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Millsap on ESPN700 right now.

It's becoming more and more obvious that Sap is really not that interested in playing the 6th man role. More power to him, it's that type of mentality that has turned him in to what he is today, but it is going to create problems with what the Jazz want to do moving forward. With Kanter and Favors on this team, I do not see a longterm scenario in which Sap remains a starter.

I LOVE Sap and think his mentality and work ethic are hard to come by, but if he cannot embrace the 6th man role, I agree with those who say continue to start Sap for now in order to keep his trade value high, then move him when the best offer is presented.
 
If Jefferson gets himself in good shape for the season and Okur is healthy, I believe that's our best starting line (the first is more of an "IF" than an "if"). If either of those fails, Millsap is starter. Favors will earn playing time regardless, who knows how ready Kanter will be?

However, if Millsap is not the starter and is unhappy with that prospect, it is indeed time to trade him.
 
Millsap works so hard that he wears down over the season. I would love if he would come off the bench and we could play him 28-30 minutes as opposed to 36-40 like we had to last season. He would destroy every other teams backup and may actually have better stats. I think this season he will still be our best PF, although I would love to be proven wrong. So start Millsap this year, Favors may still need work on not getting into foul trouble.

But with our roster, and any hopes of winning a championship, can't include Millsap as our starting PF. Especially if either or both of Favors and Kanter develop into what we hope.
 
Two thoughts:

1. Millsap comes back better after every summer, he'll probably come back better this year. I wouldn't rule out him earning the starting spot again.*

2. If Millsap doesn't start and isn't happy in his role with the Jazz, do the Jazz owe it to him to trade him where he will be happy? Millsap is in the prime of his career. He's been nothing but FANTASTIC for the Jazz. Do the Jazz really want to bench him while they develop Favors? If I think about what is best for Millsap, I think the Jazz should trade him (In the end, Millsap is not bigger than the team, so I'm happy with the Jazz keeping him. But Millsap is one of those players who my love for him is almost as big as my love for the Jazz.)



*Just go look at his career numbers. Millsap's FT percentage went WAY up last year. Thats a result of hard work. One of the reasons I resent Fesenko is because he started practicing free throws during the Nuggets playoffs series. I bet Millsap was confident in saying he or CJ would win the three point competition because he has put a lot of work into his 3 point shot. Trust me. Millsap will come back better after this summer.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/millspa01.html
 
Easy fix. You start Millsap until Favors/Kanter is producing more. Then Millsap has no argument. If he is getting beat up in practice every day by Favors/Kanter and is getting outperformed by both/one in games, then you trade him or bring him off the bench. Until then, he is our starter. He has earned it and should get it until Favors/Kanter proves they are better.
 
@green, have you ever been on a competitive basketball team? Is it really that easy? (I have not, but I hear one of the biggest problems for coaches is dealing with egos...)
 
One Brow said:
If Jefferson gets himself in good shape for the season and Okur is healthy, I believe that's our best starting line (the first is more of an "IF" than an "if").
Click to expand...
Damn that would be terrible. No team defense, no transition offense or defense, poor ball movement. I guess if the goal is to get another high lotto pick, that would be the Jazz's best starting line.
 
JFFR said:
@green, have you ever been on a competitive basketball team? Is it really that easy? (I have not, but I hear one of the biggest problems for coaches is dealing with egos...)
Click to expand...

Not hard at all. If, as a coach, you play the players who earn their playing time, then this isn't a problem. IF you start Favors over Millsap for no other reason than Favors is the future, then you have a problem. Trade Millsap now. Millsap deserves that starting spot. He has earned it. He has improved more, played harder and better than anyone else. You keep him there until someone takes his spot away. Pretty simple. Ego or not, if he earns it, he will have it.

Then, when Millsap has lost his spot, you have an outstanding trade chip (because Millsap has been trying to keep his spot and busting his butt off) or a great bench player. You can't lose.
 
p.s. Utah HAS to do this. They will never get a GREAT player to come and sign as a free agent. BUT if they can show players that you can come here and bust your butt off and play, then they will always have a shot at really good role players, and/or young players wanting to prove something (Memo, Boozer, Bell, Harpring, Marshall, etc). If Favors, Kanter, Hayward and Burks are the future, then we need good role players around them.
 
JFFR said:
Two thoughts:

1. Millsap comes back better after every summer, he'll probably come back better this year. I wouldn't rule out him earning the starting spot again.*

2. If Millsap doesn't start and isn't happy in his role with the Jazz, do the Jazz owe it to him to trade him where he will be happy? Millsap is in the prime of his career. He's been nothing but FANTASTIC for the Jazz. Do the Jazz really want to bench him while they develop Favors? If I think about what is best for Millsap, I think the Jazz should trade him (In the end, Millsap is not bigger than the team, so I'm happy with the Jazz keeping him. But Millsap is one of those players who my love for him is almost as big as my love for the Jazz.)



*Just go look at his career numbers. Millsap's FT percentage went WAY up last year. Thats a result of hard work. One of the reasons I resent Fesenko is because he started practicing free throws during the Nuggets playoffs series. I bet Millsap was confident in saying he or CJ would win the three point competition because he has put a lot of work into his 3 point shot. Trust me. Millsap will come back better after this summer.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/millspa01.html
Click to expand...

I would agree that he comes back better each offseason. However, it seems to be only his offense that is improving noticeably. His defense, rebounding, and energy seem to do the opposite.
He's a good player regardless, but a starting 4 on a championship team? Unless he is surrounded by some real stars I don't see Sap as the answer as our starting 4 for years to come.
Great guy, good player, not untouchable in my eyes.
 
Millsap has earned the right to start until someone supplants him. To move him to the bench on nothing but potential IS a huge slap in the face. And if/when someone does rightfully supplant the starting spot, they will be better for it and I have no doubts Millsap wouldn't have a problem.
 
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