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Players I'd Like to See in a Jazz Uniform
September 7, 2009 -
Occasionally when watching other teams I’ll think to myself, “Man, I’d like to see that guy in a Jazz uniform.” I remember always feeling that way about Jeff Hornacek when he was on the Phoenix Suns and would regularly torch the Jazz with a barrage of 3s whenever the two teams played. I was absolutely ecstatic the day I heard that Utah had traded for him.
With three weeks remaining until the start of training camp and nothing happening on the free agent or trade front, this seems like as good a time as any to list my top-3 potentially attainable players at each position that I would like to see the Jazz pursue. I use the “potentially attainable” disclaimer because as much as I would love to have LeBron or Dwight Howard on the Jazz, I’m not quite delusional enough to think that could ever happen.
Point Guard – This is the one position on the Jazz where the starting job is completely set in stone. On the other hand, backup point guard has been a revolving door of sub-par talent for years. Rather than scraping the bottom of the barrel for a decent PG content to play 10 minutes a game, I would prefer to see the Jazz pick up a combo guard who could give Deron some quality rest and also effectively play beside him in certain lineups.1. Jason Terry – Explosive scorer and quick defender. Not likely that Dallas would let him go for anything Utah would be willing to offer, but you never know.
2. Kirk Hinrich – Good shooter, strong defender, and heady player. He is a little overpaid, but his skill set would be a great fit for the Jazz.
3. Mo Williams – The one that got away... and I’d love to have him back. I still can’t believe the Jazz failed to match his offer from Milwaukee a few years ago.
Shooting Guard – This position has been a continual weakness since Hornacek retired. Brewer has made nice progress recently but is really more suited as a small forward considering his lack of outside shooting. The Jazz need an SG who plays tough D, scores consistently, and can hit the three.1. Eric Gordon – Young, explosive guard with a decent stroke who can also get to the rim. Undersized for a 2, but still a good perimeter defender. Tons of upside.
2. Rip Hamilton – Great shooter and solid defender. Would be great coming off screens in the Jazz offense. Not sure how much he has left, but I’d like to find out.
3. Courtney Lee – Really came on strong at the end of his rookie season. I just like his game. He’s a great shooter and excellent on-the-ball defender. The kid has star potential.
Small Forward – Not long ago, this was the strongest position on the team. In a few short years, however, Harpring’s health and Kirilenko’s productivity both took a nose dive. Depending on who they play beside on the wing, the Jazz need a small forward who’s a disruptive defender and can either get to the hoop or hit outside jumpers.1. Caron Butler – Does most everything well. Not a great 3-pt shooter, but
deadly from mid-range. He’s also a good defender and passer.
2. Gerald Wallace – He’s like a mesh between Brewer and Kirilenko, but with a better offensive game. Need to pair him with a great shooter.
3. Shane Battier and Tayshaun Prince (tie) – Neither of these guys has gaudy statistics, but they are both great defenders and team players who can knock down open shots.
Power Forward – Now that Millsap has been signed, the Jazz could use a taller, athletic player behind him who can provide energy, rebounding, and shot blocking.1. Josh Smith – Young and incredibly athletic. He would vastly improve the Jazz’ interior defense. He’s also quick enough to play SF, helping to ensure him starter minutes.
2. Tyrus Thomas – Rumored to be a bit of a head case, he appears to have matured this past season. He’s the athletic shot blocker the Jazz have been longing for, and he still has upside.
3. Rony Turiaf – He’s a pure energy player and outstanding shot blocker with a limited offensive game.
Center – With Millsap undersized at PF and Okur playing small for a 7-footer, the Jazz need more size up front. If they go after a center rather than trusting Koufos to develop, I’d like to see them acquire a legitimate 7-footer who can be a defensive presence in the middle.1. Andrew Bogut – Not a prolific shot blocker, but he has a nice, well-rounded game and would definitely improve the center position.
2. Tyson Chandler – Athletic rebounder, shot blocker, and alley-oop recipient. Seems like an ideal complement to Memo.
3. Joel Pryzbilla – Good rebounder, shot blocker, and weak-side help defender. Not much of a scorer, but he’s definitely tough.
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Utah Jazz Offseason a Major...?
August 31, 2009 -
Not quite sure how to finish that sentence. Success? Bust? Disappointment? Guess it all depends on your perspective. At this point, the only word I can really settle on is Bore.
So what happened to the most exciting summer in Jazz history? With eight free agents including four of the team’s key players (Boozer, Memo, Millsap, and Korver), we were guaranteed to see some major movement. The Jazz had everything you need to pull off a blockbuster: expiring contracts, all-star talent, young players with upside, and the highly coveted NY 2010 draft pick. All we fans had to do was grab some popcorn, pull up a chair, and watch the events unfold…
This summer has been like meeting a hot girl who flirts with you but then stands you up for the date.
Did you know the Jazz are the only team in the entire NBA who have not either added a new player to their roster (aside from their draft picks) or had another team sign away one of their free agents? In the meantime, the majority of contenders in the West have made at least one significant move to improve their team. Check out this list based on 2009 playoff seeds:
1. Lakers – Signed Ron Artest
2. Nuggets – A few minor deals, but no major changes
3. Spurs – Traded for Richard Jefferson; signed Antonio McDyess
4. Houston – Signed Tervor Ariza (but lost Artest to the Lakers and Yao to injury)
5. Portland – Signed Andre Miller
6. Dallas – Traded for Shawn Marion; signed Drew Gooden
7. Hornets – Traded for Emeka Okafor
8. Jazz – I heard they added a new towel boy for home games
Clearly five of the teams ahead of the Jazz in last season’s standings pulled off deals that make them stronger, at least on paper. You never know how it will translate on the court, but the West definitely looks tougher than ever.
Training camp doesn’t start for another month, so things could still change between now and then. I’m holding out hope that KOC has a few tricks up his sleeve, because it will be a major letdown to start the season with the same cast that barely made the playoffs last year. For now, the Jazz offseason remains an unanswered question.
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Boozer Makes a Top-10 List
August 23, 2009 -
I had to laugh when I came across an article today on FOXSports.com by John Galisnsky highlighting the NBA's top-10 stat stuffers, which he defines as "players who put up big numbers but aren't as valuable as their stats suggest." Guess who was #7 on the list? I'll give you a hint: His last name rhymes with Loozer...
I couldn't disagree with anything Galinsky said about Boozer:
"Why have most Utah fans soured on Boozer despite his big numbers and two All-Star Game selections over the past five years? Because he hasn't been durable, missing 134 games in that span. Because he's a lousy team leader. Because of his matador defense. And most of all, because he's greedy. Boozer planned to opt out of the last year of his Jazz contract before he realized he wouldn't get more than $12.6 million elsewhere. Even now he's trying to force a trade, but the league-wide consensus is clear: He's not as good as he thinks he is. You can bet he won't be on Team USA in 2012."
It's a shame the national media caught on to Booz before the Jazz were able to trade him. He could still be an extremely valuable player in the right situation, but his recent antics (and articles like this) have really hurt his brand.
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3-Team Trade Idea
August 7, 2009 -
Following up on my August 25th thought, I came up with a 3-team trade idea involving both New Jersey and Golden State. A fellow Jazz fan in the Bay Area tipped me off to the notion that GS has interest in Yi Jianlian based on the area's significant Asian population and the fact that Yi's game fits the Warrior's offense. With that in mind, here's my proposal:
Utah sends Boozer & CJ to New Jersey
Golden State sends Kalena Azubuike to New Jersey and Brandan Wright, Speedy Claxton, & Acie Law to Utah
New Jersey sends Courtney Lee to Utah and Yi Jianlian & Bobby Simmons to Golden State
Here's the breakdown for each team:
New Jersey - They get the low-post scorer and rebounder they desperately need. Boozer could actually be a great fit playing next to Brook Lopez and would likely sign an extension if the Nets wanted to keep him. NJ also gets Azubuike and CJ to replace Lee and Simmons at the wings. New lineup:
PG - Harris, Alston, Dooling
SG - Azubuike, Terrance Williams
SF - CJ, CDR, Hayes
PF - Boozer, Sean Williams
C - Lopez, Boone, Battie
Golden State - They give up two bench players and two expiring contracts in exchange for a 7-ft shooting PF they apparently covet, along with a tall, 3-pt shooting wing with a large expiring contract. Both players seem like they would fit well in GS. New lineup:
PG - Ellis, Curry
SG - Jackson, Morrow
SF - Maggette, Simmons, George
PF - Randolph, Yi
C - Biedrins, Turiaf
Utah - They dump Boozer and CJ in exchange for two young, talented players and cap relief. Lee and Wright both have great potential and should be immediate rotation players. The Jazz also take back $6M less in salary than they send out, resulting in a $12M combined luxury tax savings this season. They may also be able to save more by buying out Claxton and/or Law. New lineup:
PG - Deron, Price, Maynor
SG - Lee, Korver
SF - AK, Brewer
PF - Millsap, Wright
C - Memo, Koufos, Fess
I think this is a trade that actually benefits all three teams. If I had KOC's number, his phone would be ringing right now.
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August 25th
August 6, 2009 -
This is the next potential date of interest in the ongoing Boozer trade saga. It represents the point at which a handful of players moved in previous deals this summer are eliigible to be traded again. According to ESPN.com:
"If a team is over the cap and receives a player in a trade or claims a player off waivers, they cannot trade the player in combination with other players for two months. The player can be traded by himself."
Under this rule, the following players will be avaialbe to trade again after August 25th:
New Jersey: Courtney Lee, Tony Battie, Rafer Alston
Golden State: Speedy Claxton, Acie Law
Both NJ and GS have been mentioned previously in Boozer rumors, and they both have a combination of young talent and expiring contracts to offer. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to learn that KOC is waiting until the 25th to pull the trigger on a deal with one (or both) of these teams.
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3 Teams, 20 Boozer Trade Ideas
July 28, 2009 -
I've been playing around on ESPN Trade Machine to see how many plausable trade scenarios I could come up with for the teams rumored to want Boozer. I intentionally did not include NY because I just can't imagine the Jazz will do a deal with them, and they really don't have any players I want.
While some of these trades would obviously make me happier than others, I only listed deals that I would actually do (assuming no better offers were on the table). Seems like KOC should be able to make at least one of these happen:
Miami
Boozer for Beasley and Haslem
Boozer for Chalmers, Cook, Blount, and 2010 1st-round pick
Boozer and Kirilenko for Beasley and O’Neal
Boozer and CJ for Beasley, Blount, and Cook
Boozer and CJ for Beasley, Haslem, and Cook
Boozer for Haslem, Wright, and Cook + CJ for Chalmers (separate transaction to take advantage of trade exception)
Boozer, CJ, and Harpring for Beasley, Haslem, and Blount
Summary: Any Miami trade must include either Beasley or both Chalmers and Cook.
New Jersey
Boozer for Lee and Simmons
Boozer for Lee, Battie, and Dooling
Boozer for Lee, Battie, and Yi
Boozer and CJ for Lee, Simmons, and Boone
Boozer and Harpring for Lee, Simmons, and Dooling
Boozer, CJ, and Harpring for Lee, Simmons, and Battie
Summary: Any NJ trade must include Courtney Lee (unless of course Brook Lopez is available...)
Chicago
Boozer for Thomas and James
Boozer for Hinrich and Noah
Boozer and Fess for Salmons and James
Boozer and CJ for Hinrich and Thomas
Boozer and CJ for Hinrich, James, and 2010 1st-round pick
Boozer and Harpring for Thomas and Miller
Boozer, Kirilenko, and CJ for Hinrich, Thomas, Deng, and James
Summary: There are a bunch of Chicago players I would happily take back for Boozer
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Millsap Matched
July 17, 2009 –
If I had any doubt about Jazz ownership’s commitment to building a title contender rather than saving a buck, those fears have been put to rest. By matching Portland’s “toxic” offer sheet to Paul Millsap, Greg Miller convinced me that he wants to win.
I’m thrilled that Millsap will remain a Jazzman. While I always believed the Jazz would be true to their word and match any reasonable offer he received, there was enough subjectivity in the term “reasonable” to leave them an out had they chosen to go the financially conservative route. Instead, they will pay Paul a boatload of money upfront and then have him locked to an extremely reasonable contract for the next four years.
(I promise not to use the word “reasonable” for the remainder of this post.)
Now things get interesting. This move obviously makes Boozer’s imminent departure appear to be more of a foregone conclusion than it already was. The question is does it hurt Utah’s leverage now that other teams know the Jazz are deep in luxury tax territory and may therefore be much more motivated to trade Boozer for some salary relief?
I don’t believe the Jazz will deal Boozer for nothing more than cap relief, and I sincerely hope I’m not proven wrong. It just wouldn’t be reason… uh… I mean, "sensible" to do so.
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Top Five Wishes for the Rest of the Offseason
July 13, 2009 -
1. Jazz match Millsap -- He needs to be a Jazzman. We don't have enough tough, hustle players, and Sap actually has skill and upside to go along with it. It will be a sad day if he becomes a Blazer.
2. Jazz trade Boozer without involving Portland -- I don't want to see them benefit in any way from signing Millsap to a "toxic" offer sheet, even if it does allow the Jazz to shed more salary. I just want the Jazz to get something of value back for Booz, not just expiring contracts.
3. Jazz trade small and/or expiring contracts for a single wing upgrade -- I would like to see any combination of Harp, CJ, Korver, Fess, and Brewer traded for someone like Caron Butler, Gerald Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Kevin Martin, Eric Gordon, OJ Mayo, John Salmons, Tayshaun Prince, etc. (Probably dreaming here, but if San Antonio can get Richard Jefferson for their leftovers, there's always a chance...)
4. Andre Miller re-signs with Philly (and therefore not Portland or NY) -- Miller makes the players around him better, and for obvious reasons I don't want to see either of those two teams improve.
5. Lamar Odom signs with anyone but Portland -- Again, no interest in seeing Portland add a player who could make them better. I can't figure out why they haven't pursued Odom aggressively, as he seems like a great fit for them at both forward spots.
So how many of the five will actually happen? Guess we'll find out soon enough.
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Boozer Trade Ideas Revisited
July 2, 2009 -
Now that the free-agent opt-out decisions have been made and the landscape is a little clearer, it’s a great time to revisit possible trade destinations for Boozer. Let’s face it; the majority of Jazz fans will be sorely disappointed if he’s a member of the team when training camp begins. While there are numerous potential trade scenarios involving Boozer, I’ll focus on what I believe are the top-5 most likely:
(Note: I had to change this article at the last minute to remove Detroit, as their recent signing of Villenueva makes it highly unlikely they would trade for Boozer)
Chicago
Best realistic deal: Boozer, Brewer, and CJ for Kirk Hinrich and John Salmons.
Alternate deal: Boozer and CJ for Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas
I love the idea of Hinrich on the Jazz as a quality backup for Deron and solid option at the two. But can the Jazz really afford $9M a year for a backcourt role player? He still has three years left on his contract, so it’s a bit risky. If he can provide some consistent shooting and defense from the SG position, it might be worth it.
Salmons would be perfect for the Jazz, giving them a solid defender and true scoring option capable of playing either wing position. He also has a cheap contract ($6M for the next two years). I believe this is a trade that would make both teams better.
The alternate deal with Tyrus Thomas is not quite as attractive, but still a decent option.
Here's how the new Jazz would look under the better scenario, with my best guess at minutes distribution:
PG – Deron (36), Hinrich (12), Maynor
SG – Hinrich (20), Korver (28)
SF – Salmons (36), AK (12), Harpring
PF – Millsap (32), AK (16)
C – Memo (30), Koufos (18), Fess
Projected 2009-10 Salary: $79M
Golden State
Best realistic deal: Boozer, CJ, and Fess for Rony Turiaf, Brandan Wright, Kalena Azubuike, Speedy Claxton (to be waived), and a 2010 1st round pick (top-10 protected).
Alternate deal: Boozer, CJ, and Fess for Andris Biedrins, Anthony Morrow, Wright, Claxton, and the 2010 1st rounder.
Nellie has already made it known that he will not trade Anthony Randolph or Steph Curry. Otherwise those two would headline the list. The Jazz don’t get equal value in this trade, but they do acquire a bunch of young talent and would still be able to put a competitive team on the floor in 2009. If nothing else, they improve their shot blocking and 3-pt shooting. They also get an additional pick in the deep 2010 draft.
This trade is similar to the rumored deal with Phoenix for Amare Stoudemire that has apparently fallen apart. Boozer should fit in well in GS since they don’t play defense.
PG – Deron (36), Price (12), Maynor
SG – Azubuike (20), Korver (20), Brewer (8)
SF – AK (28), Brewer (20), Harpring
PF – Millsap (30), Wright (12), Turiaf (6)
C – Memo (30), Koufos (12), Turiaf (6)
Projected 2009-10 Salary: $82M
Houston
Best realistic deal: Boozer and CJ for Shane Battier, Luis Scola, and Brian Cook (to be waived)
Alternate deal: Boozer for Artest (sign and trade) and Scola
Houston desperately needs scoring with Yao out and McGrady likely missing much of the season. Boozer would give them that. Battier and Scola would both be great additions to the Jazz, although they are clearly role players. This team would be competitive (and much improved defensively) but would still lack a go-to scorer outside of Deron.
The alternate deal involving Artest would be intriguing, but would he come to Utah, and would the Jazz really want him to?
PG – Deron (36), Price (12), Maynor
SG – Brewer (28), Korver (20)
SF – Battier (28), AK (20), Harpring
PF – Millsap (28), Scola (20)
C – Memo (30), Koufos (18), Fess
Projected 2009-10 Salary: $80M
Charlotte
Best realistic deal: Boozer and CJ for Gerald Wallace and Raja Bell
Alternate deal: Boozer for Emeka Okafor
The Bobcats are losing money and desperate to dump salary. Boozer is an expiring contract but could also be a local draw since he played at Duke. Wallace is reportedly available and would be a nice addition to the Jazz, bringing athleticism, defense and the ability to get to the line. Bell would add outside shooting and defensive toughness. This move would give the Jazz a serious logjam at the wing, so they would likely need to make a subsequent trade.
The Bobcats would really have to be desperate to unload Okafor after consecutive seasons in which he played all 82 games, but who knows?
PG – Deron (36), Price (12), Maynor
SG – Bell (24), Brewer (12), Korver (12)
SF – Wallace (32), Brewer (16), Harpring
PF – Millsap (30), AK (18)
C – Memo (30), Koufos (18), Fess
Projected 2009-10 Salary: $82M
New Jersey
Best realistic deal: Boozer and CJ for Bobby Simmons, Courtney Lee, and Kenyon Dooling
This is another deal in which the Jazz clearly don’t get equal value immediately, but they do get some young talent and fill some needs. Courtney Lee had a strong rookie season and could make it much easier to let Korver go next year. Dooling is a combo guard who plays tough D and can hit the three. Simmons makes the deal work with his large expiring contract ($10M), but he's also a good defender and great 3-pt shooter from the corner. As with the Charlotte trade, this would leave the Jazz with a glut of wing players, so an additional trade would make sense.
PG – Deron (36), Dooling (12), Maynor
SG – Lee (24), Korver (18), Dooling (6)
SF – Brewer (30), Simmons (10), Harpring
PF – Millsap (30), AK (18)
C – Memo (30), Koufos (18), Fess
Projected 2009-10 Salary: $81M
Of the deals above, I like the Chicago trade the best. As you can see, all of these place the Jazz well into luxury tax territory for the 2009-10 season, but that seems a foregone conclusion at this point. These scenarios all assume that Millsap returns to Utah (I used a starting salary of $8M for my assumptions). If he gets an offer sheet that the Jazz feel they can’t match, that could change the landscape considerably. Should that happen, I’ll update the trade scenarios
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Jazz Draft Recap
June 25, 2009 -
Wow, this was an incredibly anti-climactic draft. I'm not exactly sure what I expected to happen, but it didn't. No trades, no drama, no nothing. The Jazz took Eric Maynor from VCU with the 20th pick. Chances are he'll spend most of the year in Orem with the Flash. How exciting.
Maynor may end up being a great pick. I was just disappointed the Jazz passed on Sam Young. Then again so did a lot of teams, so maybe they know something I don't? Young just seemed like the exact kind of player the Jazz needed coming off the bench. I viewed him as the perfect replacement for Harpring, who may have played his last NBA game. He's a tough guy, and the Jazz could sure use a few more of those.
I'm still dumbfounded by the Suton selection in the second round. I'll be shocked if he ever sees a minute on the floor for the Jazz. I was hoping they would take Nando de Colo, whom the Spurs selected three picks later. Considering the Spurs are ususally smarter than every other team when it comes to the draft, he'll probably end up being a star.
Now we wait a few days to see what Boozer, Okur, and Korver do with their contract options. I predict Kyle and Memo will opt in, and Boozer will opt out to sign with the Pistons.
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Five Mistakes the Jazz Could Make This Summer
June 1, 2009 -
I’ve been speculating heavily in recent weeks about what moves the Jazz will make this summer. Unfortunately, there are too many factors beyond the team’s control at this point for them to do much more than theoretical planning. The decisions the front office makes this summer (and potentially up to next season’s trade deadline) will have a profound impact on the future success of this team. The Jazz have enough talent and resources to transform themselves into immediate title contenders with a few key moves. Conversely, they could also condemn themselves to years of mediocrity with a few key blunders.
With that in mind, I have identified five major mistakes the Jazz must not make this summer:
Mistake #1: Overpay for Boozer – The Jazz should be all too familiar with the perils of bad contracts. Perennial underachiever, Greg Ostertag, was overpaid for years, and his contract prevented the Jazz from acquiring additional talent that could have helped bring a title to Utah. Andrei Kirilenko is the most recent example of an overpaid underachiever. His max deal has two years left and represents a huge burden to the team’s current financial flexibility.
On one hand, Carlos Boozer is a two-time NBA all-star and Olympic gold medalist. He is one of only a handful of players capable of averaging 20 points and 10 boards over the course of a season. On the other hand, Boozer missed one third of his possible games over the past four years, with three separate “major” injuries. He also disappeared for critical stretches, including the 2008 Playoffs. His defense is dismal, and his character, leadership, and desire have all come under legitimate question.
Paul Millsap is not as talented a scorer, but he’s a comparable rebounder and much better defender than Boozer. He is also younger, more durable, and will come significantly cheaper. Millsap is a Jerry Sloan-type player who brings it every night. You can’t ask for a much better contingency plan should Boozer leave.
Let’s cut to the chase. Considering that the salary cap is shrinking, the Jazz should not offer Boozer that raise he so brashly predicted. If he can find a team willing to give him one, more power to him. Utah should then explore sign-and-trade opportunities with that team, assuming they have assets the Jazz would want in return.
If that doesn’t work, just let him walk.
Yes, I just suggested letting an all-star walk out the door. While it would hurt to lose Boozer for nothing, the alternative of being saddled by a terrible contract attached to a player who will never deliver a title would be even more painful.
Mistake #2: Keep Boozer and Okur together – The sample size is now officially large enough to draw a solid conclusion: Booz and Memo are the weakest defensive frontcourt tandem in the league. Champions play tough D, and these two either can’t or won’t. It’s a shame, because they actually complement each other nicely on offense.
Bottom line: if one stays, the other must go. Personally I would prefer to keep Okur for a number of reasons (this argument could command a separate article), but I could live with either scenario so long as one of them is replaced by a defensive stalwart. I can’t stomach another season of opposing teams taking it to the hole without fear or retribution.
Mistake #3: Trade the 2010 Knicks’ pick without getting an all-star in return – Thanks to the brilliant business mind of Isiah Thomas, the Jazz own New York’s 2010 first-round draft pick, completely unprotected. This pick could range anywhere from the mid-teens all the way up to number one. Based on the Knicks’ performance last season, it will most likely be in the 6-10 range. The 2010 draft is supposed to be one of the strongest in recent years, making this pick an even more coveted prize.
The Jazz can approach this asset a couple of different ways. They can hold on to it, hope the Knicks have another poor season, and pray for lottery luck. Or they could trade the pick to improve the team right away with a known commodity. They could also use it to entice another team to take bad contracts (i.e. Kirilenko), and this is what scares me.
This pick is far too valuable to be used for anything less than significantly improving the team. Sure, it could end up being a bust, but it could also land a franchise player. The Jazz should entertain trade offers for the pick during the upcoming year, but only if they receive all-star talent in return. Simply using it to dump salary would be inexcusable.
Mistake #4: Take a passive approach – The Jazz are traditionally a conservative organization, not exactly known for shaking things up. (How often have you heard the terms “Utah Jazz” and “blockbuster trade” in the same sentence?) In recent years, the Jazz have employed a stay-the-course strategy, making minor adjustments in hopes that this young team would evolve into a title contender. Injuries aside, I think the past season proved that strategy to be flawed. This team has too many serious weaknesses (defense, 3-pt shooting, athleticism, toughness, wing scoring, etc.) to address them with a little tweaking.
Fortunately the Jazz have a number of valuable resources at their disposal to orchestrate trades including all-star talent (Boozer, Okur, Kirilenko), expiring contracts (Harpring, Brewer), young players with upside (Millsap, Brewer, Miles, Koufos, Fessenko), and the aforementioned NY draft pick. Kevin O’Connor needs to use these resources aggressively to address key weaknesses. The Jazz need to make at least one, if not two major deals this summer.
Deron Williams is the team’s franchise player. He is untouchable (unless of course the Cavs are shopping LeBron). Everyone else is fair game. The goal should be to surround Williams with the best possible cast, even if that means shipping away two or three of the current core. Swapping Brevin Knight for Kenyon Dooling won’t cut it.
Mistake #5: Focus on cutting costs – In the current economic recession, many teams around the league are hurting financially. With owners and GMs looking to cut costs, good talent will be available at deep discounts. Mark my words: the teams that are aggressive during this period will be the big winners over the next decade. Of course the Jazz need to be prudent with their finances, but if they get too conservative and prioritize cost cutting above talent acquisition, they will miss a golden opportunity to improve the team. Sure, that’s easy for me to say when I don’t have to pay the bills, but a winning team equates to winning ticket and merchandise sales. The same principle holds true for a mediocre team.
A little short-term financial pain over the next year or two could equate to serious long-term gain and potentially reward the franchise with that first elusive title.
At the end of the summer, I'll revisit this topic and grade the performance.
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Who Wants Boozer?
May 8, 2009 -
Despite the fact that most of us are down on Boozer, he is a proven 20/10 guy when healthy, and there just aren’t many of those in the league. For that reason, I believe a number of teams would be highly interested in acquiring him, and possibly willing to give up good players to make it happen. The most logical destination for Booz is a team with a strong defensive front-court presence that needs more scoring and rebounding.
I’ve gone through all 29 teams and grouped them into 3 categories with respect to their potential interest level in Boozer:
LITTLE TO NONE
Boston – They have KG.
Dallas – They have Dirk.
LA Clippers – Boozer is too similar to Randolph.
LA Lakers – They need a PG, not a PF.
Minnesota – They have Al Jefferson.
New Orleans – They have David West.
OKC – They have Jeff Green.
Orlando – They have Rashard Lewis.
Philly – They have Brand.
Phoenix – They have Amare.
Portland – They have Aldridge.
MODERATE
Cleveland – They are dominating right now. Why mess that up? And would they want Booz after he screwed them?
Denver – Moot point, as the Jazz would never trade Boozer within the division.
Houston – The Rockets wouldn’t want a third injury-prone all-star.
Indiana – Murphy had a nice year for them and is cheaper.
Miami – Rumored to be interested, but the Jermaine O’Neil trade pretty much killed that prospect.
New York – Might want Booz if they don’t keep David Lee, but they have no shot blockers.
San Antonio – Boozer would actually be great next to Duncan, but the Spurs would have to give up Parker or Ginobli to make it work. Not gonna happen.
Toronto – Only makes sense if they think Bosh will bolt.
That leaves us with 10 teams who could/have legitimate interest in acquiring Boozer:
HIGH
Atlanta – They have Horford, Pachulia, and Josh Smith – all decent defenders, but none of them are prolific scorers. Booz could be a missing piece for this mid-tier playoff team.
Charlotte – They don’t have a true PF and could really use one. Okafor is a good defender and shot blocker to compensate for Boozer’s weakness. This one makes a lot of sense.
Chicago – They have Noah, Brad Miller, and Tyrus Thomas. All can defend, but none can score or rebound like Boozer. He could take a lot of pressure off their backcourt.
Detroit – They are in rebuilding mode and apparently have interest in Boozer. They could sign him outright but might consider a sign-and-trade to save cap space.
Golden State – Most of their points come from the perimeter. They could definitely use the post scoring and rebounding Boozer would bring.
Memphis – They have good prospects at most every position, except PF. They also have the cap space to sign Boozer outright.
Milwaukee – Boozer would be a big upgrade over Villanueva at PF, and a nice complement to Bogut.
New Jersey – Their backcourt is strong, but the frontcourt lacks scoring punch. They do have a number of young shot blockers that Booz could play beside.
Sacramento – They need everything except a shooting guard (KMart). Their frontcourt is young and could use a veteran scorer and rebounder.
Washington – They have shot-blocking centers and good wings, but no real low post threat (Jamison is more a perimeter forward). Plus they are awful and need to make changes.
Next, the challenge becomes identifying realistic sign-and-trade possibilities for each of these teams that both sides would be happy with. Here’s my best shot:
Atlanta – Boozer for Josh Smith + filler
Jazz could certainly use his athleticism and shot blocking. I would actually prefer Joe Johnson, but I doubt Atlanta would part with him unless they don’t expect him to re-sign. Al Horford and Marvin Williams could also work.
Charlotte – Boozer and Brewer for Gerald Wallace and Raja Bell
This deal would greatly improve Utah’s defense and wing scoring. Okafor is another possibility but would be risky with his big contract (2014) and injury history.
Chicago – Boozer for Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas
Hinrich would be an ideal combo guard for the Jazz, and Thomas is an athletic shot blocker. There are actually a number of potential trades that could work with the Bulls that include a combination of Hinrich, Thomas, Gordon, Salmons, Noah, etc. The perfect deal for the Jazz would be Booz and CJ for Hinrich and Salmons, but I doubt the Bulls would do it. If they would, I couldn't sign that contract fast enough.
Detroit – Boozer for Rip Hamilton
I would also love Tayshaun Prince, but that doesn’t make as much sense unless the Jazz move AK. Rip would bring shooting and defense, two things the Jazz could sure use.
Golden State – Boozer and CJ for Jamal Crawford, Rony Turiaf, Kalenna Azubuike, and a 1st round pick
This would net the Jazz an explosive combo guard, a 3-point threat, and a great shot blocker. As with the Bulls, there are a number of potential trades that could work involving a combination of Crawford, Turiaf, Maggette, Biedrins, Wright, etc. That said, I would prefer to include AK in a deal with GS since they are a team that might want him.
Memphis – No deal
They probably wouldn’t give up Gay, Mayo, or Gasol considering they don’t need a sign-and-trade to get Boozer. Darrell Arthur is likely the best the Jazz could do.
Milwaukee – Boozer for Richard Jefferson
I’d like to see the Jazz to get Bogut, but the more I think about it, the Bucks would have an incredibly small frontcourt without him. I doubt they let him go. Jefferson would provide a nice scoring upgrade at the wing, but he’s expensive.
New Jersey – Boozer for Brook Lopez and Bobby Simmons (filler + expiring contract)
Jersey only does this if they are trying to win now (i.e. while Vince Carter is still playing at a high level). Otherwise, there’s no way they let go of Lopez after his impressive rookie campaign.
Sacramento - Boozer and CJ for Francisco Garcia, Jason Thompson, and Kenny Thomas (filler + expiring contract), and a 1st round pick
Since Boozer can’t be traded until the free-agent signing period begins, lottery and draft results could impact the Kings’ interest. If they get Griffin, they won’t want Boozer. Cisco would be a big upgrade over CJ, and Thompson showed nice potential in his rookie season.
Washington – Boozer and CJ for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood
This deal makes the Jazz bigger and tougher. Butler brings a true scoring threat and tough defense from the wing. Haywood is a big shot blocker. As with Sacramento, draft results will likely impact Washington’s interest.
Obviously these trade scenarios will be heavily influenced by whether or not Boozer opts out of the final year of his contract as he indicated he would. I'll post an update after the beginning of free agency when the landscape should be a little more clear.
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