I think the Jazz need to make a much bigger impact with a trade than Battier and Lee. Mayo or bust. And just because I know its comming, what is the general definition of a chucker? I see those terms put on Mayo and Kmart all the time, but watching them I see they are far less the chucker than say our very own CJ Miles.
Good that you know that it's coming.
Through 25-26 games, Miles and Mayo have coincidentally taken nearly the exact same number of FGAs, and are averaging nearly the exact same PPG (12.1). But CJ had done it in >5 PPG less per game. Mayo has a notably better 3-point percentage but a subpar 40%ish overall FG%. So if CJ is a chucker, then you can make an argument that Mayo is more so. (Catch-'n-Jack-in-the-Box, hold the Mayo, if you will.)
Mayo may have more upside over Miles, especially given the fewer years of NBA experience (then again, Mayo has actually logged
more NBA court time--7000 minutes vs. CJ's 5400), but right now, I don't even see Mayo as
equal to Miles--much less better. Mayo is notably shorter--6'4", so he isn't a good 2/3 swingman like Miles. They are less than a year apart in age.
Oh, and the much-hallowed +/- tips the scales far in the favor of Catch 'n Jack; despite the Grizz having a losing record, a half-dozen other Grizz having better On-C/Off-C nums, and Mayo's on-court/off-court plus-minus is barely positive. CJ currently leads the Jazz in that category, aided by playing lots of minutes with the 2nd unit but also because he has started delivering big more often.
CJ is the only player on the Jazz right now where the opposition has scored more than the Jazz when he is on the bench; for every other player, Utah still has outscored the opposing team when that player is off the court. Not an insignificant accomplishment.
With the updated numbers as of December 15, Williams-Miles-Kirilenko-Millsap-Jefferson is the
only combination (among the five most used lineups) that has a positive +/-, and it has the highest total +/- (it's fifth in +/-
rate--a more instructive metric IMHO). On average, by contrast, the starting lineup has
still been a net liability(!)--a far cry from setting the tone and building a lead in games.
Miles is also a part of 9 of the 10 best lineups in terms of highest +/- rate. Sloan could improve this team by simply playing Miles more (selectively) and Bell less (selectively). Doesn't have to start him; just keep him on the court longer
when he's doing well. And then there's the bigs . . . .
Your comparison suggests that maybe Jazzfanz are underrating CJ's value on this team. He has been among the biggest reasons that Utah has had so many comebacks, and his contribution is a stark contrast to the true inconsistency and/or partial ineptitude of the starting lineup, including the wings.