"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[MarkGrace]

Jake (SLC)

Should Jazz fans be legitimately worried that they are going to play themselves out of the top 5 of this draft? That would be a horrific outcome. It also makes me hate the draft lottery. This is a young team that is improving as the season goes along and should absolutely be rewarded with a chance to get a decent pick but will probably get out-tanked.
Kevin Pelton (4:35 PM)

Answering your question with a question: Are the Jazz really one of the five teams in the league most in need of a star player?
Kevin Pelton (4:36 PM)

But also, Utah still finishes in the top 5 in 80% of my simulations of the season, so I think this concern is somewhat overstated because of the point differential/record disconnect with Burke I mentioned earlier.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/49757

Pelton making me feel better.

[MarkGrace]

Aaron (Seattle)

If you are Lindsey, do you try to move Marvin Williams or Richard Jefferson at the deadline? They seem to be helping the jazz win games (not good) and may be able to attract some assets.
Kevin Pelton (5:00 PM)

I'm sure the Jazz will try. I'm not certain there will be much interest since the supply of role players this season exceeds the demand.

Pelton not making me feel better.

[MarkGrace]

matt (dc)

You seem quick to defend Brian Shaw because of the 'situation' he inherited but don't recall you being so understanding with Ty Corbin. He was handed a sinking ship -- management traded their best player; then the lockout season, then a roster of expiring contracts vs. young players to develop; now a bunch of young guys. They've essentially come within a game or two of projections every season, but somehow all the numbers guys (incl. you?) think he's not a very good coach. What gives?
Kevin Pelton (5:27 PM)

I think you may be confusing the numbers guys with Jazz fans, who are of course very vocal with their opinion of Tyrone Corbin.
Kevin Pelton (5:28 PM)

Evaluating coaches is extraordinarily difficult, and Corbin is a uniquely difficult coach. I think you've hit on a good point that when you look at the big picture the conclusion on Corbin is very different than when you analyze decision by decision from a micro perspective.
Kevin Pelton (5:29 PM)

A couple of years ago, Neil Paine evaluated coaches based on how players exceeded expectations that season and Corbin came out near the top of the league: http://www.basketballprospectus.com/...articleid=2224
Kevin Pelton (5:30 PM)

At the same time, we know pretty well that coaches have more impact on defense than offense, and Corbin's defenses have never been very good. And while you're tempted to write that off to personnel, Steve Clifford has somehow built a top-five defense around Al Jefferson.
Kevin Pelton (5:31 PM)

Then there's also the matter of player development, which is really the more important task for Corbin over his tenure in Utah. Have young players gotten enough opportunity? I'm not sure. It's hard to tell without knowing what they're doing in practice. Is Corbin any different than the typical coach in this regard? I know that the list of coaches who get credit for how they handle young players is a lot shorter than the list that get criticized for it. So is this an issue with a specific coach or a disconnect between fans and coaches in general?

Here's the article he links: http://www.basketballprospectus.com/...articleid=2224

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Capologists...if the Jazz trade Dick Jefferson for Bynum, can they then cut Bynum and gain that much available cap space this season? Does he have to sign with another team first? I thought that since his contract says it isn't guaranteed after a certain date, that if a team cut him, they would gain $12 M in cap room. For a team like Utah, they could then seek out other opportunities to help teams get under the luxury tax, accumulating more picks or other assets before the trade deadline.

[MarkGrace]

Capologists...if the Jazz trade Dick Jefferson for Bynum, can they then cut Bynum and gain that much available cap space this season? Does he have to sign with another team first? I thought that since his contract says it isn't guaranteed after a certain date, that if a team cut him, they would gain $12 M in cap room. For a team like Utah, they could then seek out other opportunities to help teams get under the luxury tax, accumulating more picks or other assets before the trade deadline.

Jody Genessy @DJJazzyJody 41s

Jazz and Cavs are exploring a trade involving veteran small forward Richard Jefferson, according to @ESPNSteinLine.

...

[cougjunkie]

Capologists...if the Jazz trade Dick Jefferson for Bynum, can they then cut Bynum and gain that much available cap space this season? Does he have to sign with another team first? I thought that since his contract says it isn't guaranteed after a certain date, that if a team cut him, they would gain $12 M in cap room. For a team like Utah, they could then seek out other opportunities to help teams get under the luxury tax, accumulating more picks or other assets before the trade deadline.

The Lakers and Cavs were in talks and the Lakers were planning on doing the exact same thing. It would have saved LA $20 million in cap space and luxury tax money.

[MarkGrace]

Capologists...if the Jazz trade Dick Jefferson for Bynum, can they then cut Bynum and gain that much available cap space this season? Does he have to sign with another team first? I thought that since his contract says it isn't guaranteed after a certain date, that if a team cut him, they would gain $12 M in cap room. For a team like Utah, they could then seek out other opportunities to help teams get under the luxury tax, accumulating more picks or other assets before the trade deadline.

I just watched the True Hoop segment and they said if he's traded for and waived before the 7th, he's only owed $6mm for the year. Cleveland has already paid a chunk of that $6mm, so the team that pulls this off would only have to play him a couple million and would shave the rest from their books. I have to guess that's connected to the Jazz interest above. Just not sure why Cleveland would want Dick.

[cougjunkie]

I just watched the True Hoop segment and they said if he's traded for and waived before the 7th, he's only owed $6mm for the year. Cleveland has already paid a chunk of that $6mm, so the team that pulls this off would only have to play him a couple million and would shave the rest from their books. I have to guess that's connected to the Jazz interest above. Just not sure why Cleveland would want Dick.

Why do you guys hate Dick Jefferson so much?

RJ and a the Warriors first is what Cleveland wants.

Do you do it?

[MarkGrace]

Why do you guys hate Dick Jefferson so much?

RJ and a the Warriors first is what Cleveland wants.

Do you do it?

I don't hate Dick at all. And no, I don't do that.

[cougjunkie]

I don't hate Dick at all. And no, I don't do that.

I am not surprised you don't hate dick.

With that being said, he is shooting 41% from the three this year, and is actually playing pretty well. Of course that hurts tankapalooza and takes minutes from Burks.

I saw a tweet from a Dan Clayton his twitter handle is Jazz1600am I had no idea the Jazz had a station on 1600am.

[Sizzle]

I am not surprised you don't hate dick.

With that being said, he is shooting 41% from the three this year, and is actually playing pretty well. Of course that hurts tankapalooza and takes minutes from Burks.

I saw a tweet from a Dan Clayton his twitter handle is Jazz1600am I had no idea the Jazz had a station on 1600am.

I'm pretty sure that is the Hispanic station. No, I'm not kidding.

I wouldn't give up much to bring in Bynum and be able to shed is salary. I'd make the move for Richard Jefferson for Bynum straight up. But if the Jazz are adding an asset (and yes, I consider the GSW pick an asset) then no, I don't do it. I'd maybe send Ante Tomic though.

[MarkGrace]

Effing warriors

[MarkGrace]

Marshall with the game of his life. Wow.

[MarkGrace]

The Cleveland Cavaliers have refused to include Dion Waiters into Andrew Bynum-Pau Gasol trade talks and remain reluctant on sending a future first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Los Angeles could save $20 million-plus on a Gasol-Bynum deal, but the Lakers' insistence on more than salary-cap relief from the Cavaliers – such as Waiters or a draft pick – has been a significant hurdle in discussions.

Cleveland sees Gasol – who will be a free agent in 2014 – as a rental player for the rest of this season and largely wants the Lakers to view the substantial financial savings as motivation to complete the deal, sources said.

Time is running out for the Cavaliers to beat the Tuesday contractual deadline on Bynum's $12 million for the rest of this season. Whether the Cavaliers keep Bynum or trade him, his deal can bought out for $6 million until Tuesday. After that, the contract becomes fully guaranteed for the season.

View gallery
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Pau Gasol is averaging 15.3 points and 9.5 rebounds this season. (AP)
The Cavaliers are offering that cost savings to teams around the league in hopes it'll deliver Cleveland back a player to help them make the playoffs this year.

Cleveland has talked to the Utah Jazz on trading Bynum for forward Richard Jefferson, but has yet to re-engage on those talks over the weekend, league sources told Yahoo Sports. The Cavaliers are willing to part with a second-round pick in a Bynum-for-Jefferson deal, which Cleveland officials believe is likely enough return to make the transaction worth the Jazz's trouble.

Utah will lose Jefferson without compensation to free agency at season's end, and a pick gives them some value for a player they acquired in a Golden State Warriors salary dump last February.

Cleveland has one of the poorest rosters of small forwards in the league, and Jefferson would give the Cavaliers an upgrade. Jefferson is in the final year of his contract and has played well offensively for the Jazz this season. Utah is committed long-term to a young core of perimeter players.

Jefferson, 33, has played 12 years in the NBA, including stops with the Nets, Bucks, Spurs, Warriors and Jazz.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/cavs-re...211014650.html

[MarkGrace]

Sam Amico: Also, sources tell @FOXSportsOH another team (not #Lakers) has offered #Cavs first-round draft pick for Dion Waiters. No further info yet

http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm#sthash.d5rGqJ8E.dpuf