Jazz Management completely lost

[kwill]

The Jazz are at a crossroads and they need someone who is clear of thought and not people who seem completely lost about how to proceed. As everyone knows next year the Jazz will face the biggest decisions they have ever faced. These decisions could change the look of the entire team and the future of the Jazz as an organization rests in the balance. Boozer, Okur and KK can all opt out of their contracts. To keep them will require a longterm substantial financial outlay that would probably push them into luxury tax territory if all three are re-signed. In addition, if you pay them you lose other players that you can't afford to re-sign such as Milsap and Brewer. I believe the current plan is to play out this year, sign Okur if he is playing well and can be retained for close to 10 million a year. I also believe they plan to see what offers Boozer gets and if they can't match they have to let him walk. This is just about the stupidest thing I've ever read.

The fact of the matter most people on this Board would love to trade AK-47. I would debate you all if I thought it would do any good. AK-47 is a great player that is being improperly used by the Jazz and doesn't really fit the system. AK-47 is also the juice that makes this team work on the defensive end. The Jazz can't simply trade AK-47 for nothing because they need him to cover the weaknesses of others. They can't zero out AK's contract like Fishers without the players union going crazy. AK has three years left on his contract and unless someone very unexpected is traded for AK (that provide the same intangibles), he is going to be here all three years. So the Jazz just have to look at other areas.

I believe the Jazz have to re-sign Okur, Milsap and Brewer just to stay competitive. That leaves one player to consider trading, Boozer. I know very good power forwards don't grow on trees, especially one that is so good at the pick and roll. With that said the Jazz must trade Boozer now. They cannot wait until next year they need to get back decent players with good contracts. Boozer cannot be re-signed without going into luxury tax (Larry says the Jazz wont) and without losing other very valuable players. Why let Boozer walk at the end of the year for nothing. I cannot believe the people that control the Jazz can't figure out that waiting until next year is just stupid. Boozer is going to get large offers the Jazz cannot match without paying the tax or losing other key players

The only reason you play this year out without trading Boozer is if you really believe that you are going to win a championship this year. I believe the Jazz are close, but I don't think they have the right mix to win it all right now. I believe they are a two years away and maybe a player or two away from beating LA and the other great teams. Trade Boozer for some good young talent, under contract for several years and take your shot at the championship over the next 2-8 years.

I haven't run these trades through trade checker but I would try to trade Boozer for Crash and May or Crash and Felton (other players may need to be added to this). I would also try to trade Boozer for Scola and Battier. The criteria for these trades is to get a relatively young player under contract for a long time with a decent contract that matches Boozer current salary and not the salary he'll demand next year. The Jazz would stay very competitive this year and next year they would still be under the cap and able to compete for the championship for several years to come.

Just one long time Jazz fan's opinion.

[carrottop12]

More valuable:

Boozer at 15 million per year?
Okur at 10 million per year?

Answer, Boozer, he's younger, better, more effective and still has more room to progress.

The answer there is let Memo walk if in fact it comes down to those two.

More valuable:

Andrei Kirilenko at 15 million per year?
Mehmet Okur at 10 Million per year?

Answer, Okur. He fits the system, he produces regularly and he gets along with the team.

The answer there is move Kirilenko for an expiring contract to keep Memo and Boozer around.

Sorry, AK is an amazing talent, but the Jazz can't change their winning ways around to keep AK happy, it's supposed to be the other way around. It's the Utah Jazz, not the Utah Kirilenko's. If AK doesn't fit, dump him to resign Booz, Memo, Korver, Brewer and Millsap.

Trading Boozer right now would be the dumbest thing you could do. Now if half way into the season the Jazz are a .500 team and don't look promising, ship out Booze for an alternative, but with this team there really is no reason they can't have the best record in the West come the trade deadline.

[schneiderjazz]

More valuable:

Boozer at 15 million per year?
Okur at 10 million per year?

Answer, Boozer, he's younger, better, more effective and still has more room to progress.

The answer there is let Memo walk if in fact it comes down to those two.

More valuable:

Andrei Kirilenko at 15 million per year?
Mehmet Okur at 10 Million per year?

Answer, Okur. He fits the system, he produces regularly and he gets along with the team.

Now if you ask me, who's more valuable: Kirilenko/Boozer at 30 million or Okur/Boozer at 25 million, I'll probably say Kirilenko/Boozer at 30. Still, I'd be reluctant to keep AK for two reasons: injuries and the possibility of him leaving when his contract is up. I think waiting is actually the best thing right now. It will probably be easier to decide closer to the trade deadline. Besides, no one will give us fair value for Boozer this year. If someone offers him an obscene amount of money next year, the Jazz can always try to sign-and-trade him to a third team and get something valuable back.

[JStockLivesOn]

I'd say Booz/Okur myself if given that choice. But Lord, who knows what we'd get back for anyone at this point.

[erudite23]

I think people are underestimating the importance of this year in the discussion. In my ever so humble opinion, the Jazz have as good a shot as anyone to win it this year. I won't say they are the favorites, but they have a very realistic shot. I don't think people realize how good we are.

[kwill]

Erudite 23


If you believe we have a shot at winning the whole thing then I see rolling dice and taking the very real chance of loosing Boozer for nothing. My concern is the Lakers beat us last without Bynum and he's back. LA improved themselves a lot. Houston improved a lot. Portland improved a lot. Jazz stayed pretty much the same.

As for the other arguments comparing Boozer at 15 million to Okur at 10 and Okur to Ak these are just strawman arguments that have no relevance. Without a tax, I'd say keep them all but it ignores the financial situation that Jazz face next year. The Jazz can't trade AK unless they are willing to take nothing in return or crap in return. This does not improve the team. AK covers for Boozers and Okurs defensive weaknesses and unless you get back someone who can do the same thing as AK, he will probably stay put. Simply put, the Jazz cannot trade AK and get equal value. They can however trade Boozer and get equal value. That is my point. Trade the one player who is likely to get you very good, young skilled players in return that have favorable long term contracts. In 2010 the Jazz get NY's pick to add to a very talented group and off we go.

[hoops4life]

They don't have to make the choice right now... Let things play out a little. They have until the trade deadline.

Why would you want to keep AK at the price when you yourself even says that they don't use them properly? Why waste all that money and player, if you aren't going to use him right?

I trust that they will do all that they can to have the best team on the court. The Jazz have been a top 5 organization for over 20 years. They know what they are doing.

[The Sheik]

I would like to see statistical evidence that AK is the juice that makes our defense go.

AK is a great talent, but severely overrated by Jazz fans. I would honestly trade him for peanuts and never look back. Why else did we re-sign CJ? Why we want to re-sign Brewer and drafted Almond. Its easier to draft ans sign wings. Its harder to develop and sign big men.

I agree with E23 about this season. In fact I think this is the last chance for this core to win. Thats why I was pro getting a backup C and giving us the best chance to win the ship.

I think we need to semi-rebuild around our young wings and Korver being the new harpring. Sign Memo to a reasonable extension and really decide if Boozer is worth it. We can potentially have Deron, CJ, Brewer, Sap and Boozer all peaking at their primes.

[idajazz]

I like AK, but the truth of the matter is, he is the dead weight that will pull the team under.
He doesn't play up to the contract he has, that is a fact. It doesn't doesn't matter why.
You make issue of the fact that he covers for others defensively, that is true, I'll give you that, although I don't think it is as big of an issue as you and others make it out to be.

Flip the coin, others have to cover for AK's offensive liabilities. there is always different ways to look at things.

If it were my choice AK would be at the top of the shopping list.
I really believe the young guns we already have could fill the void.

I also agree with erudite that this team is underrated, and has a good shot at winning a title and should have a chance to do so before hitting the panic button.

[jazzfan1971]

Anyone ever notice AK's minutes? I think he's just about as productive as he was a couple of years ago, but, now he's playing like 8-10 minutes less a night. Give him those minutes and he goes right back to where he was when we gave him that contract IMHO.

[Duiz]

Anyone ever notice AK's minutes? I think he's just about as productive as he was a couple of years ago, but, now he's playing like 8-10 minutes less a night. Give him those minutes and he goes right back to where he was when we gave him that contract IMHO.

I haven't noticed... what are you looking at exactly?

[The Sheik]

The last 4 seasons AK played 69 or more games:

mpg fg 3p FT spg bpg to rpg apg ppg
37.1 .443 .338 .790 1.9 2.8 2.8 8.1 3.1 16.5

mpg fg 3p FT spg bpg to rpg apg ppg
37.8 .460 .308 .699 1.5 3.2 2.9 8.0 4.3 15.3

mpg fg 3p FT spg bpg to rpg apg ppg
29.3 .471 .213 .728 1.1 2.1 1.9 4.7 2.9 8.3

mpg fg 3p FT spg bpg to rpg apg ppg
30.8 .506 .379 .770 1.2 1.5 1.9 4.7 4.0 11.0

One stat these wont show is that AK just doesnt have the effort he use to give 3 yrs ago.

[babyjax13]

In Ak's 2 best years (03-04,05-06) Ak averaged 37 minutes per game...in every other year it has ranged anywhere from 26-32. In seasons where AK averages 33 minutes or more his averages are:

15.8ppg 7.6rpg 3.5apg 1.7spg and 3bpg (minutes average 36.4pg)

Last year AK got 11ppg 5rpg 4apg 1.2spg and 1.5bpg in 31 minutes. If you look for per minute stats you get .344ppm .156rpm .125apm .038spm and .047bpm..If you multiply these out to his average mpg in his best years you get 12.52ppg 5.7rpg 4.4apg 1.4spg and 1.7bpg. Does 13 6 4 1 and 2 sound like the old AK? I don't think it does, but maybe if he got the minutes he'd surprise us....

[jazzed77]

what simply multiplying his minutes doesn't show is how inconsistent his minutes have been. Sloan always says if the effort is there the minutes will be....which is simply untrue. how often have we seen players such as AK,Brewer or Williams(his 1st year) that play best when they get to create a bit yanked for inferior players or otherwise have thir minutes doled out inconsistently.....play great it doen't matter Harp/KK/Palacio still replaces you @ the 6/3 whatever minute mark, but make a bad decision and they replace you right now....however if you're a "hustle" player:Harp/McLeod?Collins etc. you get your minutes no matter what b/c of your "effort"....course I'm a fan of move Booze n keep AK/Memo/Brew/Miles(or KK)/Deronas our starting 5.....Boozer's "post" presence offensively is severly overrated.....he is really more of a midrange jumpshooter than anything.....

[tankster]

Kirilenko's performance has never lived up to his max contract. He's high dollar, high maintainance, high angst and low output. Do a deal! Free up our cap and lets get on with it.

[Fido]

If I have to choose, I'd pick these guys in this order:
- Boozer
- Memo
- AK

Yes, even if this means losing guys like AK and/or Korver. You don't just dump your workhorse. Millsap is good as a reserve, but he is no Boozer. And no, AK can't jump in at PF and replace Boozer's production. They are the same height but Boozer's list weight is 43 pounds heavier. And Booz averaged 21.1 pts/10.4 reb last year. AK was 11.0 and 4.7--and there is only 4.1 minutes of playing time difference. Even at his best (03-04), AK only put up 16.5 / 8.1. Not to mention chemistry. Booz and Deron get along great and click on the court--can you say the same about AK?

[GP]

Kwill makes some good points, I agree, with the exception that we should trade right away. Patience is something we need, lets see how this season goes (wait until the trade deadline). I too, would like to keep everyone, but that isn't possible.

[OC Jazzfan]

Kirilenko's performance has never lived up to his max contract. He's high dollar, high maintainance, high angst and low output. Do a deal! Free up our cap and lets get on with it.

*Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner!*

Perfect summation IMO. I like AK, but take away the cool blocks and there's nothing there you couldn't get for a lot less money. Let's face it, he's a drama queen and it's always going to be that way. There's no doubt between he and Booz, AK is the more expendable.

[Neon Black]

I'd love Battier but there's one reason the Jazz won't trade Boozer to the Rocks:

Rafer Alston
Tracy McGrady
Ron Artest
Carlos Boozer
Yao Ming

[hoops4life]

There is no way they would trade Boozer to the rockets for Battier...