Why we need to Trade Jefferson through February 6th (Stats)

[Deleted member 365]

People are mad that Jefferson does not pass out of the post enough. If you were Jefferson would you want to pass out to an open Harris or Hayward who is going to shoot a brick or drive and kick back out?

Our big men situation is fine. We have 2 talented starters in their prime and 2 young players who are developing and getting better with a good amount of minutes. Give me a decent PG, SG and SF and this team would be great. I think our big men rotation is one of the best in the NBA.

I have seen improvement in Big Al's passing, shot selection, and overall patience on offense.

Unfortunately, I have not seen improvement from Harris, Hayward, CJ, Howard, etc on offense.

We're winning IN SPITE of our guards' inability to produce not because of it.

We're winning BECAUSE of Big Al and Millsap not IN SPITE of them.

 

[Cope]

After seeing the airballs and bricks from Harris, Hayward, Miles, Bell, Burks, Hayward, and Howard, I think our chances of scoring are much better when Al and Millsap "force" shots than when those other guys have wide open looks. I've never in my life seen so many SGs/SFs with such horrible shooting numbers. Most of them are shooting between 20-35% from the 3 point line. CJ, Harris, Hayward, and Howard are all below 30 %. We're DEAD last in 3 pointers taken and made in the entire league. Yet, we're averaging the 10th most amount of points per game in the entire league. Why?

Look at the stats.

We average about 97 points per game. Our 4 bigs average 49 points per game. 49/97=nearly 51% of our total points. If 4 frontcourt players are making up over half of our offensive production, that tells you that the rest of the team is not pulling its own weight. And it's not like they're chucking either. Favors, Kanter, Millsap, and Jefferson are the leaders in FG %. Once again, Hayward, Harris, Howard, etc leave much to be desired.

And some morons on this website have the nerve to blast Millsap and Jefferson? Have you idiots seen Harris shoot 3s? It surprises me when he actually draws iron! Does anyone not cringe when they see Howard, CJ, Hayward, and Raja shoot?

When your own fans are surprised that you make 3s, you know you're in trouble.

Without Harris, CJ, or Hayward, meh we're about the same team, slightly worse... Without Millsap and Jefferson, you're looking at a team that is fighting Wash, Char, etc for top lotto pick.

Again, who said anything about this year? This isn't about what we have on the wings or PG this year.. but about Jefferson vs. Developing our Young Bigs.

Not going to disagree with the statement of our Wings/PG struggling, expecially from the 3 point line. The known about our PG/Wing situation into this year was that Bell/CJ/Hayward were supposed to be the 'shooters'. All 3 to a ponit have struggled. Bell started horribly, has played and shot better lately. CJ had his middle streak.. Hayward has played well lately. Problem is not any 2 have been consistent enough throughout the season.

Our PG outside shooting is what I thought it would be. Harris/Watson/Tinsley NEVER have been solid outside shooting.

I think our inside numbers that were posted are a direct reflection of Corbin actually coaching well.. telling them inside to shoot.

Again, my problem isn't with them for this thread.. its that Jefferson isn't as effective as everyone thinks and our Young Bigs need more PT for a number of reasons and Jefferson is one of the main reasons why.

 

[zbone]

The problem with trading Jefferson is has a skill that no one else on the team has shown- the ability to get a decent shot against anyone in the league.

Jefferson isn't perfect but in crunch time Millsap struggles with certain matchups.

Harris has no confidence. Hayward struggles to finish at the rim.

Our next best offensive creator is CJ Miles.

I believe trading Jefferson might be the right move for our future. But trading him would probably screw our present.

I believe Howard, Favors and Kanter can be our go to men when proper plays are run for them.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I'm a well-documented Jefferson doubter/hater/realist, but he's really improved his overall game this year. He's finally learned to play within an offense and he's not as bad on defense.

However:
-He's still the last guy up or down the floor on almost every single possession (commonly not even crossing if the play is fast enough)
-For all of his talk of nastiness and everyone's pre-occupation with his post game, he's Charmin. He doesn't get to the line and when he DOES actually pressure his defender with the ball, it's usually when they're sending help for some weird reason (he's really improved with this last aspect within the season, however).

I don't know that anyone is actually saying that Kanter or Favors are ready to duplicate his production, but I do know that it's pure insanity to be playing two promising #3 overall picks minimal minutes and paying the most money for a guy that - when it's all said and done - is just not a complete or efficient player. And never has been, either.

Jefferson seems like a nice guy with mostly the right attitude (I can't figure out why he refuses to run, though). I do hope he's traded while there's value to be had and I hope he ends up somewhere with a chance to win.

 

[craig2112]

When I was a Soph in HS, I went out for bball tryouts. The coach let it be known that he felt that our soph class was full of talent and he would be starting sophs on varsity, so that they would have game experience right away. He even said that with this plan, we would be state champs by the time we were seniors.

That first year, the team went 1-19. But the coach didn't care. He was following a 3 year plan. The seniors sure didn't like it, but they had no voice.
The second year, the team went 2-18, IMPROVEMENT!
The senior year, the team went 4-16. They didn't win the state title, by the way.

 

[craig2112]

Must really suck for Jazzfanz who hate Jefferson so much. You have to watch him every game and get your panties in a bunch and scream about him.

Guess what, he isn't going to be traded. He is our leading scorer. The coaching staff seems to think he is good. Team chemistry is very good.
Keep dreaming, but it won't happen.

And hey, it's easy to say "TRADE HIM" but for who?
Someone has to be willing to take him and give us something of value for him.

 

[NCJazz]

I believe Howard, Favors and Kanter can be our go to men when proper plays are run for them.

You want somebody shooting 35% in his last 10 games to be a go to guy?

 

[Siro]

I doubt you can base an NBA projection on your experience as a 14 year old on a ****ty HS team. But I agree that AJ is not the biggest problem at the moment. But he mostly likely will be traded sooner or later. Sometime in the next 2 years.

 

[craig2112]

I doubt you can base an NBA projection on your experience as a 14 year old on a ****ty HS team. But I agree that AJ is not the biggest problem at the moment. But he mostly likely will be traded sooner or later. Sometime in the next 2 years.

Actually, there was talent on that team. But they were not ready to start varsity so early. They never improved.
Just throwing a guy out there does not make him improve.

 

[zbone]

You want somebody shooting 35% in his last 10 games to be a go to guy?

He is one of the very few on this team who can realistically create his own shot. Percentages come and go, especially on such a small sample size. I'm not saying bench Al's *** next game and ride Howard in the 4th, am I?

 

[Cope]

Actually, there was talent on that team. But they were not ready to start varsity so early. They never improved.
Just throwing a guy out there does not make him improve.

I don't care if you are all Sophmores in Highschool, if you truly had talent you wouldn't have gone 1-19.

Weber High School up in North Ogden did something similar to what you are saying back when I was in High School. We beat them our Sophmore and Jr. Years as we had a few players that played in college - one at Utah/Utah State and 2 others that played JC Ball. Our Senior year we got ran over.

Their Sophmore year they got plenty of playing time and were a 'decient team'
Their Junior year they started all 5 Juniors - they made state
Their Senior year they were undefeated and Nationally ranked before getting upset in the State Playoffs.

This team consisted of 4 guys that ended up playing College Basketball - one at Weber State - and one guy that was the starting Kicker for BYU for years.

As blind to the game for Jefferson you seem to be it doesn't suprise me that it didn't work out for you guys.. just sayin

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

Playing someone that isn't ready to start 30+ minutes will ruin that player, just watching Kanter and Favors makes me think they will be good players, and make the Jazz a force for years to come.

Let's be real though, both are very young and have serious flaws on offense.

Kanter can't get off his shot half the time, and needs to be more aggressive underneath the basket. Favors needs to find a go to move, and improve his jump shot and, free throw shooting, and both seem to have a problem with ball security, which tells me the game is still too fast and needs to slow down for them.

What will help them develop the best is that they get meaningful in game minutes. When they have played well they've gotten the minutes.

I have a different perspective on Jefferson then most...

Without Al we have no offense. Al is the most consistent offensive threat on the team. Before some of you go and say something stupid, Millsap has not been as consistent throughout the year like Al. Millsap sometimes has trouble getting his shot off, last night showed that. When a player has as big of a responsibility on offense like Al does it takes away their defensive energy. Al is 6-10 280+ isn't athletic, even for a big. Because of this he is unable to cover as much space as other bigs. Even Kanter is more athletic then Al. I do think Al try's and gives effort on defense.

I think Al is key to Favors and Kanter's development. There isn't a better player to help Favors with his footwork, and teack Kanter how to get his shot of and still have a good look at the rim.

Do I think he should be traded.... Yes. Should he be traded during the season. No. To trade Al now would cripple the offense, and both Kanter and Favors would wear down, because they just aren't ready. What ever we get in return for Al would take longer to fit in to the team, and the team to the new player. The biggest reason not to trade Al now is it would mess with the team chemistry. We need to wait till after this season or next season to trade him. By then Favors and Kanter will be ready for more responsibility on offense. The team will have a full training camp and off season to come to terms with the trade and get acclimated to the new players and vice versa.