"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[old_gregg]

should the jazz move cj? the 11/12 year of his contract is a team option, meaning he effectively has an expiring contract... any takers at close to 4mm?

[UteStar]

I know, I know everyone has thrown in their opinion on this trade - here are my thoughts:

Overall, its a good move. I like Deron. Deron has been good for the state and for the team. But I think Sloan leaving has hurt Deron in fans' eyes (right or wrong). Deron had an uphill battle to get people to love him again. The Jazz weren't going anywhere this year. Maybe the playoffs and if so, more likely a first round loss. Or, no playoffs...neither is too good for Utah. Add to that - a lot of money over the lux line. Add to that, the media would make it a circus next year with Deron being in the last year of his contract. All spells a rough year this year and next.

Getting Harris and 3 lottery picks (Favors and the 2) is a nice consolation for the Jazz. Saves them money...gets some nice potential and gets them a top 10 point guard. This team will lose a few more games this year than if they had Deron...and they will lose a few more games next year but the future, potentially, could be pretty bright. There are a lot of IFs here, but Favors and Gordon to go along with Milsap and Jefferson and Tomic and the 2 first round picks...they could be something. Who knows what, but its interesting.

With all that said...if Matthews was still on the team, the Jazz probably win a couple more games this year and the Jazz may not have made a move with Deron. Stupid Blazers. Overall, I like the trade mainly because it makes the Jazz interesting and with potential. I just have no idea how it will look in 2 years. If Favors lives up to his potential and the picks turn out to be something - KOC would be a genius. If nobody lives up to the hype...then KOC will be out of a job in 3 years.

[Sizzle]

IMO the deal that is really killing the Jazz right now is Memo's deal. If Memo were healthy that is one thing, but with him on the bench, that absolutely hurts. It meant no matching Wesley and really hurt the Jazz not having that competent 3rd big and a guy who can shoot the basketball and stretch the defense.

[MarkGrace]

Wolves apparently have interest in Raja.

Phones reportedly ringing off the hook with calls about Sap and AK.

[UteStar]

Wolves apparently have interest in Raja.

Phones reportedly ringing off the hook with calls about Sap and AK.

There are reports that people are really interested in Jefferson as well.

How about a Kevin Martin for Al Jefferson deal? Houston is looking to make some moves. Jefferson would play alongside Scola. It would commit the Jazz to Milsap and Favors...with the ongoing hope of Fesenko and possibly Tomic and Okur. Martin would fill the void of SG. Center would be a weak link for the Jazz.

In regards to the Wolves wanting Raja...there is really nothing that I want from the Wolves. I would take a Wesley Johnson for Raja, but I don't see Minn doing that deal.

[Jacob]

Wolves apparently have interest in Raja.

What? Why? Oh, and done.

[Sizzle]

Wolves apparently have interest in Raja.

Phones reportedly ringing off the hook with calls about Sap and AK.

If you can move AK for a pick and a bit of cap relief, I think you do it. Moving AK is more of a luxury tax type move.

If you can move Sap for a prospect and a pick, then I think you do it. Moving Sap is more about making the team better more long term IMO.

[tooblue]

Wolves apparently have interest in Raja.

Phones reportedly ringing off the hook with calls about Sap and AK.

I'd take a bag of peanuts in exchange for Raja ... make a deal, any deal! I'd also listen to deals for AK and Miles, but I'd be wary about sending Sap anywhere.

[Blueintheface]

Wolves apparently have interest in Raja.

Phones reportedly ringing off the hook with calls about Sap and AK.

[tooblue]

If you can move AK for a pick and a bit of cap relief, I think you do it. Moving AK is more of a luxury tax type move.

If you can move Sap for a prospect and a pick, then I think you do it. Moving Sap is more about making the team better more long term IMO.

If the Jazz were to somehow send AK to New Jersey, then we would know KOC is really trying to "sticking it to him."

[MartyFunkhouser]

What? Why? Oh, and done.

David Kahn is a genius that is why they are interested.

[MarkGrace]

We know Deron Williams probably wasn't going to stay with the Jazz.



But will he stay with the Nets?



That's the unanswered question to today's shocking news that the Jazz have agreed to blow up their team by sending Williams to New Jersey for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, $3 million in cash and two first-round picks.



Stay or go, this deal has to be considered a huge short-term coup for New Jersey. Williams is one of the game's best point guards and provides the boost of star power the Nets had been craving with their season-long pursuit of Carmelo Anthony. Instead the Nets got a better player and gave up considerably less.



Normally this type of deal isn't made without some kind of a wink and a nod from the player's people that an extension is in the bag. Apparently it wasn't the case here, as Williams is reportedly shocked and unhappy. Clearly, this deal is a calculated risk on the part of the Nets that they can convince Williams to stay in New Jersey beyond the 2011-12 season, when he can opt out of his deal.



Unlike the Anthony situation, which was an "extend-and-trade" deal, this trade doesn't come with the guarantee of an extension. Williams isn't extension-eligible until July 9, which means he retains the threat of opting out of his contract and heading for some place warmer (cough … Clippers … cough) in the summer of 2012. And he can potentially hang that threat over New Jersey starting, well … now.



As far as the current season goes, the benefits of this deal are slim to none. New Jersey is nine games out of the final playoff spot with 25 to play, so the Nets would need to play ridiculously well -- say, 21-4 -- to have a realistic shot of catching Indiana for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. It's not happening. About the only potential benefit is that somebody might actually bother flying to London next week to cover the Nets' two-game stint in jolly ol' England against fellow doormat Toronto.



For Utah, this was an elegant way out of an inelegant situation, and likely represents the first of several trade dominoes for a Jazz team that is still over the luxury tax threshold but unlikely to make the playoffs. Harris will take over at the point, but the greater incentive was getting what could potentially be three lottery picks -- New Jersey's unprotected 2011 pick, a 2012 pick from Golden State that is only top-seven protected, and Favors, the third selection in the 2010 draft.



Favors' job will be to add some size and defensive presence to a frontcourt that has offensive stalwarts Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap but has struggled to guard opposing big men. Despite a bumpy rookie season, scouts remain high on Favors' potential.



Additionally, one presumes the Jazz will spend the next 24 hours before the trade deadline searching for opportunities to dump Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur and/or Raja Bell and get themselves under the luxury tax threshold (Utah will be about $5 million over the luxury tax line after this trade). While the playoffs aren't out of the question, the Jazz are only a half-game ahead of Memphis for the West's eighth and final playoff spot at the moment, and the team was only 4-13 in its last 17 games, even with Williams.



As far as New Jersey is concerned, much work remains. Williams is the centerpiece but the rest of the cupboard is pretty bare, which is why he may yet agitate for change. The Nets' frontcourt of Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries is even worse defensively than the one he left, and less offensively talented to boot. Wingman Anthony Morrow is one of the best shooters in the game and should hugely benefit from Williams' addition, as should fellow sharpshooter Sasha Vujacic, but they are role players, and the other wings are awful.



The Nets are also poised to add Brandan Wright from Golden State along with Dan Gadzuric in a side deal that will cost them a second-round pick and Troy Murphy. Gadzuric is salary flotsam, but Wright can really play and has been buried in the Warriors' frontcourt rotation. His finishing skills could make him a very capable pick-and-roll partner with Williams, although his soft D and injury-proneness limit his value.



Ultimately it comes down to one thing: Whether this is where Williams wants to be for the long haul. If it is, then this will be a huge coup for the Nets, especially vis-à-vis their looming crosstown rivalry with the Knicks -- within hours of the Knicks' getting Anthony, New Jersey got a better player for less.



But if Williams remains unhappy with this trade, the house of cards begins to collapse. For the next season and a half, Williams is looking at playing before slim crowds on a 30-win team in Newark, N.J., for a coach that isn't exactly Mr. Beloved. Big-market team or not, he may not have the patience to see the Nets project all the way through to Brooklyn.



The Nets might still have some options in such a situation. They could trade Williams next season, just as the Nuggets traded Anthony rather than risk seeing him walk away. And it's possible that the new collective bargaining agreement will provide additional protections for the Nets that limit Williams' ability to leave.



Still, trying to figure out what to do with an unhappy star is hardly an ideal outcome here. So while we hear the plaudits for New Jersey, it's important to remember that these alternate outcomes remain in play. Such results could make this trade a disaster for New Jersey -- the Nets might have sacrificed four of their best assets for a short-term rental and be in even worse shape as a result.



So until we know more about Williams' intentions, consider it a dice roll. They're hoping the lure of Brooklyn will be enough for him to stay … but nothing is guaranteed 'til the ink on an extension dries this offseason.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insid...amsNets-110223

[UteStar]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insid...amsNets-110223

I really would not be shocked to see Deron leave New Jersey and go to the Clippers. Deron and Griffen would be quite the combo.

With that said, if New Jersey can bring in some nice pieces for Deron...being a star in Brooklyn would be pretty enticing.

[Blueintheface]

I really would not be shocked to see Deron leave New Jersey and go to the Clippers. Deron and Griffen would be quite the combo.

With that said, if New Jersey can bring in some nice pieces for Deron...being a star in Brooklyn would be pretty enticing.

I could keep Deron's San Diego home warm for him. Maybe I could do what Prince did to Boozer's home and paint the walls purple.

[MarkGrace]

Various iterations of a rumor going around, but gist is that Deron and Miller Jr. got in a near altercation the night of the Sloan incident.

This franchise is full of more drama than daytime TV.