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Jazz Trade Rumors and Expectations
Posted by: Danny Hansen on February 8th, 2013
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.
If you are you looking for a good time and perhaps some laughs? Well if you are a Jazz-obsessed fan like me, you may have already done this. I like to log on to my Twitter and do a search for “Jazz trade” and then let the good times roll. Such a search will land all sorts of interesting rumors, suggestions, complaints, and demands.
Recently, Twitter Jazz rumors have been all about sheridanhoops.com’s article of an Al Jefferson rumored trade to the Spurs. If you haven’t read it, (here is a link) but it basically states that they are hearing a potential and most likely landing spot for Big Al is San Antonio. After that it was pure speculation. They say the Jazz will need a point guard, so they throw in Patty Mills. Then the Jazz will need a big, so they throw in Tiago Splitter. Jazz will need to match salary, so they throw in Stephen Jackson. And finally, Jazz need something valuable in return, so they throw in the rights to Erazem Lorbek. So essentially this is the trade for the Jazz:
Jazz trade: Al Jefferson
Jazz receive: Stephen Jackson, Tiago Splitter, Patty Mills, the rights to Erazem Lorbek
Did you throw up a little? So did I. Besides this being just an awful deal, the Jazz already have 15 players on their roster. For it to work they would then have to cut or buy out 2 players. Considering they are already paying Raja Bell to golf in Miami, I don’t think the Jazz are looking to pay any more players to not play for them.
This is just one of many problems with this trade proposal. I don’t fault Sheridan. He was taking information he was hearing (Spurs may want Al) and trying to figure out how to make it work, forget the fact he screwed the Jazz over in the process.
I use this trade proposal as an example of the terrible, rip-off-the-Jazz proposals that are out there in the Twittersphere. We all know you don’t make a trade, just to make a trade. You have to win the trade in some kind of way. You can get better immediately, get better long-term, provide financial flexibility now or later, or gain some assets.
So, here are some reality checks and expectations for the Jazz trade season.
Before the deadline trade expectations
Who is off-limits: Favors and Kanter in my mind are untouchable. Talented bigs are the hardest thing to get in this league. Hayward is next in line, however, if the right deal is presented, it is impossible to say he is untouchable. Then finally, Burks shouldn’t be given up on quickly.
Jazz trade Millsap or Jefferson for a veteran player, and that new player will be a top 3 player on the Jazz
Note: This is why the Al Jefferson to the Spurs trade shouldn’t even be considered. You are trading your leading scorer and rebounder, and your number one offensive option for what will be the 7th, 9th, and 10th best players on your team. Jazz shouldn’t sell themselves short. Besides, Al has a large expiring contract and has the ability to help a team clear salary before next season when more of the new CBA will be implemented. Al has more value than Jazz fans may think.
For who then? This is where you look for veterans on the trade market that may have been replaced by younger guys or good players on teams looking to clear salary next season. Danny Granger comes to mind. He has become expendable due to the emergence of Paul George. Would the Pacers be interested in Paul or Al?
Other possibilities: Danilo Gallinari, Paul Pierce, Brandon Jennings
If you trade Millsap of Jefferson for a young player, he needs to have the potential to be a top 3 player on the Jazz.
Note: This would be the move that media experts say would knock the Jazz out of the playoffs, but will pay off long term. (I don’t necessary believe it, but that is the thought) It is risky trading a sure 16 points and 8 rebounds for the unknown. But with a young core already in place, it may be the right move to let them all grow together.
For who then? The perfect player in this category is Eric Bledsoe. He is currently stuck behind a star, has shown amazing potential, and the Jazz are still looking for a point guard for the future. However, Bledsoe’s price has recently gone up and up. Do you give up a lot to try and trade for him now or take a shot at him as a restricted free agent in 2014.
Other possibilities: Evan Turner
A minor deal using some expirings for a bench player.
Note: A trade like this would be something like Earl Watson and Raja Bell for Luke Ridnour. Minnesota, with Kahn at the helm, would clear 4.3 million off next season’s books with Pekovic heading into restricted free agency this offseason. The current rumor of Ridnour for Alec Burks rumor is garbage for the Jazz. Garbage. That is all.
Wait until the offseason
Not as fun, but many doors are still open. You make a playoff push with your current roster, and let players play out their contracts. Next season the Jazz will only have 7 players under contract (Favors, Kanter, Hayward, Burks, Evans, Marvin Williams, and Kevin Murphy). Even if you don’t make a deal before the deadline, you can still get something for Jefferson and Millsap, in terms of a sign and trade or a trade exception. Boozer was sign and traded for a trade exception, which turned into Jefferson, so doors are still open.
Replies: 9
Views: 2159
9 Responses
Well hello Danny longtime no hear . It was nice to see ya post again .
I think that it may be posible that the Jazz stay put till seasons end . But I would not be surprised if they do by trade deadline .
Hope to see ya again .
The Jazz are playing pretty well overall right now, and team chemistry is good.
The only way I would feel good about the Jazz trading Al or Paul at this time, is if it could net us a really good young point guard. I do like Eric Bledsoe.
Again Jason , I agree with the team chemistry getting better , maybe that is what is netting all these turnovers the last few games . Because of this they are trying to hard to make trick passes in traffic , thus the turnover .
Yeah the starters are really killing it with their team chemistry!
Good to hear a well thought, intelligent,homework done,post. They call Bledsoe “mini LeBron.” Unless it is a knock your shoes off offer until CP3 is signed for a new long contract he will stay put. I still think AL will be moved but Jazz will wait for the best offer.For sure Jazz will not make a deal just to do so.
Splitter is no slouch and has learned how to play the game with precision in the Spurs system.
Can someone plaease explain how a “sign and trade” could work to our advantage come the offseason? From what I’ve heard on this site there is only a small handfull of teams out there that would be able to do a sign and trade for Al.
The proposed trade with the Spurs… Another question, does having “rights” to a player take up a roster spot? I’m assuming it doesn’t. So in that case, I would waive Bell, and if possible Watson to absorb Jackson, Mills, and Splitter. Let Jackson walk at the end of the year, or do a “sign and trade” idk how that works. If I’m correct we would have the “Bird rights” to Splitter, offer him a decent deal (hopefully we could get him for around 5-6 mil to have a 3 man rotation with Faves and Kanter.) I’ve heard Mills has a player option for less than he’s worth. If he decided to not take it, would he be a RFA? or would we have his “Bird rights?” If he was an RFA, hopefully he would like his back up roll here and resign for a decent ammount (2-3 mil) if we had his “bird rights” hopefully no team would offer him more than 3 mil. As far as Lorbek… he’s our new Tomic.
Danilo Gallinari, Paul Pierce, Brandon Jennings… I don’t feel great about any of these guys. Gallinari actually would be a good fit with Favors and Kanter, and if we could find a way to trade Al and Paul for him and a decent pg, I’d be all for it. Pierce… Nah, I’ll pass. I think he would have a bad attitute and be injured more than he should be here, if not retire. Jennings again would be alright, with our young guys because he likes to run… how about this dream: http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=awer9kr
I like both Bledsoe and Turner. It’s hard to make a trade work getting Bledsoe without a 3rd or 4th team, but I came up with this dream trade w Philly: http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=bg8tzur
What are your ideas Danny?
Al can dominate the Eastern conf centers. Maybe ATL will three way with PHX? Jazz fans wanted Dragic last year! Also Indy would ship D Granger given a chance.
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=b22jzrs
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=aajb2e9
Colten: Any player recieved before trade deadline new team has their bird rights. I don’t know exactly how it works but I believe there is so many player a team can have the rights to but no they do not count on the roster until they sign. One of the reasons teams keep these players who never will play in the NBA is fillers for trades. By the way Tomic is up for MVP in the league he is in. Also RFA’s have a limit on to what the other team can offer. But still can be a heafty contract like Saps was. But not the max like the superstars.Splitter is on his first contract but he will be well sought after.By the way AK is injured.