Jefferson vs Millsap?

[pasfru]

If you were the Jazz GM, would you keep Millsap, Jefferson or get rid of both?

[FJS]

I'm leaning towards keep Jefferson.

In fact Jefferson and Favors can play 4 (Al was originally a 4) so between Favors, Al and Kanter you get both positions pretty well covered without undersized guys.

With Millsap, Derrick and Enes can play 4 and 5 too, but you force to play Derrick 5 when is with him.

[kebutah]

I lean towards Jefferson, but it depends on the amount of money with either guy.

[reapaman]

Jefferson is the clear choice. No point to keeping Millsap who is undersized, not clutch, has been inconsistent and not impressive in a contract year (usually the opposite which is why its even more concerning), also wants to be a starter and want to get paid like a starter but shouldn't be. Jefferson has weaknesses but so does everyone on the team and theirs are probley worse than his at the moment. Plus none of em have the consistent clutch ability he has although hayward is slowly gaining it somewhat ... sorta kindaof.

If we keep Jefferson (which I am almost certain we will), it would be nice if we can get a mobile combo foward that can chase 3's and 4's around for an extended like thaddeus young (not young specifically but someone with his skill but who doesn't cost so much). I think it gives more options and we can do better when we deside to play more up tempo for certain stretches (Enes is still the combo 4/5 in this scenerios BTW).

[Dry Fly]

Jefferson and it isn't even close.

[pickIBL]

The Spurs are getting up there in age, the Lakers are imploding, OKC is the big long term challenge in the west... there aren't all these stacked teams out west these days. So it wouldn't be crazy if the Jazz did roll the dice.

So Jefferson is in the cards and Millsap isn't.

Tell them they can have Millsap and Marvin Williams ask for MarShon Brooks, Humphries, and the rights to Bogdanovic (look him up, seriously). But then make sure you have a 3rd team to take the contract of Humphries. Pick who you like better between Favors and Kanter (like Favors better) then package Humphries with Kanter in a deal to take the contracts of Jameer Nelson & Aaron Afflalo. Trust me as a Nuggets fan Afflalo would be great for the Jazz. Nelson can mentor your young draft pick.

That adds a lot of depth to the team. If you keep Jefferson I'd think part of the deal would be to show him you plan to win and this isn't a rebuild.

Afflalo, Nelson, and Brooks to go along with Burks and a rookie PG would revamp your backcourt. You keep Haywood. Bogdanovic is an NBA ready wing right now if you can reach a buy-out. Kanter is easier to trade because you know you have plenty of money to throw at Tomic.

Bigs don't come cheap. Ian mahinmi is making 4 million a year. 1 million dollar buyout (half counts towards the cap) plus a contract starting at 3.5 million would definitely do it. And in reality that's a steal for a good big.

[pickIBL]

Jefferson/Tomic
Favors/ Back-up PF (Carroll)
Haywood/ Bogdanovic (or back-up SF)
Afflalo/ Brooks
Nelson/ Burks/ Rookie PG

[Ballstaedt]

Jefferson is the clear choice. No point to keeping Millsap who is undersized, not clutch, has been inconsistent and not impressive

I couldn't agree more.

Look, I love what Millsap has done over the years. He came into the league as a undersized and under-talented player and really surprised everyone. Through hard work he has become really nice player. Now that being said, he is still undersized and under-talented. No matter how hard he works he is missing and will NEVER have some major intangibles that a great player needs (size, athleticism, clutch, etc.). Don't get me wrong I love Millsap, but he is not worth the money he is trying to demand, especially when we do have up and coming players that do have the intangibles, and far greater potential. (seriously though I love Millsap).

Jefferson is another story completely. Over the last couple years I have started to get really sick of Jefferson. He has been a black hole on offense. If he gets the ball he is going to shoot it no matter what, and our offense is completely dependent on him. However, recently my attitude has really changed. Although long term I would like to see the jazz get away from a Jefferson only offense, I have to give him credit for his skills. In MY OPINION, I honestly think he is the most skilled big man in the game. I don't think anyone has a better offensive game than he does. Although his style of play is unique, he is almost un-guardable. He can shoot lights out from anywhere inside the arc, and because of this it allows him to capitalize on the pump-fake. Did you guys watch the bulls game? He commanded a triple team ever time! Now I know he is not always this consistent, and his defense is atrocious, but offensively he is a beast. If they jazz trade jefferson they are going to start losing A LOT more than they have been (which is absolutely fine with me - I want draft picks, I could care less about getting blown out in the first round of the playoffs).

Anyways, I think teams would love to have jefferson alot more that they are letting on. Especially those teams who are looking to make a title run (spurs, celtics, etc). Eventually, I want to see Millsap and Jefferson gone, but short term I think they need to get what they can out of Millsap before the trade deadline. He's not gonna sign with us so basically anything we can get (maybe picks, a good young player) is better than nothing. But Jefferson carries the real value in my opinion. Again I don't want him here long term per-say, but I say hold on to Jefferson until they can get a really great deal, (even if it takes a year +).

Sorry for such a long post.

[red4hf]

Big Al all the way.......

[RyanStorm]

Carroll + Jefferson + Favors = Nice 3 man group w/ Mo + Foye back court

Draftee + Evans + Kanter = Nice 3 man Bench group w/ Burks + Hayward back court


Of course either Burks + Hayward or Mo + Foye could be the starters back court.


We need to move space with 2 first round picks coming, who will probably be part of the bench and rotation:

Mo + Foye + Hayward + Favors + Jefferson

Burks + Murphy + Carroll + Evans + Kanter

Tinsley + Draft #17 + Draft #21 + Draft #47

Looking at this, I see Marvin, Millsap, and Watson as not being part of this, and anyone who is shown could be replaced by a trade(maybe Mo or Tinsley). I probably would look at getting rid of Tinsley, Murphy or Evans to make room for the new 1st round picks. However Jazz are more likely to have Evans and Murphy in 2nd unit than the new 1st round picks.

[RyanStorm]

The only problem with this, To get rid of Millsap, Marvin, Watson, and Bell, were looking at bringing in someone from the trade. So honestly with this limited room, I could see us just letting them walk for the space, but I think it would smarter to get better draft picks and get rid of #47.

Set 1: Mo + Foye + Marvin + Millsap + Jefferson

Set 2: Tins + Burks + Hayward + Favors + Kanter

Set 3: Watson + Murphy + Carroll + Evans

New Set: Draft #17 + Draft #21 + Draft #47

[Inigo Montoya]

i'd keep jefferson over millsap, but to say millsap isn't clutch? c'mon, man...

he gave the jazz so many big\important\clutch buckets and plays over the years. not cool.

[dr0welf]

Big Al is a stud, but I really like watching the flex offense and isolation plays just don't do it for me. I would keep Sap.

[Soul Patch]

Jefferson. I love Millsap but Big Al makes more sense when it comes to free agency. In a trade scenario it might be a different story.

[blackham9258]

Neither after this year.

Options:

Trade Both if you get picks or good value at the deadline. Trade Millsap for sure to get something now. Sign and trade Jefferson in the offseason so that we can have a $15M trade exception to flip for a player later: Granger, E Gordon etc.

As I see it Jefferson and Millsap together are what they are: Guys who will get you to the 7-8th seed in the playoffs and maybe once in a while win a game in the first round. Jefferson and Millsap only serve to slow the growth of this team. I can see Millsap resigning even if we traded him and if he was willing to go for $8M a year, but I don't see the point.

Why not go young for a year, and if we lose big we will still grow a lot and give ourselves a chance at a draft pick that can change the franchise. We are close with this nucleus of the 4 youngs, but we need one more and we won't be getting him this draft...

So trade both for picks at the deadline and cheap assets, but retain our cap space. Then next year go young, give the youngs tons of run and take on expiring contracts and such to gather up more picks for allowing teams to dump money on us to avoid the tax. Basically SEE WHAT WE HAVE and see how much growth can be packed into one year. Do the young guys implode, do they grow up fast, basically what kind of learning curve do they experience.

Then with a low pick/picks draft a future player at the spot that seems to be weak whether that is at PG or at a position of need. Then we have the space to add a player via free agency.

Don't tie yourself down with two great guys (Millsap/Jefferson) because we are building toward a championship, not mediocrity.

[Soul Patch]

^This guy's hotter than a wet seal on a rock!

[blackham9258]

One other thing that I would note... there is a tendency for the Millers to put a playoff team on the court so that they can fill just enough seats and make a profit... and I agree that it is a legitimate concern. What I think they miss is we love all 4 of these young guys like we loved Andrei Kirilenko. The year that it was AK, Harpring, Bell and the rest of the no names was probably the funnest year to watch because you didn't know what to expect... it was great.

Next year will be the funnest in the last 15 years if they go young... besides who are we kidding we all know this year that we won't win the championship and if we resign one of Millsap/Jefferson we won't be either.

[zronv7]

Would trade Jefferson for Bledsoe and Jordan, and I think Clippers do that deal if they are offering them for KG. Trade Jordan in the future or when Kanter becomes the obvious better player. Until then you can have a three man rotation between Favors, Jordan, Kanter all getting above 30 minutes a game assuming Mailsap get's traded.

[StocktonShorts]

You can't really answer this question without talking salary. Do you want Jefferson on max deal for five years? That's what he'll want (and probably get from someone) or do you want to pay Millsap an average of 9-10M/year for 4-5 years?

I think the answer might well be that we keep neither.

[Inigo Montoya]

You can't really answer this question without talking salary. Do you want Jefferson on max deal for five years? That's what he'll want (and probably get from someone) or do you want to pay Millsap an average of 9-10M/year for 4-5 years?

I think the answer might well be that we keep neither.

i don't see why we can't sign one of them and trade them after a season or two. if you think there are teams who are willing to offer big al the max, we don't take that much of a risk signing him then. we can sign him now and trade him later. also, in order for big al to get a 5 year deal from the jazz, the jazz will have to use the franchise tag on him, and i don't see that happening. that being said, max money for big al is too much. i hope he'll be willing to take less.