Possible Hint To KOC's Next Move

[cowhide]

I like Gortat but if the Jazz were to get him and then Tomic comes over next year, the Jazz would have a big logjam at the C/PF position.

I agree that it would be difficult to find a decent backup vet PG for cheap but there have to be better young PG options than Gaines and even Price.

I think Patrick Mills has more upside than Gaines does. We are talking about 10-12 minutes a game.

 

[billyshelby]

As I've said before, I think the best option would be to try and extend AK. But I'm sure KOC wants to keep all his options open through Free Agency and the summer. The biggest problem is if you lose AK, you have to replace him. His injury history aside, guys who can produce at his level are few and far between.

If you just go off Hollinger's PER, AK ranks 7th amongst small forwards, and would rank 8th amongst 2's. And since one of the 2's ahead of him is Beaubois, he effectively ranks 7th amongst 2 guards as well. Add it all up and he's Top 15 in PER amongst all 2's and 3's in the game. Where are we going to get THAT in trade or free agency at a reasonable price?

 

[1-Jazzfan]

Arroyo would be in Jerry's doghouse from day one ... would be a waste to sign him.

I agree! I think he'd get as much playing time for the Jazz next year as Koufos will.

The reason I heard he left is because he and Jerry didn't get along too well.

Why would the Jazz take a chance on that same attitude again?

 

[DutchJazzer]

Nope.

Fess is just as good if not better than Gortat.

there are a few players that Jazz fans become obsessed with here. Gortat, Troy Murphy, Jeff Foster, Andrew Bogut, Jason Kapono, and Corey Maggette have all been listed as missing pieces at one time or another on this board for a championship run.

forgetting someone?

marc gasol is the TRUE missing PIECE

 

[Stifle Tower]

Teams don't have to pay the luxury tax til the end of the year, the Jazz could easily get Gortat and just plan to unload AK before the trade deadline when the timing is right. You know that some team that's projected to be fairly decent next year but will fail hard the first half of the season will take AK so they can have a chunk come off the books in 2011. Although, with the lock out pending, does anyone really take AK at this point, or do they all wait and see what happens with the new CBA??

I don't know enough about this stuff, but I do know that the team will have 1/2 the year to get rid of AK at some point if they get Gortat and not have to pay any luxury tax because it only counts against you at the end of a season. Go get him, KOC!

In that case you could only deal him to a team that would be under the cap taking on his salary, since the Jazz are trying to "dump" payroll. Last season, there were only 2-3 teams that could accommodate taking on Harp's $6M without giving us anything back. And the cheapest option meant we had to give up a #1 pick (Maynor) in order to get the deal done. It would be virtually impossible to deal AK for any kind of significant salary savings. And if that was our position going in, a team would want a king's ransom to help us out. Best scenario is to stand pat right now. Be in a position at the deadline where we can be a buyer. Ideally, we'd take back say $9M-$12M in long term salaries for AK, and the rest in scrubs whose contracts also expire or can be bought out. That would give the Jazz a starter and maybe a backup or perhaps a pick and $5M-$8M in reduced payroll for 2011-12, probaly putting us pretty close to the next tax threshold. Team B gets $17M in expirings instead of just $5M or so. Win-win for both teams. And that's where the value lies.