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What to do with AK?

Stickler said:
That was a pretty good demonstration of what I meant when I said underrated. It's as if you're angry with him for his contract. Just because he has a bad contract -- and oh, yes, he does -- doesn't mean he's a bad player. He's actually a very good player. Unlike Boozer, we don't have anyone on the roster who can replace what AK can do. And we're very unlikely to find a similar player in a trade. I didn't say he wasn't overpaid. I didn't say he was worth the max. I said he adds a dimension to our team. Without him, we are worse.

Look what happened last year when AK was moved back into the starting lineup and given 30+ minutes a game. We suddenly started winning again. Putting AK into the starting lineup last year turned our season around. How quickly they forget....
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This is why I'd be happy enough if we signed him back at a reduced salary. When AK's on his game, he's really something else. But the Jazz would be stupid not to put feelers out and see if they can find a guy in that $7-$9 million range that is more consistent and isn't injured so much. It really does depend on how the market develops in the season, and seeing who we could possibly get. Too early to tell right now.
 
ShaggyReAL said:
Hell, Minnesota signed Darko so anything is possible. lol
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I think David Kahn is a moron. But Darko is not a horrible player. He is just horrible for being drafted that high. Held to a higher standard.

He is a good passer and a good shot blocker. Bad rebounder and he has no post moves. Decent mid range shot. I would rather have Darko for 5 Million rather than Okur or 10 million. I think we are just as bad to sign Okur to that contract. And I was saying that last summer when it happened too.
 
NotDeadYet said:
With Memo injured, I expect to see Big Al at C to start the season, which leaves AK as the only viable backup to Millsap at PF. It's tough to bring in too many new players at once and turn them into a cohesive unit on short notice. We already got Big Al, Raja Bell, and Gordon Hayward to work into our system. And, being over the cap, I don't see us bringing an impact player in here in a trade unless he makes well less that AK. The trading partner would need to be under the cap or willing to use the well-known TPE...
Gordon Hayward would appear to be the heir apparent at SF, although KoC has been saying CJ greatly improved the last half of last season. We'll see...
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I agree it's best to keep AK for now.
1) He's a backup to Millsap if Jefferson has to play all his minutes at the 5.
2) He probably starts at 4 while Hayward develops.

That said, I'd like to see the Jazz tradeAK at the deadline. He's starting to get up there in years. He'll be 30 by the end of next season and always has some kind of injury. He's averaged about 15 missed games per season over the last 6 years. I just don't see the Jazz wanting to offer him a deal into his mid-30's.

CJ and Gordon (if he develops) can each play the 3. Raja can give us some time backing up the 2. So trading for a starter at either wing position would be o.k. Ideally, I'd like to see Hayward develop into a starter and CJ become our 6th man. Jazz only have to take back around $15.5M in any trade. So pick up a very good veteran starter in the $8-$11M range, then the rest in expirings or contracts that can be bought out. The alternative is to just let his contract expire. Then thge Jazz get under the cap. Utah can then sign another veteran backup like Raja (perhaps an upgrade at the 2nd PG?) to bring salaries right below the cap, then add a starter with the MLE. Only problem with that is that Utah will bdding against 29 other teams who also have the MLE available.

I'm not sure anyone can compete against a healthy Lakers or Heat team. But injuries happen.
Deron and Jefferson are/will be all-star caliber players. Millsap is very good and Okur can be a great player off the bench. Add CJ and a developing Hayward. That's not a bad nucleus. But we need another star. And I think the only way to get there is via an AK trade. A non-contender looking to clear a 2-3 year deal off their books.
 
I expect the Jazz to keep AK and for AK to play very well in a contract year.
Also, Kirilenko's contract coming off the books doesn't really give us the flexibility to do much more than sign a mid-level FA.

In 2011-12 DWill, CJ (team-option that almost assuredly will be picked up), Millsap, Jefferson, Raja (estimate $3 million) Hayward, Okur will put us at $58.9 million for 7 players.
Under the current CBA, Utah would have the MLE and the bi-annual acception, so basically the Jazz will only have room to add 1 significant piece (also doubtful we'll have a 1st rnd pick). So one option would be to resign AK for $6 million and use the MLE on a center. Then again, the new CBA will create an entirely different scenario so it's probably pointless for me to worry about it.
 
My personal feeling is the Jazz should be looking to extend him. We're a much better team when he's on the floor. And right now, with his value only around MLE Plus, a 3/4 year extension at 7 to 9 averaged might be pretty doable. In next year's thin free agent market, however, he gets more expensive if he plays his normal game without getting hurt (yeah, cue the jokes.)

Bottom line, the Jazz will not find a FA next offseason with AK's abilities at 7 (which might be all they have if they let him walk.) They can hope to trade him for a better wing, but that's pretty wishful thinking. The larger point is if the Jazz DO think they might want to extend AK, the time to strike is now. His agent would undoubtedly tell him to wait, but I think AK is the type who will just do what he wants anyway.
 
I'm all for signing AK if they can bring him back at a reasonable contract. Plus, maybe I'm being naive but I think he's actually the type that would sign a reasonable contract after the big one he just got.
 
Nate505 said:
I'm all for signing AK if they can bring him back at a reasonable contract. Plus, maybe I'm being naive but I think he's actually the type that would sign a reasonable contract after the big one he just got.
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Yeah, I remember him years ago basically telling the media that he felt ashamed that he was making so much bank and not living up to it. That's what makes me think he'd be willing to sign with the Jazz for slightly less than he's worth now that he's collected all of his ridiculous max salary for all those years. He seems like that kind of guy.

Then again, when it comes right down to it, 98% players end up taking the money and running. Who knows?
 
Nate505 said:
I'm all for signing AK if they can bring him back at a reasonable contract. Plus, maybe I'm being naive but I think he's actually the type that would sign a reasonable contract after the big one he just got.
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I don't think you're being naive and I think that's a major reason why the Jazz should be talking to him now. Whether it's nice or not, they have AK in a slightly vulnerable position. It's win-win if AK offers a little giveback and Utah gets him to finish out his career. But if its about the money for him, or he just wants out, the smarter move is to become a free agent and go from there.
 
Ooh, I know. Keep him, underuse him, make sure he's the sixth to seventh option, refuse any reasonable trade offers for him, and then blame him when the Jazz inevitably can't make it past the second round of the playoffs.
 
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