RealGM

I don't know if the Jazz want to make a trade, but an interesting trade idea was bouncing around on the Blazers board today. I know as a general rule, that Division Rivals don't usually trade with each other, but I thought this was interesting.

The original idea was:

Portland Receives: AK-47
Utah Receives: Raef Lafrentz
I'm sure Larry would love to financial savings, especially in this economy.

The other version that was discussed was a 3-way, here are the primaries:
Portland Receives: AK-47
Utah Receives: Richard Jefferson
Milwaukee Receives: Raef Lafrentz

The Blazers would likely want to expand it somewhat because this deal would create a log-jam at SF for them. This is the specific idea that I suggested:

Blazers Trade:
RLEC
Outlaw
Blazers Receive:
Andre Kirilenko
Bucks Future 1st
Blazers give up their cap space and Outlaw for a defensive stopper and a future pick. Any pick from Milwaukee would be heavily protected, so the Blazers could cash it in down the road after this team matures.

Milwaukee Trades:
Richard Jefferson
Dan Gadzuric
Milwaukee Receives:
RLEC (expiring)
J. Collin (expiring)
Travis Outlaw
The Bucks get a save a lot of money and get a decent young prospect. Outlaw is a bit redundant with CV, but I think they jump on this with a quickness.

Utah Trades:
Andre Kirilenko
J. Collins
Utah Receives:
Richard Jefferson
Dan Gadzuric
I don't know if the Jazz do this deal. Maybe the Blazers send them this years draft pick? I think that Gadzuric might be a deal breaker?

Would the Jazz be interested in any version of this?

While Larry is a religious man, the distant future likely has less priority to winning soon.

DelaneyRudd wrote:While Larry is a religious man, the distant future likely has less priority to winning soon.

Well, in the 3-way, I think that RJ would be a great fit with the Jazz. He knows how to move without the ball, he's not a lock down defender, but he's serviceable. Most importantly, he can fit into Sloan's one word Manifesto, "execution".

On a full strength Jazz I'd say no, but I have to admit I am not 100% knowledgeable about RJ's defense. If he was a defensive stopper I'd be keen on the idea.

Definite no on the 3-way. We lose Kirilenko's versatility, we take on MORE salary obligation thus driving us straight towards the tax, and we make Portland a better team? There is nothing in there that appeals to me in the slightest.

loserX wrote:Definite no on the 3-way. We lose Kirilenko's versatility, we take on MORE salary obligation thus driving us straight towards the tax, and we make Portland a better team? There is nothing in there that appeals to me in the slightest.

Ok, I hear you. I said in the three way proposal that I didn't think that the Jazz would do it either.

What about the simple version:

Portland Receives: AK
Utah Receives: Raef + Filler?

AK for Raef works straight up actually. It'd save the Jazz some serious $$$.

The Jazz have no interest in giving a player the caliber of AK away for mere salary cap space. AK is part of the nucleus here unless we can find a deal that gives us both cap savings AND a quality player or relatively valuable pick or two. A deal with Detroit for Tayshaun, for example, where we get a less dynamic player back, but also one who costs less and still provides many of the things we need to replace AK, would be very nice.

Even then, we aren't going to facilitate a trade with our division rival who has already stockpiled enough assets to found a dynasty. No effin thanks. You want AK, you better be ready to include Rudy, LaMarcus, Roy or Oden.

cut out portland, bucks would probably do RJ for ak. But I wouldnt. keep AK. And why the hell do you want portland to have

Oden/Pryz
LA/Whoever
AK/Outlaw
Roy/Webster
Bayless/Rudy

Absolutely no...
I Don't like Jefferson...
And Kirilenko is the our best defender...

I would take AK and Almond for LaFrentz and Outlaw in a heartbeat.

Give the Jazz FO credit they rolled the dice and risked the future financial impacts hoping the team may be something special this year but it didtn happen. We wont pay the luxury tax and therefore cant afford to have 3 three max players.

The Jazz need to trade AK for cap space now to allow them to resign Boozer in the offseason.

It doesnt improve our team now but it will allow us to improve our team in the not so distant future.

Amaechi didn't work well with Sloan and neither will Jefferson

Is that a gay joke?