AK must go....

Jazzercise · Post #1 » by **Jazzercise** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:02 pm

Its time to revisit the status of AK on our team. I really don't think he has produced AT ALL this year and he MUST GO!!! I've always been a promoter of the AK must go movement and I am here to re-energize the conversation. Its time to move on, and time to get someone in here who isn't a head case. what do you guys think?

carrottop12 · Post #2 » by **carrottop12** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:10 pm

I agree the Jazz need to move forward seeing that he isn't the answer for the Jazz at SF.

The Jazz would be better served with an MLE level SF who is just a solid all around player.

AK's skill set doesn't even fit with the Jazz right now.

In fact Brewer has the size to be the Jazz's starting SF, move CJ to the SG and let Korver and Almond be the back up scorers behind those two.

AK needs to go though I agree. Let him help this post season, then move him to resign Deron.

JDubJazz · Post #3 » by **JDubJazz** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:19 pm

I think there's some validity in exploring an AK trade, but, quite frankly, I'd almost rather see the Jazz play him at PF and move Boozer for some more size. Boozer's defense is just KILLING us right now. Its so frustrating because Boozer is probably the best (or close to it) offensive post player in the league.

Give AK his touches, though, and AK would probablly come close to 20 and ten and his blocks would go back up to around 4 per game.

JDubJazz · Post #4 » by **JDubJazz** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:05 pm

I wonder if Chicago would consider Boozer for Hinrich and Tyrus or Noah? Chicago is a better defensive team and they could hide Booz. Hinrich could start at 2 with Deron and we'd have a killer defensiv backcourt. Brew could move to three, and CJ and KK would come off the bench.

If we had to move AK, I'm just not sure what's out there for him at his salary. We'd almost certainly have to take back a lesser player at a bad salary in order to move him. It seems to me, by moving AK to the PF slot, he can play closer to the hoop where he's more comfortable and he could protect the hoop. He's never going to be a banger like Booz, but thats not his game anyway. Its just a thought, and it has little chance of happening, but I'd be curious to see it.

kebutah · Post #5 » by **kebutah** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:53 pm

No matter what position we play him at we will be over paying him. We should move him for serviceable assets that make the team better.

TaylorJ · Post #6 » by **TaylorJ** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:12 pm

The problem with playing AK as our 4 is we then have nothing inside. Memo's game compliments Boozer's game (offensively) much better than it compliments AK's. What the Jazz really need is someone who will defend down low and play with some energy on nights when the Jazz are flat (we just don't have that fear no one enforcer)

JDubJazz · Post #7 » by **JDubJazz** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:31 pm

TaylorJ wrote:The problem with playing AK as our 4 is we then have nothing inside. Memo's game compliments Boozer's game (offensively) much better than it compliments AK's. What the Jazz really need is someone who will defend down low and play with some energy on nights when the Jazz are flat (we just don't have that fear no one enforcer)

I disagree. AK's offensive game around the basket is just fine. Placing him closer to the basket will improve his help defense dramatically, as well.

Rive · Post #8 » by **Rive** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:55 pm

JDubJazz wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

I disagree. AK's offensive game around the basket is just fine. Placing him closer to the basket will improve his help defense dramatically, as well.

I agree that this would definitely help AK, but I'm not so sure it would help the Jazz. You take away Boozer, then Deron is going to struggle. You can forget running the pick and roll... and you can forget a lot of the open lanes Deron sees in the paint because of Boozer. Boozer's defense can be horrible... but he does A LOT of things that make it easier for our other guys -- mainly Deron.

While I hate to criticize without providing a solution, but I don't think moving Boozer is the answer to the AK dilemma. It has been a strange season for AK. It seems to me every time he has started to come around, something has come up and taken him off course. His early injuries, the Dirk foul, the muscle spasms this week... I don't know. Its been strange.

Do I think he is producing like he should be right now? Hell no. Not even close. Do I think that it warrants a sudden and drastic move this offseason? Probably not.

We have to see how the playoffs go... then re-evaluate from there. I'm hopin he steps up. I'd like to see how AK would do against PHX if we end up with them in the 1st round.

carrottop12 · Post #9 » by **carrottop12** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:25 pm

I hate the idea of trading Boozer.

Deron and Boozer together have put together two 50 win seasons.

You don't mess with that core.

The Jazz have too many main guys, meaning you have to move either Memo or AK now, Memo is a steal for the price we pay for him, AK is vastly overpaid. So which one do you move?

Boozer has become terrible underrated on this board.

JTSPEED · Post #10 » by **JTSPEED** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:36 pm

JDubJazz wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

I disagree. AK's offensive game around the basket is just fine. Placing him closer to the basket will improve his help defense dramatically, as well.

Are you serious? I haven't seen AK make a shot in the low post in a while. All he does is flop around like a fish out of water in the low post. (I am probably exaggerating a little but you get my point) He is much better for us from the outside (thanks Horny). On the other hand I really like what I have seen from CJ lately, offensively and more importantly defensively. I also think that he could easily take over for AK if we were to trade him in the off season. The only downfall that I see about trading AK in the off season is that we would have to face him next year and with a new team he might be driven back up to allstar status.

TaylorJ · Post #11 » by **TaylorJ** » Tue Apr 1, 2008 12:08 am

AK playing down-low is not the answer for the Jazz. In my opinion AK can be a very effective 4 on a team w/ a 5 with a solid inside game (Shaq, Howard, etc) or with a team that runs. He is better at slashing/creating w/ the occasional play down low rather than the other way around. You put him down/low all game and you also increase the bang on his body (which he can't handle).AK can't give us close to the same inside game as Boozer. If you have to choose one of the two to get rid of, you would be crazy to pick Boozer.

Post #12 » by **bleu** » Tue Apr 1, 2008 12:53 am

AK is an amazing player and everything, but he's not right for Jerry's system. He doesn't fit in here, and we could get a really good player for him.

@ndrew · Post #13 » by **@ndrew** » Tue Apr 1, 2008 2:18 am

AK would be perfect with Howard or Yao. The thing I don't like Hedo trade for Ak. And I don't think Hou would like to trade around Battier...

The Sheik · Post #14 » by **The Sheik** » Tue Apr 1, 2008 3:19 am

The thing for me is not what players "can" do when they bring it, its about consistency.

While Booz may not be great at D, Memo the same they are both consistent on offense. I got say any part of AKs game is consistent, we have a ton of young depth at the wings and I would like to see them all stay in tact. Its not a matter of whether we should trade AK, more so when? I would hope they make a move this summer. We can still make the playoffs with out Andrei. I cant say that about Booz or Memo.

HammerDunk · Post #15 » by **HammerDunk** » Tue Apr 1, 2008 5:43 am

Wow, I would give my left nut to trade AK for Battier, but I don't think that would happen ever. That would put our team over the top IMO.

Personally, I have been on the fence for quite some time about AK. I love the guy and was very proud of him during his 5x5 days. But those days are long gone. All that is left is a shell of what AK used to be. He is incredibly streaky on both ends of the floor. His use comes from his help defense, and it really hasn't been there much as of late. I also wonder if his heart is in it at all any more. I wanted to give him all the chances he could get to prove himself after his foolish summer comments. Unfortunately, I don't think he passes the test. He is far too inconsistent and far too injury prone for us to rely on him.

After watching CJ have such an outstanding night, I think it is definitely time to deal AK this summer, free up some major bucks, and pick up somebody different. Sorry AK, I love his past game, but he isn't our man anymore. He could be a beast on some other teams in the league though.

KZ · Post #16 » by KZ » Tue Apr 1, 2008 6:48 am

Are we desperate to get rid of AK? If so, I think the Knicks would jump on something like AK for Malik Rose+Jerome James+Wilson Chandler (Rose is an expiring, James can be bought out, Chandler is on a rookie contract) and you have all the cap space you need to resign the main guys. This also does not leave any hole in the SG, SF or PF positions.

This is certainly not the ideal value you want to acquire for AK, but if you want to dump his bad contract, you have to get another one from the team you trade with.

The Sheik · Post #17 » by **The Sheik** » Tue Apr 1, 2008 7:32 am

KZ wrote:Are we desperate to get rid of AK? If so, I think the Knicks would jump on something like AK for Malik Rose+Jerome James+Wilson Chandler (Rose is an expiring, James can be bought out, Chandler is on a rookie contract) and you have all the cap space you need to resign the main guys. This also does not leave any hole in the SG, SF or PF positions.

This is certainly not the ideal value you want to acquire for AK, but if you want to dump his bad contract, you have to get another one from the team you trade with.

gonna have to add either their pick this yr(or future) or a swap of picks this yr for me to even consider that.

CAE15 · Post #18 » by **CAE15** » Tue Apr 1, 2008 1:17 pm

Why do ppl like Battier so damn much? He's an above average defender yes, but he's not going to be a guy that can hit that curl that the jazz run so often. He will be able to play decent defense on some guys but is it really worth giving ak to the rockets? Move AK to the east where he can be a PF on a running team. I would say the nets but they dont really have a defender. Bobcats maybe? Gerald Wallace?we would probably have to add a lil, and crash does seem to take quite a few falls but he could be the player the jazz need.

dingojazz · Post #19 » by **dingojazz** » Tue Apr 1, 2008 4:27 pm

I have always been a huge fan of AK. That is why it pains me to say that I do think we should move him this off season. CJ Miles needs to stay a Jazz man. After this season he will be a 3 year vet who has experienced ups and downs, and right now he is the 14th youngest player in the entire NBA. In my opinion he is the Jazz future at the 3 position.

If we can move Andre for some kind of value, and hopefully some contracts that will come off the books much earlier than his, it will give us financial freedom to sign Brewer, CJ, Millsap, as well as Deron.

I personally would feel very good about a core of Deron, Brewer, CJ, Booz, and Memo for the next few years. Along with Korver, Almond, Millsap, and whatever we got for AK (hopefully defensive help) that could be a contending team for a long time.

HammerDunk · Post #20 » by **HammerDunk** » Tue Apr 1, 2008 4:39 pm

New Jazzy Nets wrote:Why do ppl like Battier so damn much? He's an above average defender yes, but he's not going to be a guy that can hit that curl that the jazz run so often. He will be able to play decent defense on some guys but is it really worth giving ak to the rockets? Move AK to the east where he can be a PF on a running team. I would say the nets but they dont really have a defender. Bobcats maybe? Gerald Wallace?we would probably have to add a lil, and crash does seem to take quite a few falls but he could be the player the jazz need.

What do the Jazz need more than anything? Defense, and Battier is a very good defender. I think he had more to do with the rockets streak than tmac. We have plenty of offense on this team, we don't need any more.