Al Jefferson Dilema

[blackham9258]

I have looked at all the salary pages on Shamsports.com and hoopshype.com and looked at every single roster and looked at every players contract length, and basically every teams level of interest.

Basically, their are only a few instances where I can even see a team trading for Al Jefferson and us getting something we actually want in return without giving up one of our core 4 youngs and or having to take back a much longer undesireable contract that we won't want: My goal would be to get a pick... and I just don't see a lot of teams that would offer one... here are my scenarios.

1) Houston: Kevin Martin & Pick (I could see them giving up one of their 3 draft picks of which I would want Royce White) He has the most upside and would fill a unique 4 role for our team. I would then want to move Kevin Martin on somewhere else for a pick if possible or just to shed the salary as I don't want to cut into Burks minutes as he has all star potential.

2) Laker: The is Pie in the sky but if LA gets Howard and extends him I could possibly see them wanting to clear Gasol for a run at CP3 next year. We would have to take back Meta but it would be worth it to get Gasol.

3) Milwakee: Something of a dump here but Al to Milwakee for a protected first rounder and Ekpe Udoh. We get a defensive minded C who can play 4th big minutes but we pick up a low salary guy.

4) Memphis: We could get Zach Randolph but I don't think we want him... he is a longer term contracted Al Jefferson... but would there be a team out there that wants Zach... some sort of 3 way trade?

5) Charlotte Bobcats: I don't think we are desperate enough to take on Tyrus Thomas' contract for the Detroit pick they just got, or for Ben Gordon.. but that is a possibility for a pick.

6) Al and Watson to OKC for Perkins contract, Perry Jones, Maynor and a future pick... I actually think they might do it and Perry Jones has the upside I like. Perkins is way overpaid and has lost his athleticism but he makes a low enough salary that we could afford him and Paul Millsap at say $8M per and not be too bad. Then Maynor gives us insurance in case Mo Williams wants too much in the off season. He also adds some toughness to our team and cause Favors offensive game to pick up faster as he will get more post looks, and it will put more of the scoring in the hands of Hayward and Burks who if we want them to become great need to be put in the go to guy position (especially Burks).

I like #6 the best but don't know how much is too much to ask... because what we are doing is ensuring OKC can keep their core band together. Maynor is gone after next season for them anyway, Perry Jones never got there, and the pick is last in the first round anyway.

Thoughts.

[Rauxcee]

Maybe it's just me, but I find it completely pointless to trade Al for another big. Isn't the point in trading him to clear the logjam we have at the position? If we are going to trade for a big, we might as well just keep Jefferson.

Not that it will happen, but I still like the Al for Iggy scenario. We need another SF anyway.

[DelaneyRudd]

#6 is way terrible for OKC

[RookieJazz]

New Jazz Fan here. I've been following this forum for a while, so I decide to register and share some thoughts. Please play easy fellas.

Why not trade Big Al and Milsap?
I thought about a 3 way trade with Philly and Fakers:

Lakers in Iggy, Milsap
Lakers out Gasol

Philly in Big Al, Watson
Philly out Iggy

Jazz in Gasol
Jazz out Big Al, Milsap, Watson

We get a better low post scorer, who can play PF/C and clear the big man logjam. Gasol is soft, but his defense is way, I said way...better than Big Al. He has 1 more year in his contract (yes, he is overpaid) but Jazz are in a good position to absorb it. Kanter and Favors can take several lessons with Pau.Look at the roster:

Mo/Tinsley/ FA PG (Machado? Morris?)
Hayward/Burks/Murphy
Marvin/Hayward/Carrol
Favors/Gasol/Evans
Gasol/Kanter/FA big (Mahimini?)

Then, we can dream about home court advantage in the POs.

[blackham9258]

Millsap is the perfect 3rd big, so unless Millsap can't be extended at a reasonable rate $7-$8M per year I would be open to that trade. I don't think Iggy can be had for an Al Jefferson package alone. I do think the Lakers would have to take that package. They get 2 quality starters, with one allstar for an aging pf.

[Ming Kong!]

New Jazz Fan here. I've been following this forum for a while, so I decide to register and share some thoughts. Please play easy fellas.

Why not trade Big Al and Milsap?
I thought about a 3 way trade with Philly and Fakers:

Lakers in Iggy, Milsap
Lakers out Gasol

Philly in Big Al, Watson
Philly out Iggy

Jazz in Gasol
Jazz out Big Al, Milsap, Watson

We get a better low post scorer, who can play PF/C and clear the big man logjam. Gasol is soft, but his defense is way, I said way...better than Big Al. He has 1 more year in his contract (yes, he is overpaid) but Jazz are in a good position to absorb it. Kanter and Favors can take several lessons with Pau.Look at the roster:

Mo/Tinsley/ FA PG (Machado? Morris?)
Hayward/Burks/Murphy
Marvin/Hayward/Carrol
Favors/Gasol/Evans
Gasol/Kanter/FA big (Mahimini?)

Then, we can dream about home court advantage in the POs.

So for an extra year of Gasol we are giving up two bigs who aren't far off the production level of an Gasol at this point and a serviceable PG, and most importantly all on contract years. $19M is a lot for Gasol, I don't know how much I like this deal. I think I rather resign Millsap to like 10-12M a year for about 4 years, than keep Gasol 2 years at 19M .

[blackham9258]

We had better not be paying Paul Millsap $10-$12M a year. Under the new cba bad contracts are death to your cap and team. If this offseason we can't re up him for $8M per we will be better served waiting until next year when he has spent a year as a 6th man and the reality of the higher tax causes teams to be a little more conservative.

I think Paul should get something around what Brandon Bass gets, if Bass gets $7M and starts all year, and Paul comes off the bench all year it might be better to wait and see on Millsap if his demands are too high.

As long as we can structure his pay to be lower 2 years from now though I don't care what he gets in his first 2 years before Favors and Haywards pay kicks in.

$9,$9, $7,$7 something like that.

[blackham9258]

I still like the deal to get Maynor and Perry Jones, Perk and the pick. It gives us leverage against Mo Williams, youthful assets for a bigger trade, helps our defense and toughness, and allows us to keep Paul.

I could also see Perk coming in and wanting a buy out of one year so he can go back w the celtics which would be fine too because we get all the youthful assets for our expiring and Perk gets to go back to the celts.

[StocktonShorts]

I still like the deal to get Maynor and Perry Jones, Perk and the pick.

You can like that deal all you want; OKC won't touch it.

[blackham9258]

If OKC wants to keep their core together and not bankrupt their franchise they have to get rid of Perk. They also won't be able to resign Maynor after next year, so what are they really giving up? A player whose contract is toxic, a player they can't resign and rookie and a late pick. Drop either the pick or PJ3 and I think they have to look at it.

[erudite23]

That is adding salary for them. They aren't going to be doing that. Also, they have plenty of offense. They were at the top of the league last year. They need defensive help, and this move takes them the other way. They would laugh at us and hang up.


The best fit for big Al is Philly. Better than any other team in the league. And Iggy is about equal value wise. It remains the best potential trade out there for us.

[Jefff]

mi guess is trade for a star player (like Gasol, but not giving up al and sap) or trade for a top pick (Bobcats)

[babyjax13]

I think we'll stand pat with Al. Millsap will be easier to move (when push comes to shove) and I still think that Jefferson's production would be missed more than Paul's.

[Jajwanda]

New Jazz Fan here. I've been following this forum for a while, so I decide to register and share some thoughts. Please play easy fellas.

Why not trade Big Al and Milsap?
I thought about a 3 way trade with Philly and Fakers:

Lakers in Iggy, Milsap
Lakers out Gasol

Philly in Big Al, Watson
Philly out Iggy

Jazz in Gasol
Jazz out Big Al, Milsap, Watson

We get a better low post scorer, who can play PF/C and clear the big man logjam. Gasol is soft, but his defense is way, I said way...better than Big Al. He has 1 more year in his contract (yes, he is overpaid) but Jazz are in a good position to absorb it. Kanter and Favors can take several lessons with Pau.Look at the roster:

Mo/Tinsley/ FA PG (Machado? Morris?)
Hayward/Burks/Murphy
Marvin/Hayward/Carrol
Favors/Gasol/Evans
Gasol/Kanter/FA big (Mahimini?)

Then, we can dream about home court advantage in the POs.

I was just thinking the same thing, the same exact deal, nice job buddy, nice job.

[Jajwanda]

New Jazz Fan here. I've been following this forum for a while, so I decide to register and share some thoughts. Please play easy fellas.

Why not trade Big Al and Milsap?
I thought about a 3 way trade with Philly and Fakers:

Lakers in Iggy, Milsap
Lakers out Gasol

Philly in Big Al, Watson
Philly out Iggy

Jazz in Gasol
Jazz out Big Al, Milsap, Watson

We get a better low post scorer, who can play PF/C and clear the big man logjam. Gasol is soft, but his defense is way, I said way...better than Big Al. He has 1 more year in his contract (yes, he is overpaid) but Jazz are in a good position to absorb it. Kanter and Favors can take several lessons with Pau.Look at the roster:

Mo/Tinsley/ FA PG (Machado? Morris?)
Hayward/Burks/Murphy
Marvin/Hayward/Carrol
Favors/Gasol/Evans
Gasol/Kanter/FA big (Mahimini?)

Then, we can dream about home court advantage in the POs.

So for an extra year of Gasol we are giving up two bigs who aren't far off the production level of an Gasol at this point and a serviceable PG, and most importantly all on contract years. $19M is a lot for Gasol, I don't know how much I like this deal. I think I rather resign Millsap to like 10-12M a year for about 4 years, than keep Gasol 2 years at 19M .

Gasol is a better player than Jefferson because of his passing and his shot-blocking are much better. The reason Utah does this is I think they're setup around 2014 (Marvin Williams deal) and would prefer getting something in the mean time as opposed to giving Millsap big cash and Jefferson is a goner next year. Gasol-Favors-Kanter is a seamless three man rotation. Millsap and Jefferson though aren't quite as cohesive.

[reapaman]

No to Gasol, he was sucky in the playoffs the last two years. I prefer Jefferson at this point because he has more fire and shows more passion plus their numbers was close. Gasol looks like he has died inside alot of time, that is not what we need for this team. Jefferson is making big adjustments to his game and needs to get credit for it. If we can get someone better to lead our team then I'm all for it but that player is defintly not Gasol.

I still think Al will re-up with the Jazz. Millsap .... I think he adios unless he's ready to come off the bench with a huge reduction in minutes. KOC isn't gonna let either one of them walk, he gonna at least get another veteran.

[Luigi]

Now that Jefferson has a few shooting threats next to him, maybe we'll be trying to resign him next summer.

[StocktonShorts]

Now that Jefferson has a few shooting threats next to him, maybe we'll be trying to resign him next summer.

Not a chance.

[RookieJazz]

New Jazz Fan here. I've been following this forum for a while, so I decide to register and share some thoughts. Please play easy fellas.

Why not trade Big Al and Milsap?
I thought about a 3 way trade with Philly and Fakers:

Lakers in Iggy, Milsap
Lakers out Gasol

Philly in Big Al, Watson
Philly out Iggy

Jazz in Gasol
Jazz out Big Al, Milsap, Watson

We get a better low post scorer, who can play PF/C and clear the big man logjam. Gasol is soft, but his defense is way, I said way...better than Big Al. He has 1 more year in his contract (yes, he is overpaid) but Jazz are in a good position to absorb it. Kanter and Favors can take several lessons with Pau.Look at the roster:

Mo/Tinsley/ FA PG (Machado? Morris?)
Hayward/Burks/Murphy
Marvin/Hayward/Carrol
Favors/Gasol/Evans
Gasol/Kanter/FA big (Mahimini?)

Then, we can dream about home court advantage in the POs.

So for an extra year of Gasol we are giving up two bigs who aren't far off the production level of an Gasol at this point and a serviceable PG, and most importantly all on contract years. $19M is a lot for Gasol, I don't know how much I like this deal. I think I rather resign Millsap to like 10-12M a year for about 4 years, than keep Gasol 2 years at 19M .

Gasol is a better player than Jefferson because of his passing and his shot-blocking are much better. The reason Utah does this is I think they're setup around 2014 (Marvin Williams deal) and would prefer getting something in the mean time as opposed to giving Millsap big cash and Jefferson is a goner next year. Gasol-Favors-Kanter is a seamless three man rotation. Millsap and Jefferson though aren't quite as cohesive.

+1. It makes sense for each team involved. Gasol is an all-star and Jazz have the cap space to deal with his $19M one more year. Do you want to pay $10M for a back up PF (MIlsap)? And Does Milsap accept the bench role?

[Luigi]

Now that Jefferson has a few shooting threats next to him, maybe we'll be trying to resign him next summer.

Not a chance.

I think there's a chance. Not a good one, but there's definitely a chance. It wouldn't surprise me if Al is in the all-star game next year, and if we all come back down to earth about Favors and Kanter. Yeah, it's most likely not going to happen, but reason asks us not to rule it out.