AK trade is a gamble, but it makes sense

[DiscoLives4ever]

I posted this in another thread, but wanted to put it in it's own:

I really think KOC is looking at making more moves later this season. If this trade goes down, we will have the following Trade Exceptions:

AK ~$8mil
Harp $6.5mil
Brew $2.7mil
Booz $1.4mil
Maynor $1.3mil
Koufus $1.3mil

That is a hell of a lot of flexibility heading towards the trade deadline this year, where you will have a lot of middle-of-the-pack teams looking to dump salaries in light of the new CBA. This means not only will the Jazz avoid competing to dump salary (since we're doing that now), we will also be in excellent position to pick up key role-players from those desperate teams.

Yes, we lose some talent now. But it's not like we're downgrading our best player (Williams). Or our second best (Jefferson). Or even our third best (Milsap). Our fourth best player will be downgraded defensively, which sucks but considering the benefits it makes sense.

Worst-case scenario = the Millers (the people responsible for us HAVING a team in Utah) save ~$15-$18 million dollars. That is real money to real people, not a video game number.
Best-case scenario = KOC manages to pull off a key trade or two at the deadline and instead of AK for Diaw this becomes AK for Diaw+Piece X.

[FJS]

If Okur is healthy I think he is our 4th best player

[Hikari]

It does save some money but not as much as everyone is saying. Remember Diaw makes 9 mill this year and 9 mill next. Thats 18 mill rather than AK's $17,822,187. They may make a few mill this year because of the lux tax. I'm not saying that I'm against the trade but the money savings is not in the 18 mill range.

[Sloanfeld]

It does save some money but not as much as everyone is saying. Remember Diaw makes 9 mill this year and 9 mill next. Thats 18 mill rather than AK's $17,822,187. They may make a few mill this year because of the lux tax. I'm not saying that I'm against the trade but the money savings is not in the 18 mill range.

Also factor in AK's salary for next season is we re-sign him.

[outerspacefella]

It does save some money but not as much as everyone is saying... Remember Diaw makes 9 mill this year and 9 mill next. Thats 18 mill rather than AK's $17,822,187. They may make a few mill this year because of the lux tax. I'm not saying that I'm against the trade but the money savings is not in the 18 mill range.

You would have kind of a partial point if Diaw actually plays with the Jazz the entire next 2 seasons. But neither of us can read the future... None of us know what will happen with Diaw; it migh very well be traded as an expiring by next summer...

What we know as a fact right now is that next season the Jazz would save an amazing figure (didn't actually do the maths but we're talking 9 in salary, probably 6 in lux tax and 3-4 in tax shares***) AND they would have an 11+/5+/4 veteran with 1 DNP in the last 250 games playing an average 32,5 minutes in that span.

IMHIO, moot or not, it has to be admitted Jazz brass is not acting irrational...

***Even counting the 9M player option Diaw owns for next season, the savings for the Jazz would be 8 figures...

[carrottop12]

Diaw really isn't as bad a player as everyone is saying.

Yeah he's put on some weight, and he isn't the defender that AK is, but he isn't a schmuck. He's an excellent passer, he's a quality 3rd or 4th scorer, and he can play well in intricate offenses.

Yes his weight could potentially be a problem with Sloan, but lets see him get into camp if this trade goes through before we start ripping him.

I'd be excited to add another skilled big to the rotation who plays 80 games a season.

[QuantumMacgyver]

And lets all be honest here guys. Ak is better than Diaw. On pure talent we can all agree on that. However, a healthy Diaw is better than an injured AK, which is what he has become. If AK were able to avoid the random injuries then I really doubt he'd be the subject of such a trade right now. Its sad to see AK go, but if DIaw can get into shape then he may actually help us more come playoffs than AK anyhow. That's a fairly decent "if" tho.

[Wolverine]

We would be too thin at the 2/3. Too many 4's. Not good for millsap