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Forget the poll - Jazz just DID sign Raja Bell

Wow - didn't see this coming! He may be 'old', but the guy is a good defender and can shoot. This is pretty great. And we got him rather cheap, considering his strengths and prior contracts. Plus he's going to clothes-line Kobe again, and moments later, AJ will step on Kobe's neck. And Morrison will watch this unfold from the bench...
 
The Ghost of Blue Edwards said:
*stand up applause for O'Connor. ******* brilliant move. Bell is a proven, veteran version of Matthews, but 24 million dollars cheaper. +40% 3point shooter, 80% FT shooter, feared defender. O'Connor has effectively filled 3 of our 4 greatest needs in the last week in what looked like a lost offseason. Amazing job O'Connor. You have redeemed thyself.
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I have not been a fan of Rip Van O'Conner for many years. Looks like he woke up just in time. I am loving the moves so far. The Jazz needed some nasty in your face type players and we just added two of them! I went from not being excited at all to looking forward to the new season. We will not be a team to be intimitated now. :)
 
for people worrying about Raja's age. Yes he is up there in age but minute wise he still has moderately fresh legs.

Career Minutes(reg Season, Playoffs)

Bell
18,686

in comparison

Deron
15,399

AK
20,337
 
Great move.

He gives us the veteran leadership and toughness that we've been lacking. Brewer though more talented, is softer than tissue paper.
 
Raja is 34 and plays a very similar game to how Bruce Bowen used to play, deep ball and painstakingly annoying dirty D, but Raja can shoot freethrows. Bowen was a hella good starter up till 36 years of age (the length of Raja's contract) and decent, but plagued by injury at age 37. During those years, half the chatter on this board was "we need a Bowen" with the other half being "trade boozer".
Raja is essentially stepping into Korver's roll, but gives a kick *** tangyness we don't normally play with.

I expect a Brown/Brewer signing, but wouldn't be surprised with naught.

But to review. Is this our line up as of right now or am I being ignorant.

PG: Dwill, Price
SG: Bell??? (He seems to be the only true SG on the team right now)
SF: CJ, Hayward, Evans
PF: Millsap, AK
C: Big Al, Okur, Fes
I know Fes isn't official yet, but I assume he'll be back.
That's 11 players... so we can probably expect a semi-nice signing at SG and a filler point (Gaines). Brown would be the obvious choice because he fills both wholes. Maybe Brown and Brewer???
 
Raja brings 3 things we cannot have too much of - veteran leadership (especially from a guy who is down with Sloan), defense, and the long ball.

Chicks dig the long ball.
 
I don't know why CJ would start over AK again.... Maybe. But I see it like this:

Deron/Price
Bell/Hayward/CJ
AK/CJ/Hayward
Millsap/Jefferson/AK (Jefferson/Millsap/AK if Okur starts)
Jefferson/Fes (Jefferson/Okur/Fes when Okur is healthy)

I'd still like to see KOC sign Brewer.
 
FYI, ESPN just spent less than 12 seconds on the Raja Bell to utah story and 9 seconds of that was about Kobe.
 
Stickler said:
I don't know why CJ would start over AK again.... Maybe. But I see it like this:

Deron/Price
Bell/Hayward/CJ
AK/CJ/Hayward
Millsap/Jefferson/AK (Jefferson/Millsap/AK if Okur starts)
Jefferson/Fes (Jefferson/Okur/Fes when Okur is healthy)

I'd still like to see KOC sign Brewer.
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I would say leave AK on the bench. He could then come in for CJ or Sap depending on the matchups and foul trouble.
 
Hell I want Raja just for his defensive mindset and his "take no prisoners" attitude. The Jazz didn't have a bad *** attitude. They sure do now. He can fill the role of the educated role model veteran for all the young guys on our team. Who knows. Maybe he'll teach Hayward how to throw a haymaker.
 
I also think Raja's attitude and influence could result in an even more driven Deron. He will go to 11.
 
i hope he doesn't pass his physical! Then there is still hope for Matthews or anyone else, I'd take the bear running up the court over Bell.
 
kiri.de.carlos said:
i hope he doesn't pass his physical! Then there is still hope for Matthews or anyone else, I'd take the bear running up the court over Bell.
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If he doesn't pass the physical that means he's too old - and that is the only thing I'm worried about with Raja.
If he passes there is no one better the Jazz could get.
 
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