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Free Agency
Posted by: Patrick on June 1st, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.This year its clear to see we need two main positions filled. The first being PG. Harris is a great Combo Guard, more fitted for the SG position. Bad thing is his price tag and we have Hayward and Burks. Odd man out would be Harris. The other spot is the SF position. We need someone who can help spread defenses and be a lock down defender. Carroll? Way too soon to tell, he may be more of a good bench player. So that means trades and free agency, since currently we dont have a draft pick.
If we were to trade and pick up a draft pick, Gilchrest and Lillard would be our targets. Some would argue that Barnes and Marshall could fit the bill as well. There are others who would either dream of Davis, Jones, Beal, Lamb, and even Rivers, but Davis is out of reach. The others log jam us. So I will focus on Gilchrest and Lillard or you can substitute Barnes and Marshall.
I know I titled this free agency, but I have to show why its probably our best bet other than the obvious reason of we dont have draft picks till the second round. Many teams own multiple picks and you could bargain with them for pieces, Portland being big on this list. Yes they have a slew of positions to fill, but I doubt they can go anywhere picking 4 guys from this draft and trying to run with a diaper squad. Bottom line we could trade in.
Harris has been in trade rumors with Portland, and its not too far a stretch to think they could still want him. Harris could be a good fit at the SG for Mini. Although he had a good spurt toward the end of last season, he could be the best option at retrieving us a draft pick. Most say, but we have Al and Millsap and one must go. Well, maybe true, but trading either for a draft pick is a stretch without bringing someone who is overpaid back in return with the pick so dont count on it. I see Al as a good option for a team reducing cap space toward the end of next yrs trade deadline, which will probably fill a gap that we have somewhere.
If you have been keeping up, you are already seeing without me pointing it out to you, trading for picks could happen, but the chances are small. So lets look at the Free agent list. PG’s worth looking at are DWill, Nash, Lin, Dragic, Nelson, Augustine, and Sessions. SF’s are slim pickings but Batum will be available. Lets take a closer look.
DWill 21 ppg, 8.7 ast, 3 reb 36 min. Sad thing is very doubtful
Nash 12.5 ppg, 10.7 ast, 3 reb 31 mins. Would be sweet, but doubtful.
Lin 14 ppg, 6 ast, 3 reb 27 min. Option.
Dragic 11.7 ppg, 5.3 ast, 2.5 reb in 27 min. Option
Augustine 11 ppg, 6.4 ast, 2.3 reb in 29 min. Option
Nelson 15.6 ppg, 6.6 ast, 3.8 reb in 39 min. Eh
Sessions 11.3 ppg, 5.5 ast, 3.3 reb in 27 min. Option
SF Batum 13.9 ppg, 4.6 reb 1 blk 1 st in 30 mins. Guessing it will hard to steal him from Portland.
Well, I should let you all make your own assumptions, but if we are looking for the best way to get guys to fill our two holes, I say you trade to get into the draft then draft a SF, and hook one of the above PG’s. So who do you trade with? Washington has Lewis’s big contract weighing them down. They could use a Center though? Big Al? Unfortunately with the money issues, I dont see a trade with Washington.
That leaves Charlotte and Cleveland. I could see a Al to Charlotte, but we would have to eat Thomas’s contract. That would be ugly. Charlotte could use any of our vets, but they will probably try the diaper squad approach. They dont have much to hand back so the only real options would be trade exceptions, and Millsap.
KOC has his work cut out for him. I dont see any options for trades that would make us better through the draft. There is always an Al to Sacramento giving them the size they need, but how do you make that work? Take the pick Fredette and a couple future picks. I guess it would land you Lillard, but still leaves you in need of a SF unless somehow Barnes or Gilchrist dropped to you. Oh, wow, stirred up the Fredette fans again. LOL
Thoughts?
Replies: 29
Views: 749
29 Responses
Batum is a top 10 – 3 point shooting SF (at nearly 40%) , and would be a great addition to the team. He is a restricted free agent, and I would love for the Jazz to give a Portland player a toxic offer.
Are team next season may end up being very similar to last years squad, with the biggest difference being Favors inserted into the starting lineup, and playing more minutes.
It’s the 2013-2014 squad that will probably look significantly different. We currently only have four players under contract for that campaign.
That being said, I think we will add at least one significant piece this summer (possibly via our trade exception).
If we could get a difference maker, I would be willing to take on a bad contract (especially if it was a younger player, who we might at least get SOME production out of during the duration of the deal).
You can’t always play if safe and be conservative in all your decision making. Sometimes, you have to take some (expensive)risks, in order to have a chance to take that next step from being good to being great. Winning a championship doesn’t come cheap. Look at the recent payrolls of teams that have won the title (Dallas, and the Lakers). You have to put your money where your mouth is.
It should be better with the new collective bargaining agreement but I understand what your saying!
Totally off topic: I’ve developed a man crush on Dion Waiters. If somehow the Jazz end up with a late lottery, or mid-first round pick, and he’s on the board, I hope they select the kid. He’s moved ahead of Marshall and Henson on my draft wish list. Scouts have been raving about his recent workouts, so I watched some film on him, and I was very impressed. This kid has a strong NBA body already, seems very mature, and has a terrific shot. One very prominent scout said when asked which player other then Davis is most likely to be an all-star in this draft, that he felt it was Waiters. A different scout said he has Dwayne Wade or James Harden type potential. After watching film of this guy knock down jumper after jumper without even touching the rim, I could why they were talking along those lines.
Id be pretty disappointed if the jazz play it conservatively. This might be the first time the jazz have ton of assests and flexibility. Jazz don’t take advantage theyll regret it.
Love or hate Al, hes on the top of trading bloc.
14M and Jazz have 2 players thay can play his postion on rookie salary.
Unless Millsap restructures and takes less money and bench role, hes on the bloc as well, especially cuz Jazz best player plays the PF.
Only if jazz strike out on FA or draft PG should the jazz keep Harris. And ya he can play the 2 but so do two of the most promising jazz players, Burks and Hayward.
All in final years, personal feelings aside, they r all must trades.
Jason, even if Dion was the best. We have 4 SG’s on this team. Would you have us continue loading up on them?
LIN? OMG wonderland.
thank God it is also.
@Patrick we have 4? Uh not sure what you are seeing. But we have Burks and Hayward. Bell is not going to be around no matter what.
We have shooting guards who can’t shoot (at least not consistently). We need outside shooting period, which Waiters could definitely provide, and much more. I don’t care what position it comes from. We need better outside shooting. That’s why I would also consider drafting Jenkins with a late first round pick. If that means Burks and Hayward watch from the bench, then so be it. Hayward was dismal in the playoffs…I’m not sold on him being anything more then a solid rotation player. Some people say he’s going to be a star. I REALLY hope they are right, but I need to see more consistency.
Ersan Ilyasova, this seams to be a guy worth watching. Free agency, will make him valuable. If someone can get him for 6 to 8 mil a season, I think they get a great bargain. SAP with 2 inches.
He would be worth looking at, if you watch how we will probably be getting rid of an overpaid big. Al? Thoughts?
Dallon, you have to add Harris. Harris is s SG, much more than he is a PG. How many do we need? Isnt Hayward and Burks enough? Shouldnt we fill holes?
Jason, Have you looked?
Hayward .456 FG%, .346 3 pt%
Burks .429 FG%, .333 3 pt%
Dion .411 FG%, .329 3 pt%
Here’s the links in case you need them to confirm. Great find guys.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/51344/dion-waiters
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/alec_burks/
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/gordon_hayward/
This guy has better stats… Small Forward?
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/ersan_ilyasova/career_stats.html
Harris is a PG. he plays the position he is and always will be listed as that. Just cause you do not think he is does not mean anything. If he averaged 8 assists instead of 5 would he be a PG to you? Cause is our C did nt hold the ball more and we had a more flowing offense he would get those assists. He runs what the coach wants him to run
Patrick, those percentages you listed above show Dion shooting a lower FG% and 3 pt% than both Hayward and Burks???
I also like your endorsement of my Ilyasova man crush as a FA.
We really need to land the best SF we can
Some have mentioned they don’t like Lowery.How about Al to Rockets,Courtney Lee,Wolves Johnson, Pick to Jazz and Martin to Wolves. I still think Dragic will recieve toxic offer from Jail-Blazers.
Kory, I know, its for the Morons who want to draft another SG who is not close to better than the ones we have.
Dallan, just because you play a position doesnt mean that you should. I like Harris, but he is playing out of position only because he is our best PG. Al Jefferson was actually a PF who we use as a Center, but Al plays better as a Center than a PF. If we had a real PG, Harris could easily slip to the SG position and excel there. The problem isnt that he doesnt have more assists, its that he doesnt make the guys around him better, and he doesnt really lead as a PG should. Watch Nash, or old Stockton video. They not only led the team, they great court vision and set things up. They make great decisions. Harris doesnt make things up. The only time he looks like he knows what going on is on the fast break, but he doesnt run an offense very efficiently. We can argue it to death, but Harris would be a great SG, thats his game. IF he was such a great PG then why did a lot of Jazz fans want Tinsley or Watson starting a good part of last season. They are good backups, but we need a good starting PG.
So when was Jefferson ever a PF??? D-Will could not do to much with Jefferson either. It is not the PG it is the systeam and the main player in that system
LOL. Ok, guess you forgot all the ranting and raving about how Jefferson came to take Boozers place.. DWill was just fine, the system wasnt bad either, we just had no 3 pt threat, and a few rookies. Then DWill lost it in the head. Now that he has had a taste of reality he might work out here. I bet you blame him instead of Boozer for no ring..
No Boozer never showed up when we needed him, AK bloated contract did not allow us to truly get some good players and we never let our young players play when we needed them to be developing. We were 15 deep when they were all year and now we are a year away from having 4 players signed..
Good. When you look at the 4 you mention, that gives us a Center, a Power forward, and 2 Wings or SGs. Many say that Wings are interchangeable but I think both play the SG best. Looking closer you can say that Burks can play either Guard position, but he is better suited at the 2. Hayward can player 1, 2, or 3, but again is best suited for the 2. He makes team mates better while playing there too. Favors can play both PF and Center. At times I think he is a better Center than a PF but that may be only because of who we have him playing with. Kanter can play both positions as well. I wish he had more lift, but I still like him.
If you look at it that way, you see that we need a SF and a PG. Sad thing is that both are hard to come by, both in this draft and free agency. There are many options out there, I just dont see how bringing in other SG’s help our situation.
Look people, I don’t want to hear any talk about getting Ersan Ilyasova.
First of all, the Bucks will never trade him, and second of all, Ersan Ilyasova is almost the same player as Derrick Favors.
We need guards and shooters. We do NOT need another big man.
@Patrick: No way in hell the Bucks let go of Ersan Ilyasova. He is their PF of the future. That’s about as likely to happen as some team getting us to trade Favors. It’s just not going to happen.
I tend to agree with Dallan about Harris. I agree with Patrick that Devin Harris is more of a SG than a PG, but in all honesty, he would have 5 more dimes per game if anyone on our team could shoot the ball.
Sessions, Augustin,
I meant Sessions, Augustin, and Calderon are all inferior players to Harris. Harris is still incredibly fast, and is as a good a shooter as any of those point guards. Why trade a perfectly decent orange for another orange that isn’t any better?
Nash or Lin, on the other hand… But I think the asking price for Lin would be too high.
Also I think Mo Williams is very steadily declining. Getting Mo Williams now would be a huge mistake; in another year or two it would be the same problem we have right now with Raja Bell.
Green or Neal from the Spurs, or Marrow from the nets, or Lowry from the Rockets.
Well Ilyasova is actually a stretch 4 no where near what Derrick Favors is. He also is a UNrestricted free agent. So if he wants out of Milwaukee they can not do anything about it. I actually do not expect him to be there unless they offer him a huge amount of money. Brandon Jennings has all ready said he does not want to be there. So I would say they are going to have a hard time bringing in talent
You over rate Harris as a PG. Look below if you disagree. The years of outrageous contracts are over, so Lin may be worth less than people expect. Erson is an unrestricted free agent.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics?position=pg&qualified=false&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fhollinger%2fstatistics%3fposition%3dpg%26qualified%3dfalse
http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/2012-nba-free-agent-rankings-1.3444537#1
Oh, just another note for those who think Lin’s Value will be to high, teams can only offer a mid exception because of some rule in place. Meaning, he can play anywhere he wants, which gives us little to know chance at seeing him in Utah.