RealGM

Tossed this around in my head earlier. We're probably going to make a strong push for Boozer now that we couldn't secure a replacement for him in the draft. That means that we're going to be looking to cut salary again this year. The best and perhaps only place to do that is with AK.

So by not drafting a big
And by drafting a point forward

The Jazz have two reasons to deal AK. I would look for them to move him for some sort of immediate cap relief, but none of that can happen until free agency is over and cap space is nearly worthless. There will be one or two teams shut out of the free agent market this year in my estimation and they'd probably be happy to take AK along with some incentive to salvage some value for that wasted cap room. Maybe something like AK and Memphis first for nothing. Nothing Jazz fans will be happy about obviously, but, a savings of 20+ million for the organization.

So, my analysis of the Jazz offseason is this. Jazz will resign Boozer, even if it means overpaying. And then use the Memphis pick to dump the remainder of AK's contract after free agency has petered out. Hayward will then be part of a three man rotation at swing of Matthews, Miles, and Hayward assuring him significant minutes.

Alternatively, we may see something like AK and Memphis pick for Kaman. A move that would both save us money this year and improve our center position. But, that seems less likely. I'm guessing AK and Memphis pick to NJ for a future 2nd.

Your 2011 Utah Jazz
Deron/Price/Gaines
Matthews/ (Miles)/undrafted signee or vet min guy
Miles/Hayward/(will Spencer Nelson finaly get his shot to be 3rd string?)
Boozer/Millsap/2nd round guy, cant' remember his name. Not that it matters.
Okur/Fesenko (will be retained)/Koufos

Assuming Hayward can come in and contribute 25mpg as a rookie we won't be terribly worse than last year, nor will we be terribly better. I think this stagnation is just the cost of overpaying AK back when he got that last contract and is going to be hard to avoid. We could go another direction but that would mean letting Boozer walk and I dno't think that is going to happen.

Good news is that we were only a few games out of 1st place in the West last year. If we can get some production out of Fes or Koufos this year we might even be better this season.

C'mon Fes. We're counting on ya.

Thats not your analysis but your hope as to what the Jazz are going to do.

If the Jazz pay Boozer the Max then they are idiots. I am assuming KOC is not an idiot so Boozer is gone. AK-47 finally gets minutes at PF backing up Millsap who deserves to start.

The real analysis of the Hayward pick is that the Jazz picked what they conceived as the best player available regardless of position. This is exactly what KOC said in his interview yesterday. He was a good pick and will be at least a good player. He will not likely be the star all you guys wanted for this NYK pick. You guys know what the Jazz could have gotten for the pick at the trading deadline to make a true run at the championship last year and years to come, but simply decided to cut salary instead and try to get lucky in the lottery.

The pick was fine and KOC is likely doing a good job based upon his restraints placed by ownership, Sloan, and the team being in Salt Lake City.

Boozer is out of here. The Jazz didnt draft Hayward so they could make a push at re-signing Boozer. They drafted Hayward because he fits the system and culture of the Utah Jazz and every other player we targeted was already off the board by the time it was our turn.....

Simmons and Ford say the Jazz were desperately trying to trade up with the Nets to take Cousins.


http://espn.go.com/espnradio/player?rd= ... =ESPNRADIO


(Around half hour mark)

Jazz draft Hayward to replace AK who they trade for Okafor and Posey.

Deron/Price
Matthews/Posey
Miles/Hayward
Millsap/Koufos
Okafor/Okur/Fesenko

I like that trade....a lot.

I'm sorry, but that's the worst trade ever. Okafor and Posey are two of the five worst contracts in the league, you don't actively seek those out.

Posey is a bad contract, but he expires next year. I don't know what you are talking about with Okafor - he gets double-doubles on a consistent basis and is a good enforcer and big-body in the paint.

If we can get anywhere close to the deal that Houston got for T-Mac for AK then we are in business.

The Sheik wrote:If we can get anywhere close to the deal that Houston got for T-Mac for AK then we are in business.

- That was last season with several teams desesperately looking for any huge expiring contract they could find in order to go for James, Wade, Bosh, Johnson...

- Why would any team waste 17M in cap space for a season of Kirilenko? Where are the great players to pursue after 2010-11 season? AK will be in a Jazz uni at least untill midseason trade deadline when the Jazz already paid a big load of his salary

- Jazz shouldn't pursue Boozer if they had no guarantee they're getting a really good center (big, long, decent athleticism, above average D, shotblocking, decent offensive game) to play along him; it would be an ugly and regrettable mistake

- I'm starting to think the Jazz should seriously thing about building another team; and I really think there's no untradeable guys really; I'd even trade Williams for the right pack

Only logical explanation for me is that drafting Hayward gives the Jazz the flexibility to absorb whatever impact the Boozer situation gives.

A: Booze walks, AK plays significant minutes at 4 and Hayward comes off the bench to play the 3. To some extent, Hayward plays like AK (minus the help defense but with an outside shot) so he might fit in nicely at the 3.

B. Booze re-signs, AK becomes a trade asset and Hayward takes major minutes at the SF spot.

If A happens, the bench becomes dynamic with Price/Yatta, CJ, Hayward, AK and Fes/Kouf. Lots of ball movement or moving without the ball, which, in my opinion, is what the Jazz is all about.

That team can bang. I wonder if the hornets would give up marcus thorton (who seemed like a really soild scorer / shooter imo) if we took okafors beastly contract.

From Siler: "The Jazz extended an invitation to Deron Williams to stop by their draft workouts if he was in town, but Williams was not consulted about the Hayward pick. O'Connor said he did ask Williams what he thought of Hayward but Williams said he hadn't watched a lot of college basketball." Didnt they try and tell us draft night that Deron really liked Hayward?