Keep an eye on the Philly pick.

[carrottop12]

This is purely speculation on my part, but I honestly think if the Jazz are going to try to move up they will do it with Philadelphia for the #2 pick.

The Jazz have a long history of dealing with Philly, and it stems from the good relationship between Kevin O'Connor and the 76ers.

In the past we helped them out financially with the Alan Henderson trade, we swapped second rounders with them to get Fesenko, and we acquired Korver from them for Giricek and a first rounder.

In addition, we have large expiring contracts, and they are needing to unload salary.

I would not be surprised to see the Jazz in talks for a trade centered around Andrei Kirilenko, the #9 pick, and maybe the Memphis first for Elton Brand and the #2 pick.

The Jazz get a big man to replace Boozer, can play in the pick and roll and can play center to allow Millsap to start, and we shed 3 million dollars off the payroll next season. In addition we get the #2 pick and have the option to draft pretty much whoever we like, but most likely Evan Turner.

Philly gets AK whose deal expires this year and gets them out of Brand's contract far earlier than they expected, they open up time for Speights, and have the #9 pick to get a big man like Monroe or Aldrich. In addition they get a future first that could be a lottery pick from Memphis. They also become one of the most athletic teams in the East and I believe would have a good shot at the playoffs.

Jazz roster would look like this.

Deron/Price/Gaines
Turner/Korver/Jeffers
Miles/Matthews
Millsap/Koufos
Brand/Okur/Fesenko

Philly's roster would look like this.

Louis Williams/Jrue Holiday
Andre Igoudala/Jason Kapono/Willie Green
Andrei Kirilenko/Thaddeus Young
Marresse Speights/Greg Monroe
Samuel Dalembert/Jason Smith

I really think a deal based around these players is possible. There are obvious benefits for both teams, and I really don't think it's that unevenly matched.

[jazzfan1971]

That's a rather interesting proposal.

I think the Jazz say no though.

[carrottop12]

That's a rather interesting proposal.

I think the Jazz say no though.

It's definitely a gamble, and who really knows what you are going to get from Elton Brand. He has regressed three years in a row to a poor 13/6 last season with the 76ers. But playing in a half court system next to guys like Deron, Tuner and Millsap would really benefit his game I think. And I think he is a very capable pick and roll player.

It all depends on what you think Turner is going to give to this team. Is he a Turner/Brand combo better than Kirilenko and the possibility of resigning Boozer?

[CAE15]

im down change is good, although i think philly is looking to move iggy rather then turner.

[Bullet]

I hope the Jazz don't take this one. Doesn't address the Jazz's biggest problem-- SIZE.

[Reckless]

lthough i think philly is looking to move iggy rather then turner.

trading Iggy and drafting turner looks likely for philly.

[carrottop12]

I hope the Jazz don't take this one. Doesn't address the Jazz's biggest problem-- SIZE.

Unless the Jazz fell in love with someone like Cousins or Favors.

Who knows, I like where the Jazz are either way. If we could move up and get a guy like Evan Turner we could be very good for a long time.

If we get a good player at 9, possibly someone who falls we could be good for a long time.

[J_Ray]

I don't see Utah trading Kirilenko's expiring unless they are shedding cap now and keep a majority of the expiring $$$. Utah are just too broke to, and the 2 year luxury tax plan is letting Kirilenko expire (and possibly resigning him cheaper).

[qman]

I think Philly would do this a 95 times out of a 100. But the problem remains that Brand is a PF not a center.

Looking at Philly's roster

I like Igoudala, Louis Williams, Young, Speights and Holiday. Dalembert is a 12.9Mil expiring.

Brand is okay if you can slot him in at power forward. I don't see anything that makes complete sense. Unless Philly could be persuaded to take Memo and we end up with Dalembert. That would get us our defensive center and get us out from under memo's contract. But in that case you are probably trying to resign boozer.

[Hikari]

I think that IF this happened Brand would end up comming off the bench. Okur/Sap on the floor at the same time is > than Okur/Brand. (At this point in Brand career)

[Kova]

Philly fan here..

Uhmmm, yes, we would like to get rid of Brands contract, but no way to miss on Turner! Everyone is so high on him right now!

[carrottop12]

I think that IF this happened Brand would end up comming off the bench. Okur/Sap on the floor at the same time is > than Okur/Brand. (At this point in Brand career)

I would be surprised if Memo is healthy enough to give us 15 minutes of solid play before the pre-christmas road trip honestly.

[countrybama24]

Philly def says no. You don't trade a prospect who is part of your core to shed salary. Maybe if it was the #5 pick, not #2.

[QuantumMacgyver]

I don't see Utah trading Kirilenko's expiring unless they are shedding cap now and keep a majority of the expiring $$$. Utah are just too broke to, and the 2 year luxury tax plan is letting Kirilenko expire (and possibly resigning him cheaper).

Not true. The Jazz just went into the luxury tax for the first time ever, and they are paying a lot of money to redo their court and jerseys. Definitely not broke.

[Jampod]

This doesn't solve our height problem but it doesn't make it worse off then it was before. Obviously Elton Brand isn't going give us what Boozer did. I just don't see us beating bigger teams with that kind of lineup.

[hoops4life]

I don't think that they are in trouble at all financially. Redoing the jerseys is a huge money ploy though. They don't pay anything to get them updated. Addidas foots most the bill since they are the jersey sponsor for the league. Addidas pays the league to do this. There will be a huge spike in sales with the new jerseys and logo. The floor will cost them some money but if they are really strapped they can sell the old one at auction and probably make more money than the cost of the new one.

I don't see the trade working.

[DelaneyRudd]

They are financially conservative, which has made them financially sound and definitely not broke. The willingness to jeapardize that situation however is still a question mark.

[J_Ray]

I don't see Utah trading Kirilenko's expiring unless they are shedding cap now and keep a majority of the expiring $$$. Utah are just too broke to, and the 2 year luxury tax plan is letting Kirilenko expire (and possibly resigning him cheaper).

Not true. The Jazz just went into the luxury tax for the first time ever, and they are paying a lot of money to redo their court and jerseys. Definitely not broke.

The plan last offseason was to only be in the luxury tax for 2 years, because ideally that's when Kirilenko's huge max deal comes off the books. If you trade that now for another max deal, they could be in the luxury tax for quite awhile longer, which doesn't work for a market like Utah. Small market teams have to be smart with their payroll or else they lose loads of money.

[drivewayball]

If Elton Brand is stronger and healthier than last year, he can pretty much give the Jazz what Boozer did ... plus a little more on the defensive end. The way the Jazz get better in this deal is by adding Turner, who would likely be an asset and could work in a rotation with Matthews and Miles. Brand is a smart player and a good teammate. I would say this trade would allow the Jazz to win 50+ games next season.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Just no.

Anything that has Elton Brand coming to Utah and I'm going to shoot it down.

Frist, it doesn't solve our lack of size. Second, it severly limits our options in the FA market next year where we could pick up someone like Perkins. Third, we don't need Brand if we bring back Boozer or draft a big at 9. Fourth, AK is proven to be one of the most important pieces on this team, you just don't trade him. Fifth, why does Philly do this? They don't need AK and they need the draft pick.
Sixth, if we move into the top 3 we should target Favors unless you let Matthews/Korver walk or trade CJ away.