Ok, I'm about to make a post which I'm sure a few people are going to flame me for, but I'm going to ask it anyway. In looking at EVERYTHING each player has to offer, can somebody sell me on why AK is CLEARLY a better all-around option than Boris? Here's my case for Boris:
-AK is no longer the player that people fell in love with (myself included) in 2005. In the last 4 years, Diaw averages slightly more PPG, slightly more RPG, 1.2 more APG, a higher FG% and a 3 point % that is 6 full points higher than AK's. As far as Utah losing alot on the defensive end, AK is a good off ball defender who can still block shots when he wants to but gives us little to nothing defensively when he is asked to guard big 7 footers in the paint such as when we face the Lakers every year in the playoffs. Not only that, AK's blocks have declined so badly over the last 4 years that it is almost shocking. Diaw allows us to have a player that we can actually play at Center (we really can't do that with AK) as well as PF and maybe even some SF depending on the match-ups.
Now, I know somebody will come in and make a compelling case for AK, and I'm not saying they're wrong, but I think the fact of the matter is that even if AK comes out ahead in this comparison, is he worth the extra 17-to-18 million dollars the Jazz would have to pay in extra salary and luxury tax fines?
I think the answer to that is a resounding: NO! After initially not having a major opinion either way on this trade, after thinking about it for a night, I find myself strongly in favor of making this move. It may hurt the Jazz in some areas on the court, but actually help them in others and if Hayward pans out early you could actually make the argument that it makes Utah better across the board. All the while the team dramatically improves from a business standpoint in saving nearly $20 million and solidifying the fact that they can continue to win on the court while being financially solvent in Salt Lake City.
