Jazz mailbag: Is Rudy Gobert a top-10 player in the NBA? Should the Jazz tank a couple to set up a better playoff matchup?

Tony Jones, one of the Tribune’s Utah Jazz beat reporters, will answer questions submitted on Twitter each week in his Jazz mailbag. Here are this week’s questions and answers.

To me, he without question is a top-10 overall player. If Rudy Gobert’s current defensive impact were an offensive impact, we’d be calling him James Harden or Stephen Curry. That’s how impactful he’s been defensively. Gobert’s been the best defender in the league this season by a wide margin. And he’s been a key cog offensively, which is what people haven’t realized or don’t want to realize. When you combine what he does for the Utah offense and how he’s impacted the Jazz’s current winning streak, the question should be more how is he NOT a top-10 player?

You may find yourself in the lottery if you strategically lose two games in this Western Conference playoff race. There’s no margin for error. The Jazz have to win every game they possibly can. And if that means matching up against OKC in the first round, then so be it.

It depends. If they lose Derrick Favors, then maybe they go after another power forward. I think their one obvious need right now is a bench scorer.

He’s more a stopgap. He’s a great story and a good player, but barring something unforeseen, I don’t see him sticking around for the remainder of the season.

The Jazz locker room always has been close. The good thing is there are a bunch of strong personalities in the locker room, but none of them step on each other’s toes. There are a lot of leaders. The one who probably makes the biggest impact is Thabo Sefolosha. He’s been tremendous in that regard, and it’s one of the reasons the Jazz are very interested in bringing him back next season.

I think both are franchise-changing talents. I also don’t think there’s a clear answer. It’s more how you have constructed your roster around the two. Ben Simmons is an all-around guy who does everything at a high level. Donovan Mitchell is an elite offensive weapon who is also a very good defender and an elite competitor. Do you want someone who can average 30? Or do you want someone who is a triple-double threat every night? It’s all about how you construct your roster around them. I don’t think there’s currently an answer. I do know both are terrific talents who have the ability to be ambassadors for the NBA for years to come.

Objectivity has been drummed into my journalistic fiber from my very first day of J-school. I love covering the Jazz, I really like the guys in the locker room and I love working with the coaching staff and front office. When they are good, I can find good stories. When they aren’t so good, I can do the same. I root for the stories.

Most Improved Player probably already is spoken for by Indiana’s Victor Oladipo. That being said, all of what you’ve said about Joe Ingles is true. He’s having a tremendous season.