It seems like every year there is a cloud over the NBA in early February. It is impossible to avoid the threat, fear, and sometimes thrill of a potential transaction.
And while teams can make trades whenever they want in the months leading up to the trade deadline, it's unlikely that the majority of trades will be made within days or even hours and minutes of the actual deadline. Never. This year it is February 8th at 1pm MST.
“I try to be as honest as possible. One of the things we've tried to avoid doing as much as possible is hiding from the fact that this is a business and there are stressful times of the year. That's true. It's not just around the trade deadline. Every player in the locker room is in a different situation… I think it's short-sighted to pretend it's not happening.” — Jazz coach Will hardy
Decisions made at the trade deadline can make or break the careers of everyone from the decision-makers to the players involved. So how does a coach get involved in that process? And how does he manage the emotions around his team during such a busy time in the NBA calendar?
For Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy, clear lines of communication are paramount, and that includes tackling things head on instead of pretending they're not happening.
“I try to be as honest as possible,” Hardy said. “One of the things we've tried to avoid doing as much as possible is hiding from the fact that this is a business and there are stressful times of the year. It's not just around the trade deadline. Locker All the players in the room are in different situations. … I think it's short-sighted to act like those things aren't happening.”
From players playing on expiring contracts to players looking to maintain their spot in the league or get a chance to actually play in the league, to players looking for their next contract extension and trying to make it as advantageous as possible. There's no shortage of personal stressors in NBA locker rooms for players on the block or on the trade block.
Hardy wants his players to know that he doesn't expect them to be able to compartmentalize all of their daily emotions and problems.
“It's not like we need to have a big conversation every day about what's going on,” Hardy said. “But I want our team and our players to always know that I recognize that they are human beings and that there is always something going on within the fabric of the business of basketball. And it affects them, they're not robots and they can't always separate everything from what's going on between the lines.”
But it's not just stressful for the players. While Hardy strives to maintain open communication between himself and his players, he also tries to manage communication with the front office, which inevitably intensifies as the deadline approaches. start.
The way Hardy tried to stay involved and informed without going crazy is how Jazz CEO Danny Ainge and general manager Justin Zanik tried to keep him from telling him all their conversations with other teams. It was to be done.
“Most things have to reach a certain level before they bring me in,” Hardy said. “If they told me about every incoming and outgoing phone call, I'd be really distracted. I have enough problems to try to solve on my own. But you know, Danny, The lines of communication between Justin, myself, Ryan (Smith) and the four of us are wide open. You never feel like you're in the dark.”
Of course, that doesn't make things any easier. It just organizes them.
No matter how hard Hardy tries to balance business understanding and practicality with the job of coaching the Jazz and getting the most out of their players, his job and the composition of the team will change dramatically once the trade deadline expires. The truth is that it is possible.
“It's stressful for everyone,” Hardy admitted. “There's a lot of uncertainty in the league at this time of year. It's not just in our building, it's everywhere. There's a human element to all of this when dealing with players and teams. It's a reminder of that moment. But we have a game tonight. We've got to go out there and try to tear it up.”
Jazz owners Ryan and Ashley Smith laugh at something coach Will Hardy said during the game as Utah and Denver face off at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 8, 2023. . The Jazz coach and team owner are laughing here, but the NBA is no laughing matter.
Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News
