Helping Raja to be Effective

[retiredcoach]

Here's my take on Raja Bell. It's based on what I posted under Evaluating Corbin.

I think Raja has a lot of value to the Jazz, but unfortunately it's not the way they've been using him as the starting 2.

I like Raja's intelligence, his knowledge of the league, the players and defense and his experience playing defense. I've said on this forum several times that when his playing days are over Raja would make an excellent coach, especially a defensive specialist coach.

I don't like Raja as the starting 2 guard because I think in that position the Jazz get off to a slow start offensively.

If I were Corbin here's what I would do.

I would have a talk with Raja acknowledging the things I've said I like about him along with the problems I see. I would present the whole thing on the basis of how the Jazz can find the most value from what Raja does well.

I would ask him for his help in both designing the defense and teaching the defense to the younger players. I would talk to him and treat him like an assistant coach who is still playing.

In terms of the games, I would ask Raja to come off the bench in selective situations where a 1 or 2 guard is hurting the Jazz and where man up in your face defense could stop a player's momentum and maybe help decide the outcome of a game.

If Bell could do those things well, he would be worth his $3 mil in salary.

I have no idea what Bell's reaction to a conversation like this would be, or if there are things that I'm not seeing that Corbin knows which changes the issues, then this isn't the way to go. But that's my take on it from my seat at the games.

Raja has to be thinking about transitioning into a non-playing career. Accepting the role as I've described could do that, which might make it appealing. If he were to balk, then there's possibly an issue with ego and his acceptance of where he is in his career exists, and that issue may not go away without causing collateral damage. If that's the case, it's better to get that out now rather than take a wait and see position.

I doubt the Jazz could get much value from a trade, and amnesty just isn't a viable option with a player like Raja on a small contract.

[BrooklynBulls]

Staplegun him to the bench and tell him that if he's mad about it, he can take a buyout of all 3 years less the minimum.

Or convince him to retire and offer him an assistant role.

[Jazzfan12]

He's one of the most limited guards on offense in recent history, I'm not sure he can be used effectively.

[carrottop12]

See if he can learn to tape ankles during warm up.

[retiredcoach]

You guys have no mercy!

[babyjax13]

See if he can learn to tape ankles during warm up.

Just keep him away from Burks, Howard and Hayward.

[Fido]

You are assuming there is an Assistant Coach opening on the team and that the team wants Raja to fill it as well as assuming that Raja wants to coach and is willing to start making that transition now.

If things don't turn around, I don't see the harm in using the amnesty on Raja's final year to free up a roster spot and remove $3 mill from the salary cap calculations. You could always approach him about a coaching position if you wanted separate from this transactions.

[retiredcoach]

by Fido on Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:12 am
You are assuming there is an Assistant Coach opening on the team and that the team wants Raja to fill it as well as assuming that Raja wants to coach and is willing to start making that transition now.

If things don't turn around, I don't see the harm in using the amnesty on Raja's final year to free up a roster spot and remove $3 mill from the salary cap calculations. You could always approach him about a coaching position if you wanted separate from this transactions.

I wasn't talking about making him an assistant. I was talking about using him as a consultant and giving him more voice in discussions of defensive strategies. It's a minor role change.

I think amnesty is too valuable to use on a $3 mil guy. If no one picks him, he still gets paid. The effect on salary cap is very limited. Amnesty should be held until it can be used on a high priced mistake.

[babyjax13]

^^^
It really can't be held, it has to be used on a player that was on the roster at the beginning of this season, we can't use it on someone we sign or trade for later. Besides, I don't think the Millers will pay a high priced player's salary just to rot on the bench.

[retiredcoach]

If the Jazz were going to use amnesty on Raja, they need to use it right now. That makes the total savings against the cap close to $6 mil, but amnesty really only helps with the cap and not cash flow.

If the Jazz amnesty Bell, then they have to be ready to sign a much higher priced players which seems very unlikely.

I was thinking more of using it on a Jefferson or Harris say if they get injured and the Jazz need a high priced replacement for them. They still wind up paying them but they get the cap room to bring in someone else. Trading Memo relieved a lot of cap pressure.

I don't know if that's a good strategy, but it's my thinking right now.

[seejaydeja]

Raj makes a little over 6.5 mil over the next 2 seasons. certainly too much for HIM but not a huge amount of money for the jazz in the big scheme of things...

[Jazzfan12]

If the Jazz were going to use amnesty on Raja, they need to use it right now. That makes the total savings against the cap close to $6 mil, but amnesty really only helps with the cap and not cash flow.

If the Jazz amnesty Bell, then they have to be ready to sign a much higher priced players which seems very unlikely.

I was thinking more of using it on a Jefferson or Harris say if they get injured and the Jazz need a high priced replacement for them. They still wind up paying them but they get the cap room to bring in someone else. Trading Memo relieved a lot of cap pressure.

I don't know if that's a good strategy, but it's my thinking right now.

You can't use amnesty during a season, only during the offseason.

[Ugly0598]

I think the Jazz really do need to amnesty him at the end of the year. Who is the other candidates to amnesty? Jefferson?

[retiredcoach]

by Jazzfan12 on Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:56 am

You can't use amnesty during a season, only during the offseason.

Well, the Jazz could have used it before the 7 day window expired in Dec or they can use it during the off season through 2015.

Now you know why I'm not a GM.

[jazzfan1971]

I think moving him to a coaching role is a decent idea. He strikes me as an intelligent guy, one that could bring a little intensity to the coaching staff.

I think his days of being effective on the court are past.

[StocktonShorts]

For Raja, there shouldn't be any shame in not being effective. Historically the only SGs who were effective at his age are guys who are HOFers.

[Jazzfan Bayamon]

I think moving him to a coaching role is a decent idea. He strikes me as an intelligent guy, one that could bring a little intensity to the coaching staff.

I think his days of being effective on the court are past.

The only thing is he seems to be somewhat unhappy (in a bad way) about his playing time and role on the team. He has been a big topic in Jazz nation (mostly because he has been absolutely horrible in everyway) and maybe it's digging to find stuff by the press, but articles about him being frustrated and him being dissident in the locker room are concerning. Again, could be the press stirring things up, but still. Also, the quote: "I'll do my job as long as you want me to, if not I'll do it on another team" speaks volumes as to the possibility that he feels entitled to the starting position and that he somewhat resents not being "involved" as much on offense, using it as an excuse to his bad play, he himself believing he can still ball.

Couple days ago someone posted that Corbin's problem was in the locker room and he might've been right.