If the trade does not go through, Jazz are a better team, and Miller has less money in the bank. I certainly prefer having a better team than Greg keeping more money this year. With that said, if the trade does go through, we are only a little worse off. AK is just not a difference maker to mourn his loss, and Diaw, as bad as his contract is, is a decent average player, almost like AK. So, it will be a just slight downgrade.
The good news is though that Denver will have a HUGE downgrade, and Anthony will be in the Eastern conference. Favors is nothing. He has proven nothing at all in any level. At his age Anthony was the best player in NCAA and won national title. Even Hayward accomplished more at that age than Favors. Favors was below average even by NCAA standards. He may never even become a good NBA player, not to mention a star. AK is not a difference maker either. If this trade goes through, we are pretty much back as division favorites for years to come. Nuggets from defending division champs become nuisance and will go back to crap of the franchise they were for decades before Anthony. This is a great news for us for years to come. If Denver ends up keeping Melo, they they are a force to be reckoned with this year, and who knows - if Melo stays for whatever reason (stranger things have happened), then they are a force for years to come. Hence, if this trade goes through, we are basically getting rid of main divisional rival for many years to come. So, just that alone is probably worth a slight downgrade from AK to Diaw.
