Meet
Whats Available?
Posted by: Patrick on January 13th, 2013
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.I havent been on here enough to say I have followed what people are posting. I have changed jobs, putting me on the computer all day. The last thing I want to do when I get home is sit on one. Browsing some of the posts I am seeing a reacurring theme, we need this or lets get rid of that, but what does that give us?
We really need help at the point guard. I think both Tinsley and Watson are good third string PG’s, but they cannot match up the the best PG’s in the league night in and out. They can pretty much keep up with the second string PG’s, but I want a second string PG who can keep up with a starting PG, and a starting PG who can keep up with most of the elite PG’s. But whats out there and available. I dont want an aging guy, unless he comes off the bench and is a solid back up. I want someone who is in their prime or younger to grow with our young guys. Chris Paul would be Ideal, but why would he come to Utah? So whats left that isnt old, young, or sub par?
Look in he draft, there isnt a lot to be had. Those of you who want to trade Paul and Al for draft picks, will likely be adding either a wing or another big. Doesnt make a lot of sense tradinga big for a big, but I guess its better than drafting a PG who might not fit our needs.. If you look, this draft is full of bigs and short on our main need, the PG.
Look at Free Agency, we are looking again at old dudes or duds, and an elite few that wont look toward Utah. Might as well keep MO unless your upgrading over him, but how will you do that? I see lots of I wants, but I dont see many people with valid ideas. Ive seen people trading Paul and Al for other bigs, how does that make any sense. We need an upgrade at the point, then some depth at the wing. Then maybe a backup big behind our young bigs.
Maybe we should have made a move last year to get that local PG that Portland ended up with, pulling the trigger a little early, but putting ourselves into a position for the future. What do you guys think? Share your thoughts and ideas. Let me know what I have missed. And remember when your making trades, trading a for a and b for b doesnt make us better, it keeps us the same. You need to find real solutions, not just jump the fence for what appears a greener pasture.
Unless there is an Upgrade to be had, I dont see any trades being made. It may make sense to trade out Paul or Al for a first round draft pick but what losing team in the league is going to rent either one and give up a lottery pick? What playoff team can use their services and has something that we need in return? Its not as easy as some would have you believe.
So whats Available? What makes us better? What works not only for our team but for the other team?
Replies: 12
Views: 660
12 Responses
Here let me help get you started.
Free Agents who have no contracts for next season:
Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, Mo Williams, Jose Calderon, Jarrett Jack, Devin Harris, D.J. Augustin, Shaun Livingston, Daniel Gibson, Nate Robinson, Beno Udrih, AJ Price, Will Bynum, Nolan Smith, Earl Watson, Royal Ivy, Jamal Tinsley, and Sebastian Telfair.
2013 Draft, as currently ranked top 30:
Michael Carter Williams 9th, Marcus Smart 18th, BJ Young 19th, Issaiah Cannon 24th, Trey Burk27th, Phil Pressey 28th, Lorenzo Brown 29th. CJ McCollum and Myck Kobongo are on others lists.
There are a few listed in trade rumors, but cannot remember who all there is.
So does any of the above, who we could honestly bring here, make us better? If not, do you pull a trigger on any of them?
I also think the Jazz need a good quality consistent SG or small forward, depending on how they are going to use Hayward.
As far as PG the list really isnt that long is it. Probably Jack or Augustin as back ups since Paul is a pipe dream
Jarrett Jack is a really under rated PG, I think he is actually a huge part of what GS has done this year.
Calderon is awesome actually, I think he would be regarded as an elite pure point guard like Kidd or Nash if he hadn’t spent his entire career in obscurity and losing in Toronto. Imagine how many assists he would have averaged for the last decade if he wasn’t passing to the raptors. He is old but it seems like he can do what he does well for another 3 years though.
I wouldn’t want anyone else on the FA list, Gibson and Nolan Smith could be something interesting but not starting PGs.
Phil Pressey is a maniac at Missouri, I think he might end up going higher than late first round… he is small, but so is Ty Lawson, Iverson, Stockton, I like his game.
Disco, i would like Jack or Augustin as well. I think Hayward is ten times more effective and more suited as a SF, so we will need a SG.
Jezzdependency, i agree with you somewhat about Calderon, i don’t think he’d be considered elite, but he would definitely be in the “near” Top 10 debate
I watched the OSU vs OU game yesterday, and i came away super impressed with Marcus Smart. The guy isn’t a freak athlete but he guy continually made play after play. It was similar to watching Jason kidd, nothing super flashy but at the end of game he damn near has a triple double. I’d love to see us nab him!
@steve, just curious, why do you think Hayward plays better at the 3?
Last night and Friday, he had trouble with the size of Josh Smith and Prince. I personally think he plays better at the 2 where he can really hurt other SGs with his size. I don’t oppose him at 3, especially if Burks continues to get time, but I think we should go after a 3.
I don’t think he’s quick enough to play the 2. He competes and fights defensively like nobody’s business, which i think better suits him against stronger players rather than quicker players. Especially as he continues to grow, he will get stronger more so than quicker.
I don’t put too much into smith or prince… cause smith is a 4 with incredible athleticism, and prince just got hot and hit some tough shots.
Also, offensively there is no difference between what the 2&3 do, they are completely interchangable.
http://www.ibtimes.com/nba-trade-rumors-eric-bledsoe-la-clippers-shop-pg-paul-pierce-pau-gasol-al-jefferson-paul-milsap
Good to see you posting again, Patrick!
It’s unfortunate the Jazz weren’t able to move up last year and grab Damien Lilliard. He’s certainly been quite a surprise in how he’s played thus far in his rookie year.
Point taken as to the availability of PGs in the draft. No one is coming to the fore…yet!?
I can’t imagine any of the young PGs already in the NBA will be available or willing to come to the Jazz.
So, the options are potential free agents (who aren’t on their last legs), develop Burks into a reasonable PG who can look to pass the ball or at least have the wherewithal to get the ball across half court against potential pressure and turn the ball over to Hayward to facilitate.
Though many have been clamoring for Hayward, Burks, Favors, Kanter, and whomever to start, at least they are getting opportunities to play as a unit. This is helpful if they are the team of the future. Yet, recently, Corbin has been willing to play Burks and Hayward in the back court. We’ll see how they’re doing when up against more rigorous competition, e.g., tomorrow night against the Heat.
Undoubtedly, this is going to be a transition season. It will be interesting to see what happens with Jefferson and Millsap. In spite of a few fans’ desire to get rid of Jefferson, he’s been making some progress. At least, he passes when he has no other options. He’s apparently learning. Millsap is finally finding his groove.
As always, for what’s worth….
Except for CP3, who is realy substantially better at PG than Mo that would actually be available? Obviously a lot of those guys on Patricks list are going to be better than Watson and Tinsley, and I think that is where we can improve. Would love Jose Calderon as our backup PG, or a young guy like Jennings, Bledsoe (may be attainable if CP3 re-signs with Clippers), etc. Rondo would be a game-changer with our young group, but I can’t see us getting him without giving up one of the young guys. Might still be worth it though. All the other good PGs are locked up with their team. Maybe we just let oldies expire, make a run at CP3, resign Mo when that doesn’t work and upgrade backup PG with Calderon or Jennings or even let that fall to Burks. Resign Millsap, add K-Murph and Evans to the rotation, add our two bew draft picks and run with that.
Here is an interesting article from SI on Michael Carter-Williams, of Syracuse.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-basketball/news/20130104/syracuse-michael-carter-williams/
I really think MCW is going to be great in this league. I would like to see him run the pick and roll with Favors or Kanter. He will most likely be gone before either of our picks, but maybe we could trade our 2 picks to get the 9th pick. That strategy worked to get us D-Will.
Welcome back Patrick.. I don’t know why people think the Jazz blew a chance to get Lillard. I think the Blazers knew what they had in mind and probably had several offers. However knowing what this kid could do they kept the pick no matter what offer came along. No one knows for sure other than the teams FO.. I think the Jazz will either trade AL or let him walk. I think the will try to resign Sap,Carroll,Murph.I hope they let Watson/Tinsley walk. Keep both Williams if the contract is right.Bell will be gone for sure..
Amare, Boozer, Gay, Gasol, Pierce (?), Gordon, and Love: trades involving those players is the only way of realistically getting rid of Al. With big money contacts there usually is a third team, and thats when Al 15M expiring will be needed and desired.
If Jazz can get 2 unprotected 1st in all the mess that be a win in my book.
Two unprotected 1st round picks >than Al.