Couple responses to legitimate questions asked:
Yes, I am still for Gasol considering his injuries. First off he has never had any serious injury and I think these may be much to do about nothing. I personally think they will be dealing him in the next few days and that is why they are sitting him (I could obviously be wrong about this), but I just think the situation has reached a tipping point. Think about what he has had to endure the last couple years: He was all world under Phil Jackson during their last finals run, then they have a coaching change and Bynum surges to push him to the high post PF position. Now he lost his position because he could play both more than the fact that Bynum was better... Gasol is just more versatile. Then they trade him last year and Stern nixes that. Then the fan base blames him when anything doesn't work out for the team. They don't criticize Kobe because he is God, and they didn't criticize Bynum cause he is young and up and coming. This year has been more of the same, with another coaching change and Pau getting all the blame because the fan base wants to resign Howard and Kobe is still God.
In general I don't think Euro guys need to have the glitz and glammar of the big city. I think they are fine with a sedentary life style of places like Utah, Milwakee and SA. Who was the last Euro to demand a trade to a big city or complain about being in a small market? There may be one, but I can't think of it.
Pau by now has got to be so sick and tired of Kobe chucking up 30 shots a game. I am sure it has taken massive amounts of patience to deal with Kobe's petulance. I think he likes the rich club throwing big money his way, but the big money part of his career is over. I think he would relish the chance to return to form and stick it down the Lakers throat who tried to trade him by going back to his normal self. I think he wants a legacy greater than being Kobe's All Star sidekick. I think he will return to dominance. His drop off??? Sure he could be slipping, but I think it is more psychological than age or health.... Look at Paul Millsap... turning down a good extension in the off-season and now he is thinking too much and he is totally off his game. Last year he was 3rd in PER at this point, this year he is losing value by the day.
As far as the Teague trade proposal that wasn't mine, but I think it was a well thought out trade and Teague is the kind of player we should be pursuing. On the other hand I agree that Teague will not be made available by Atlanta. My whole approach to proposing big trades that help the Jazz always keeps in mind the other teams motivation. There is no motivation for the Hawks to trade Teague, just like there is no motivation for the Blazers to trade Lillard etc.
So when I take a look at the market place for players that the Jazz need, and specifically when looking for a young PG I ask myself why the opposing team would do a trade. The team I see that would do a trade is either Milwakee (Jennings) or more specifically the Clippers of Bledsoe. First, Milwakee was the one team with a young pg (Curry, Lawson, Holiday) who didn't re up their PG and they probably didn't do that for a reason... perhaps they feel like the market was too rich for him this year and he needs to prove he can shoot... 40% doesn't cut it as a PG. I think with one more year in the league he will either have his market come down to where he should be signed, or he won't... but the Jazz would be wise to stay away from a guy that shoots 38-40% and who says he wants to go to a big city.
Bledsoe is possible but only after they resign Chris Paul. If Chris Paul resigns they will quickly ship out Bledsoe (my expectation is next summer) for a young prospect or picks. Until the Clippers resign Paul there is no motivation to ship out Bledsoe, but as soon as Paul resigns the Clippers will realize they will not be able to hang onto their guy. His value will continue to jump this season and unless Bledsoe is stupid or his agent is, they won't extend this summer on the cheap. I think the Jazz are in a good position to get him if they do a couple things: #1 get Burks rolling... he is the kind of player the Clippers would covet if he starts to show something... A Burks and Future 1st should do it and then the Jazz extend Bledsoe for 4/$32M. Again this would be the Jazz ahead of the curve on a player, and the Clippers acting wisely. I could also see sending Kanter to them for Bledsoe. To get something of value we have to give value.
If a good young PG prospect like Bledsoe isn't available you don't settle for mediocre players on big money contracts. That is what you do if you sign MO/AL/or Paul.. Don't tie your hands with long term bad deals.
If they can't get Bledsoe or the draft doesn't render a high end PG pick.. the Jazz should take on the last year of Ridnour, or sign Maynor to a $3M deal and re up Watson. Just don't whatever you do sign the wrong player to big money because they are the one available.
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Originally Posted by blackham9258
