Jazz Free Agency Summer of 2018

[MDAV28]

Everybody is capped out due to two factors - terrible contracts AND the ability to keep adding and adding and adding using exceptions.

Simply put - there is no reason why a luxury tax team should be able to give a $5+ million contract to anyone. For crying out loud, there are only three or four rookies per year who make $5+ million. So GS was able to pay a free agent more than what 90% of players who are in their first 3 seasons in the league. It's just dumb. I would respect Cousins, GS and the NBA if he accepted the $1.5 minimum. This loophole is just garbage.

You explained it in the first sentence. It's not the NBA's or the CBA's fault the owners hand out bad deals. In fact it's the NBPA's fault for shutting down cap smoothing, which would have limited this wide shortage of money. Exceptions are not some cheat code for teams, hell it's like 5% of the cap for a taxpaying team. The fact that the Dubs were able to use that to sign Cousins is 1. a shameless ring chase by DeMarcus and 2. a representation of how little money there is to go around. Exceptions don't have anything to do with it. Sign a whole roster using exceptions and you're at like half the cap. Also Cousins minimum was $2.1 if I remember right.

 

[str8line]

So, after the LeBron bombshell, Favors extension, the Lakers bizarre “making it rain” for scrubs and the Boogie to the Warriors drama. . . let’s reset things.

Where do the Jazz go from here?

Currently under guaranteed contract for next season - Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, Tony Bradley, Jae Crowder, Thabo Sefalosha, Jingles, Royce O’Neale, Alec Burks, Donovan Mitchell, Grayson Allen and Ricky Rubio.

Guys pending contract decisions - Ekpe Udoh, Jonas Jerebko, Dante Exum, Raul Neto and Georges Niang.

Who is still out there that merits consideration for the Jazz? Obviously Nemanja Bjelica is one option. I think Tyreke Evans should be on the radar as well (especially because I think the Jazz should look hard at trading Burks right now.) Anybody else?

Niang had 17 pts., 4 REB last night.

David J. Smith
(@davidjsmith1232)
Georges Niang looks terrific. Best player on the court. He has a chance of sticking with the Jazz again. Grayson Allen with three dimes, two boards. Smart plays.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I wonder if Niang can be the PF version of Joe Ingles (minus the good defense though sadly). He has that drive game and unorthodox jumper that make you think... how the hell is this guy getting past me and giving me buckets. I wish we had a roster spot for him... i think we use our two-way again unless he gets a deal.

 

[LoPo]

You explained it in the first sentence. It's not the NBA's or the CBA's fault the owners hand out bad deals. In fact it's the NBPA's fault for shutting down cap smoothing, which would have limited this wide shortage of money. Exceptions are not some cheat code for teams, hell it's like 5% of the cap for a taxpaying team. The fact that the Dubs were able to use that to sign Cousins is 1. a shameless ring chase by DeMarcus and 2. a representation of how little money there is to go around. Exceptions don't have anything to do with it. Sign a whole roster using exceptions and you're at like half the cap. Also Cousins minimum was $2.1 if I remember right.

Blaming the handful of remaining 2016 contracts on Boogie getting $5.3 from GS is pretty weak. There are a number of teams who could offer Boogie $8.6. And there were a number of teams who could offer more than $8.6. And of course there was NOLA who had already had discussions with Boogie about numbers much higher than $5.3.

If Boogie was deciding between $2.1 and $8.6, I could support his decision if he chose $2.1 for a chance at a title. But he was given a bogus option of $5.3 which is what I have an issue with.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

I wonder if Niang can be the PF version of Joe Ingles (minus the good defense though sadly). He has that drive game and unorthodox jumper that make you think... how the hell is this guy getting past me and giving me buckets. I wish we had a roster spot for him... i think we use our two-way again unless he gets a deal.

i just don't see how niang can be a good defender in the nba. but yesterday i watched specifically for his defense and he was actually really good. maybe he realizes he'll never see rotation minutes unless he can defend, and he's putting in the work. but yeah, with the lack athleticism and lack of length, it seems like a long shot.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

i just don't see how niang can be a good defender in the nba. but yesterday i watched specifically for his defense and he was actually really good. maybe he realizes he'll never see rotation minutes unless he can defend, and he's putting in the work. but yeah, with the lack athleticism and lack of length, it seems like a long shot.

A lot of defense is mental and will... if he sees things well enough to be a good passer he can likely end up being a good team defender... Kyle Korver type.

It's guys like Kanter that have low BBIQ, can't think and react quickly, and are slow as molasses that never get "good enough".

 

[whatthe]

What's the Jazz' weak point on defense? The bench is damn good. I don't we have much of a weakness on defense and that is likely the team's strength.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Blaming the handful of remaining 2016 contracts on Boogie getting $5.3 from GS is pretty weak. There are a number of teams who could offer Boogie $8.6. And there were a number of teams who could offer more than $8.6. And of course there was NOLA who had already had discussions with Boogie about numbers much higher than $5.3.

If Boogie was deciding between $2.1 and $8.6, I could support his decision if he chose $2.1 for a chance at a title. But he was given a bogus option of $5.3 which is what I have an issue with.

It's just funny to me that guys want to do this... Like was LA really not offering Rondo money for him.

GS wins 73 games... gets an mvp and follows it up two years later getting an all star big man that is one of the guys that could be the kryptonite to the small ball stuff. Houston... OKC... kinda gotta feel dumb with how much luxury tax they will pay to try and keep up with that ****.

 

[ekimebirt]

Which is why you have to dumb it down... I explain tax code to people all day and often find when people don’t understand it’s my fault... I live in the tax world they don’t... it’s like speaking Greek to them... sometimes I have to use pictures... nba knows who they are working with... use pictures. It’s a blame pie thing... mostly on the nba PA but a fail all around.

. It is absolutely in no way the NBAs fault. The NBPA has many attorneys and tax attorneys who are paid to represent the players best interests. The NBA raised concerns which should have triggered in depth analysis by the NBPA. Most people on this and other fan boards could foresee this problem. There is no excuse for the NBPA.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

. It is absolutely in no way the NBAs fault. The NBPA has many attorneys and tax attorneys who are paid to represent the players best interests. The NBA raised concerns which should have triggered in depth analysis by the NBPA. Most people on this and other fan boards could foresee this problem. There is no excuse for the NBPA.

Prolly right... it is the NBPA technical staff's fault... I guess I was just trying to make a point that the players, who are young and not MBAs, may not understand the economics and thinking the "man" was trying to pull one over. So its NBPA staff's fault for not dumbing it down and relaying the message " hey if you aren't a free agent in 2016 not taking smoothing will screw you over and its all the same money anyway"

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Niang is like a poor man's Mirotic. He needs to improve his strength, athleticism and foot speed to be able to play serious NBA minutes. Otherwise, he's basically a spot player, imo.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

If Kelan Martin will up his motor and effort on defense and on the boards, he could play rotation minutes as a combo forward in the mold of a Moe Harkless. The offensive skills are there, and he fits nicely into our system.

 

[JazzForLifee]

Cmon Exum. tell us what's going on

 

[TheStormofWar]

What's the Jazz' weak point on defense? The bench is damn good. I don't we have much of a weakness on defense and that is likely the team's strength.

Overall yes. We have been exposed on some switching schemes that pull Gobert out of position and out on the perimeter. But our new assistant from Greece is supposed to be a master at these schemes, which could payoff nicely come playoff time and we have multiple games against teams like GSW and the Rockettes who could expose that. We weren't as bad this year, but we still were hurt by Houston to a degree as they could attack it. The rich getting richer I suppose.

 

[elan_prodigy]

Players aren’t as competitive as they used to be. An allstar in the 90’s never would’ve done this.


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One of the reasons the 80's and 90's are the greatest eras. End of story.

Just like MJ is the GOAT. Lebron played his entire career against these pretenders.

 

[elan_prodigy]

Here is the problem - why does GS even have $5+ million to spend? They should have nothing more than $1.5 million contracts once they are over the luxury.

It's so stupid. If you are under the cap, you get the same exception as if you are over the luxury. So ****ing dumb.

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Wouldnt matter, Boogie would have gone there for $1.5M. Owners need to wise up a little.

 

[TheStormofWar]

I'm kind of thinking that the league is going to experiment with a Franchise Tag type of deal here soon. Don't know if stops Boogie as he was hurt, didn't get an offer, and signed for way less than his healthy value, but I have to imagine to image the rest of the owners are getting sick of Golden State's dominance. It's one thing to draft well (all teams should be so fortunate) and getting a top 5'ish player on a cap spike is a once in a generation type of thing. But getting Boogie that cheap is just ridiculous.

 

[Ron Mexico]

i just don't see how niang can be a good defender in the nba. but yesterday i watched specifically for his defense and he was actually really good. maybe he realizes he'll never see rotation minutes unless he can defend, and he's putting in the work. but yeah, with the lack athleticism and lack of length, it seems like a long shot.

Khris Middleton has made himself into a decent team defender. Middleton is equally unathletic. His Max vert is like 2". It can be done.

A lot of defense is being smart, correctly rotating, reading the offense, and putting in effort.

 

[Bawse Dawg]

Jimmy Butler in 2019

 

[elan_prodigy]

I’ve never believed that any team is unbeatable. Boogie is a cancer but you can have head cases and cancers on teams that can play strong peripheral roles if everything else is stable (Ron Artest in LA, Rodman in Chicago), but it will be interesting to see how it goes. I can’t think of anyone anywhere remotely near Boogie’s size coming off an Achilles rupture. He can still shoot and board, though.

This is the type of team poised to be taken down by someone like us.

No teams are unbeatable.

Agree.

The tales of Gobert and Spida will be told for all time, becoming part of NBA folklore after defeating GS.

We ended the Clippers with Benedict, Now its time to end the Warriors with Spida.