How does Babbitt improve our team? Don't we need more post players, more defenders, shot blockers, length, somebody who can create, and athleticism? I haven't seen much of Babbitt, but all the scouting reports seem to indicate that he's a lot like Mike Miller, Linas Kleiza, or a bigger Kyle Korver.
Would drafting him indicate an upcoming trade of CJ, AK, or Matthews?
If Babbitt were the only move, then I'd be disappointed. But I can see the following scenario arise:
1. I'm 99.9% convinced Utah won't re-sign Boozer. Too expensive, performance vs. LA, recent comments from Greg, comments last season when Millsap offer was matched, etc. Just my opinion, of course.
2. Chances of re-signing Korver are 50/50, IMO. I think he pi$$ed off Deron and the coaching staff by playing for the record and passing up open jumpers down the stretch. CJ's emergence as a 3-pt threat and the "go-to guy" on FT's also makes Korver expendable.
3. I know there are fans hoping AK would accept half of his current salary to return, but I don't want that to happen. His game is predicated on quickness/reaction and he's already shown signs of losing 1/2 a step and being chronically injured.
Draft Babbitt and the Jazz would eventually have a decent 3-man rotation at the wings: Babbitt, Matthews and CJ can all get 32 mins each. By February, I'd like to see Babbitt start with Chucker taking over the 6th-man role. I think that's a perfect situation for CJ. He comes in at mid-1st/3rd at SF, then slides over to SG in the 2nd/4th when Matthews goes out.
Babbitt would be worked in slowly, allowing AK to play SF and backup Millsap at PF until the trade deadline. Then you trade AK's expiring for the best offer available, hopefully a decent big and a 1st round pick for 2011.
Jazz will never match up with Gasol, Bynum and Odom. But the Celtics have shown the Lakers are vulnerable to a team that has shooters. Allen and Rondo lit them up in Game 2. Unfortunately for the Celts, those old legs just didn't recover fast enough in 2 days.
