Bring in Bogut or Crawford

[erudite23]

Bogut has had two major injuries. The first was the back issue that derailed his 08-09 season. The second was the freak elbow injury that ended last year and limited him at times this year. The back thing is mostly behind him, and the elbow is scary but it seems like he will get past it at some point. His value, both contractually and as an asset on the market, will be largely determined by how he deals with those as he moves forward.

Right now Bogut is in the 2nd year of a 5/60 extension. That means he has 3 seasons left at about 13-14 per season. In other words, he's being paid like Al Jefferson. Right at this moment, there is no way that the Bucks would trade him. He's 26 and still just coming into his prime, and they can still play the "what if" game, and convince themselves that he's good enough to lead them to prominence. The only way we'd be able to pry him loose right now is if we offered a similar package to the one that we got out of Deron. Not worth it. Not going to happen.

That said, after next season that might change. Usually somewhere around the middle of that second contract is where this change that I mentioned starts to occur. For Pau Gasol, the closest Bogut comparison in recent history, the change occurred in his 6th season (Bogut just completed his 6th). I think Bogut will come on the open market soon.

While Crawford would be a bat fit, I think bringing Bogut in is a great idea. Of course, its the HOW that is the hard part. Usually guys like Bogut go through a cycle. First, they are the potential savior. Then they are the rising star. Then they're a building block. Then they are an unappreciated star and "if we could just get (insert type of player the team doesn't have) then we'd be set..." Then they are into their prime and the writing is on the wall that they aren't great enough to carry a contending team. Then they get traded, their team moves into rebuilding mode and the player in question finds his place in the overall hierarchy of the league, usually becoming the 3rd or 4th banana on a playoff team.

Great summary of a trend I'd noticed as well -- and thought about specifically with respect to Bogut.

This is a move I'd love to see the Jazz position themselves to make with the likely surplus of young assets and draft picks they'll have in the next couple years.

...and that plays into what I have been thinking. Maybe by the trade deadline next year, or in the following off season, we can flip that GS pick, a future first and Big Al (expiring who can give a solid year of production and provide roster flexibility as they move into a new era) for him. He and Favors would make a formidable defensive tandem and with enough shooters and a nice PG *coughIrvingcough* to set everyone up, I think that's the makings of a squad that could contend.

Its just one of many options that might be available, but if things fall just right, its a very appealing one.

[Ern III]

Bogut: not feasible. Crawford: undesirable.