Meet
One last thing before the trade deadline
Posted by: Randall 'Sagg' Harris on February 7th, 2011
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.I may get smacked on the hands for this. But I’m willing to take the temporary punishment to see what Jazz nation thinks.
Who should we trade for?
I have been playing with the ESPN trade machine the last few weeks and have come up with a few gang busters and the more palatable small deals too.
Let me share a few details with you.
TEAMS:
Indiana. Having parted ways with coach O Brien they are looking to make changes. I think they are prime for the picking.
I see Jeff Foster and Mike Dunleavy as possible targets for the Jazz. Adding both size and stretching the floor.
Detroit. With a prime player sitting the bench and T Mac raking in the minutes it’s hard to figure out what Detroit is even doing.
I see the obvious, Rip Hamilton as a possible game changer for Utah if they could swing a deal to get him.
I cannot think of a player on the market that matches a team in need more than Rip to Utah.
Denver. Not that we would be able to make a deal for Carmelo. But with Denver in such a desperate situation it is possible to pull them into a deal that they would otherwise shy away from. With Denver brass previously from Toronto, the sting of the Bosh departure will surely play a role in Anthony’s departure from Nuggetland. Perhaps a JR Smith or even the serious probability of a departure with Al Harrington.
Cleveland. With 24 straight losses and counting, I think it is arguable that this season shouldn’t count against Byron Scott’s career record.
This team is willing to trade anybody just to get the taste of 2010 out of it’s mouth. I think the right offer could get a non-east conference team a serious deal like Andy Verajao or JJ Hickson.
Now the biggest question mark. Who do we trade to get these players?
Well nobody likes this part. But you have to give to get…and the Jazz are building for the immediate future, someone has to go.
The obvious choice would be AK. But even with this blockbuster season, I only see New Jersey willing to pay market value for an old Russian rifle. If we can get them into a 3 team trade then perhaps we could get something substantial.
Memo. I think that the possibility of him returning to Detroit, the place he won a ring, would be of possible leverage for the Jazz.
Teams like to welcome back players, especially Detroit. (Big Ben)
I guess I could add Francisco to the list. But just like AK and Memo, what can you get for an aging NBA player?
That is why I suggest that we use the youth of Jeremy Evans as a possible trade piece.
He has shown so much promise for the Jazz, in a position that they will be fine at for quite a while.
I understand what a bright future this young man will have. But it might be a good idea for the Jazz to use him as a bargaining tool.
To help us get to the next level.
Think of the Jazzmen whom have went on to have great careers.
But then again, maybe we should keep the roster like it is. And resign AK in the summer.
What does Jazz nation think?
Replies: 15
Views: 850
15 Responses
AK’s $17M means you could bring in $17M worth of traded player(s). That’s a lot, given the right players. The trick is trading an overpaid (talent versus pay) AK to someone for an underpaid or at least fairly-paid player(s).
I don’t know how likely a scenario that is, because I’m not a GM and I don’t take or make those calls to other teams.
But if it IS possible, the Jazz should pull the trigger. AK is declining and aging and trading him (however sad that would be to see a familiar face go) is the best hope of improving this team’s overall talent for the money.
Hustle-wise, execution-wise, in-sync-wise, there is still much progress to the made to this team without changing any personnel.
My personal thoughts? I think the Jazz hate being over the Luxury tax. It’s actually a much bigger hit than you think, because teams UNDER the tax get to share in the taxes the OVER teams pay. So not only are you paying more, you aren’t getting a cut of that previous money. So if a trade DOES happen, it might be to just dump salary, not necessarily to make us a more talented team. Also playing a factor is the assumedly tighter new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). When you don’t know the future rules you’ll be under, it’s harder to make a decision, because it could potentially screw you. So there’s another reason the Jazz may not do anything at all except let AK’s contract expire and hope no one else (Nets! Portland!) wants to pay more than the Jazz are willing to match (I’d think $6-$8M dollar range).
Absolutely no JR Smith!
Trade AK and Memo.
Pick up Iggy!
I wish the Jazz could swing a deal for Hamilton/Prince/Wallace. In exchange for Okur/AK/Miles – Detroit doesn’t really have a low post threat and are loaded at the 2/3 position. It frees up 20 million next season for them with Miles and AK being an optional pick up and gives them “back” Okur. I know Wallace is getting older but having him out their with Millsap/Al allows him to just focus on getting offensive boards. Plus, Prince and Hamilton in a flex offense would be dynamite. Plus this cuts 6 Mil off the Jazz books too.
Williams-Watson
Bell-Hamilton (back and forth)
Prince-Hayward
Jefferson-Millsap (back and forth)
Wallace-Fesenko
As I understand it the biggest appeal to Ak is his expiring contract but the expiring CBA has really thrown a wrench into the works because no one knows how the market will change. I think the market for Ak is fair outside of New Jersey as he still can be an effective player. Trading Memo to Detroit will be difficult because they are a team entering rebuilding mode and Memo doesnt fit that mold although I would love to see Rip in Utah as he is a system player and if hes in the right system he is money.
Actually regarding Rip would it be more effective for Utah, if they are in fact interested, to wait till the season ends when teams are most likely going to have the option to buy Rip out of contract for a fraction of the price? Just a thought but I do agree that a trade might help Utah win more immediately in the future which can only help our chances of keeping Williams here past 2012.
If the Jazz save $7m in salary, they will save about $17m with the luxury tax, luxury tax sharing and salary.
$17,000,000.00 is actually a fair chunk of change and high motivation to find a trade, even for a Billionaire.
With the Jazz looking like a more average team the last couple of months, the likely hood of a trade increases.
Nobody dares bring up DWil, but if you think he may fly the coop anyway, they could bring back all kinds of young talent and draft picks.
Jazzaholic
Actually, I looked it up. If the Jazz can take back $6m less in salary, they should be out of the tax. $6m + $6m + $3m = $15m savings.
AK at $17.8m will only generate about $4.5 maximum savings in an ordinary player trade. So, it would probably have to be a 3 way trade, involving TPE, Cap space or ?
Because it’d be so complicated, Kevin probably wouldn’t be able to find the WILLING teams to complete the trade.
Jazzaholic
Childress, Przybilla, Beidrens and the Cambyman could be available possibilities come deadline for the Jazz.
Jazzaholic
There is always incentive to shed salary but this year it seems like more and more with the CBA set to expire and Utah being in a small market without a Billionaire owner. Should be interesting.
Anyone actually know the net worth of all the Miller’s assets just out of curiosity?
More than half of these players salaries have been paid for this year. You would see Wade or Lebron on this team befor JR Smith. I don’t think Memo will be healed enough to trade this year. There is only a little over two weeks to decide. I think there will be a lot of trading going on in the league.
(Adam smacks Randall Harris on the hands)
This year hasn’t screamed louder in my ears that the Jazz won’t be making a deal. Sure you can go ahead and suggest several players from garbage teams that it would seem wonderful if they just dumped their only good players on us. Not gonna happen.
Then insight on who to give up? Trading pieces? This is the part that all Jazz fans can never seem to get down. EQUAL FLIPPIN VALUE GUYS!!!!!! No one is going to take AK’s huge contract. No one is going to take Memo who hasn’t been himself at all. No one is going to take Raja Bell who is in his mid 30’s. That right there trashes 97% of all trade suggestions given on this site. Sure after that its easy to say lets trade some of our insignificant bench players who average 10-12 minutes per game. Fransisco Elson, Ronnie Price, Jeremy Evans. Trading those players isn’t gonna give us jack squat in return.
What are some realistic trading pieces? Players on our team that other teams would ACTUALLY be asking about and wanting on their team? How ’bout CJ Miles. Paul Millsap. Al Jefferson. Those are some players that other teams would be interested in getting. “BUT ADAM, IT WOULD BE A HORRIBLE IDEA TO TRADE THOSE PLAYERS!!!!!!” No freaking duh. I agree. But its equal value here. If we want a stud shooting guard or a dominant center, then we are going to actually have to give a good player that other teams want in return. Jazz nation wants a really good shooter? Give up our 6th man CJ Miles to get him. You want a lane clogging, true center that will put us over the top? Trade Paul Millsap for him and then put AJ down at the PF. Both those would be fair realistic situations. Don’t like that idea? THEN STOP SUGGESTING THAT THE JAZZ MAKE A TRADE, BECAUSE ALL THE DUMB CRAPPY SITUATIONS THAT LOOK AMAZING FOR US AND HORRIBLE FOR THE OTHER TEAM AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Adam steps off of his soapbox, smacks Randall Harris on the hands again, then walks away)
Why not trade CJ? I cant think of a reason and I just want to see the back of AK’s jumpshot.
This year is much different than last year.
Then, NY, NJ, Miami etc, were willing to take horrible contracts, as long as they were expiring, give up young talent and draft picks, to get under the cap and join the FA hunt.
This year has just Melo, who only wants to go to NY, and nobody else.
The Lockout and uncertainty of the terms of the new CBA, and when it will happen, make owners motivations completely different.
Reducing the luxury tax bite and bringing team payrolls more in line, will be underlying factors in this year’s trades.
The exceptions being the rich guys looking for a ring.
Jazzaholic
I don’t understand everyone’s love affair with Rip Hamilton is. He’s declining in age just like AK, Memo, and Raja. I’d rather see the Jazz trade from some young talent or potential than pick up Hamilton’s contract and watch his career go down the drain.
oops, first sentence is a mess. *I don’t understand everyone’s love affair with Rip Hamiltion.*
I’d rather keep AK than get Rip. Rip is getting old and has a huge contract. AK has more years and more production left in him than Rip and because AK’s contract expires, we can re-sign him for cheaper because that’s what he’s said he’d do. So overall, Rip is more expensive and less talented. I don’t get everyone’s obsession over him either.