Tough decisions await Jazz with their talented quartet of big men - Basketball Forum : Professional and College Basketball Forums

**Basel** · 11-27-2012, 09:21 AM

Quote:

The Jazz have a unique way of turning problems into strengths. They're supposed to be a small-market team unlikely to recruit free agents, and yet they've gone 39 years with just two -- two! -- losing seasons. With this tradition in mind, the Jazz face their latest test: how to manage their quartet of big men?

They've assembled the deepest young frontcourt in the NBA with Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson, Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors, who is the most promising of them all. The problem is money. Millsap and Jefferson, both 27, are going to be free agents in the summer. Can the Jazz afford to maintain their frontcourt in an expensive market that will pay Millsap and Jefferson eight figures each per year?

"The possibilities are always there," said Dennis Lindsey, in his first year as GM of the Jazz. "Is it realistic? We'll find out in time."

The real question is whether they should keep all of their big men, and the answer is obvious. Their four-man rotation can't be maintained for the long-term. One of them must go.

And yet the Utah experiment of blending these four talents has been working surprisingly well. In other NBA cities this kind of rotation would be brimming with controversy and innuendo, with one player feeling slighted or another hinting of his desire to be the man. But that isn't happening here. Instead Jefferson works with 20-year-old Kanter on his low-post moves while publicly declaring that 21-year-old Favors will be an All-Star someday -- even though the two of them may force Jefferson's departure by the February trading deadline.

"I think it has to do with the type of people we are," said Favors. "Paul and Al, they're good guys. They come to practice, they work hard, and they help us out with a lot of stuff. Most of the credit goes to them because most guys in their situation would be pissed and saying, 'I'm not helping them.' Or they'd be going to the coach and GM."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz2DRcuEJPg

**Krstic All-Star** · 12-03-2012, 05:40 PM

What could they get for Jefferson?

hobojoe · 12-03-2012, 07:08 PM

Favors has to be a starter playing as many minutes as he can handle sooner rather than later. Kanter looks like he'll be pretty good too, but Favors could be an all-star right now.

**Jace** · 12-03-2012, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krstic All-Star

What could they get for Jefferson?

Come on...come...you know you want it...Dammit.

**Krstic All-Star** · 12-03-2012, 08:16 PM

Pacers Fan · 12-03-2012, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krstic All-Star

What could they get for Jefferson?

If David West leaves Indy this off season, I'm sure Granger or George would be available for any of the Jazz bigs.

**Krstic All-Star** · 12-03-2012, 08:28 PM

That would be pretty nice, actually

Pacers Fan · 12-03-2012, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krstic All-Star

That would be pretty nice, actually

I'd ditch George for Millsap or Favors, although I'm sure Favors isn't available and I'm not sure how Enes Kanter has looked. With Alec Burks looking like a disappointment, though, I could see Utah being interested in George or Granger. A Granger-Jefferson deal would be more complicated, but at least it would help Roy "Max" Hibbert be less self-conscious about being an offensive anchor.

I'm also not sure if Paul George is any better offensively than Gordon Hayward, but he'd certainly add a nice defensive element.

**RollWithEm** · 12-03-2012, 08:45 PM

Paul George for Millsap would be great for both teams. Good idea.

How about Millsap for Jeff Green and a first rounder?

**Knicks4life** · 12-03-2012, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RollWithEm

How about Millsap for Jeff Green and a first rounder?

No, have you seen how Jeff Green's contract?

**Jace** · 12-03-2012, 08:57 PM

Yeah, I'd think Utah would rather put their collective junk in a blender.

So is ultimate cap space the goal this summer, or are they trying to trade their expirings for long-term, but good, contracts? Pretty awful FA year up top, with CP3 and D12 likely to stay in LA.

**RollWithEm** · 12-03-2012, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knicks4life

No, have you seen how Jeff Green's contract?

That's the reason for the first rounder. I would imagine a sign and trade for Millsap would result in him getting a similar or more expensive deal.

**Krstic All-Star** · 12-05-2012, 02:23 PM

Anybody think Jefferson is the one they'll trade?

**RollWithEm** · 12-05-2012, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krstic All-Star

Anybody think Jefferson is the one they'll trade?

I think there might be a bigger market for him... depending on what salary he's planning on requesting.

**Krstic All-Star** · 12-05-2012, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RollWithEm

I think there might be a bigger market for him... depending on what salary he's planning on requesting.

Yup, that's the catch

12-03-2012, 05:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Krstic All-Star Legal Smeagol Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Unemployed, in Greenland?!? Age: 34 Posts: 30,657 Rep Power: 19240053	Re: Tough decisions await Jazz with their talented quartet of big men What could they get for Jefferson? __________________ LIPA delenda est

12-03-2012, 07:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
hobojoe Legend Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 22,096 Rep Power: 7326019	Re: Tough decisions await Jazz with their talented quartet of big men Favors has to be a starter playing as many minutes as he can handle sooner rather than later. Kanter looks like he'll be pretty good too, but Favors could be an all-star right now.

12-03-2012, 08:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
Krstic All-Star Legal Smeagol Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Unemployed, in Greenland?!? Age: 34 Posts: 30,657 Rep Power: 19240053	Re: Tough decisions await Jazz with their talented quartet of big men __________________ LIPA delenda est

12-03-2012, 08:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
Krstic All-Star Legal Smeagol Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Unemployed, in Greenland?!? Age: 34 Posts: 30,657 Rep Power: 19240053	Re: Tough decisions await Jazz with their talented quartet of big men That would be pretty nice, actually __________________ LIPA delenda est

12-03-2012, 08:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
RollWithEm Never Argue with a Fool Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New Orleans Posts: 28,240 Rep Power: 6035755	Re: Tough decisions await Jazz with their talented quartet of big men Paul George for Millsap would be great for both teams. Good idea. How about Millsap for Jeff Green and a first rounder? __________________ But that's just me. RWE's Random Questions: (Close Friends, Virginity, Home-Schooling, Wiretapping, Cheating, Piracy) RWE's Movie Rankings: (Coen Brothers, Stanley Kubrick, Top 90 of the 90's) RWE's Underground Update - RWE's SciFi Corner RWE's Smash Central - RWE's Culinary Cul de Sac 2015 FRSL Champion New Orleans Jazz Lawson - Thabo - Thad - Brow - Big Al - Manu - Jayson

12-03-2012, 08:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
Jace X V I Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Miami/Raleigh Age: 27 Posts: 15,964 Rep Power: 2677067	Re: Tough decisions await Jazz with their talented quartet of big men Yeah, I'd think Utah would rather put their collective junk in a blender. So is ultimate cap space the goal this summer, or are they trying to trade their expirings for long-term, but good, contracts? Pretty awful FA year up top, with CP3 and D12 likely to stay in LA. __________________ Jace's soundcloud

12-05-2012, 02:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
Krstic All-Star Legal Smeagol Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Unemployed, in Greenland?!? Age: 34 Posts: 30,657 Rep Power: 19240053	Re: Tough decisions await Jazz with their talented quartet of big men Anybody think Jefferson is the one they'll trade? __________________ LIPA delenda est

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode