JA Adande wrote a good piece for once

The Sheik · Post #1 » by **The Sheik** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:48 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/ ... azz-090427

Tonight the Utah Jazz can be eliminated, a term that sounds unusually potent for this team at this time, when it feels like not just a season but an identity could come to an end.

In February, Larry Miller, the team's owner since 1985, died of complications from diabetes. Over the weekend, play-by-play announcer Hot Rod Hundley, the voice of the Jazz since their conception in New Orleans 35 years ago, said he is retiring. Power forward Carlos Boozer can become a free agent this summer. And this could even be the year coach Jerry Sloan leaves.

Sloan, who is in his 21st season coaching the Jazz, says he'll go through his standard procedure of meeting with the Jazz's top brass at the end of the season and deciding what should happen next, although the process could be delayed this year because he needs knee-replacement surgery. This is the first time the discussions won't involve Miller, whom Sloan has always credited for his longevity in a profession where coaches who have won the championships that have eluded Sloan don't enjoy his job security. Miller's son Greg now runs the team.

Jazz staffers affectionately say Sloan is as "crusty" as ever and still enjoys the challenge of trying to get the best out of a team. But if Sloan returns he'll have to make all of those road trips without his buddy Hundley, a friend dating back to the 1960s, which would make another season of the grind sound less appealing.

"I hate to see Hot Rod leaving," said Sloan, even if he joked that Hundley never picked up the tab.

On the court Sloan faces the prospect of going without an All-Star power forward if Boozer opts out of the final year of his contract. The Jazz also have to worry about losing free agent Paul Millsap as well. Even offering Millsap a substantial raise from his current $800,000 salary could be cheaper than keeping Boozer, who made $11.6 million this season.

Center Mehmet Okur and shooting guard Kyle Korver can opt out of their contracts, as well. However, even if all three were to leave, the Jazz still wouldn't have a significant amount of room under the salary cap this summer.

sWill Carlos Boozer test the free-agent market this offseason instead of returning to Utah?

Their biggest albatross is Andrei Kirilenko, the slender forward who is the highest-paid player on the roster and has two years (at $16.5 million and $17.8 million) remaining on his contract. At this point the best hope for him is that he becomes a different type of bird, something like Denver's Chris Andersen, and turns into a shot-blocking, rebounding, energy guy.

The drawback to winning as consistently as Sloan has is it didn't offer the Jazz a lot of high lottery picks. Deron Williams, the third overall pick in the 2005 draft, is the only top-10 draft pick on the roster. Williams is one of the top point guards in the league, but Utah's loss in Game 2 despite his 35 points and nine assists showed that he isn't enough.

The Jazz need a center who can give them a defensive interior presence (and some post-up moves would be a bonus), plus backup help for Williams.

Utah has regressed over the past three seasons, losing in the conference finals in 2007, in the second round last season and now facing a first-round exit with a 3-1 deficit to the Los Angeles Lakers. Much of the slippage this season can be attributed to injuries; Williams, Boozer and Okur were in the starting lineup together only 24 times, denying a team some saw as a darkhorse to emerge from the Western Conference from ever gaining traction.

Even intact, the roster isn't a powerhouse like the Lakers, or loaded with potential like the Portland Trail Blazers. As long as they have Williams they'll be too good to have the best shot at the top draft picks, but unless they upgrade they won't be a threat to the top teams.

Every year when the season is finished, Sloan makes the 1,500-mile drive back to his farmland in Illinois. (The year Michael Jordan freeze-framed that shot to beat the Jazz in the Finals, Sloan did it in 26 caffeine-fueled hours.) One of these years he'll get to the farm and stay there.

Decision time for Sloan and the Jazz is coming, just as soon as the Lakers put them out to pasture.

carrottop12 · Post #2 » by **carrottop12** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:16 pm

I hoping Sloan calls it a career after this season.

I love what he's done for the Jazz, I love his style of basketball, but for his sake I don't want him to stick around and rebuild, I'd like to see some new blood in here to get the team moving in a different direction.

The Sheik · Post #3 » by **The Sheik** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:32 pm

Batronuj wrote:I hoping Sloan calls it a career after this season.

I love what he's done for the Jazz, I love his style of basketball, but for his sake I don't want him to stick around and rebuild, I'd like to see some new blood in here to get the team moving in a different direction.

Agreed. We either need a roster over haul or fresh perspective on the bench. I just look at Phil and see the way he empowers his players. Thats how he gets these kind of performances out of Shannon Brown and Ariza. Sloan is to stubborn to coach in this league. He makes players figure it out on their own. He is not interested in developing players. Now this season for instance he gave CJ a very long rope, but you can tell Sloan didnt do anything to make him better. Its all work that CJ needs to figure out on his own. Just the same way that Deron and Ronnie keep improving on their own.

Plain and Simple...Jerry needs to go, and either Tyrone or some veteran coach needs to get in here. I wouldnt mind seeing Avery Johnson get a shot.

seejaydeja · Post #4 » by **seejaydeja** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:31 am

get kind of a sad nostalgia reading that article. this team/organization will be pretty much unrecognizable next season...

the thing is, the FO of the jazz need to get something done. if they expect their season ticket holders to shovel their money out year after year, its not fair that the organization doesn't take the risks to make it worthwhile

The Sheik · Post #5 » by **The Sheik** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:44 am

seejaydeja wrote:
the thing is, the FO of the jazz need to get something done. if they expect their season ticket holders to shovel their money out year after year, its not fair that the organization doesn't take the risks to make it worthwhile

and honestly the thing is I have no idea how they fell. The Millers are banking on the playoffs. They own the arena and since they booted the press out they make even more money with those "luxury seats."

I dont know how serious about basketball Greg Miller is. Does he want a ring or does he want to be competitive? Keep the fans and investors happy and their money in tact?

I can tell you this much in 4 yrs if we arent close to being a title contender Deron will leave.

Post #6 » by **DelaneyRudd** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:02 am

I just realized Boozer will definitely opt out. What's the worse that could happen for him? Will he get less than what he is making for one year under any circumstance?

The Sheik · Post #7 » by **The Sheik** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:17 am

DelaneyRudd wrote:I just realized Boozer will definitely opt out. What's the worse that could happen for him? Will he get less than what he is making for one year under any circumstance?

Of course he will. He is the #1 FA this summer. He has restored his "value" with his playoff averages. Finally the best possible thing has happened to him with Detriot being swept in round 1. He will be heavily pursued by them and my dark horse is the Bobcats. Maybe they work out a sign trade that sends us Gerald Wallace.

slambamJazz · Post #8 » by **slambamJazz** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 6:22 am

I really would not mind a Boozer for Wallace sign and Trade. Kirilenko moves to power forward.The Jazz keep Okur and Milsap.

RIJazzMan · Post #9 » by **RIJazzMan** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:23 pm

Wallace would look so good in a Jazz uniform...