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The Utah Jazz have gutted the franchise. They have started over.
In one swift move, Jerry Sloan resigned. In another, Deron Williams is gone to the New Jersey Nets, traded for Devin Harris, rookie big man Derrick Favors, two first-round picks and $3 million cash.
So what does this mean for the Jazz?
For this year, probably not much on the court. Contending for even a division title seems to be out, but even with Williams, Utah probably wasn't going to overtake the Oklahoma City Thunder. Making the playoffs now seems even more of an iffy proposition than before the All-Star break.
Even so, the Jazz seem to have gotten good value for Williams. Favors is averaging 6.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 19 minutes per game in his rookie season. But he's young, he's big at 6-foot-10, he's athletic, he's a natural power forward and he's got a high ceiling for improvement. The Jazz clearly made this move banking that he turns into a star in the next few years.
Harris, once an All-Star, has been solid this season. He's not as good as Williams. But he gives the Jazz an athletic point guard that can get to the basket off the dribble, break down a defense and play good defense.
The cash gives Utah a bit of cap relief and the two picks give the Jazz an opportunity to rebuild a foundation that's fallen apart since last summer. That may be the most important piece of the deal for Utah.
Are the Jazz finished dealing? They may not be. General manager Kevin O'Connor acknowledged as much during Wednesday's news conference, saying that he expects to be very active right up to the Thursday afternoon trade deadline fielding calls from teams interested in making additional deals.
Until then, said a close source to the team, Jazz players will be "on pins and needles."
A look at Utah's roster in the post-Williams era reveals a glut at the power forward position with Favors, Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap all playing the same position. The roster still lacks outside shooting, and Williams was the only player on the team who could consistently create his own offense from the perimeter.
Going forward, those are all areas of concern for the Jazz front office. O'Connor and Utah CEO Greg Miller both stressed that the team intends to stay competitive. However, doing so in a loaded Western Conference may be easier said than done.
As for Williams, only time will tell whether Utah is better off as a franchise for giving up on its superstar. What's clear is that the Jazz front office believes it had no choice.
Williams clashed with Sloan, which may or may not have played a role in his sudden resignation. Williams has been good on the court this season, but had become increasingly disgruntled behind the scenes, unhappy with some of the moves made in the past few years with people like Wesley Matthews and Kyle Korver being allowed to leave via free agency.
Because of that, there has been concern that Williams would follow his own route as a free agent as a part of the class of 2012. Over the weekend a report surfaced that Williams desired to join Carmelo Anthony as a Knick when his opportunity came. Williams shot down the story, but the Jazz clearly didn't want to go through the probably daily speculation that surely would have come next season with Williams in his contract year.
On the surface, receiving a starter, a potential All-Star and picks represents a good foundation for starting over. But how patient will Jazz fans be if their team continues losing? And how fair is this to Tyrone Corbin? How much latitude will he be given as Sloan's replacement if the team doesn't make the postseason this year?
Combined with last summer's moves, Wednesday's trade represents the most roster upheaval the Jazz have undergone in a calendar year since the team's early beginnings in Salt Lake City. Carlos Boozer, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver and Wesley Matthews are long gone. Now Williams has joined them.
The future is murky. This franchise is in full rebuilding mode.
tjones@sltrib.comTwitter: @tonyaggieville