What does it take to get Al Jefferson?

[vct33]

For a team like Boston, who can take on his salary without matching, what would it take to land Al Jefferson? A pick and a young player? Two picks? or is the price higher?

[StocktonShorts]

For a team like Boston, who can take on his salary without matching, what would it take to land Al Jefferson? A pick and a young player? Two picks? or is the price higher?

I think a mid-first, a second and a young guy like Avery Bradley would get it done. Maybe I'm undervaluing him.

[carrottop12]

Being able to take on Jefferson with out sending salary back would have value to the Jazz because we'd jump into the market for a top tier free agent, and get into the first round with a pick.

I certainly think a deal like the one Prole proposed would make the Jazz take a very serious look at moving him.

[Jefff]

For a team like Boston, who can take on his salary without matching, what would it take to land Al Jefferson? A pick and a young player? Two picks? or is the price higher?

I think a mid-first, a second and a young guy like Avery Bradley would get it done. Maybe I'm undervaluing him.

even if normally u don't trade a big guy for a small one, i like the possibility to take an interesting player (bradley), some picks (this year 21st has some value, plus a 2nd rounder), and increase cap space

[DelaneyRudd]

Jazz are in the hunt for Harden if they can get the room.

[hoops4life]

Deal for Jefferson? Done... oh wait you didn't offer anything... um... don't worry about that part.


p.s. In the hunt for Harden because we want them to be or because we have actually heard rumors?

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

I'm not sure what Boston has to offer that we'd be interested in other than mediocre draft picks and Rondo.

If I'm the Jazz FO, I'm not making a deal with Boston unless Rondo is included. So that all but kills the deal right there...

[HolyToledo]

If we cant get Houston to bite on Big Al then Boston just make an offer involving Bradley and its done.

[QuantumMacgyver]

Jazz are in the hunt for Harden if they can get the room.

Is there anything out there in regards to this, or just personal opinion?

[The59Sound]

As far as I know, Harden's not a free agent until 2013, at which point Al, Paul, and Devin come off the books anyway. No deal necessary to have money for Harden.

[DelaneyRudd]

Oh well shucks.

[SoCalJazzFan]

There are basically two trains of thought with Jazz fans when it comes to Big Al. As you can see from some of the comments above, many fans undervalue him based on their frustration with his lack of defense and lack of team offense when he is on the court. Others view him as the only player capable of demanding a double team and the only reliable offense on the Jazz right now and that the Jazz should resign him to play alongside Favors, perhaps to the point of overvaluing him. What can't be denied is that he is a reliable 20/10 center who somehow gets 1-2 blocks per game, and there aren't too many of those in the NBA.

We need another young SG like we need another hole in our head, Avery Bradley has zero value to us.

Big Al is worth more than the #21/#22 2012 first round pick Boston has this year, and perhaps worth more than 2 first round picks.

The Jazz have a better version of Brandon Bass already in Milsap.

So, Boston only has Rondo and Pierce to deal. Either would work, but I don't know if Boston is willing.

[erudite23]

The question is whether Boston would be willing to part with Rondo as part of a package for Al J. The Jazz could sweeten the pot considerably, with Devin Harris to replace him in the Celtics rotation (and I think they would get considerably more out of Devin than we have) as well as possibly the GS pick to help in their upcoming rebuilding project.

If we're just talking flipping Al for a middling pick or so, I don't think that Boston is the right fit. We can do better on the upcoming trade market, I believe.

A better deal would be flipping Al to New Orleans. He can play next to Anthony Davis, who is literally the PERFECT complement to his game, and he would provide the kind of low post game, consistency (even if its consistency in being mediocre) and durability that they've been lacking of late. I don't know if you could pry Eric Gordon out in the deal--who is about to become overpaid and who is rumored to be very unhappy in NO--but if you could, that would be a great get. Otherwise, I think the #10 pick would be a very good return for Big Al, and something that would greatly benefit both teams. With Davis and Jefferson together in the frontcourt, Gordon healthy, and another piece or two added to their nucleus, that would almost certainly be a playoff team next year.

[Reckless]

You'll take his salary off our hands for draft picks plus a nice player? ok we got a deal.

[Lava Rock Kid]

I dont get all the hate for Jefferson, You never trade big for small. I would rather trade millsap any day.

For Jefferson, I would want lotto pick/s and or a quality guard/allstar

[StocktonShorts]

You never trade big for small.

Supposed maxims like this one dominate sports, but they're so easy to disprove!

I offer you Chris Paul for Hasheem Thabeet. One is clearly big, the other is clearly small. You're saying you automatically reject my proposal?

[finnegan]

You never trade big for small.

Supposed maxims like this one dominate sports, but they're so easy to disprove!

I offer you Chris Paul for Hasheem Thabeet. One is clearly big, the other is clearly small. You're saying you automatically reject my proposal?

Like most rules of thumb, there are conditions. This guideline is generally used when players are roughly equivalent.

Would you trade Dwight Howard for Chris Paul? Both are perenial all-stars.

[DelaneyRudd]

Bigs are harder to replace, but Als replacent is already on the team.

[bsutefan]

Harden isn't an UFA until 2013, and is a good bet to be extended to max (or near) by either OKC or another team.

The rumors with Harden are this.

OKC has Harden and Ibaka expiring at the same time, and only enough cap space to keep one of them. With Durant on the wing, the common opinion in the NBA is that OKC will keep Ibaka, ensure the defensive presence to protect the hoop, should be far more affordable, allowing a championship caliber team to be built around them, then move either Harden or Westbrook (whichever one is left with Durant can certainly absorb the extra minutes and production).

Thus the recent tween by Chris Sheridan, saying that he polled 22 NBA general managers, asking if they were the GM of OKC and faced the decision, would they rather trade Westbrook or Harden. 14 said Westbrook, 8 said Harden. I thought that was an interesting viewpoint.

Most suspect OKC will move one of those two players between this offseason and the trade deadline, probably to a team with multiple first round picks (who are a bargain in today's NBA), young talent, and cap space to be able to trade and extend.

The Jazz were linked to this scenario earlier in the year because they looked like they were going to have a GSW pick in the top 10, and their own in the lottery, with cap space coming up to be able to extend Harden, or pick up Westbrook.

The biggest hurdle the Jazz would face would be trading inside the division...which for a star player, seems highly unlikely.

The other scenario calls for OKC to let their contracts ride out, try for a championship next year, and let one of them walk as a FA...which might not be the best route when they could probably acquire tons of young talent/draft picks to keep your supporting cast high for seasons to come.

[StocktonShorts]

Harden will be a Restricted Free Agent after next year, right? Not unrestricted.

I expect he'll get a big offer after next season that OKC might not be able to match.