Deseret News | Utah Jazz: Harpring unsure about his future

Reader comments
Utah Jazz: Harpring unsure about his future

Page:
< Previous
1
2

Matt | 1:17 p.m. July 3, 2009

I love ya man, and I hate to say it, but retire... We want to see you walking around and coming back for games in the future.

@Anoymous | 1:19 p.m. July 3, 2009

To Matt Harpring,I wish you the best of luck this summer, rehabing your ankle, knee and body. I'm hoping the rest will be good enough for you to return, you are my all time favorite player in the NBA. I know coach Sloan will really miss you if you retire but you have to do what's best for you!!
Matt, you played with a lot of heart and grit for the Jazz through the years, thank you!!

BOOZER: take note of what a real player with heart and soul looks like: Matt Harpring.

gdog3 | 1:30 p.m. July 3, 2009

I have respected matt Harpring and his grit for a longtime, going back to college at GT. Whatever his decision, I wish Matt the best.

Comments continue below

jason | 2:06 p.m. July 3, 2009

good riddens!

todd from santa ana | 2:18 p.m. July 3, 2009

what it will be is what the state wants per espn insider, fun and competitive, love sloan and Greg and root for whatever we have.

The jazz as I called for my fans will have the same basic team they closed out last year with and figure to go out round 1 of the playoffs, but no one would care they would say did best we could in small market.

Hollywood | 2:31 p.m. July 3, 2009

I don't understand the hatred for Matty.

He was a great player for the Jazz whem he first signed, then a decent player even with all the injuries. Maybe he played a year too long, clearly he wasn't the same last year and Sloan overused him, IMO.

But every year, every game, he left it all on the court. At times, he was one of the only guys playing with intensity. Maybe that's why Jerry played him so much - trying to get other players to match Matt's effort.

Good luck, Matt. As a long-time Jazz fan, I appreciate everything you did for the team.

Class act | 2:31 p.m. July 3, 2009

Matt Harpring has been someone that is able to be counted on. He has given it his all and has played injured. He is also concerned about his ability to help the team. It isn't just about money with Matt, which is awfully refreshing. Personally, I think he will retire. The Jazz will miss his grittiness and his toughness. But, that is the way he should be remembered.

Ilka vonLoofensteen | 2:48 p.m. July 3, 2009

Matt is the greatest because you knew everytime that he went out on the court, he worked hard. Sure, he was not the most gifted on the team but you could never doubt his heart or his effort. A sad day indeed. Maybe no ring with him here but he gave us all a great example and some pride!

I also understand that he was an excellent and prolific toe-tapper!!

Anonymous | 4:47 p.m. July 3, 2009

Some of you can just calm down.

You can say a lot of things about Matt, he's not as athletic as most and he didn't have as much talent as most but was NOT "scum". Crafty, smart, hard working, but not scum. A contributor, but not a star. A lot of his contributions probably weren't even seen by the public - a good practice player and an example of the kind of toughness Sloan wants and admires. I think he probably got max performance out of his body given what he had to work with. You can't fault a guy for that.

I hope he finds success after retirement.

Re: Miles | 5:11 p.m. July 3, 2009

That was the stupidest comment I've ever seen. Matt has gone through so much with this body and has done a great job of overcoming all of it. You go into his position and see if you're Arby's shift is as hard as being injury plagued like him.

Dana | 6:16 p.m. July 3, 2009

Harpring has been one of my all-time favorite Jazz players. I love his toughness and the way he plays all out. However, watching him move this season has made me think that it is time for him to hang it up and enjoy life will he can still walk. I would love to see hime play well again but it may be time.

Strategy for winning a | 10:21 p.m. July 3, 2009

Championship.

The Jazz run a offensive system. Each player has a role in that system. Each position has a unique set of ideal characteristics that are needed. If the Jazz could get good enough players at each position for a reasonable price they might be able to win a championship.

The Jazz will never be able to get 3 stars and win a championship. SL is not LA/BOS/CHI/NY and never will be.

The Jazz need a farm system to feed their NBA system with role players with the characteristics they need.

1. Create a strategic alliance with a European Team.
2. Install a Jazz coach who knows the Jazz system and run it (maybe Harp?).
3. Buy and extra 2nd round pick each year. Those are cheap and the Jazz have a decent track record of getting value out of the 2nd round.
4. Develop 3 picks each year. Keep the best one in D-League and send the other 2 to the farm system in Europe. Once drafted the Jazz have the NBA rights for players playing in Europe.

Continued

Farm System | 10:31 p.m. July 3, 2009

The farm system would allow the Jazz to draft players who fit roles needed by the Jazz system. Those same players may not be as valued by other teams but would be ideal for the Jazz. Those players often end up in the second round. Second round draft picks are cheap.

The European team may pay for it's self while developing role players. As the players develop bring the bests ones over and play them in the NBA as ready. That creates a steady stream of cheap young players who know the Jazz system.

The Jazz would be able to maximize their NBA system but still stay under the luxury tax. Money spent on 2nd picks sent to Europe does not count against the cap.

As long as Sloan is coach the Jazz will use his system. It takes 2-3 years to learn his system. Good players with 3 years experience cost to much.

The farm system eliminates that problem. Replace the NBA players if they demand to much money.

The farm would also provide a lot of trade material. The Jazz could eliminate most of their weaknesses at a feasible cost.

Just a thought.

Matt Harpring Fan | 7:16 p.m. July 5, 2009

Fire sloan as the coach hire Matt as the new coach and we will win a championship...

Bob | 11:47 a.m. July 6, 2009

What could have been. Matt HAD a ton of talent. He finished second in the ACC in points and rebounds his Senior year at Tech to Antawn Jameson. He also has his Jersey retired at Tech as one of the best players to ever graduate from Tech.

He was first team all rookie in Orlando and then the injuries started and it almost seemed like he had a surgery a year the rest of his career.

It is time to hang them up Matt. Thanks for the effort and example you set as a touted high school QB who decided to play bball instead, grew into a great player in college and then did the best you could with an ailing body in the NBA.

Jeff | 2:52 p.m. July 6, 2009

I love Matt but its time for him to hang it up. Sad really...he is the only physical defender on the team and the Jazz will struggle without him.

Jhompi | 12:03 p.m. July 28, 2009

If Harp decides to end his career the Utah Jazz have to retire #15!!!! He´s been great with the team and the city, he gave everything, hustle and great playing. The Jazz should retire his number, he wore that uniform with the courage of one of the best!! Hope you the best, Harp!

Page:
< Previous
1
2

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.