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Cavs in contract talks with Fesenko

I'm sort of inclined to believe this. I know I'll catch all kind of crap about living up to my moniker for saying so, but my preference to start to season (if Fes re-signs) would be to have Fes and Millsap start together and bring Jefferson off the bench -- at least until AL catches on to playing Jazz basketball. I think you'd see much better production from Fes this way. (Course I don't know how it would sit with Jefferson. But didn't a bunch of us go bonkers last year when Boozer said he couldn't see himself coming off the bench?)

Then you better start CJ and Hayward, or hope for a 10-8 first quarter. With Fes, AK and Raja, you have limited offense, That leaves Deron to Millsap and a wild drive to the hoop from AK or a kick-out to Raja for a 3. There's just not enough of an offensive threat there.

I'd rather see Fes play at the same time as CJ. Miles is going to put up shots and Fes can cover for CJ's weakness on the defensive end.


Millsap/Jefferson
Okur/Fesenko

Those are the best 4/5 combos, IMO, because you're mixing a low-post presence with a mid-range or long-range threat. Of course, calling Fes a low-post presence is a reach. It's not like he's going to be running the pick-and-roll and scoring a ton of points. Still, if you're able to clear the middle out by having shooters like CJ and Okur on the floor, both of whom must be guarded, then Fes could get a few dunks.
 
It... it is pretty similar. If the Jazz weren't interested in Fesenko, they wouldn't have extended him the QO and wouldn't be going through this crap right now.

And I know some level of your Fes-dogging is out of spite. IGS kind of breeds it but Fes played pretty well last year when he got burn and he's a great physical specimen. Worth the hassle considering the likely price-tag. Even though he's probably the biggest dope in the league.
Well yes, YB's flippancy did smell of a bit of spite or fanning the flames. Whether it is or not, being "interested" comes in degrees. It probably is wise to put down the QO and threaten to match, but it did appear that a longer-term deal (which could be just 2 years instead of 1) was discussed. But the QO is on the cheap end of Fes's value right now, and what Fegan's angling for is a bit more cheese. KOC has challenged him to go out and prove it with a contract elsewhere. I don't see anyone available at the minimum who is as good as Fes, no matter how non-good Fes is, and he's got potential, even though it's gonna take some time. And some minutes. Lock up Fes for two or three years while he's cheap; the Jazz will save money in the long run--unless they bury him on the bench like they have done, even when it hurt the team's chances to win, which could certainly happen again.
 
I don't see it as similar at all. 1st round picks in the NFL hold out to get the most money they can in that first contract, and they have leverage. For a restricted free agent in the NBA, if they are worth anything, they receive either an offer sheet from another team or a new contract from their team. Fesenko has received neither.
Fesenko can likely go overseas and make more money, and he probably could sign on another team for the minimum (which would be matched, probably); I highly doubt that Fegan is shopping Fes for just a multi-year minimum guaranteed deal. There aren't a lot of suitors, but it does seem that Houston and Cleveland could use him. Maybe Fegan is being too greedy. If the Rockets wouldn't sign Dampier to more than the minimum, maybe they won't do the same for Fesenko, and two years (especially if the 2nd year is a team option) isn't enough for Fegan.
 
Well yes, YB's flippancy did smell of a bit of spite or fanning the flames. Whether it is or not, being "interested" comes in degrees. It probably is wise to put down the QO and threaten to match, but it did appear that a longer-term deal (which could be just 2 years instead of 1) was discussed. But the QO is on the cheap end of Fes's value right now, and what Fegan's angling for is a bit more cheese. KOC has challenged him to go out and prove it with a contract elsewhere. I don't see anyone available at the minimum who is as good as Fes, no matter how non-good Fes is, and he's got potential, even though it's gonna take some time. And some minutes. Lock up Fes for two or three years while he's cheap; the Jazz will save money in the long run--unless they bury him on the bench like they have done, even when it hurt the team's chances to win, which could certainly happen again.

I think they are definitely holding out hope for Houston giving them an offer if Dampier goes to Miami. With Yao only playing 25 minutes a game and possibly not playing in back to back altogether and an elderly backup who has had injury problems lately sounds reasonable for them to go after Fes.
 
Fesenko can likely go overseas and make more money, and he probably could sign on another team for the minimum (which would be matched, probably); I highly doubt that Fegan is shopping Fes for just a multi-year minimum guaranteed deal. There aren't a lot of suitors, but it does seem that Houston and Cleveland could use him. Maybe Fegan is being too greedy. If the Rockets wouldn't sign Dampier to more than the minimum, maybe they won't do the same for Fesenko, and two years (especially if the 2nd year is a team option) isn't enough for Fegan.

They offered a little more than the minimum. The 2 million biannual exception I believe.
 
Millsap/Jefferson
Okur/Fesenko

Those are the best 4/5 combos, IMO, because you're mixing a low-post presence with a mid-range or long-range threat. Of course, calling Fes a low-post presence is a reach. It's not like he's going to be running the pick-and-roll and scoring a ton of points. Still, if you're able to clear the middle out by having shooters like CJ and Okur on the floor, both of whom must be guarded, then Fes could get a few dunks.

I disagree with your "best 4/5 combos"

I like Jefferson/Okur
Millsap/Fesenko Better.

Okur can open the floor for our only real post player (Jefferson) while Fess's size helps make up for Millsap's absolute lack of size on the defensive end. Millsap also has the range out to about 18 feet which should help on offense with Fess who's range is about 2". With these lineups the Millsap and Fess lineup is also going against backups more often than starters as I don't see either of these guys as legitimate starters for the time being. Millsap is just not big enough to be a starting Pf for an entire season. I hope he proves me wrong especially if Okur never makes it back to form after his injury.
 
With all the stupid money that was handed out this offseason, don't you think if Fes was any good he would have been signed already?
Well, that's the problem, see. Everyone is offering him stupid money, and he is saying, "Nyet, thanking you. I have already plenty of stupid."
 
That's exactly what I was thinking. Fes gets minutes and everyone drools. Offseason rolls around and suddenly he's the least-liked player on the team.

Nah, its just because Koufos is gone now so they have to have some other big slow white guy to pick on. It's a Jazz fan tradition.
 
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