The other Utah Armstrong said something like the rebuild is 44% complete or something stupid like that. So, the way it sounds, the brain trust in Utah thinks it will take years to complete this rebuild.
In year 4 (last year) of BA's tenure, we were the 28th best team out of 32 teams at 77 points. That could not have been the plan for success that BA laid out 4 years ago. BA is being given way too much slack, this is clearly not a successful rebuild at this time. What if we are at 85 points or less again this year, still a solid 10 points out of the playoffs? Keep in mind, 1/2 the teams make the playoffs every year.
BA keeps laying out a super long time horizon, that way he doesn't really have any shorter term milestones. What team would hire a GM for a rebuild and be ok with, hey we won't make the playoffs the next 5 years, but in year 6 or 7 we will and in years 8-10 we can go further? Murello theoretically first believed in Chayka, then he switched gears and believed in BA. Murello had other issues to deal with, so maybe never pressed BA.
I think BA waited too long to start the rebuild, didn't make moves quick enough and that has prolonged the rebuild. I think what will bite him is the team being misconstructed. We are strong on the wing but weak at C and even weaker at top 4D even with all healthy D men. By year 5, this year, this should have been better solved by now.
Smith had many issues to contend with bringing the team into a new town. He is smart to give BA a year, and bear too. Smith can evaluate this year but also will be looking at the body of work over 4-5 years. I think if we are sub 80 points, BA/Bear are gone. If we are 90+ and in or close to playoffs, then they stay. In between, I think Smith might still make a move.
Smith is an experienced sports club owner and is more likely to pick his own management team, bring in his hand picked guys. Smith has money and options here to hire another GM. My point is, BA and maybe Bear are going to be held accountable.