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CBS Sports Off Season Report: Utah Jazz

"The last thing the Jazz needed was more reason to march the same path with no sense of purpose."
Took long enough to realize it, but I am glad we finally are moving forward. For better or worse.
 
"Starting center and best player Al Jefferson"

i guess there is no need to read further

Here's the actual quote to prove that the writer isn't a total moron:

"Starting center and best player Al Jefferson: Not re-signed."
 
Nit-picking aside, it's a good article.

Ya, I thought it was a really well done arcticle and basically is exactly how mosy of us on jazzfanz feel
 
I agree that it was a pretty good article, but I want to know what the actual trades were that the Jazz turned down for Jefferson and Milsap. These writers seem to believe there were offers that were too good to be turned down. If these writers actually have inside information, they should put some examples in their articles.
 
It's amazing how many fail to see the connection between doing "nothing" at the trade deadline and taking on the GS trio. Seeing how shrewd DL has been, and hearing KOC talk several times in the past about having financial flexibility, I'm confident there just wasn't anything that returned enough value.

What was the best Utah could have received from a contender? Junk expiring contracts and a late 1st. PERHAPS a young "serviceable" backup.
1. Expiring contract: already had that in Jefferson and Millsap.
2. Late first: usually can be bought for $3M (Utah did that!)
3. Serviceable backup: meh. Always available in free agency

What would a non-contender have offered, given Milsap and Jefferson were going to be UFA's?
1. Future draft pick, likely with protection, especially for 2014.
2. Solid veteran player, likely overpriced, with a 2-3 year deal. Meh.
3. Very good player + a bad contract. Perhaps.

Tie up space, no trade with GS. So are two unrestricted firsts, two 2nd's and a "considerable" amount of cash better than what Utah would have received for those two at he deadline?
 
Nice job, Core4

It's amazing how many fail to see the connection between doing "nothing" at the trade deadline and taking on the GS trio. Seeing how shrewd DL has been, and hearing KOC talk several times in the past about having financial flexibility, I'm confident there just wasn't anything that returned enough value.

What was the best Utah could have received from a contender? Junk expiring contracts and a late 1st. PERHAPS a young "serviceable" backup.
1. Expiring contract: already had that in Jefferson and Millsap.
2. Late first: usually can be bought for $3M (Utah did that!)
3. Serviceable backup: meh. Always available in free agency

What would a non-contender have offered, given Milsap and Jefferson were going to be UFA's?
1. Future draft pick, likely with protection, especially for 2014.
2. Solid veteran player, likely overpriced, with a 2-3 year deal. Meh.
3. Very good player + a bad contract. Perhaps.

Tie up space, no trade with GS. So are two unrestricted firsts, two 2nd's and a "considerable" amount of cash better than what Utah would have received for those two at he deadline?

Wow, I was writing a response, then read this one that sums it up nicely. Could not have made the GSW deal if we had done a deal at the deadline. Expiring contracts have value, you don't give them away unless you get comparable value. Writer seems clueless on asset management, good thing Lindsey knows it better than any of us.
 
^^Asset management: good phrase. And the best part is the Jazz still have expirings to deal in a decent array of price points. Are you a contender and need a decent backup? Take your pick between Marvin Williams and Brandon Rush. Both can give playoff teams some extra perimeter shooting and decent defense. We'll take your 2015 pick and junk expirings in return. Not a contender and have 1+ years left on a contract you want to shed? Give us a 1st - either top-3 protected for 2014 or unprotected in 2015 - and we'll give you Jefferson or Biedrins.

No deals available at the deadline? That's ok. Jazz renounce rights to all those guys and entertain offers for cap space from July 1-10. Then Lindsey negotiates new deals for Favors and Hayward or match any offer sheets they may have signed.
 
Article praised our off season moves and our decisions to not retain any of our key players (and yes Al was our best player @bjunior). Nice to see one of the bigger media outlets understanding what we're trying to do here.
 
Basically, the Jazz realized they were going nowhere fast, and decided if they were going to go through a growing pain year with their young talent in Burke, Alec Burks, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Kanter, this was the year to do it. If they're terrible, they get a great draft pick. If they're not, they have a better idea of how good they are with this group.

It's a win-win, but they're going to lose. A lot, probably.

I agree with this completely. Good article. Gonna be an "interesting", much more interesting last year. Can you imagine if we had Mo, Al, and Sap returning? Could you work up much enthusiasm for that? :p
 
I agree with this completely. Good article. Gonna be an "interesting", much more interesting last year. Can you imagine if we had Mo, Al, and Sap returning? Could you work up much enthusiasm for that? :p
I would NOT have renewed my LP. And I'd probably be semi-retired from this board (well. maybe that would have been a good thing). I guess I could have understood re-signing Sap as the 3rd big: that would be a great rotation. But definitely wanted Al and Mo gone.
 
Core3 killing it .. amazing how pissed off pretty much everyone was at the no trade deadline only to look back through the GSW deal and now thank management for not moving.

I bet that deal was on the table prior to the deadline.
 
Core3 killing it .. amazing how pissed off pretty much everyone was at the no trade deadline only to look back through the GSW deal and now thank management for not moving.

I bet that deal was on the table prior to the deadline.
The GSW deal at the deadline?
Looking back, it might be serendipity that GS tanked. Had Utah drafted Barnes, there would be no tanking this season. With Barnes on the team, the Jazz probably would have made the playoffs over LA and Houston and likely Golden State. Sap likely returns, as does Mo (i.e. Jazz are not in position to get Burke). Jazz likely still draft Gobert and trade up in the 2nd to get Neto. So basically, we're looking at having Burke instead of Barnes. And signing quality vets instead of going through a complete rebuild. End result of GS tanking: Jazz miss 2 years of the playoffs in order to get a 2014 high lottery pick. Was/Will it be worth it? Only time will tell. But I, for one, just don't see a Mo, Hayward, Barnes, Kanter, Favors lineup with Sap and Burks off the bench competing for a title.
 
Was saying GST offered that package if the Jazz stay put at the deadline...

A real stretch. GSW would not have been able to talk to Howard or Iguodala at the deadline about joining them as FA's.

And I still believe the Jazz were conflicted as to their direction through the draft and into the early days of free agency. Outside of Jefferson, DL was still in contact with all the Jazz FA's. I think the organization was debating the merits of re-signing Millsap. And had they re-signed Paul, it would have signaled an intention to compete for the playoffs, with DMC and Foye likely returning. Mo may have been part of that group, but his "starter or nothing" attitude burned his bridges. However, Utah could have easily signed a PG like Calderon to either back-up or start in the short-term. Not a bad group and certainly able to compete with Portland, NOLA and a weakened LA Lakers team for a playoff spot.

Then GS came along with their incredible package of steaming &^%$# and an alternate plan became available: a way to meet the salary floor, and have a chance to be really, really bad. This latter concept was so anathema to the history of the Miller/Sloan Jazz, I'll bet it took quite some lobbying by Lindsey to convince the others.
 
Looking forward three whole months is a stretch? Whatever you say..

Not like KOC didn't do just that with the Jefferson deal.

Of course he did. But that was a 2-team deal. With GS, you're assuming the W's, in direct violation of NBA rules, talked to Iguodala or his agent while he was still under contract with the Nuggets, determined he'd commit to the W's on July 1st, then asked Utah to NOT make a trade in order to facilitate a free agency deal in the summer. The same W's who had just screwed over the Jazz by openly tanking. I'm not saying the W's didn't try to shop their deadweights. I just have a hard time believing they'd offer unrestricted firsts until they were 100% positive Iguodala (or Howard) was on board. Otherwise, they really didn't need the salary room.
 
Of course he did. But that was a 2-team deal. With GS, you're assuming the W's, in direct violation of NBA rules, talked to Iguodala or his agent while he was still under contract with the Nuggets, determined he'd commit to the W's on July 1st, then asked Utah to NOT make a trade in order to facilitate a free agency deal in the summer. The same W's who had just screwed over the Jazz by openly tanking. I'm not saying the W's didn't try to shop their deadweights. I just have a hard time believing they'd offer unrestricted firsts until they were 100% positive Iguodala (or Howard) was on board. Otherwise, they really didn't need the salary room.

You assume plenty while NOT reading what I actually wrote...
 
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