Why Rudy Gobert should play second fiddle to Donovan Mitchell on the Utah Jazz

Numbers-wise, it’s easy to make a convincing argument for Rudy Gobert as the Utah Jazz’s best player. Still, he should take a backseat to Donovan Mitchell.

Be careful what you wish for, right? Fans of the Utah Jazz are notorious for demanding more national media recognition — especially when the win column’s bursting at the seams. As of late, however, many Jazz fans have changed their tune, as the present spotlight shines brightest on Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell …

For all the wrong reasons, unfortunately.

Get creative with your trade machine of choice if you like, but Justin Zanik and Dennis Lindsey will do all within their power to keep their pair of All-Star players together. And with good reason — if the Jazz are to see a title in the near future, they’ll need to be teammates.

Here’s what does need to happen, though: The Stifle Tower must cede control to Donovan. No, the Utah Jazz locker room needn’t become a type of Castro-led Cuba, but as far as “El Número Uno” is concerned, that should be Mitchell …

Everyone else will have their rightful role, of course:

• Joe Ingles is the team’s fan favorite.
• Mike Conley is the team’s steady veteran.
• Royce O’Neale is the team’s reliable workhorse
• Jordan Clarkson is the team’s saving grace off the bench.
• Bojan Bogdanović is the team’s European, three-point threat.
• And finally, Mr. Gobert-Bourgarel is the team’s defensive mainstay.

And before you go jumping down this writer’s throat, please know that I understand the massive impact Gobert has on both the Jazz’s offensive and defensive efficiency. League-wide, he’s fifth overall in offensive win shares (6.0) and third overall in defensive win shares (4.0), placing him behind guys like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and James Harden.

Ever heard of ‘em?

No matter how you slice it, Spida’s name doesn’t belong in that kind of company.

But what Gobert possesses in statistical dominance, he lacks in adaptability at the center position in an NBA era that demands it. Gobert might protect the rim better than anybody else, but on the offensive end, he’s unable to wander far from it. As a result, with a traditional big, the Jazz can’t play five-out, push the ball quickly up the court on the break or simplify their offensive schemes.

I’m not taking crazy pills — hear me out on this: defensively, the Jazz should embrace not being the best in the league. Each year, as the Jazz make peripheral changes to the roster to improve, Mitchell’s offensive strengths should be the focus — not what Rudy can do on defense.

Sure, with Gobert as their starting center, the Jazz haven’t finished outside the top three in defensive rating in six seasons. But this year, the Jazz defense is tied for seventh-best (108.8) with the Miami Heat — solid, but it feels like the Jazz can’t decide what their identity should be.

Don’t look at these as reasons to trade Gobert; they’re reasons to hand Mitchell the keys.

https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1194122585992093696

Mitchell’s younger. In his three years in the league, he’s largely played injury-free. As the guy, Mitchell’s a better fit for not only where the future of the league is headed, but the Jazz as a franchise. He’s a slashing, 20-points-per-game scorer with a real knack for vocal leadership.

As easy as it is to fall in love with Rudy’s game, there’s not a team in the league who wouldn’t run the risk of tampering to build around Donny — the same simply can’t be said for Gobert.

The Utah Jazz find themselves at an unexpected crossroads …

Now’s the time to go all in on Mitchell as their leader — if they don’t, somebody else will.