bjacksonjazzfan
Well-Known Member
So, it really felt like I should make a post after lurking all day. I feel better having made said post.
OFFICIAL: Trade Deadline Thread
- Thread starter ukjazzfan
- Start date
Darkwing Duck
Well-Known Member
Well, just perusing an old Free Agent list, Byron Mullens as an RFA sticks out. From the UFA ranks, JJ Hickson and Amir Johnson are intriguing as possible backups. Hickson and Mullens seem unlikely, since they'll cost more.
green
Well-Known Member
I agree with all you have said, and I want so bad to believe what you are saying. Here is my big issue. We let Boozer walk because of his injury issues and his getting "paid" comments.
We signed Memo to a big contract because he was a "loyal" Jazz guy. Same with Harp. I believe they feel the same way about Al.
They didn't feel that way about Matthews (btw, KOC was wrong on Matthews. That is an example where KOC missed the boat). Millsap was "that loyal" guy, but I think they have soured a little on him, especially after hearing Corbin's comments about Millsap and Favors.
Foye, Howard (who was NOT a good signing. He wasn't a bad signing, but he didn't help this team out), Tinsley and Earl can be called good "value" but they are far from essential. Foye is a good player, and I do want him back, but he hasn't led us anywhere.
So, basically, the only significant FA signings KOC has done has been Memo, Boozer and Harpring.
Now we come back to my original worry. Who are the Memo/Boozer/Harprings this year? Everyone knew Memo and Boozer were very good players with tons of potential. Where are those guys this year? I don't see any.
So, KOC/Lindsey are going to go into the offseason with their top 3 guys being highly sought after (Millsap, Al, Foye). I think they really like Foye, but probably look at him like they looked at Matthews; they want to resign him, but won't break the bank for him. That leaves Millsap and Al.
If you let Millsap and Al both walk, this team takes a HUGE step backwards. Kanter isn't ready to play 30 mins a game yet, and Favors can't be relied on to carry a team, the way Al and Millsap can be. Who can the Jazz sign as a big that can come in and start for the first couple of years, then transition to the bench or expire? Next year, if we let both Al and Millsap walk, there will be a lot of games where Kanter and Favors are both on the bench very early and cost us games. They are young, and they haven't gained enough experience when they had the chance (the last couple of years with Al and Millsap around to help out).
I highly doubt the Miller's would be ok with the Jazz getting a sixth seed this year then falling to 10th in the West next year because you let Al and Millsap walk.
I don't buy the S&T crap. What S&T ever brought back anything of any note?
I don't buy that the Miller's will let the Jazz fall out of the playoff race (see the last two years).
Either Al will be back at a max level contract, or Paul will be back grossly overpaid.
If you look at their overall games, and the fact that Locke keeps telling us how elite Al is (although the wins would argue otherwise), I am terrified that Al will be our "superstar" to build around. And we will be fed the line about how Favor's defense will cover up for Al and we will be awesome (although the numbers tell us otherwise. Al is so BAD defensively, and can do so little on that side of the court, that NO ONE can cover up his defensive lack of ability). So we will be hitching our wagon to an incredibly inefficient offensive player that does not make those around him better and a TERRIBLE defensive player.
It will be even worse than AK. At least AK played defense every now and then.
We have been going through the same crap since Bell left us to go to PHX and we got beat by SA in the WCF's. We were one piece away from contending for a title, and to get that piece we had to dump AK. The Jazz weren't willing to do that. Just like they hoped AK would get better every summer (remember all the lies we were told; how much weight he had gained, how much he worked on his jumpshot, how much Russia made him so much better, only to find out two weeks into the season that nothing had changed); we will do the same thing with Al.
We will hear about how he worked on his passing, his lateral quickness, his shot blocking (remember all the stuff we heard about him last summer. Yeah, get used to hearing that). Only to find out two weeks into the season that he still doesn't rotate on defense, he can't guard the PNR, he still forces up shots while tripled teamed (even when Foye and Hayward, two elite 3 pt shooters are wide open), etc, etc, etc.
Like I said before, I'll still catch portions of games, when players that might actually do something play until the end of this year.
I have been a KOC apologist. If Al is on this team next fall, I'm out. I can't take 5 more years of a max player who forces shots, ruins the offense, and doesn't play defense. I suffered through Boozer, I've slowly faded with Al. If this is who the Jazz have decided to become (slightly better than mediocre) then good luck to them.
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
And the Jazz FO likely considered the same options. WE need 3 bigs. No matter who starts and who comes off the bench, you can give 3 players 32 mins each. And with Favors, that will be a stretch due to his foul trouble. Jazz will re-sign either Paul or AL. And that player will start along with Favors. Kanter is fine coming off the bench. Then the Jazz take the best big available wioth one of their picks and a PG with the other, unless they can find better options by trading those picks to teams needing to dump a decent vet to get under the luxury tax limit.
BTW, green, Memo was probably worth that contract if you compare him against other 5's. That horrific injury was unforeseeable. And Matthews is NOT worth what Portland is paying him. He's a nice starter, but his numbers don't justify the contract. There was no way KOC could have seen that offer coming. Portland stunned EVERY GM In the league and the deal was widely panned as exorbitant.
Put the blame for AK partly on Larry H. There was at least one deal we know about in place to get rid of AK and Larry H said no at the 11th hour. Then KOC put together another deal that fell apart at the last minute (remember the pre-season one that was leaked?). I'm sure there were a few more that were discussed.
Darkwing Duck
Well-Known Member
I mean for the upcoming off season. Would 8 mil for Hickson for 3 years be a good choice? Would he get more? Would the Jazz offer that? Is that a good deal? Kanter, Favors, Hickson seems like a good trio.
There is no point in having picks at every position, even if lotto. Jazz cannot retain all of them when their contracts are up. They need to convert a couple of them into a high impact vet if this team has to make any progress. Unless one of the young guys(Favors or Burks) becomes a borderline all star or all star next season, they'll be in the lottery if they let Al/Paul walk away and rely on picks to fill the spots.
I doubt the Jazz even have a longterm blueprint for building a contending team. Lindsey is on record saying that Miller has instructed the management to "sell hope". Not a big shocker for those who know how the Millers and especially Greg operate. Its all about the bottomline. Do just about enough to get to that 5th-8th seed every year. Beyond that, if something falls out of the sky and we hit a jackpot then well and good. Otherwise keep selling dope err..hope.
green
Well-Known Member
Ding, ding.
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
Not bad. I'm not sure what his market value will be. Centers are generally overpaid. Hickson averages 13/10 in 30 mins per. That's decent production.
Game6Conley
Well-Known Member
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6bwiJGelTI
i think aminu's a great fit. maybe a 'tweener' but hes incredibly athletic and his 'tweener' status doesnt affect his rebounding.
hes not a chucker of any sort, 50% fg player, most comfy kind of wandering, not a featured guy, hes got a tendency to blend-in then explode. consistently will rebound and give you effort. on defense hes quite adept getting steals though you mainly see spectacular blocks in his highlights
at 6'9" hes actually comparable to favors. 1 inch shorter, .75inch less wingspan, 1.5inch less standing reach, with a similar vertical (2inches less than favors) if he joined utah they would patrol the air, up there. not a great shooter but is no liability at the line, 72%.
Disclosure: i am very biased in the favor of aminu, i was genuinely excited for the Aminu, Ty Walker, Tony woods 3, 5star class wake forest had in 08. i also watched Aminu totally obliterate espn's #1 ranked player Greg Monroe in hs.
regardless of how i feel. he will be undervalued next summer, you can book it. hes 23, plenty of room to grow.
i think aminu's a great fit. maybe a 'tweener' but hes incredibly athletic and his 'tweener' status doesnt affect his rebounding.
hes not a chucker of any sort, 50% fg player, most comfy kind of wandering, not a featured guy, hes got a tendency to blend-in then explode. consistently will rebound and give you effort. on defense hes quite adept getting steals though you mainly see spectacular blocks in his highlights
at 6'9" hes actually comparable to favors. 1 inch shorter, .75inch less wingspan, 1.5inch less standing reach, with a similar vertical (2inches less than favors) if he joined utah they would patrol the air, up there. not a great shooter but is no liability at the line, 72%.
Disclosure: i am very biased in the favor of aminu, i was genuinely excited for the Aminu, Ty Walker, Tony woods 3, 5star class wake forest had in 08. i also watched Aminu totally obliterate espn's #1 ranked player Greg Monroe in hs.
regardless of how i feel. he will be undervalued next summer, you can book it. hes 23, plenty of room to grow.
Last edited:
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
I agree. I've always been on record saying the Jazz need to concentrate on getting a Core-8. The remaining 6-7 players are then vets on mimimum contracts or young draft picks. It does no good to go 3 deep at every position. You can;t find PT for everyone and you can't pay all those guys. The problem is that Utah will never have a superstar knock on their door. So they better try the Detroit model of having ZERO major weaknesses in their starting lineup and a very strong 3 behind those 5. I'm a lot higher on Burks, Favors, Kanter and Hayward than you are. I think we're seeing the makings of a very, very good team. Add a good PG to that mix and blend in glue guys like Carroll, Foye, Mo, etc. and this team could start making noise.
For all my bitching today, I actually think we're in okay position as long as we can avoid some landmines in free agency (Al on a big deal, yuck). A guy like Carroll could be absolutely huge going forward because he doesn't need the ball in his hands to be effective. We're one great (possibly good) PG and some development from Favors away from being a very solid team.