Would you trade AK for Matthews?

[bsutefan]

Would you make this trade right now as a Jazz fan? Because without AK's contract on the books, the Jazz would have been far more likely to match Matthews' contract.

[MeestR]

no. matthews is good. but is overrated, and overpaid IMO. ak, at one time, was worth his money. and at his best now, he is worth more than matthews contract.

[Leithid]

Heck no.

AK has always been the secret to the Jazz's winning ways. This preseason when he was the starter the starters crushed; ever since AK went to the bench the starters were just pulling even while the bench had been winning games for the Jazz. Matthews is a good player, but he is no AK.

[HolyToledo]

Not feasble as AK-47 makes alot more than Matthews, so trade simply cant happen.

In regards to just talent ability, I think they are comparable but AK-47 can play PF and alot more veristile, and the Jazz have a shortage of bigs and a glut of wing players so it doesnt make sense for the Jazz whatsoever.

[QuantumMacgyver]

The factor that people seem to disregard in conversations like this, and the ever-present "Boozer vs. Jefferson" debate, is health. AK may be better than Mathews on sheer talent, but a healthy Mathews is better than an injured AK. Just like a healthy Jefferson is better than an "injured" Boozer. I'd have to go with Mathews on this one, and at an average on $6Million a year I would hardly say he is over-paid.

[Bullet]

Given the team's current needs, no. AK can play the 3 and the 4. And based on the preseason, I think Hayward is not ready to take on an important role for the Jazz. The two-spot, on the other hand, will be fine even without Matthews.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Very tempting.... but probably no. AK has always been a huge piece to the puzzle and we need him more than ever with the roster we have right now. Matthews would be nice but he isn't a necessity unlike AK.

[bsutefan]

I would rather have Matthews than Boris Diaw, and clearly the Jazz were willing to unload AK for Diaw.

Factoring in contracts, AK binds the Jazz in so many ways. Saving $11M this season for a solid player in Matthews would be great. That money certainly wouldn't be taken as a dividend by the Millers, and would be reinvested into the team at some point in time.

My biggest frustration with AK isn't his contract though. AK has the unique ability to push the Jazz over the top. He's always had that ability. The problem is that he only shows up 50% of the time. And in the playoffs, against a quality opponent, 50% of the time doesn't cut it. It is very frustrating (and I'd venture to say unwise) to rely so heavily on any player that only shows up 50% of the time. And at this point in his career, the hope for consistency is a lost cause.

[FJS]

Right now, AK, if we are watching for the future... Wesley.