AK on Eurobasket All-Tournament Team

[billyshelby]

I like AK as much as the next AK apologist, but I don't see any point in a non-contending/rebuilding team to sign a 30 year old veteran.

We've got 4 wings. Burks is a raw rookie who we only hope can play regular minutes when history says guys his age can't. The other wing is Raja. Raja needs to be quietly put out to pasture and Burks will likely have to be brought along slow. So we need somebody who can play. AK fits that model so long as the contract is 2 or 3 years. Who knows with the new CBA, but I'm all for bringing AK back. AK, CJ, Hayward getting big minutes is not exactly a Championship recipe, but it works for next year.

 

[Jazz4ever]

The fact that he plays better with his Russian shows that he's not being used properly by the Jazz. Yes, the NBA is more athletic, but taller ... maybe a little. CT, you didn't watch all the games, did you. There were a lot of 7-footers. You watched Turkey, didn't you ... Kanter, who's listed at 6-11, I believe -- didn't look it to me -- was shorter than many of the big men. No way is Hayward better than AK, except as an outside shooter -- ok, yes, he dribbles better, but AK is not that bad of a dribbler. He got stripped a lot not because of his handle but because he didn't protect his dribble well.

The best argument against AK coming back is that we need to rebuild and should give the younger guys the minutes.

And it's the only argument one needs. The team is not contending for several years, why rob the young guys of critical development time? We will likely draft a SF in next years draft, and if it's an elite prospect like Barnes or Gilchrist it would be ideal to start him right off the bat, not play the next 3 years off the bench behind a rapidly aging AK.