The State of Jazz Nation: Summer 2012

Excellent post.

I believe they will use the amnesty clause on Bell this year. No reason to keep him and pay that 3.4 million. That would give them a little more wiggle room to sign one under the cap plus use the trade exception.

A lot of tools this summer to play with.

Mags, you need to put a little more effort into your posts.

Bell is obviously gone, but the Jazz my be able to trade him for something of use. If not, then I also think it's time to use that amnesty.

I can't imagine using it on anyone else, unless some big time FA (D.Howard/ DWill) decides he wants to come to Utah and the Jazz need the CAP room (Jefferson). Of coarse, the chances of that are almost zero.

If the Amnesty clause doesn't work for future players, you have to use it on Bell. I like where they are at salary wise. They are set up with all their assets to make some good moves without going into the luxury tax. I think you could really look at using the amnesty on Bell and maybe trading Al and Harris. Give Misap an extension and go look for some wings.

Awesome post Mags. From the dregs of disappointment of the sweep to the Spurs the fan eye should turn to next year. This season is over and second-guessing anything on the books is only mental masturbation at this point. And future things according to our analysis so far look promising. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize the Jazz as constituted don't suck, it is only a machine and system in need of tweaking and upgrading, and that will be done with the tools and assets you mentioned. Go forth KOC and build the machine that sucks us in yet another season.

MTJazz wrote:

Awesome post Mags. From the dregs of disappointment of the sweep to the Spurs the fan eye should turn to next year. This season is over and second-guessing anything on the books is only mental masturbation at this point. And future things according to our analysis so far look promising. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize the Jazz as constituted don't suck, it is only a machine and system in need of tweaking and upgrading, and that will be done with the tools and assets you mentioned. Go forth KOC and build the machine that sucks us in yet another season.

That's the second best kind!

Romoholic wrote:

If the Amnesty clause doesn't work for future players, you have to use it on Bell. I like where they are at salary wise. They are set up with all their assets to make some good moves without going into the luxury tax. I think you could really look at using the amnesty on Bell and maybe trading Al and Harris. Give Misap an extension and go look for some wings.

The amnesty clause assures that bell will no longer hurt the jazz. If they cannot trade him, then they amnesty him. I said in a previous post, they were at about 53 mil like mags said. Take him out and they are very close to 50 mil. They still have to pay him the 3.4 mil, but he does not go against the cap.

Everybody keeps talking about trading Jefferson. Here is my question to everybody else though. Who wants Jefferson for 15 mil? I realize, he has an expiring contract, but I dont see much interest coming Utah's way in terms of dealing Jefferson. Remember, the Jazz gave up their first round pick, which was lottery protected. Its not like, Utah gave up a lot to get him. If you think trading Jefferson is easy, I think you are wrong.

Now, Millsap is much easier to trade. His salary is reasonable. Millsap, is not a go to guy, like the Jazz needed him to be at times. However, I think he is a top three glue guy. Now, if you put Millsap on the block, KOC's phone will be ringing off the hook. I like Millsap going forward more, but same thing goes for every other team probably.

Now, before the season, I made a thread Paul George for Millsap. That was before David West signing, so obviously, that would not work now, but if you can get someone like that, do you say no to that, or do you say no to getting little for Jefferson. I really think we are overrating how much the Jazz can get for Jefferson. They are not equal value.

The trade exception could turn out to be big for the Jazz this summer that's a lot of money the could go after a guy like Eric Gordon he would be a nice pick up, I know he has spent a lot of time on the injured list the last few season but the guy has got game. They could make a good run at signing Goran Dragic also with that kind of money there's a lot of way the Jazz could go this summer if O'Conner's can keep his magic going they could very well fill their needs. A wing that's a lights out shooter and a PG who can run the team with the ability to hit shot's out to the 3 line this team becomes as good as any team in the West.

You know it's interesting, but watching that game last night, I think the Nuggets are the 12-13 Utah Jazz. They dont really have a star at all, just a bunch of really good players that play hard. (love Faried btw) Deep bench, guys that like each other etc. I wonder what they're going to do this off season. I dont think George Karl thinks he has a championship caliber team, so what are they going to do?

With that said, thats what I think Utah will be if they dont make a splash this off season, and sign/trade for a starting player. Thats what we can expect: push a championship contending team to 7 games, but lose. KOC probably sees that, so we're looking at something significant coming our way, NICE.

Paul said yesterday he wants to stay in Utah forever, and I dont have a problem with that for sure. I dont have a problem with Al staying either. But both are expiring, and really feeling like one is going via trade. Who's coming to Utah......????? Dragic, Lin, Nash, Lowry all have many teams talking to them.
Fun times.

Mutangclan wrote:

You know it's interesting, but watching that game last night, I think the Nuggets are the 12-13 Utah Jazz. They dont really have a star at all, just a bunch of really good players that play hard. (love Faried btw) Deep bench, guys that like each other etc. I wonder what they're going to do this off season. I dont think George Karl thinks he has a championship caliber team, so what are they going to do?

With that said, thats what I think Utah will be if they dont make a splash this off season, and sign/trade for a starting player. Thats what we can expect: push a championship contending team to 7 games, but lose. KOC probably sees that, so we're looking at something significant coming our way, NICE.

Paul said yesterday he wants to stay in Utah forever, and I dont have a problem with that for sure. I dont have a problem with Al staying either. But both are expiring, and really feeling like one is going via trade. Who's coming to Utah......????? Dragic, Lin, Nash, Lowry all have many teams talking to them.
Fun times.

I like the comparison to the Nuggets. I think that Favors can and will be that superstar player that is seems a team has to have to win it all. If we can pick up a real pg and a couple of shooters we are gonna be scary good.

If the Jazz really have a shot at Nash KOC has to get it done asap. They need this to happen. The Jazz are already ahead of schedule and getting Nash would put us even further ahead.

I think for the right team, Big Al might be just the right player. His contract is tough now but maybe not for long.
I love Millsap but his contract might not be right for the Jazz soon, but he would definately be the easiest player on the team to move. Harris is kind of like Big Al, the right team could use him as a combo guard back up PG to a young PG thats learning. I think it might be easier though to bring guys on to the team than get rid of some existing contracts
I would give anything to know some of the offers KOC has had and what he has tried to do over the years.
I really think KOC is one of the best in the league at what he does without having Cuban, Paul Allen money behind him.

Cool little tidbit on our Derrick Favors summer: its now down to he and Demarcus Cousins on getting the call up for Team USA since there's so many injuries to now include Anthony Davis. Would be awesome to see DFav swatting shots....

Mutangclan wrote:

Cool little tidbit on our Derrick Favors summer: its now down to he and Demarcus Cousins on getting the call up for Team USA since there's so many injuries to now include Anthony Davis. Would be awesome to see DFav swatting shots....

I hope they decide on Favors. I can see Cousins doing something stupid and being a huge embarrassment for USA basketball. You have to think the officials will take that into consideration. Not to mention Favors is a better player.