okur seeks greenlight

[gasol_stopper_ante_tomic]

Mehmet Okur faces an important test.

The veteran Jazz center has a doctor appointment Tuesday, which will evaluate his status following three weeks of rehabilitation to address inflammation in his lower back due to a chronic disc problem.

Okur said Monday that he feels better, and Utah coach Tyrone Corbin acknowledged that Okur has made progress during recent weeks. But for Okur to return to action, he must first receive a medical greenlight. Even if that happens, he will have to go through several practice sessions to work his way back into game shape.

"I’ve been resting, getting rehab," Okur said. "Doing cardio. Nothing running, nothing jump. And not much basketball, to be honest."

After being a veritable iron man through the first eight years of his career, the 31-year-old Okur has struggled with injuries this season while recovering from left Achilles tendon surgery. He has played in 13 of the Jazz’s 61 games, dealing with everything from an ankle sprain to back pain.

 

[BetterThanESPN]

Take your time, Mehmet. Even if that means sitting the entire season and getting back into it next season (if there is a next).

 

[NUMBERICA]

Does anybody want to see him play?

 

[Siro]

Does anybody want to see him play?

I do. Elsewhere.

 

[gasol_stopper_ante_tomic]

Does anybody want to see him play?

i think he can at least teach Favors a thing or two when he comes back, a bad disc in the back isn't as bad as broken bone or knee problem, i remember Sabonis played with some issues on his knee or back.

 

[twentytwo]

Memo is dead to me at this point. I simply do not care.

 

[LogGrad98]

I want to see him play. If he can come back to some semblence of himself he would add a lot to our front line. Outside shooting, a bigger body on defense, allow AJ to play at PF where he can be more effective, another scorer who can go off for 25-30 now and then. If I thought we could move him and bring in another true center I would be all for the trade, but centers that can really contribute are a commodity in short supply. I think we have under-rated what Memo brought to the team in the past.

 

[Favors Flave]

He is just going to take minutes from Favors, NO!

 

[Beantown]

He is just going to take minutes from Favors, NO!

Nah

 

[NUMBERICA]

He is just going to take minutes from Favors, NO!

He is going to take minutes from players that he has no business taking minutes from, period. I don't think any of us would play him over Sap, Jefferson, or Favors. At least not now.

Shut the guy down. He is less than worthless in the situation he and the Jazz are in right now. If he's nice and healthy on an expiring deal, no less, then things mights be different.

 

[prodigy]

If he did comeback I'd hope he'd wait until the end of the season, get a couple games in than train off-season to get himself back to where he needs to be.

 

[NAOS]

I wonder what the insurance issues are concerning Memo's health. Has he played in few enough games for the Millers to collect? If he came back could he jeopardize this?

I ask not because I care about the Millers' money, but if this cash could be used to offset the price tag of wooing a bought-out SG here, then I think the Jazz could have ulterior motives to making sure memo doesn't get his "greenlight."

just a thought.

 

[LjJazzman]

Of course I want him back if he's healthy. Do we not need outside shooting anymore?

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Memo is dead to me at this point. I simply do not care.

This. Unfortunately a more accurate statement for me is the living dead.

 

[Jazz Spazz]

I think they should give him minutes at the 2.
We don't have a 2 that can defend anyways, and he can hit the 3.
In Haywards defense he does ok, so maybe Memo and Hayward can split time at the 2.

 

[chawx]

I didn't know EnergySolutions Arena had a Best Buy in it now?

 

[NotDeadYet]

If Okur does return to form, it would be foolish to just dump him. Skilled bigs are a rare commodity; ya don't just dump them. Factor into this our tenuous SF situation. AK contract up; what will he do? CJ; will we continue to tolerate his imperfections (like very little D)? Maybe Millsap has a better future as a SF, or a combo F... Millsap's very impressive improvement as a player this season has been more in the area of the skilset of a SF than a PF, IMO...

 

[NUMBERICA]

If Okur does return to form, it would be foolish to just dump him. Skilled bigs are a rare commodity; ya don't just dump them. Factor into this our tenuous SF situation. AK contract up; what will he do? CJ; will we continue to tolerate his imperfections (like very little D)? Maybe Millsap has a better future as a SF, or a combo F... Millsap's very impressive improvement as a player this season has been more in the area of the skilset of a SF than a PF, IMO...

Acquiring a jump-shot doesn't change a person's body or change their ability to guard other players. Millsap is not a 3 and he never will be. Memo's speed (or lack thereof) was a significant problem on defense and in transition BEFORE he had a career-threatening injury, and he's not getting any better, either. Why are we to assume that at any point he'll ever be as good as he was? If Memo returns to 17/8 next year, then parlay that into something we can use in the future because Memo can't be a part of the future (unless as a bit part being paid peanuts).

Unfortunately, any honest appraisal of the situation at this stage says he's well on his way down and probably out.

 

[Darkwing Duck]

A team, even a young team, needs veteran presence. One needs to look no farther than the departure of Fisher to see how less discipline and focus the Jazz had the subsequent year. At a cheap price, the Jazz should welcome him.

 

[NUMBERICA]

A team, even a young team, needs veteran presence. One needs to look no farther than the departure of Fisher to see how less discipline and focus the Jazz had the subsequent year. At a cheap price, the Jazz should welcome him.

This I agree with. I just don't think that's going to happen. But I guess if my dismal outlook on his career is accurate it may be plausible.