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Jazz looking great, but will it get better?
Posted by: Michael King on July 15th, 2010
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.Well with the recent loss of Wesley Matthews, and pick up of veteran Raja Bell(welcome back), the Jazz are looking great for the start of the next season. Question now is, will we get even better? Having some of the MLE still left does allow us to sign another player be it another big or another shooting guard(Brewer or Brown). As is, the Jazz are looking better then they were last year. I’m sad to see Wes leave, but with the addition of Raja Bell, it really doesn’t seem like much of a loss as long as Bell stays healthy. With Raja’s recent injury history, I think we need to try to bring back Brewer. Brown honestly just doesn’t give us the defense we so desperately need. Having Bell and Brewer playing the 2, we’d be looking very solid when both are healthy. If Bell does end up getting injured again, then Hayward can come in to play backup 2 behind Brewer. I’d love to see the Jazz have a roster like this next season.
PG-Deron Williams, Ronnie Price, Sundiata Gaines
SG-Raja Bell, Ronnie Brewer, Gordon Hayward(2/3), Othyus Jeffers
SF CJ Miles, AK(3/4), Gordon Hayward, Jeremy Evans
PF-Al Jefferson(4/5), Paul Millsap, AK
C-Al Jefferson, Memo, Fes
Do you think we will bring back Brewer or get another big? Or will we stay with what we have now?
Replies: 18
Views: 494
18 Responses
We need Brewer to back up Bell. We need to get on it, with all the other big agents being signed if were going to. It sounds like Chicago is in runnings with brewer now. Like Boozer recruted Korver, Korver is doing the same with brewer. Does Chicago not have a GM! Seriously how many teams are going to try to be like the jazz! I am starting to get frustrated
I think Brewer might get a little bit bigger pay day from another team. I would like to have him back (mostly to make D-Will happy) but I think he will move on. Mason or Brown may be our best option. If not, maybe a big like Joel Anthony (good shot blocker) could help out our defense. If we are intent on getting a shooting guard and the names listed above are taken. I would look at giving a veteran’s minimum to someone like: Rasual Butler, Eddie House, Larry Hughes, or Flip Murray. I would have put Stackhouse on this list, but we can’t take any chances of another Hornacek choking.
Well if we don’t get Brewer back, then I think we go for Brown. at least get someone who can back up Bell. If not, have Hayward back him up.
I think the plan is to resign Fesenko, and then fill out the roster with league minimum contracts (possibly Evans, Gaines, and Jeffers). Why create a logjam at the two-guard/small forward spot? You already have four guys who can swing between the two spots (Hayward, Bell, Kirilenko, and Miles). There isn’t enough consistent playing time for a fifth guy. Why would a guy like Brewer want to be buried at the end of the bench? You really can’t plan a roster around “possible” injuries.
Center: Jefferson (or power forward), Okur, Fesenko
Power Forward: Jefferson (or center), Millsap, Evans
Small Forward: Miles, Kirilenko, Jeffers
Two Guard: Bell, Hayward
Point Guard: Williams, Price, Gaines
I just see Heyward as a three. I think Kirilenko or Miles will be moved at the trade deadline. Jeffers will make the roster, but will average one minute a game for about 20 games. I think adding the depth is a smart move. Look at what teams are doing. If we want a championship in the Deron Williams era, the next two years are our window. We need to attack it.
Need another big. Let’s include Fes, that means you still only have 3 guys who are 6-9 or taller (Fes, AK, Jefferson) until Okur makes it back from his injury. Millsap obviously plays the 4 as well, but on the short side. I wonder if Mark Eaton has plans for the fall?
Jason you do make a good point. We do have several who can come in and play the 2. However, I really can’t see AK at the 2. I like your roster for the most part. Right now, Jeffers is a 2 guard, not a 3. Yes I also have Al playing either 4 or 5 and AK as a 3/4. I really like the idea of putting Evans at the 4, but not at this point. He’s a little too thin to be able to bang with the other 4’s in the league. AK right now I would have as our backup 4 with Evans a backup 3. Both Hayward and Evans need to bulk up a bit, and once Evans adds bulk, I can definitely see him being a good backup at the 4. I love his hustle and defensive game.
Chris, I think Hayward will mostly play the 3, but with his ball handling, he could also be a good fit off the bench as a tall 2. If the Jazz move either AK or CJ(my personal preference), then we definitely need to add another player. The reason why I want the Jazz to keep AK, is simply due to his defensive presence. CJ may be the better shooter, but AK is easily the better defender. We already have guys who can score, so adding and keeping defense is the biggest need right now. We do need to resign Fes so we have someone who can play the backup 5 while Memo is out. Plus with AK’s contract up next year, we could resign him for far less money, and then use what we have left to bring in another piece. If we keep up with what we’ve done this offseason, then I can see us being a force to be reckoned with within the next few years..possibly even championship caliber.
They should use the MLE thing to get Brewer back, then they need to trade AK and his bogus contract for a solid center. I’m not sure which center though. But they definitely need more height if they don’t want to get beat by LA for a fourth straight year
We Have to get another player even if we sign Jeffers, Evans, Gaines and Fes. That gives us 12. We have to have 13, league rules.
Brewer is our best option with Brown after him.
Sorry to bother you Andrew, but …
Jeffers / Evans / Gaines / Fes
and
Williams / Bell / Millsap / Jefferson / Kirikenko / Miles / Hayward /Price /Okur
… are 13 players !
The choice is now to either sign Jeffers as a back-up to Bell or send him back to D-league and sign a free agent (like Ronnie B).
Other trades involving Price or Gaines are possible to improve the roster, but if things stay as they are, it’ll be OK.
Funny about the comment about AK’s contract, cause just recently when asked about his contract expiring. AK did state that he knows personally he knows he was overpaid and knows he is not going to get another contract that big from the Jazz or any other NBA Team. Watch, next year same scenario with Portland but this time over AK since Portland likes to throw out money like it grows on trees.
FES, CJ or if they can get a good deal, AK will be gone before the trading deadline unless Utah can pull something out in the remaining hours of the free agency period.
I personally think Brewer should start. When you bring guys off the bench its normally to give good shooting or shut down defence. Brewer has 1 of the 2. You bring Raja off the bench we would be better.
With AK back at the 4. I think he’ll play meaner and grittier and better over all. I love AK I say we keep him and see if he’ll resign for cheap. If not we do what we did with Boozer. Sign and Trade or let him walk and take that TE or added cap space and finally get the BIG we need. A max contract type big. One who will make a difference. Not exactly sure on the free agency class next year as far as centers go. But that’s how I’d like to see it.
PG D-Will Ronnie Price and Sundiata
SG Raja Bell Ronnie Brewer? And Augustine
SF CJ Gordan and Evans
PF Millsap AK
C Jefferson Okur and Fes
We wont get brewer back. He is most likely going to the Bulls with the magic going to match redick
I stated in a previous post that kendrik perkins is a free agent next year he’s a big tough veteran that would fit in nicely, but I don’t know about giving up AK for him.