"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[Jacob]

I think the point is what you said: to improve the team slightly. I'm guessing they'll want to try and field a more competitive team than last year, even if that doesn't mean making a jump to the top of the conference.

The second part I don't really follow. They can't really do much in FA this year, so Mo doesn't really change that. And they have a ton of money next summer, and Mo doesn't change that either. What does pocketing 8.5M this year get you the following year? I don't understand what you're saying there. The Jazz will spend somehwere up close to the cap this year, and then they'll do the same the following year. Pocketing 8.5M doesn't really impact anything there.

If you don't spend 8.5 million, you put it in your pocket (after you pay tax). You then have that money to use in any way you want, including paying more on salaries in the future. I'm not talking about the cap here. I'm talking about cash money. Whereas, an owner doesn't like to operate at a loss, said owner can operate at a profit this year in preparation for operating at a loss next year. We are talking about 6m (after taxes). Its a lot of money. It can pay luxury tax in the future, etc.

I guess I'm not following this either. So a move has to be made at some point with the exception, but let's not make a move when we have an offer? When are you planning on using it and for what? Or would you rather just not use it all?

I'd rather not make a move if its only impact is to pay 8.5m on a player who will have absolutely no impact on whether the Jazz are competitive 1 year from now. And, at best, will be a slight improvement to this year's team.

[MarkGrace]

If you don't spend 8.5 million, you put it in your pocket (after you pay tax). You then have that money to use in any way you want, including paying more on salaries in the future. I'm not talking about the cap here. I'm talking about cash money. Whereas, an owner doesn't like to operate at a loss, said owner can operate at a profit this year in preparation for operating at a loss next year. We are talking about 6m (after taxes). Its a lot of money. It can pay luxury tax in the future, etc.


I'd rather not make a move if its only impact is to pay 8.5m on a player who will have absolutely no impact on whether the Jazz are competitive 1 year from now. And, at best, will be a slight improvement to this year's team.

Gotcha. I don't know enough about the Jazz finances to make any type of assumption about what their bottom line looks like. I know LHM said they were operating at a loss, but that was when they were over the cap and I have no idea what things would look like now. If that's still the case, then what you say makes sense and I would agree. However, their whole setup is moving toward FA after next season, and I'd wager everything I own that what you're saying has already been taken into consideration -- and if they're willing to make the move, I'm guessing it's because it has no real impact there.

Like I said, I would love to see something else (would really love to get a 1st rounder), but if there's nothing else out there, I have no problem with making a small improvement that really doesn't impact anything rather than just lose the TPE altogether.

[Jacob]

Gotcha. I don't know enough about the Jazz finances to make any type of assumption about what their bottom line looks like. I know LHM said they were operating at a loss, but that was when they were over the cap and I have no idea what things would look like now. If that's still the case, then what you say makes sense and I would agree. However, their whole setup is moving toward FA after next season, and I'd wager everything I own that what you're saying has already been taken into consideration -- and if they're willing to make the move, I'm guessing it's because it has no real impact there.

Like I said, I would love to see something else (would really love to get a 1st rounder), but if there's nothing else out there, I have no problem with making a small improvement that really doesn't impact anything rather than just lose the TPE altogether.

We are in the dark about the other intentions. They could have a half-baked deal to trade Harris. That would certainly change the analysis regarding Mo.

But what about my earlier question? What if AK cost 8.5m? Would you rather have him than Mo? The Jazz are at $50m in salary. Adding Mo puts them over the cap, limits them to low level cap exceptions for other signings.

[MarkGrace]

If AK would take a one-year deal, I would prefer AK. I'm guessing someone else will offer him a multi-year deal though.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Was hoping that 17th pick was for Utah. But Zeller's name being called means it probably wasn't.

[Maximus]

Was hoping that 17th pick was for Utah. But Zeller's name being called means it probably wasn't.

hes actually going to cleveland.

[Maximus]

mo williams deal isnt a done deal.

[The_Douger]

Lets hope it never gets done.

[MarkGrace]

KOC says "not close to being done, too many moving parts."

[MarkGrace]

This what Ford has on the newest member of the Jazz.

Positives
Excellent shooter
Deep range
Good midrange game
Smooth athlete
Quick first step Excellent length

Negatives
Needs to add strength
Struggled against tougher competition

June 25 Update: The Pistons drafting at No. 44 could really use another shooter at the wings. Murphy was one of the best scorers in college basketball, shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc.

May 24 Update: NBA scouts are starting to give a closer look to Tennessee Tech swingman Kevin Murphy. Murphy is averaging an impressive 22 ppg, shooting 45 percent from 3 and averaging more than five rebounds per game.

His 50-point outburst versus SIU Edwardsville a few weeks ago was one of the best scoring performances of the season. Murphy looks a bit like a Rip Hamilton sort of player with much deeper range. He's got a smooth athleticism that allows him to glide to the basket. He can score off the dribble, has a sick midrange game and shows both quickness and athleticism.

His lack of strength is an issue. So is the fact that he struggled mightily in Tennessee Tech's three biggest games of the season, against Miami, West Virginia and Murray State.

While he's not a lock to be drafted, the more teams scout him, the more they believe he might be a legit early second-round sleeper.

NBADraft

Murphy is the shooting sleeper of the draft. He has great length and a killer step-back jump shot. You may never have seen him play at Tennessee Tech, but he has a chance to stick in the league for a long time as a bench scorer. –Seth Sommerfeld

Strengths: Explosive scorer that possesses a wide offensive skill-set ... Good length for either wing position ... Active runner ... Quick feet ... Gets himself squared up to the hoop almost instantly ... Volume shooter ... Attempted just under six threes per game his senior season, and made an impressive 41.6% of them ... Won't have any trouble adjusting to the NBA three-point line ... Likes to spot-up in transition ... Can create his own offense ... Has a deadly step-back jumper that is highly difficult for the defense to contest ... Uses a lot of hesitation moves and pump-fakes to throw off his defender ... Drives strong with either hand, though he prefers to pull-up when driving left (often from the baseline) ... Very active without the ball ... Constantly runs to open spots on the floor, positioning himself to get a good shot off if his teammates pass the ball to him ...

Weaknesses: Not a very strong finisher at the rim, due in large part to his slight frame ... Does most of his scoring outside the paint, so it's hard for him to establish a good scoring rhythm if his shot isn't falling ... Only shot 72.1% from the stripe, which is a disappointing number for somebody that can shoot so well from the field ... Not a black hole, but can get in a score-first/score-second mindset and only look to pass as a last resort ... Needs to improve defensively ...

Overall: If Murphy can adjust to playing without the ball in his hands so much, then he could be a very serviceable scorer in the NBA ... May be a strong contributor in his rookie season, as his spot-up shooting ability is a skill that could help him wedge his way into a team's rotation right away … A potential sleeper pick, that would offer solid value if he fell into the second round …

Draft Express

Kevin Murphy, 6'7, Shooting Guard, Tennessee Tech

Perhaps the most impressive individual performer over the course of the PIT, particularly from a long-term perspective, Kevin Murphy's size (he measured 6-6 barefoot) and ability to score in a variety of ways from all over the court stood out all week long. Shooting the ball with range both off the catch and off the dribble, the Tennessee Tech product was consistently able to create separation with his dribble in one-on-one situations, knock down his spot-up jump shots, and utilize his smooth shooting mechanics to convert a number of contested shots in impressive fashion.

After emerging as one of the top scorers in college basketball this season, many were interested in seeing how Murphy would fare against BCS-level competition once outside the Ohio Valley Conference. Murphy made it clear at Portsmouth that he has elite scoring potential regardless of who he's matching up, even if he still has a ways to go to fully harness his talent.

The prolific scorer certainly isn't known for his passing ability, but he did show the ability to find the open man when the defenders here began to make an effort to keep him out of the lane and did not force any more shots than any of the other wings in attendance. He's a little bit raw in terms of his knowledge of the game and will have a little bit steeper of a transition to make than most seniors after playing on a team that did not win that many games the past four years. With that said, not many in his class boast the same upside, which could enable him to make a Marshon Brooks-esqe ascension up draft boards if he continues to perform well in private workouts over the next two months.

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz1z9OcG5bG
http://www.draftexpress.com

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Not everybody can go for 50 against SIU Edwardsville.

[MarkGrace]

Not everybody can go for 50 against SIU Edwardsville.

Hey, it's a better pick than Goran Suton and Tadja Dragevicicericic or whatever the hell his name was!

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Hey, it's a better pick than Goran Suton and Tadja Dragevicicericic or whatever the hell his name was!

It won't take much to be better than Quincy Lewis or the Morris Almond picks either. I like that when they went for a shooter this time around they went for a guy whose specialty isn't a 15 footer.

[MarkGrace]

Murphy was one of the best scorers in college basketball last year. He's an excellent shooter with deep range on his jumper. This is a nice sleeper pick from the Jazz. -- Chad Ford

[ame="http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/results/rounds/_/year/2012/round/2"]2012 NBA Draft Results Round 2 - ESPN[/ame]

[MarkGrace]

Brian T. Smith @tribjazz
Jazz have other options and free agency's two days away. Will move on and leave deal behind if situation continues to publicly unravel.
Expand

6m Jeff Caplan @ESPN_Caplan
RT @tribjazz: Mo Williams update: Still could happen. Nothing set, though, and Jazz backing off somewhat. >> Cuban said hopeful, but unsure.

Retweeted by Brian T. Smith
6m Brian T. Smith @tribjazz
It's turning into a game between teams and agents that's being aired in public, which isn't a game Jazz usually play.

Mo Williams update: Still could happen. Nothing set, though, and Jazz backing off somewhat. Interested, but delayed situation isn't helping.

I guess that's the latest.