Russell Westbrook to the Jazz?

You don't have to tell me that the title of this article sounds crazy.  In fact when I set out to write this post, it had absolutely nothing to do with the ScapeGOAT.  Instead, my goal was to paint a picture of what type of roster the Jazz should build around Donovan Mitchell.  But first of all, let me say that them deciding to build around Mitchell like this in the first place, like that's a concept I'm still trying to grasp.

But the Jazz have always been a strange team.  Statistically, Stockton + Malone are probably the best duo in NBA history.  But it's like, fans just couldn't relate to them.  Stockton's game had no flare, but he was like a white Russell Westbrook(?).  Malone's technique was more compelling, but his personality had no flare.  You know, the Mormon State.  I was watching this big Jazz playoff game from the 1990s, I think from the same year Malone won MVP, and they still introduced Stockton last.

Also in all of my NBA watching days, I can't think of a single major free agent that ever went to Utah, besides Mike Conley, if you want to call him that.  And even that move was strange, because just a season or two prior the Grizzlies paid him like they wanted to keep him for life.

And the funny thing is that as much as I sit here trying to think of a roster to build around Mitchell, I can't do it, at least in terms of putting together a conventional one.  Mitchell is too energetic.  I was thinking DeAndre Ayton, a big man who has experience running with the Suns, but maybe something more along the lines of the Mavs, only more athletic.  You know what I mean?  If you can't land have Giannises on your roster, then how about five Donovans instead?

And you know, making that kinda risk will still boil down to bigman compatibility.  When your roster is small, then the bigman becomes more, not less, important, even if he isn't the franchise player.  Look at the role Looney had to play for the Warriors to win.

Hassan Whiteside isn't the worst gamble, nor would be Montrelz Harrell, who could even be a steal if the Jazz go true Mavs and not care too much about defense (based on what I read about Harrell).  But then, what if you also have a Donovan on your team that you can get you a bigman's average of rebounds?

CONCLUSION

Yes, I know this may sound like the musings of a madman - to suggest that a team consisting of Mitchell, Westbrook, Clarkson and other such players, if they have adequate rebounding capability, could theoretically run others out the gym.  But aren't the Jazz saying the same thing?  Mitchell is going to have the ball in his hands and the de facto license to do with it as he pleases.  So if you're saying that ploddish players like Gobert, one of the very best centers in the league, isn't compatible, might as well take that philosophy all the way.