As everyone knows, there is probably going to be an unprecedented amount of movement in the league this summer. Aside from FAs Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Gay, Joe Johnson, Boozer, Amare, Yao and Dirk, there are several impact players that are likely going to move--like Gilbert Arenas, probably Hedo Turkoglu, etc.--plus others as collateral damage in the shuffle.
Although the Jazz don't have cap space, they have a number of assets that could make them real players in trades this summer. Including the player the Jazz draft with the lotto pick, the Jazz could bring in 3 - 4 new players who could make an impact in the next 1-2 years. How the Jazz handle this summer will go a long way to determine whether they can really become contenders, or if they'll end up like the Sacramento Kings of the last decade.
Here's what we've got to work with:
AK's expiring - which I'm sure several teams looking to dump long-term salary would consider, or that could possibly be used in a sign & trade to bring in a FA. Examples: Washington would be happy to send Gilbert Arenas, and Philly would love to send over Brand, Toronto might be happy to send Turkoglu, etc. ...not that we'd want these types of bad contracts. However, if the Jazz really wanted Rudy Gay, they might offer AK in a sign and trade. Other teams looking to cut longer term salary might do a straight trade.
Boozer in a sign & trade - meaning the Jazz would hopefully get back something of some substance in a sign-and-trade, at least a back-up for Millsap. A player like Michael Beasley, Udonis Haslem, Brandon Bass, etc. would make the Jazz's rotation and relieve a log jam for the team adding Boozer.
Ante Tomic - is an asset who would probably be a top 20 pick in this year's draft. He could factor into trades if the Jazz aren't willing to wait on him.
The Memphis pick - basically a throw-in, but a sweetner in a trade. There's another thread on this...
The trade exception from the Eric Maynor trade - I'm not sure how much it's worth, and probably the Jazz want to hold on to it to save money, but it could factor into a trade that nets another draft pick this year if the Jazz want another pick in this draft.
As always, look for teams that are going into rebuilding mode, but have solid players that don't fit into the long-term plans. This is always the scenario that leads to trades involving players like Pau Gasol, J. Richardson, Richard Jefferson, Jeff Hornacek, etc. One of these types of opportunities might be out there. Any veteran on the Timberwolves, Pistons, Kings, or Warriors could be in play.
A contending team needs two real all-stars and two other high-impact players. So far the Jazz have Williams in the All-Star category and Millsap, Miles and Matthews as potential impact players. If AK and Boozer are close-but-not-enough, see if an upgrade can be made to net an impact wing or big through a trade, and get another in the draft.
Although the Jazz don't have cap space, they have a number of assets that could make them real players in trades this summer. Including the player the Jazz draft with the lotto pick, the Jazz could bring in 3 - 4 new players who could make an impact in the next 1-2 years. How the Jazz handle this summer will go a long way to determine whether they can really become contenders, or if they'll end up like the Sacramento Kings of the last decade.
Here's what we've got to work with:
AK's expiring - which I'm sure several teams looking to dump long-term salary would consider, or that could possibly be used in a sign & trade to bring in a FA. Examples: Washington would be happy to send Gilbert Arenas, and Philly would love to send over Brand, Toronto might be happy to send Turkoglu, etc. ...not that we'd want these types of bad contracts. However, if the Jazz really wanted Rudy Gay, they might offer AK in a sign and trade. Other teams looking to cut longer term salary might do a straight trade.
Boozer in a sign & trade - meaning the Jazz would hopefully get back something of some substance in a sign-and-trade, at least a back-up for Millsap. A player like Michael Beasley, Udonis Haslem, Brandon Bass, etc. would make the Jazz's rotation and relieve a log jam for the team adding Boozer.
Ante Tomic - is an asset who would probably be a top 20 pick in this year's draft. He could factor into trades if the Jazz aren't willing to wait on him.
The Memphis pick - basically a throw-in, but a sweetner in a trade. There's another thread on this...
The trade exception from the Eric Maynor trade - I'm not sure how much it's worth, and probably the Jazz want to hold on to it to save money, but it could factor into a trade that nets another draft pick this year if the Jazz want another pick in this draft.
As always, look for teams that are going into rebuilding mode, but have solid players that don't fit into the long-term plans. This is always the scenario that leads to trades involving players like Pau Gasol, J. Richardson, Richard Jefferson, Jeff Hornacek, etc. One of these types of opportunities might be out there. Any veteran on the Timberwolves, Pistons, Kings, or Warriors could be in play.
A contending team needs two real all-stars and two other high-impact players. So far the Jazz have Williams in the All-Star category and Millsap, Miles and Matthews as potential impact players. If AK and Boozer are close-but-not-enough, see if an upgrade can be made to net an impact wing or big through a trade, and get another in the draft.
