Where do we go from here?

[jazzfan1971]

I don't think this team has the pieces to contend for a title. And that's if they're 100% healthy, which would seem like a miracle at this point.

Here are my thoughts.

The keepers
---------------------
Deron Williams - He's not flawless. But, he's obviously the rock this team will be built upon.

Ronnie Brewer - Brew just needs to extend his range to the 3 point line to be everything this team needs. I think his shot is improving every year, so I think it's not unreasonable to think he'll come back next season being a viable 3 point threat.

Paul Millsap - Gotta keep this guy in house. Even if he's your 6th man.


That's it. 3 guys I think you have to hold onto. Everyone else is on the block as far as I'm concerned. I think we need defenders on this team. Let the offense stem from the system, but, bring in guys athletic enough to shut down opponents.

I think you have to lowball offers on the rest of the roster. If you can get em back for cheap, do it. IF not, cut your losses and try in free agency next year.

[Soul Patch]

Some friends mentioned picking up Ben Gordon during the game. I wouldn't be too opposed.

Dwill/Gordon
Gordon/Brewer/Miles
AK-47/Brewer/Miles
Millsap/Koufos/AK-47
Okur/Fesenko

We still aren't great defensively but maybe we can sign and trade Okur for a defensive big man. I would really like having Koufos and Fesenko as the twin towers coming off the bench but it depends on the development they show after the off-season.

[Duiz]

I have heard that Boozer has repented of saying that he would opt out, and now that he wants to stay and be a cornerstone of this team.

To be honest, I am way scared if he does do that. That could very well mean losing Millsap, or losing all of our depth.

[Soul Patch]

If he doesn't opt out we should use his expiring contract in a trade to bring in some new blood.

[Pappyman]

Here is my off season plan:
1. Trade Andrei Kirilenko. His contract is hand-cuffing this team. His game and level of play does not merit his contract. Do whatever it takes to get the job done.
2. Draft a point guard with our 20th overall pick. Looking at several mock drafts, I would try to target one of these three players: Stephen Curry, Jeff Teague, or Ty Lawson. Trade our second round pick. It is not needed.
3. Allow all of our unrestricted free agents to leave, except for Ronnie Price. He earned a job with his play tonight. I have never seen a player play harder. His defense was awesome and he was extremely aggressive and effective on offense.
4. Re-sign Paul Millsap, keep Kyrylo Fesenko, and give Ronnie Brewer an extention.

After these moves (and if Boozer, Okur, and Korver don't opt out of their contracts), our roster would look something like this:
PG: Deron Williams, Ronnie Price, 1st Round Pick
SG: C.J. Miles/Kyle Korver
SF: Ronnie Brewer, ? (probably some combination of players received from Kirilenko trade and Matt Harpring)
PF: Carlos Boozer, Paul Millsap
C: Mehmet Okur, Kosta Koufos/Kyrylo Fesenko (one probably included in the Kirilenko trade), ?

This team is likely to have a better record next season if they are healthy all season. Many of the games we lost this season would have been won with a healthy team.

The final thing that needs to happen is this:
5. Jerry Sloan names a successor (Corbin or Layden), and retires after next season.

[@ndrew]

I think if Sloan is staying there will be no changes. Other thing if he's gone...

[JDubJazz]

Well, the season ended with a whimper rather than with a bang. Its disapointing, but, given the circumstances surrounding this team, not unexpected. If anything, its has been exposed just how far away this group really is from contending for a championship. Even more disconcerting is the fact that, depite having the same core for the last three years, the team is actually getting worse. With that in mind, here is what I would like to see (though not what I expect)

Untouchables:
Deron Williams. The face of the franchise, and there is no one remotely available that could come close to replacing him.

Keepers (guys we want to keep around unless we get an offer that blows us away):
Kosta Koufos

Regretfully On the block (I like 'em, but I'm ready and willing to move any/all of these guys if it will improve the team)
Ronnie Brewer - his shooting is enough of a liability that I'm willing to move him for the the right guy.
CJ Miles - I don't think he's going to develop any further in the Jazz' system.
Paul Millsap (S&T) - He's just too short.
Mehmet Okur - seems to be breaking down physically by the end of the year. I'd hate to see him go, but if thats what it takes, so be it.
Kyle Korver - one trick pony.
Fesenko - he's tall.
Matt Harpring's expiring contract - great effort, no knees.

Please Take Them
AK47 - I'm tired of the drama and consistently inconsistant play.
Booz - talks the talk, but nearly always comes up small in big moments.

Its been fun (guys who won't be back)
Brevin Knight - forgot how to play over the all-star break.
Ronnie Price - isn't a point guard
Jarron Collins - should play in europe where his flopping talents can be truly appreciated.
Morris Almond - Greg Ostertag memorial doghouse award winner.

As you can tell, I'm NOT enamoured with the current makeup of this team. On the bright side though, the Jazz have a TON of pieces available to make moves. In my opinion, you need two legitimate stars and another scorer to compete in the NBA today. The Jazz are lacking that second star. its time to cash in some pieces for one bigger piece.

A few guys we could target:

Ben Gordon
Kirk Hinrich
Tyson Chandler
Emeka Okafor
Joel Pryzbilla
David Lee

[qman]

For me
The Star-Deron realistically he isn't going anywhere.

Secondary Star-the question here is do you keep Boozer or Memo. It looks like Boozer isn't going to opt out and I doubt Memo will. I think we need to trade on of the two with our trade bait. Right now I am leaning towards keeping Memo. He is on the floor more and a better defender.

Quality Role Players-don't give these guys up for nothing
Brewer-our best defender and a scorer around the hoop. Needs to improve his jumper. Needs a contract that matches his ability.
Millsap-He can score through broken plays and our offense. Give effort on defense. Still belongs off the bench.
Korver-drives me crazy be we need that outside scoring option. I hope that Miles improves his shot so he can make Korver expendable.
Price-can you think of a better 3rd point guard? He plays hard, plays D and is an offensive spark.

Still Developing
Koufos-he needs some game time and he needs to get stronger. Other then that I like him.


Trade Bait
Harpring-expiring contract, expiring game, expiring health
AK-I wonder if we can't move him to Golden State or New York. He needs a new destination and we need a new team dynamic


Gone Hopefully
Knight
Collins
Fesenko-has not improved

[seejaydeja]

I would be so stoked on Ben Gordon. I hope to God booz opts out, if he doesn't we are screwed. Sap and Price both earned extensions, but I won't be dissappointed aside from them if everyone else left. Especially AK

[Racer X]

i really dont think Ben Gordon is who we need. Please remember that scoring is not our problem.

I think it is well past due to trade AK, but I really think there isnt anyone out there willing to take on that salary.

I think that Jazz should try and put together a package for Chris Bosh. He and his Dallas chum Deron Williams would play really well together.

Andrew Bogut is another guy I think the Jazz should investigate.

BUT DEAR LORD I hope that by some random miracle Steph Curry falls to the Jazz in the draft. He would be an amazing backup PG. Everyone knows this dude can shoot, but has anyone seen this dudes passing ability? Nasty.

[idajazz]

this team made a huge mistake when AK was given his current contract.
It is going to cost us dearly.....(Millsap)

I do not see the situation improving until that contract is off the books.
The problem is that we will more than likely have to live with it.
I do not see any other GM taking that contract, You have to ask yourself why would they?
I just do not see any situation where onother team would want to hand cuff themselves the way we have.

Boozer........Hmm I don't really know. If he plays up to his ability he is worth having.
But do you want to run that risk?

I like Memo, He is a quality big that other teams have to plan around.
the 2 bigs warming pine? I would keep Koufos.

[dalekjazz]

i really dont think Ben Gordon is who we need. Please remember that scoring is not our problem.

I think it is well past due to trade AK, but I really think there isnt anyone out there willing to take on that salary.

I think that Jazz should try and put together a package for Chris Bosh. He and his Dallas chum Deron Williams would play really well together.

Andrew Bogut is another guy I think the Jazz should investigate.

BUT DEAR LORD I hope that by some random miracle Steph Curry falls to the Jazz in the draft. He would be an amazing backup PG. Everyone knows this dude can shoot, but has anyone seen this dudes passing ability? Nasty.

His father was drafted by the Jazz. Hopefully he follows his footsteps.

[mg]

DWill and Gordon would be an amazing backcourt but it's not going to happen. The Bulls would be fools to let Gordon walk since he is also a great fit with Rose.

Curry could eventually be a good fit with DWill. They might be able to play some minutes together w/ Williams defending opposing SG's.

[seejaydeja]

per wiretap http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/ ... g_in_utah/

booz stated:

"Absolutely, love to be in a Jazz uniform," he said. "(I) feel like one of those cornerstone people that brought this team back to prominence and back to the playoffs. I'd love to continue to move forward and have a chance to win a championship in the future."

I hope he's lying, what do you think?

[jazzfan1971]

I don't think he'll opt out myself. Not unless he opts out to resign.

We'll see. I'm not sure how much Detroit would be willing to pay him. That's a pretty large variable in the equation. If they;'re willing to throw big money at him, I'd think he'll definitely opt out and take it.

I just don't see that happening.

[babyjax13]

I want Miles gone--and I don't really care what it takes. I don't think the Jazz staff has ever overated a player like this (except Milt Palacio--ugh). Mine as well trade him while perception is high. For AK he needs to put on 30 or 40 pounds and become a force again--otherwise get rid of him too (even considering how much I love the way he plays when he is aggressive--he is this teams Kenyon Martin contract). Knight, Harp, and Collins should all retire. I like Price and want him back--he will be a fine backup to Williams (even though most people disagree). One of Boozer or Millsap is going to be gone unless the owner decides he wants to go into the lux-tax for a year (hope this is the case), then we can use our 2010 draft pick on our future shooting guard (or BPA--whatever). We need to sign a defensive center--ideally the Birdman, and let all the other big guys develop as well. I think Kosta can easily play power forward, so give him some minutes there if we have to let go of Boozer or Millsap. Almond can leave if he wants, or we can keep him for the minimum--I don't really care. I think that one year he is going to come out and be Von Wafer v.2 and we will regret letting him go.

I guess that is the end of my little rant.

[realfung]

Williams and Boozer are the keys.

[@ndrew]

It's funny how Boozer is starting to talk - like he is cornerstone of the team, bla, bla, bla. He realizes that in this market and after missing so many games is going to lose money, so right now he wants to rob the jazz. GTFO from this team. I'll better watch on Millsap\/Okur/Koufous/Fesenko combo. At least it's cheaper and they have some heart.

[OC Jazzfan]

I think the key is to not get caught up in how good a given player is individually. If you look at this years roster, the talent was pretty damn good. But only about a third of the team had any fire in their bellies. If you ask me, we have three of the most talented yet heartless/soft players in the league in Booz, Okur and AK. I won't be sad if they're all gone next year, replaced by players who may have less talent, but will bust their asses on both ends of the court. I want a whole team of guys who hate to lose as much as D-Will does.

I'm scared that we're going to end up with Booz, Okur and AK and lose Milsap in the process.

[seejaydeja]

I'm scared that we're going to end up with Booz, Okur and AK and lose Milsap in the process.

if this happens, i'll vow to not to make a jazz-related purchase for the whole 2009-10 season.