West. (Warriors, Spurs Top-2, and now Houston is stacked, with Minnesota rising as well as gritty teams in OKC, MEMPHIS, and Portland).
They lose shooting with Hill, but Rubio is a better playmaker and just as good defensively, IMO. I actually like a passing point guard for Gobert more than Hill.
They still have youngsters (Hood and Exum) who could make the leap. Isn't that kind of what we're doing too? Plus Gobert is only 25 and very well may have another level he hasn't reached.
On paper, the talent they have is younger and still has untapped potential. On contrary, our biggest proven pieces are Horford, who's 31 and IT, who may need hip surgery.
Wait you mention Hood and Exum but not Brown and Tatum (or the Nets pick). That doesn't make sense.
"They still have youngsters (Hood and Exum) who could make the leap. Isn't that kind of what we're doing too?"
I think Hood and Exum are probably better compared to Smart and Rozier both guys that have had their moments but have been mostly underwelming. We then have Brown and Tatum as extremely raw rookies with high upside. That is another way we crush them (plus the brooklyn pick. They don't have anything that compares to that.
I will reiterate I don't really know how someone is seriously saying Utah is more appealing without Hayward than Boston is without Hayward. We were at worst an even team with them last year when they HAD him. Now you take him away and they are not competitive with us.
IT is several levels better than Rubio (if someone disagrees that is not worth my time to debate because we are never going to agree)
Bradley is better than Joe Ingles
Crowder is better than Joe Johnson at 38 (who can only play 20 mins)
Smart is better than Shelvin Mack or Hood
Their one advantage is Gobert is better than Horford but that doesn't offset everything else...
Really bizarre talking point popping up here.
Taking off my gotten tinted glasses. I feel pretty comfortable saying that none of these players care about future draft picks. These guys want to win NOW and future picks ain't doin' that. They're complete unknowns. Plus, ya know, once you draft them they have to develop. I have yet to see an FA say "yeah, I signed with them because of their future draft picks". Front offices and online forums are the only ones obsessed with picks.
Yes, IT is better than Rubio. But IT is also a 5'9" guard coming off a hip injury.
Smart isn't better than Hood. He's also a role player with significant holes in his game. That's a push.
Crowder is better in theory than Joe Johnson, but they have about the same consistency at this point. But I know, his contract... #GreatValueJae
Bradley is better than Ingles. As long as he's healthy.
Sorry, but Boston doesn't "crush" Utah as comfortably as you think.