5 steps: Fixing the Jazz

[billyshelby]

I agree. However, I believe what GVC's said to ring true and if Jefferson hasn't shown noticeable improvement in his body and passing, he needs to be traded next season...especially if we net someone like Bimbo out of this draft.

EVERY guy on the Jazz is on the block. KOC's job is NOT to identify what 3 or 4 guys he wants to call a nucleus. His job is to look at EVERY SINGLE PLAYER as an asset that can be used to build any team he wants. If the right deal for Al comes along, take it. If the right deal for Sap comes along, take it.

We've got several guys on the roster that a lot of teams would like. We've got 3 lottery picks guaranteed, another if we don't make the playoffs next year. Combined, that's a ton of assets. And for what it's worth, nobody in the draft makes anybody we have expendable NEXT year. There's only like 10 guys from last year's draft playing over 20 minutes and most are just getting minutes on bad teams.

 

[GVC]

There were 32 qualified centers and 37 qualified power forwards who shot better than .546 TS this season.

There were 43 qualified centers and 49 qualified power forwards who shot better than .528 TS this season.

 

[GVC]

139 qualified NBA players shot better than .546 TS this season.

195 qualified NBA players shot better than .528 TS this season.

 

[billyshelby]

And yet, even when only considering his best stretch, his true shooting came in at .546, which is poor for an offensive big (Paul Millsap shot .578 TS for the season). I'm just not seeing it.

His TS might be preventing him from being a superstar, but you're overvaluing TS. Here's the Top 10 of listed 4's in TS:

Cardinal, Bonner, Nowitski, Johnson, McRoberts, Collison, Gallinari, Love, Smith, Anderson.

Here's the next 10: Odom, Gasol, Brown, Wilcox, Davis, Warrick, Ibaka, Millsap, Garnett, Monroe.

Al's TS will never be great since he'll never shoot a 3. He definitely needs to get to the line more and shoot a higher percentage. I think he can do both.

 

[GVC]

His TS might be preventing him from being a superstar, but you're overvaluing TS. Here's the Top 10 of listed 4's in TS:

Cardinal, Bonner, Nowitski, Johnson, McRoberts, Collison, Gallinari, Love, Smith, Anderson.

Here's the next 10: Odom, Gasol, Brown, Wilcox, Davis, Warrick, Ibaka, Millsap, Garnett, Monroe.

Al's TS will never be great since he'll never shoot a 3. He definitely needs to get to the line more and shoot a higher percentage. I think he can do both.

Plenty of bigs have a much better TS without shooting 3s. There are few bigs counted on for scoring with a worse TS% than Big Al. The dude isn't a defensive anchor or much of a team player AND he's an inefficient scorer. What is there to like?

 

[GVC]

And that's the point. Having a guy with great post moves is a waste if he doesn't shoot a good percentage, get to the line OR create opportunities for his teammates when double teamed.

And all that for $29mil over the next 2 seasons...

 

[NAOS]

@GVC: Do you have any trade scenarios that would meet your approval? (For AJ)

 

[freakazoid]

But if the Jazz can move Big Al for "good value" wouldn't that be preferable? Why is that not being discussed?

People have fallen in love with him since he moved into the top 2-3 scorers in the league over the last few months(since the break). I definitely agree that Al should be moved for the right deal, but I'm not sure that deal is out there.

It's defending the 3 adequately that's the problem. He's not an adequate defender at the 3. Sap can play some 3 in the right matchups. Starting at the 3 is wishful thinking.

That might be true, but he also has matchup problems at the 4 with bigger players. I'm not so sure matchup problems would be that much worse at the 3 than the 4. I don't see Utah sending him to the bench to start Favors. I like the idea, but I think he would see it as a slap in the face.

 

[zman1527]

People have fallen in love with him since he moved into the top 2-3 scorers in the league over the last few months(since the break). I definitely agree that Al should be moved for the right deal, but I'm not sure that deal is out there.



That might be true, but he also has matchup problems at the 4 with bigger players. I'm not so sure matchup problems would be that much worse at the 3 than the 4. I don't see Utah sending him to the bench to start Favors. I like the idea, but I think he would see it as a slap in the face.

Then he needs to be slapped in the face or traded. Really, you are going with certain player to start, who you believe is not the best guy to start, because you will hurt his feelings? Trade him then.

Now I am not certain that is true. We have heard that Paul is willing to try the 3, is he willing to be the key 6th man? I think he would be much better off there and getting 30 mpg. He seems to wear down when he gets big minutes starting.

 

[jazzrule]

And that's the point. Having a guy with great post moves is a waste if he doesn't shoot a good percentage, get to the line OR create opportunities for his teammates when double teamed.

And all that for $29mil over the next 2 seasons...

Been reading what you have been saying for many pages now, and you make some good points. Let me say up front I want to keep Millsap on the team, if he is willing to do what is best for the team. But what I want most is a championship, and I don't think a team with Millsap at the starting power forward position can win a championship. I am for trading anyone that won't play the role needed to win a championship.

Experience alone playing the Lakers tells me that we need big Al's length to compete with them, if not him then someone else with the length to compete. Maybe Favor's defense will help Millsap to be able to survive at the three on the defensive end. I am certainly willing to see the results next year after letting Millsap work on the small forward position this off-season.

In short I am willing to trade anyone except Hayward and Favors at this point, if it takes us down the road toward winning a championship. Lets see what the draft brings us, what happens next season and the improvements individual players make in their games during the off-season, then we will have a clearer picture of what we need to do. I am hopping for Branden Knight in the draft, so in the future we can use Harris to maybe get us the last piece of the championship puzzle a couple of years down the road.

Trading Okur's expiring contract next season for players or draft pick/picks, having AK's huge salary reduced or coming off the books entirely and the 2012 draft should set us up as a championship caliber team.

By the way I am one of the few that was pleased to see O'Conner finally make a major player for major player trade. Rough times now, but good times are coming.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Everything Paul Millsap has been asked to do or improve on during the off-season, he's done a wonderful job on adapting, changing, and improving to meet the needs of the Jazz. Nothing leads me to believe he can't play some small forward if asked. Is it the best situation? Who knows?

While I'm skeptical Millsap can be a full-time 3, this is spot on. He's grown every single year he's played and he knows how to play on a team. The biggest difference between Al and Sap isn't 4 inches, it's a winning team player vs. a guy that hasn't and won't figure it out. It's been 8 ****ing years, people.