AK for Maggette & #6

[blackham9258]

Would GS trade it straight across to get rid of Maggette? Would we do it to get Cousins if he falls to 6? I think Cousins problems would be fixed by being on such a stable team. I think he could become one of the top centers in the league. I think it is worth the risk. Then I say still take Monroe or Udoh at #9 unless they get excited about Paul George and his upside.

Thoughts.

[blackham9258]

Let me add one more thing to my post. I think with the expected loss of Boozer to our starting line-up and conversely the loss of Millsap to our 2nd unit; Maggette would be a great scoring punch to the offense with the loss of Boozer.

Again, I only do this deal if Cousins is there. Experts are saying he has the most upside, as well as the most realistic chance at becoming great. I say take him, and watch him become the next Moses Malone like they are saying.

[sirslimjim]

I don't think GS would go for this but even if they did I'm not 100% sold on Cousins. His size and athleticism intrigue me but I question his ability to compete at the next level. At one point analysts had him going 3rd in the draft. It seems like his stock continues to fall by the day. I've heard he has a bad attitude at times and doesn't possess a very high basketball IQ. I'm not saying he won't be a good player in the grand scheme of things, I just don't know how well a player like him would gel with Sloan's system. If we could move up to #6 and get rid of AK, I'd rather go for Monroe. But thats just me. The draft is a crap shoot though, for all we know, neither monroe or cousins will amount to anything.

[carrottop12]

I wouldn't be surprised if Golden State were to do this, but they may want the #9 pick back in return aswell.

I would consider it for the Memphis pick and AK, because I think have the #9 and the #6 pick really allows the Jazz to set up a very nice core for the future, or they could probably be traded to move up into the top 3 or 4 to get a real star.

[blackham9258]

If the Jazz could pull this off, I wouldn't mind trading the #9 for the Grizzlies #12,25, & 28 picks. Then I pick one more player big or wing, and then trade the other two for future picks or maybe pick an international player and stash them.

[Pai Gow]

They may want the pick in return??

If it were that easy to trade AK's contract I am 100% sure KOC would have done it by now.

GSW lol's uncontrollably

[DelaneyRudd]

If the Jazz could pull this off, I wouldn't mind trading the #9 for the Grizzlies #12,25, & 28 picks. Then I pick one more player big or wing, and then trade the other two for future picks or maybe pick an international player and stash them.

2 picks for 3 spots?

This thread is full of fantasy land craziness.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

You know I don't find this idea as crazy as most of you do. AK would be killer in the GSW system and the expiring contract is just a bonus. AK would be a legit max player over in Golden State again and would probably be worth much more than the 6th or 9th pick to them, especially with the most of the players in the top 10 not being such a great fit for them. I think the huge expiring of AK's contract is worth a top 10 pick alone.

Jazz have always liked Maggs and GS wants to get rid of him so whats not to like with that part of the deal? The Jazz get the 6th pick and move up to get either Cousins or Monroe and keep the 9th pick to snag whoever else they want, probably Xavier Henry, Patrick Patterson or Gordon Hayword. The Jazz keep the 9th pick since GS doesn't love anyone in the top 10 and honestly it wouldn't be a fair trade if the Jazz included it. You would probably throw in either Kosta or some second round picks if anything.

I like it, I would take a look at that if the option was available.

[StocktonShorts]

Jazz have always liked Maggs

Source? I know they signed him to an offer sheet back in 2003, but that was a long time ago. I think he'd land in Sloan's doghouse pretty easily for his selfish play. The guy's a serious black hole on offense. On top of that he's not a very good 3pt shooter.

[blackham9258]

Ak is tailor made for GS, and could contend for an all star spot in the GS system. I actually think they could even be a playoff contender with AK. That said, they have regretted the Maggette contract since they signed him and seeing no players worth picking up that fit their system at 6 with Aminu and Johnson gone, I think they could go for this.

[loserX]

Jazz have always liked Maggs

Source? I know they signed him to an offer sheet back in 2003, but that was a long time ago. I think he'd land in Sloan's doghouse pretty easily for his selfish play. The guy's a serious black hole on offense. On top of that he's not a very good 3pt shooter.

Exactly. I think the Jazz's interest in Maggette ended about two contracts ago. The Jazz offered him 6 years for $42M (average of $7M)...when he was 24. On his current contract he's still owed $31M for 3 years (average of $10M), which won't run out until he's 34. Oof.

Plus, Maggette has done little but reinforce the stereotype of himself as a guy who just gets the ball, puts his head down, and barrels towards the basket. Sloan ran Giricek out of town for "breaking plays"; can't imagine what he would do with Maggette. Maggs isn't a bad player, but I think that ship has sailed...and sunk.

[blackham9258]

If Cousins is the top rated potential NBA producer, and could become the next Shaq/Moses Malone/Brook Lopez like the NBA analysts are saying....and he is there at 6, are we worried about the ins and outs of Maggette?

I say no, it is worth the risk to get a legit post presence with size, athleticism and polish to pair with Millsap and Williams long term. Maggette will expire when Cousins would be extending his contract and when we would need to extend Millsap.

Those of you who are against this are focusing on Maggette too much. ITS ALL ABOUT COUSINS!!!! That is the only way I do this deal. If he falls to 6, we do the deal. I don't, if he doesn't. There is risk in any pick, but how often do you get a chance to pick the player in the draft with the most provable upside? If it doesn't work out, its no different than picking Wall, Favors, or Turner. Turner could be the next Roy, or the next Darius Miles, or Trajon Langdon. Wall could be the next Wiliams, or Rose or the next Dujuan Wagner or Jay Williams. Favors could be the next Amare or better, or he could be the next Stromile Swift or Tyrus Thomas.

It is all a crap shoot, but no one has come along the last 10 years with his combination of size, athleticism, touch and polish and productivity as Cousins. Please read what Hollinger rates him out as. Sure there is risk, but there is risk in every trade or pick. We all want the Jazz to do something, to take some risk... Heck, D WIll himself wants us to do something to improve. He has blatantly called for trades...well here is one. He knows, and we all know to get something good you have to give up something good.

This is a risk, but the upside is worth the $13 in extra pay for Maggette. Besides, if we wanted to flip Maggette for Rip Hamilton I bet Dumars would do that. He will need a scorer with Prince leaving at the end of the season.

In fact I am officially amending my trade proposal to include a swap for Rip. He would fit perfectly for the Jazz and if we are already going to make the trade for Maggette and thereby lock up our cap for 3 years, I say get the guy who will be your legit starting SG.

Thoughts?

But enough of this fussing over Maggette. Frankly, I would take Maggette's 3 years worth of production and $13M for one year of AK. Besides, who are the Jazz going to attract via free agency with the little cap space we have? We won't attract anyone, so we need to do it through the draft. This is our chance. If we wait for that free agent to come, we will watch Williams leave us in 3 years.

And as far as the black hole theory that you all have thrown out....name me one player who if playing under the GS Warriors "unscripted-chuck-it-up" playbook; wouldn't just chuck it.

Last point, if AK wants to come back next year on a full MLE great.

Next year:

DWill
Hamilton/Matthews/
CJ/Paul George
Millsap/Cousins
Cousins/Memo

Next
Dwill
Hamilton
AK
Millsap
Cousins

[hoops4life]

I think that this team could use a little more put your head down drive in and either get a basket or free throws more often. The problem is that none of the guys on the team are very good at it but Maggette is.

I don't think that this goes down.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

If I'm not mistaken, Maggs was one of the most effective/effcient offensive players in the entire league last season. Shoots so many stinking free throws....

There is always rumors about the Jazz making a move for Maggs every off season, to me they are clearly still interested.

[NUMBERICA]

Seems plausible to me since I'm not even sure who GS would want in the draft. To me, their concerns should be freeing up salary (Ellis and Maggette, primarily) and time for Curry and Randolph.

Nobody likes Maggette's age or his contract, but he's always been an efficient scorer and was elite last year in that regard. Since Boozer will be gone and since one of the Jazz's biggest problems since the departure of Hornacek has been playmaking on the wing (in any capacity), Maggette's play might be advantageous for a team looking for at least one more legit scorer.

The big thing for me with this idea is whether Johnson will be available or not. DX seems to think that Johnson doesn't fit in Sacramento and Aminu somehow does (I don't get it but I hope they're right). If Johnson is available at #6, I say pull the **** out of that ****. Johnson would be in an absolutely perfect scenario for what he brings and the Jazz would have enough scoring at the perimeter positions to not necessarily need the PF to do much more than pick-and-pop and clean up (which almost the entirety of Millsap's offense).

And **** Cousins. And he won't be available at #6 or there will be a legitimate reason he fell that far. He'll be lucky if he's Zach Randolph.

[StocktonShorts]

Those of you who are against this are focusing on Maggette too much. ITS ALL ABOUT COUSINS!!!! That is the only way I do this deal.

No question. Maggette is very palatable as far as poison pills go; but some people keep mentioning him in trades as if he's a guy the Jazz FO covet. I just don't see it.

[HammerDunk]

Cousins is a huge risk IMO. He seems like he could be the best big in the lottery or the worst. I really question whether his attitude will really go south once he gets his first paycheck. He seems like he thinks he is entitled to whatever he is getting, and that is bad news. Personally, I am really glad we are nowhere near where this guy is going to go, because I am worried about the risk involved. If we moved up to get him, and he turned out to be a bust, this team would likely not be able to recover, we would lose DWill, and would end up being a bad team. No thanks.

[kamazilla]

Blacks- I for one agree with everything you said regarding Cousins and recognize his ability to completely transform a franchise. I feel the Curry comparisons are not at appropriate; he never proved a damn thing beyond high school competition. Cousins, on the other hand, was the most dominant player in the NCAA as a freshman- at 19 years old.

Additionally, he would not only fit perfectly into the Jazz's offensive and defensive schemes, but fill their most glaring weakness in such a way that it instantly becomes one of their greatest strengths. Given the current make-up of the team, there is not another player in the draft who could have the immediate and lasting impact that Cousins could. As the seasons ahead unfold, I foresee him dominating the other big men in this draft class because he possesses superior talent, skill, size and strength. Maturation will come, particularly with an organization like the Jazz. Who among us was not an idiot in most ways of the world at 19?

I would have posted earlier a plan to move up high enough in the draft to acquire Cousins myself, had I been able to craft a proposal I thought would be feasible. Looking into my crystal ball once more, I sense there will be a team who makes a deal with Minnesota, and with their forth pick will acquire Cousins. There is simply no way he slips to sixth. It may be possible to move from ninth to sixth, then sixth to forth.

In any case, this franchise in is need of some creative maneuvering in order to obtain the players it needs to truly contend for a championship. Should Boozer leave, this team will only be taking steps backward with Aldrich, Monroe or Udoh at C with Millsap at PF. Conversely, Cousins, Millsap and AK could form as imposing 5,4,3 line up on both ends of the court. AK would also be getting significant minutes at PF. What I don't see is how to get from here to there- but playing it safe while the likes of Portland, Houston, OKC and the Clippers will be vastly improved next season is not going to accomplish $&!T.

[blackham9258]

Finally, an intelligent response to my points about Cousins. If those that have inside information are saying that Cousins is the most talented person in the draft, and has the upside to become a Moses Malone, Shaq etc. what is the risk? I repeat, what free agents of any significance will be coming here. Memo and Boozer are the most significant free agent acquisitions in franchise history.

So lets examine, Memo's former team could only match up to $40-$42M and we gave him $50M and they were coming off a championship year where Memo was the 3rd player off the bench. That was a huge risk free agent acquisition, that worked out great. But he was not at all widely pursued, especially at the dollars we were willing to offer as the team in the market with the most cap space.

Boozer, reneged on $40M contract and his team couldn't match the $70M we offered him, and that was enough cheddar to make him leave a good situation.

What else? Scrubs.

Now, you do make a good point about Minnesota at #4. I would make the first trade contingent upon the second trade going through with Minnesota. I would offer the #6, and the Memphis pick. For Minnesota, they may not even have to know that we retained out #9, and indeed might want that. I don't think we will need to give it, Because what Minnesota is saying by being willing to trade that pick, is that they value both Aminu and Johnson equally, and by moving back two spots they guarantee themselves one, while picking up another lottery pick in future years. Maybe there would be other variations to this like swapping #9 for #16 etc.

But it is still worth it to get a talent like this.

The last issue I will address is the mentality concerns. This kid has been the "it" guy for the last 5 years of his life. I think a lot of these super talented AAU, McDonald All Americans have an "I own the world" attitude. Does he have questionable maturity? The experts say yes. Are there some red flags? The experts say so. But do any of them think these issues are bad enough to make him slip past 4 or 6? NO! Look what happened to Hassan Whiteside after his interviews in Chicago and what Chad Ford said about him.

Cousins proved it at an elite level, on an elite team. He has the skills, body control, coordination, balance, and talent to be an Elite player. The feel I get from him and the analysts is that he is Shaq, Moses Malone, Brook Lopez at the best or Rasheed at the worst.

Do the deal! Make it happen. I see no other way to get a stud player other than in the draft. And this will be the best and only hope for years to come. At least until we lose Deron by not ever surrounding him with talent.

The only way I feel a small market team can win a championship is to draft great, because elite free agents just won't come here.

What was the last elite free agent that went to: Indiana, Milwakee, Portland, Seattle/OKC, Atlanta etc. Nobody does, unless it is like San Antonio where they lucked out and got Tim Duncan and players wanted to come to play with a champion, and even then who really has signed in San Antonio? Think about it: are Lebron, Dwayne, Amare, Bosh, Joe Johnson considering small market locations that aren't their home? No. NY, Chicago, S&T to LAL for Bosh, NJ, Miami, Dallas. All big markets.

The Jazz have to do it in the draft. KOC- embrace the fierce urgency of NOW!

[HammerDunk]

Cousins is not falling to 6.