"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[JohnnyLingo]

Peter Fehse! Yes!

http://www.newsok.com/article/3426825

WHAT THE HELL

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Peter Fehse! Yes!

http://www.newsok.com/article/3426825

This has to be a trade to make room or space for a different trade. Why did we trade away Harpring's expiring contract? That is the most valuable thing he has been to the Jazz in years.

[falafel]

WHAT THE HELL

This has to be a trade to make room or space for a different trade. Why did we trade away Harpring's expiring contract? That is the most valuable thing he has been to the Jazz in years.

WTF?! You'd better be right, HFN, b/c I really liked Maynor. There better be something big coming down the line.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

WTF?! You'd better be right, HFN, b/c I really liked Maynor. There better be something big coming down the line.

If there isn't more coming soon this might be the worst move in the last few years in the NBA.

[LiveCoug]

Yeah, Harpring was a great commodity. If this move is just about saving some money agains the cap and that's it, uggh.

[MarkGrace]

I wouldn't bank on another trade, looks like a straight money move. Radio says it will save the Jazz about $11mm.

What a bunch of crap. We finally have a back up that looks semi-competent playing the position, and we trade him away for absolutely nothing because of the situation we are in. Fantastic. But kudos to Presti on another absolute steal. I wish he was our GM.

[MarkGrace]

Also, why the hell are we playing Booz? It's really starting to look like the Jazz aren't going to trade him and will let him walk at the end of the season. So why on god's earth are we allowing him to restore his value as a 20/10 guy at our expense? The guy hasn't done shit for us, and it's almost like we're doing him this huge favor.

If the plan is to just let Booz walk, it makes ZERO sense to play him right now. Start Sap and play him 35 minutes are night since there's actually a chance he'll be around next year.

[Surfah]

Holy hell. How'd I miss this trade until now. The Jazz grabbed the ankles on that deal. Something better be in the works to unload Boozer and Korver now or I'd be one pissed off Jazz fan. If this was strictly a money move I'll gladly welcome some of you guys aboard the Lakers train. I also don't understand this move since you just strengthened a divisional foe. Wow.

[MarkGrace]

Coming into the season, we knew that the Oklahoma City Thunder would be able to demand a hefty price for the privilege of renting its salary cap space this winter, because so many teams found themselves in tight spots financially. We also knew that Carlos Boozer not opting out of his contract would likely cost the Jazz a player somewhere down the road.

Today, their destinies collided. A full two months before the trade deadline, the Thunder made their move when the Jazz dangled rookie point guard Eric Maynor as the prize for taking on the contract of soon-to-be-retired forward Matt Harpring.

Let's start with the obvious stuff: The Thunder used their strong cap position to purloin a promising young point guard. Maynor has played reasonably well for Utah in his first season and the next year of his deal, at $1.4 million, barely dents the Thunder's projected cap space for next summer. He fills a clear need as well. Oklahoma City desperately needed a pass-first point guard to back up Russell Westbrook and to occasionally play with him in small backcourts, especially with Shaun Livingston not working out. Maynor doesn't offer great upside, but he's going to be solid for several years.

Additionally, some subtle aspects of this deal make it particularly juicy for the Thunder. Harpring makes $6.5 million this year, but Oklahoma City is on the hook for only $1.78 million while insurance will cover the rest. And since Harpring has an expiring contract, the deal won't cut into their projected $10 million-plus in cap space next summer. Finally, the Thunder can trade Harpring again if they so choose, either alone or as part of a package: Teams under the cap aren't bound by the league's two-month rule on re-packaging acquired players.

Utah effectively donated Maynor to Oklahoma City because of the mind-boggling financial savings. The Jazz retain more than $10.46 million by removing $7.8 million in luxury tax payments, another $884,452 for Maynor's salary the rest of this year, and $1.78 million in payments to Harpring that wouldn't have been covered by insurance. The trade also opens the door for the Jazz to eventually slip under the luxury tax threshold entirely -- they're now only $4.8 million over. More on that in a minute.

Utah acquired the rights to German forward Peter Fehse in this trade but he has no chance of ever playing in the NBA. He's only in the deal because league rules require both teams to receive something in a trade, and this was the least valuable asset the Thunder found in the recesses of their cupboards. In another bit of housekeeping, Utah will need to sign a 13th player at some point in the next two weeks to meet league roster rules.

The big question for Jazz fans, however, is whether this portends a trade of Carlos Boozer. The Jazz could conceivably slide all the way under the tax line by trading Boozer and receiving a player or players with non-guaranteed contracts, especially if they included Kyle Korver's expiring contract in the swap.

To offer one such example (this is NOT a rumor, mind you, just an example), Utah could send Boozer, Korver, and C.J. Miles to Dallas for Drew Gooden, Erick Dampier, Rodrigue Beaubois and a 2012 first-rounder; the deal would save $3.5 million in salaries and another $2.6 million by cutting Gooden prior to Jan. 15, putting the Jazz under the tax threshold.

Another more plausible way is to deal Boozer or Boozer with Korver to get most of the way under the tax, and then pay a team to take Ronnie Price or Miles into a trade exception to finish the job. The point is that the Jazz now have paths available to avoid the luxury tax, something that seemed a long shot prior to the Maynor trade.

For other teams looking to dump salary, however, this deal is terrible news. Only a few doors remain open for dumping salary, and one of them just slammed shut. While opportunities remain available -- witness my Boozer example above -- the likes of Washington and New Orleans have to be disappointed that the Oklahoma City option is off the table.

That they took it off the table this early, prior to most of the serious horse-trading beginning, says something about the quality of the deal dangled before them. Boozer's opt-in proved costly for Utah, depriving the Jazz of Maynor's services while further strengthening a potent division rival. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City's inexorable rise continues apace -- today the Thunder nabbed a good young point guard, and because of the insurance provisions, they got him for peanuts.
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...l-far-reaching

[MarkGrace]

Maynor trade gives Jazz better leverage

Sometimes seemingly minor deals have a significant impact on the trade market leaguewide.

Tuesday could well be one of those times.

The Utah Jazz had to part with promising rookie point guard Eric Maynor to make it happen, but keeping Carlos Boozer for the rest of the season just got more affordable for the Jazz.

A lot more affordable.

Sending retirement-bound Matt Harpring and Maynor to Oklahoma City for the rights to a 2002 second-rounder who will never play in the NBA -- German forward Peter Fehse -- sliced Utah's luxury-tax bill this season from $12.6 million to a much more manageable $4.8 million.

That's still more luxury tax than the Jazz want to pay, but the nearly $8 million in tax payments that they just saved provides further incentive to keep Boozer beyond the Feb. 18 trading deadline.

No one expects him to stay in Salt Lake City after this season following Utah's decision to match the four-year, $32 million offer sheet Paul Millsap got from Portland. But Boozer -- whether he leaves through his own accord as an unrestricted free agent or works with the Jazz on a sign-and-trade -- has followed up an offseason filled with endless chatter about his imminent departure with a tension-easing start to 2009-10.

How calming? Boozer was averaging 19.8 points and 10.8 boards entering Tuesday's play and told reporters this week in Miami: "I'm having fun and hopefully everybody can see that."

This deal was typical OKC opportunism. Thunder general manager Sam Presti took advantage of his low payroll to snag yet another good young asset in Maynor by absorbing a contract that is not only expiring (at $6.5 million) but also heavily insured because of the knee and ankle injuries that have forced Harpring into television with NBA TV this season.

Yet this is a deal with two winners. Maynor is a nice prospect, sure, but dare we say point guard is one spot that Utah can afford to sacrfice some depth with a certain Deron Williams on the books.

No way Utah could say no to shedding that much payroll -- without surrendering a true core piece -- no matter how much you like Maynor.

Not when you factor in the increased leverage Utah just gave itself going into the trade deadline. The Jazz can still elect to trade Boozer if they get a deal they like, but they certainly don't have to.

For months we've heard sources with knowledge of Utah's thinking insist that the Jazz wanted at least one quality player in a Boozer deal. And that was when their luxury-tax bill was going to approach $13 million.

A tax payment in July in the $5 million range, as a one-season hit, is something Utah can presumably stomach if it decides to stick with Boozer for six more months.
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...etter-leverage

[MarkGrace]

December 23, 2009

Dear Jazz Season Ticket Holder:

As a follow-up to yesterday’s trade, I want to personally let you know why we made the decision we did as we value your commitment to the Jazz.

1. Fact: I want the Utah Jazz to win.
2. Fact: The Jazz need to be financially viable in the long run.
3. Fact: Unfortunately, due to Matt Harpring’s numerous injuries, he is unable to play. This means the Jazz is paying $13 million (salary and luxury tax) and getting nothing in return.
4. Fact: I am not happy about trading Eric Maynor.

The genesis of yesterday’s trade began last summer when Boozer, Okur and Korver all exercised their option to continue to play for the Utah Jazz. I was surprised, but happy when all three were back on our roster at the start of this season.

Portland then made their run at Millsap in the late summer. As a franchise, we believe in Paul and hope he has a long and prosperous career with the Utah Jazz. Because of this, I felt strongly that we needed to make an unprecedented move to match Portland’s offer and keep Paul here. Doing this meant for the first time in franchise history, the Jazz entered the luxury tax realm. To me the reason for this is obvious: Millsap can help us win.

It is important to note that from a financial standpoint this is a double negative—first because we have to pay one dollar of luxury tax for every dollar of player salary over the luxury tax threshold and second, because the teams that pay luxury tax forfeit their ability to collect their share of the tax paid by teams over the limit.

We entered the season committed to an all-time-high salary expense. We did it with our eyes wide open. I don’t mind paying the luxury tax for healthy players that can help us win, but it is very difficult for me to pay the money and not have the benefit of a player’s services. The trade with Oklahoma City resolved this concern.

Having the league’s premier point guard in Deron Williams, and a veteran backup in Ronnie Price, took some of the sting out of this decision.

Again, I am not happy about trading Eric Maynor away and truly wish him the best going forward.

I appreciate the years Matt Harpring played with the Jazz. His toughness and work ethic are consistent with the values of this organization. Matt will always be part of the Jazz family.

My family and I appreciate your continued support of the Jazz and wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

Sincerely,

Greg Miller
CEO

[Surfah]

That's pretty cool that Miller responded like that.

I still don't like the idea of trading Maynor to a divisional foe who will be kicking the Jazz' ass in a year or two with regularity.

I also don't like that the Jazz matched Milsap. I love Milsap's game. But he's not a piece you build a franchise around. He's a great compliment to D Will. But I am not sure he's worth that price, particularly for a franchise that isn't willing to pay the luxury tax. I think the Jazz should have let Portland take that hit.

It will be interesting to see how this team rebuilds. It sucks the Knicks are playing decent ball right now.

[Donuthole]

Shaq + draft picks for Boozer and Okur. Make it happen, KOC. It makes Cleveland better, and it gives Utah some financial breathing room and the rest of the year to develop young guys. Williams gets "injured" and sits out the rest of the year, and Ronnie Price leads the Jazz into the lottery.

[Donuthole]

Shaq + draft picks for Boozer and Okur. Make it happen, KOC. It makes Cleveland better, and it gives Utah some financial breathing room and the rest of the year to develop young guys. Williams gets "injured" and sits out the rest of the year, and Ronnie Price leads the Jazz into the lottery.

Even better, Shaq and Big Z + a pick for Boozer, Okur, and AK.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMa...radeId=yfsu8ea

Jazz clear 37 million off the books at the end of the season, and the Cavs find a replacement for Big Z (Okur) and a legit power forward and small forward to play with LBJ. If LBJ bolts, they aren't nearly as decimated as they will be otherwise.

[MarkGrace]

Okur sucks. Please get rid of him.