Tim LaComb thoughts on new Utah Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge and what he’…
Lloyd knows how to make our next guest happy. A little Tom Petty got to put him in a good mood. Joining us now, Tim Lome, longtime assistant coach at BYU and coached a guy named Austin A who now is pretty much going to be running things for the Utah Jazz. Coach, how are you? Hey, coach. I’m doing awesome. I actually missed Austin though. I knew I Yeah, played against Austin when we were at Utah. Um, but when I came to Utah, he had gone and but I obviously around a ton and through his journey got to know him really well. And I’m really excited for him. I’m excited for the Jazz. But I want to take just a second and shout out one of the greatest dudes on the planet who takes so much crap from YouTube. Whoa. And from time to time, guys like me, and that’s Lloyd Cole. No, don’t. Yes. I love Lloyd Cole. He’s a classmate. He He He deals with way too much crap from you guys on a daily basis. Lloyd, dump it. It’s time about time somebody came on and was honest about things and and I just I really like the dude. I I this morning I was, you know, I’m always kind of trying to be funny and I think I might irritate him a little. I don’t want to do that. That’s what we do on every every day on this show is irritate lawyers. I know. That’s what I just said. Yeah, we try. Hey. Hey. Um, coach, what kind of what kind of guy is Austin H? I’ I’ve never met him. Austin is um he’s a deep thinker. Um he’s very confident in his abilities. I I told this story this morning, but I think it’s worth telling again. Um as a as a player, it wasn’t out of the ordinary. you know, coaches would put something in and after practice he’d go over and say, “Hey, I like this, but have you thought about this because, you know, this defender is going to sit on this, do that. What if we decoy?” You know, so he always he’s a he’s a deep thinker of the game. I think that’s what made him a great player. Um, you know, his talent level wasn’t as high as some, but it was his his mind. Um, and then like I said, personally through the years I’ve gotten to know him and um, a great family, you know, he’s got got great family, great wife, great kids, and uh, it’ll be tough. It’s tough for him to move from Boston. I mean, they’ve had a great thing going. I have gotten a kick out of, you know, a lot of the comments about the nepotism and all that, but I will just say, um, you know, he must be pretty damn good because they they did it anyway. And I know that through the league. I know how he’s thought about, but you know, he’ll prove his worth uh as he goes, which is what he’s always done. Well, I wanted to bring that up because, you know, there’s some guys that get opportunities that uh probably aren’t deserved, but if you look at the resume alone and just take out the last name and just say, okay, what has he done? Uh what has he been a part of? And he started from the ground up. Uh worked his way up to the point where he and Brad Stevens were pretty much running the show there in Boston. And uh you know, again, take the last name out of it, it looks like this is a well-earned opportunity for him. For sure. And you know, I had a great opportunity while we were coaching. We got invited back to training camp. And so while we were back there, um we kind of had cart blanch. We could walk around and go into offices and talk to coaches and, you know, watch practice. And it was really interesting to me. I mean, Danny is obviously um he’s one of one and there’s only one Danny engine and he’s more than made his name, but I think what Austin’s done kind of in his shadow in Boston, it says a lot when Danny left and Austin stayed. Um, you know, I I know how Brad Stevens talked about him to me. He talked about his intellect. He talked about his eye um his ability to see guys and you know I’ll throw out a couple names. Robert Williams the third um was not well thought out of coming out and he’s been you know a force in the NBA hasn’t been like a allstar or anything but he he he’s been Pritchard won the six man of the year award. That’s something that you know I think A saw uh um N Smith it’s now with Indiana was drafted by the Celtics. um did a great job of evaluating him and he’s you know he just continues to get better. But I think the the bottom line is that people need to know he was really instrumental in putting the roster together that won the title and um you know there were things they had to do some sacrifices they had to make. They went back and got Al Horford again. They brought Drew Holiday in. I just think it’s a you know I think it what they did what it didn’t just fall into place. They had to go make it happen. And that’s the same situation he’s going to be here in Utah. How much of them bringing Austin Age and having Will Hardy and and Danny A in a real Boston connection, how much could that play into a potential Jaylen Brown grab? Well, it’s certainly a possibility, I would imagine. I mean, the relationships are so good. And I’ve said this from time to time, but like the Angels have the ability um and I’ve se I’ve seen it firsthand. You know, when teams come through, I usually get there early. I I try to get there 90 minutes before, maybe two hours before, so they can go down and watch everything that’s going on and try to pick up anything I can for what we’re doing up in the booth. And you know, the the one that stood out to me, Chris Paul walked out of the tunnel early before anybody was in there and Danny was on the other end. And and the dude sprinted to the other end to give him a hug. Um, so you the bottom line is these guys know who, but but players like them and you know, I think they’re they’re transparent guys. I think they’re uh they’re shrewd for sure, but they manage relationships great. And I mean to the point, you know, a couple people this year, this summer who are great friends of mine who got jobs, I’ve text them, congratulate them. Haven’t heard one thing back in over two months. Austin hit me this morning when I text him back. Um I just like people that value people and um the basketball part’s one thing and and again that we can go into that more. He’s brilliant in that regard, but u I I think the people part’s going to be big for for the Jazz, too. How much of I mean obviously you grow up in that household. You’re going to live, eat, drink basketball and you’re going to soak up every bit of knowledge that your dad can give you, but how much of a uh understanding of the game has he developed from other people and his own identity? This isn’t just it doesn’t feel like this is just a Danny clone that the Jazz are hiring here is I guess my point. No, I think I think Austin’s grown. Um, and I think his journey, you talked about it, but he started at Southern Utah as an assistant for Roger Reed, who I mean, you go back and watch BYU film when Raj was there, and he was a clinic. Uh, he really was in the half court, akin to like Stu Moral, um, had that kind of impact on the game. So, I think Austin going there was big. And then he had two years where he was the head coach of a G-League team. And that’s a that’s such a great proving ground because you can try so many things. um you know, he went there and then like I said, he he went to Boston and he he immersed himself in that uh that situation. I mean, 16-hour days watching tape for, you know, preparing for drafts and stuff aren’t out of the ordinary and he’s in for all that. And, you know, he’s young. He’s 43, 44 years old. And I mean, that’s I say that’s young now, but you know, I’m 55, so he’s young. and um and he’s got a nice journey, a nice track record. So, um it’s going to be it’s going to be fun to watch. Uh I’m I’m excited about it. I do believe that, you know, if the Jazz announced today that they hired a a guy who had basically kind of put together a roster for a championship and his name was Bob Meyer, then people would be freaking out. Um, but I, you know, I think this, this is a little clouded because of the name, but I think people will see soon enough what his ability is like. I know you know Danny A really well, coach, and I’m curious, how much is he enjoying what he’s doing, and how engaged is he in what he’s doing right now. I think he’s very engaged. Um, you know, it’s a it’s a spot that’s kind of unique. The Jazz didn’t really have that CEO position prior. Um, I think what Austin’s coming on in is to kind of do the fill the Dennis Ren Lindsay role and he and he’ll work with Justin, but you know, Danny just kind of overseeing it all. Um, I I like the idea of those guys sitting in a room and fighting about guys because they do I’ve sat there and watched it and it’s so fun because there’s no yesmen in those guys. Um, and they and they will do the hard thing from time to time to make, you know, to find greatness. So, I think that his uh his place in that room is going to be really big. But Justin Xanic is such a a trusted voice and he’s so great around the league. His ability to put contracts together, his ability to understand nuance. So, to me, it just, you know, it solidifies things for a long time. Um, you’ve got a younger guy now that’s in that position and, you know, is committed to trying to get this thing moving and so I’m excited to see how he does. How do you anticipate that room where, let’s say, the Jazz are on the clock, and granted I know they’ll get their work done before and so I’m making this sound a little bit more dramatic than it really is, but honestly, when you have uh Danny A, when you’ve got Ryan Smith, and then you got Justin Xanic, three guys that have, you know, that have big opinions, bring a lot of knowledge, and then you throw in another alpha into the mix as well. How do you think that decision-making process goes amongst those four? Um, you know, by the by the tone I get, I think, Dan, I think ultimately that uh Austin will make, you know, the final decision. I think obviously it’s got to go through and everybody’s got to feel good about it. But I think that that’s what this move is is about. Um, you know, no team, no great team is ever just one guy. And so the value obviously of the experience and the journey of Danny, Justin, and then Ryan. And just a note about Ryan, I mean, a great absolutely great owner because he he shoots for this the stars, but he doesn’t get in the way of the basketball people. Um, like we’ve seen in Phoenix just, you know, just very recently. I mean, that dude’s really ambitious, but his ambitiousness and, you know, has really worked against him. So, I I’ve always said it. I think Angel’s best Danny, speaking of Danny, his greatest quality is patience. Um, and always seems to kind of strike at the right time. Um, so I I do believe that at the end of the day, you’ve got a very seasoned group, but I think Austin, you know, is going to be in a position where he’s going to do a lot of the leg work and, you know, feel good about the guys that that the Jazz bring in. Coach, for you, as things sit right now on June 2nd, 2025, where the Jazz have four picks in this upcoming draft, how many of the four do they actually make and keep? Um, well, I I’m tight with the group, but I’m not that tight. I I think uh I think we’re going to learn a lot over the next couple weeks, uh, as we prepare for the draft. It’s wild that it’s June, like you said that, and it kind of shocked me. We’re six months into this year and I’m barely writing 25 on checks and stuff, you know, it’s barely getting to my head. Um, so yeah, I mean it’s a to me it’s it’s it’s a signal that status quo is kind of out the window. Um, I do believe the Jazz are going to be pretty aggressive this summer and what that means and how that works, I don’t know. but they’ve got a lot of young guys and so to me it it would behoove probably to make some free agent moves and maybe move some picks so you don’t have just a bunch of young guys coming in again. Uh but that’s really that’s going to be up to those guys. And I do believe since they’ve taken over I’ve loved their drafts. Um you know I think obviously we’re still waiting on a lot of these young guys because that’s what you do but I think we’ve seen signs. You know, Cody Williams is the one guy who was just physically outmatched last year, and I think you will see a much different Cody Williams this year in that regard. I saw some film of Taylor Hendricks stroking the three this weekend. Um, I mean, he didn’t miss in about a sevense second, eight second clip. Put up four or five threes and the shot looks really smooth and he’s moving well. So, again, patience on our side’s going to be required. Um, but I I do believe that this team’s going to try, you know, the the days of of the tank. Um, I can see that kind of going being subsided. And I I’ve said this a lot, and it’s interesting because in the conversation I had with Ryan a couple weeks ago, um, I said, “Hey, I I don’t know where you guys are on this, but I think if everybody played this year, I think you would have won third, you know, 40 games.” And he said, “It’s funny because we talked about it and you know, um, you know, if everything would have gone well and guys would have been healthy and stayed through it, you know, they felt like they could have went won as many as 36. I said 40. Um, but if you just make a couple of tweaks and you um, some of these guys that are developing come in and get better, uh, you know, you could see an uptick here.” And so I think Jazz are, you know, it signals kind of a new phase to me. there’s there’s going to be some activity in my gut. I 1,000% agree with you on that, by the way. And I do think that the Jazz feel like had there not been roster manipulation as well as as well as injuries that they felt like that was a 35 win team. And there’s no reason why next year they couldn’t get to that level. Now, you’re you’re kind of in a tricky spot where you don’t want to lose that draft pick next year, but I don’t think this team’s going to just bottom out next year like they did this year. No, I don’t either. Um I think it was obviously the strategy and um you know, everybody’s got opinions on all that. I I think both sides there’s some validity, but I believe that we’re going to move, you know, down the road now. I think we’ll start moving and and some of those free agent moves perhaps some trades. Um we’ll just see what what the the crew puts together, but I’m really, you know, sitting here on June 2nd, I’m really excited because we’re we’re within a couple weeks of the draft and and I think the the picture will be a little more clear. All right, so we got to wait till Thursday to get this NBA postseason uh underway. The uh Yeah, that’s kind of tough. NBA NBA Finals decided that they are just going to drag their feet and delay this. Who comes out of this who who ends up hoisting the trophy, coach? Well, there two teams that are hot as can be. And um you know, I I actually with you guys, I think I picked the Knicks to beat Pacers and I picked OKC. I still believe OKC is going to win it, but I love what the Pacers are doing. Um it’s all about team and you know on the heels of being called the most underrated player by his peers um which to me just probably a sign of jealousy uh which does exist at in a very large measure in the NBA you don’t say um yeah I think so everybody’s fighting for their spot but you know Hallebertton is the essence of a team guy the way he passes the ball way he sees the floor way he push think We may have lost coach there. See if we can get him back on the line. Shoot. We got to We got to have that one answer on how he thinks the finals are going to go. Then we can cut him loose. He’s not off the hook yet. I think we could probably answer that for him, but I think so, too. But knowing coach, he’s going to find a way to make an argument one way or the other. I mean, he he might find a way to make an argument for the Pat. And there’s one thing that coach Lome can do is he can sell it and you be like, “All right, I’m buying. I’m buying. All right, coach. Sorry we lost you there for a second. Your thoughts on the finals?” Um, I think Oklahoma City is going to win it. I I think that Indiana’s playing great basketball, but I just think from the standpoint of building a team and having so many different options, you know, you can really grind people out defensively, but you you’ve got, you know, high level score and a bunch of very aggressive guys. I I think it’s OKC’s this year. I really do. And I I’m excited about that because we’re a couple years removed from them winning 20 games. um you know they were the team rolling through here like the Jazz getting the crap kicked out of them and so it’s exciting and the fact that there’s been a ton of parody the last few years um it has not been just the run-of-the-mill power brokers and I think it’s great because they’re two small market teams if that is still a thing um that are in there so you know I’m picking Oklahoma City to win. Did uh they get it right with the Eastern Conference Finals player of the year, Pascal Seakum? Well, he was unbelievable. I I mean, to me, that team is what it is because of Hallebertton, but Seakum had amazing uh series and he’s a huge part of why they’re good. So, I I don’t know that you can argue with it. Um what are you listening to these days? Anything new in the rotation? Uh, well, yesterday was my Sunday jam day and I pulled in some uh I did I went to 1980 and played the uh British Steel album cover to cover. The Judas Priest British Steel. Wow. United is one of my favorite like you know that used to be a thing I’d bring into the guys and let them mess with to try to get some unity in the locker room. But that’s is a great song and I’m playing a lot of stuff man. I’m having fun but I I’ve run into an issue. I broke my wrist and so that’s slowing me down a bit, but it’s not stopping me. How do you How do you break your How’d you break your wrist? I turned 55 a couple weeks ago on a Thursday and I was excited on a Saturday morning because I’m in that Yeah. You guys mow your own lawn, right? Yeah. You don’t pay somebody to do it. Never. You’re real. You’re real men. Y I have I lose respect for people that pay for that service because I think it’s such one of the coolest things we get to do. So, I was racing to mow my lawn. Two days after I turned 55, I slipped and my socks on the stairs and went down and tried to brace myself with my right wrist and I heard snap. So, um I’m dealing with that, but it’s all good. I didn’t go to the dock. I just ordered something off Amazon, threw it on my wrist. That’s my guy right there. It’ll get better. Yeah. It was funny because I asked you, “How did you break your wrist?” And you said, “Well, I turned 55.” I thought that was the answer. That’s all you got to say? Well, I mean, that’s part of it, dude. It’s two days later. So, you guys, you just remember, you just watch me. Uh, I’ve always kind of hung with older dudes in my life. Kind of see what’s coming. So, you guys got that to look forward to. Boy, that osteoporosis is a hell of a thing to deal with, coach. I know, man. And I’m sure the 75 Diet Cokes I drink in a day don’t help. Uh, yeah. Mix in a regular Coke every now and then. Yeah. Yeah. Go fully leted. My wife said, “Hey, water’s good. You” And I was like, “Hey, there’s there’s water in there. There’s It’s got to get a liquid somehow. There’s water in there, right? Water in there somewhere.” I I cannot drink water. I can’t I know everybody I can’t either. I just Yeah. Sorry. I I And well, I I hope you guys know that uh you guys are the kings and you’re the best. I appreciate you having me on. I’m excited about and uh I just want to reiterate how great a guy Lloyd Cole is. You had to end with that. No, we we I mean, start and finish, that’s the way you do it. We agree. Lloyd’s Lloyd’s the man, and we appreciate all he does, and his work ethic is is uh phenomenal and just a tremendous friend and a and a great person. Our contracts are almost up, coach. So, we’ve got a I was in a Yeah, I was in a group project with him in college, and you know, I feel bad, too, because I made him do all the work. I was just the actor in the movie. Oh, okay. But but he did all the work. And so I my grade from we took it from Craig Worth. That was our professor. Okay. The great Craig Worth. And uh but you know Lloyd’s a big reason I got an A in that class. I love that. Look at that. Lloyd carrying the weight. I love that. Good for you, Lloyd. Love you, coach. All right. I love you, buddy. Okay. Thanks, guys. All right. See you, coach. See you, coach. He’s the best. The one and only Tim Lico.
• Utah Jazz analyst & former BYU assistant Tim LaComb
