Perhaps the trade that puts us over the top!

[gregbroncs]

Unless the CBA changes, the Jazz cannot just sign someone to replace AK. They have no cap room and will need to use an exception (i.e. sign and trade AK). They only have a couple million cap space and I think an MLE this summer. That's why I think the Memo deal was structured 2 years. It gives KOC an expiring trade chip where a team gets some immediate value in return.

They will have MLE money if they need it. I think in the end AK will resign with Utah for a reasonable contract and finish his career in a Utah uniform.

 

[vslice02]

Unless the CBA changes, the Jazz cannot just sign someone to replace AK.

It's going to change significantly. The Jazz already have $59.2 million committed in 2011-12 to Deron Williams, Raja Bell, C.J. Miles, Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson, Gordon Hayward. I can only guess on the new CBA and think it would be foolish to speculate on how much "cap space" the Jazz will have - but numbers will definitely be going down across the board so to me it's imperative that every penny of AK's $17.8 million salary goes off the books after this season.

 

[franklin]

Do you think that the Jazz will sign and trade AK? When?

I don't know anything about that. I've seen KOC work his magic too many times that I'm forced to be a "homer". I trust he's going to balance the money and the aspirations the best he can with a heavy leaning toward a championship.

If I had to guess then they would sign AK to an over priced 1 year deal and trade him for a longer term contract + cash to a team looking at rebuilding. I don't know if anyone fits the bill. What I do know is they have no power to sign a game changer. Others claim trade protection exemptions. I hope they can get enough and package it into something Stern likes.

 

[billyshelby]

Just to play along with the Hamilton fantasy: Hamilton makes 12.6 this year, then 12.6 and 12.6. He's 32 now, turns 33 in February. His PER is basically 15 as it has been for the last 3 years. I believe his last year isn't fully guaranteed, but partial, though I'm going off my memory on that.

Financially, trading AK for Rip this year makes tons of sense. We save 5 million (10 with tax) and there's an outside shot we get under (and get the payment.) On the court, Rip moves to the 2, CJ to the 3, Bell backs up the 2, and somebody gets retrofitted to play 3, probably Sap. THAT team is significantly worse than the AK team. But the real problem is next year and the year after when we're paying Rip outsize money in a downward trending CBA. It's suicide.

What this means: NOBODY is trading for Rip unless they're giving back at least SOME longterm money. That's not us.

 

[billyshelby]

It's going to change significantly. The Jazz already have $59.2 million committed in 2011-12 to Deron Williams, Raja Bell, C.J. Miles, Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson, Gordon Hayward. I can only guess on the new CBA and think it would be foolish to speculate on how much "cap space" the Jazz will have - but numbers will definitely be going down across the board so to me it's imperative that every penny of AK's $17.8 million salary goes off the books after this season.

This is all true, but NBA owners also aren't going to ratify a new system that puts half the teams into immediate financial penalty. There will have to be phase-in stipulations if the new CBA is going to be significantly more limiting or inflexible than the old one. So I don't see any team getting wildly punished next year. But I think you're right. KOC will not try to extend AK in the climate of uncertainty, nor will he add longterm salary.