homeytennis
Well-Known Member
It looks like a ton of players are hitting the waiver wire given the participation vs. the Lakers. Say good bye to Gaines, Jeffers, Nichols, and Thompson. JMHO,
I think the Jazz keep 13 (counting Okur):
PG Deron Williams - Earl Watson - Ronnie Price
SG Raja Bell - C.J. Miles
SF Andrei Kirilenko - Gordon Hayward
PF Paul Millsap - Jeremy Evans
C Al Jefferson - Kyrylo Fesenko - Francisco Elson - Mehmet Okur
Given Bell's and Miles' injury history, I'd like to see them keep another wing (Thompson or Jeffers) but at this point Utah wants to save as much money as possible (with this core) so they'll likely play Price at the 2 if someone goes down.
Also, I think if Okur comes back healthy (and barring a Kirilenko trade) Francisco Elson will be traded or waived before the end of the season. Maybe they sign another d-leaguer to take his spot or maybe they just go with a 12-man roster, but barring injury I doubt this team carries more than 13 players at any one time.
If Utah signed a d-leaguer w/no NBA experience in midseason (a la Gaines/Jeffers) it would cost them roughly $250k-$300k depending on when they sign him, resulting in a savings of about $900k or $1.8 counting the luxury tax.
Again, if Okur's healthy in the 2nd-half of the season and Fesenko proves to be a capable backup center, I'm not sure Utah would want to pay $1.2 million for their #3 center given their current payroll situation.
First off, the Jazz only pay Elson the salary for a second year player ($854K), not the $1.2M quoted above. The league pays the difference, and only the $854K is included in team salary and LT calculations. Second, players who sign as free agents are counted as second year players ($854K) in LT calculations, even if they make less.If Utah signed a d-leaguer w/no NBA experience in midseason (a la Gaines/Jeffers) it would cost them roughly $250k-$300k depending on when they sign him, resulting in a savings of about $900k or $1.8 counting the luxury tax.
Again, if Okur's healthy in the 2nd-half of the season and Fesenko proves to be a capable backup center, I'm not sure Utah would want to pay $1.2 million for their #3 center given their current payroll situation.
First off, the Jazz only pay Elson the salary for a second year player ($854K), not the $1.2M quoted above. The league pays the difference, and only the $854K is included in team salary and LT calculations. Second, players who sign as free agents are counted as second year players ($854K) in LT calculations, even if they make less.
Tough call for Sloan. For offense now, keep Gaines and use CJ and Price as b/u SGs, though neither exclusively. For defense at SG now, gotta keep Jeffers. For upside, I'd go with Thompson. Now watch him keep Nichols <grin>... They all looked like they can play in the NBA, so I won't gripe with how Sloan sees it...
I'd be very surprised if they dumped Elson; they finally add another big, and turn right around and dump him?? No way... Yes, I have read he's got a 2-year guaranteed contract too...