Last Moves

[Luigi]

Kirilenko's strengths cover a lot of our weaknesses, at least to a degree. He's long at his position, he blocks shots, and he moves, pushes, and distributes the ball. If he goes, we will have next to nothing to try to cover those duties where our team is already pretty thin.

He's covering the backup C and backup PG from the small forward position. The way I see it, if AK goes we will probably need C and maybe even a backup 1 to keep the team from showing serious weaknesses.

[StockBroome]

After reviewing the numbers it does seem that AK is a vital piece to the Jazz. Here are some stats:

Games that these players played more than 35 minutes and at least 10 points resulted in these Win/Loses:
W L
AK - 10 - 4 for 71%
Deron 33- 19 for 63%
Okur 4 - 5 for 44%
Milsap 6 - 1 for 86%
Boozer 25 - 11 for 69%

When AK has 2 or more steals the Jazz are 20 wins and 3 loses for 87% winning percentage. These are not all at home either, of those 23 games - 12 were on the road and only one loss on the road. The interesting thing in when he gets 2 or more blocks they are only 10 and 7 for a 59% winning percentage.

When AK shoots over 50% and scores over 10 points the jazz have won 17 and lost 7 for a 71% winning percentage.

Using Game Score statistic from John Hollinger when AK has a 16 game score or higher the Jazz are 9-1.

Not sure if these stats really tell if AK is an intergal part of the team but they do seem to point to the fact that when AK is active on defense and gets minutes on the floor the Jazz seem to win.

What do you all think?

[countrybama24]

If Al Jefferson does great as a Center for the Jazz and either Milsap and/or Okur as PF would you still go for Horford? Would you do so to replace one of them? I would love a defenses big down low to help out.

I would start al horford and jefferson together. Both are natural 4s than can play the 5. I think horford would be best at C compared to jefferson because of his defense though. Really shouldn't be a problem unless you think millsap would leave if he was benched, but I still see plenty of minutes for him in that rotation (Okur is another question, but we should just severely cut his minutes if we got horford and then let him expire).

Although this is kinda a pipedream. I'm just hoping we can get a good center for AK, but I agree we should rush into a trade / trade him for spare parts (like the proposed orlando trade), because he is really quite good, underrated too so we could sign him for cheap in the offseason.

Basically, I think we should use AK as a TPE for an Al Jefferson type deal, find an overpaid center or a team with financial trouble, and leverage that to get a great C.

We don't need any other position IMO. We shouldn't trade AK, our best asset, for anything less than a starter level center, our biggest need (and the one need that is almost impossible to fill with the mid-level, free agency, or draft, given our picks will be in the 20s or at best low lottery throughout the deron williams era).

[Luigi]

Is there anyone desperate enough that would buy him out so he can come back immediately?

[StockBroome]

I doubt it. Most teams would want to use him for the season. We maybe able to get him back in free agency though.

[HammerDunk]

If it were up to me, there is no way we trade AK. He will resign with the Jazz at a discount, I'm certain of it. He is currently overpaid, but what he brings this team is hard to put a price on, WHEN he is healthy. I am almost certain that we give LAL a run for their money, both in the race for the 1st seed and in the playoffs if AK is healthy all season last year. He is worth much more to the Jazz on the roster than opening up money for one year, especially on the off chance that he has a healthy season.

[StevieShawn]

delonte west ?

[carrottop12]

Only if we can confirm that Deron's mom is in West Virginia or Dallas.

[Bullet]

I'd keep both AK and Memo and then evaluate before the trade deadline. That said, I think we're all set for this season.

As for next season, unless we move Memo, the only significant addition we'll be getting is Ante Tomic (fingers crossed). And even if we move Memo, Horford will be hard to pry from Atlanta because the Hawks have an expiring in Crawford. So the assumption that they'll be deep in the cap doesn't hold.

[The59Sound]

I'd keep both AK and Memo and then evaluate before the trade deadline. That said, I think we're all set for this season.

As for next season, unless we move Memo, the only significant addition we'll be getting is Ante Tomic (fingers crossed). And even if we move Memo, Horford will be hard to pry from Atlanta because the Hawks have an expiring in Crawford. So the assumption that they'll be deep in the cap doesn't hold.

With AK coming off the books, we should be able to afford to use the MLE next summer (not for Horford, but on another player -- meaning, we'll be able to make a significant addition beyond Tomic, in my view).

[StocktonShorts]

With AK coming off the books, we should be able to afford...

Do we really have any idea what the Jazz will be able to afford without knowing what the new CBA will be like? I doubt we'll see a drastically different CBA, but you never know.

[The59Sound]

With AK coming off the books, we should be able to afford...

Do we really have any idea what the Jazz will be able to afford without knowing what the new CBA will be like? I doubt we'll see a drastically different CBA, but you never know.

I guess I'm from the school that doesn't think there will be an enormous overhaul when it's all said and done, but I have no more expertise in this area than anyone else, so...

[Luigi]

I'm no expert either, but I do expect something new in the CBA this time around.

Years where multiple superstars will be free agents tend to lean toward the players union. But a lot of the big name players just got theirs in this historic offseason. Add to that the ailing economy and guaranteed contract debacles (like Arenas), and I expect some significant change.

But who really knows? There is probably enough politicking between the players and the owners right now to outweigh any of those concerns.

[edfmx86]

from twitter

@CSheridanESPN: Mike James wants to play for the Jazz. Told me at golf outing (Bethpage Red Course) for his charity

im thinking ill pass

[StockBroome]

If its for Vet's minimum I would give him a shot. I think getting a good vet to back up D-Will or Ronnie would be beneficial.

[StevieShawn]

jamal crawford ?????

[Bullet]

jamal crawford ?????

How?

[StevieShawn]

trade>

[hoops4life]

Who are you going to trade for him to take on that contract?

[babyjax13]

I believe he is expiring, but regardless his salary is similar to Memo's.