Drafting Hayward Gives the Jazz Flexibility to Trade or Lose AK

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I think the Jazz are hoping that Hayward's ability to handle, pass and create from the wing position will enable the Jazz to move AK or let him go at the end of his contract this year. AK has a tremendous impact on the Jazz, but it's largely do to his mobility, court vision and passing. If Hayward can replace some of that, and cut and shoot as well as AK did, it will help the Jazz sort our their financial woes.

The Jazz would thus build a line up of D. Will, Miles and Hayward as the PG and wings. Hayward is the facilitator, and Miles is more of a scorer. Matthews is a high energy, versatile back-up SG.

If the Jazz want to make it to the next level and contend, they really need an impact PF or C to run their offense through. Losing Boozer would be a blow. The Jazz also need a go-to player, someone who can draw a double team, other than D. Will. While Millsap is a good player and might continue to improve, I'm not sure he's effective enough to be a starter on a championship caliber team. If the Jazz had Carmello Anthony or Pau Gasol around him, then sure, but they don't. Lets see if Millsap has expanded his game and see how he does at the beginning of the year. Otherwise, consider him a tradeable asset. The Jazz have a few players to play back-up PF and could bring in another fairly readily.

Okur and AK also fit the description of players who are starter-caliber players, but not good enough to lead a championship contender. Their salaries are also excessive, so they should also be considered moveable assets. Assuming Tomic continues to improve, I think the Jazz are planning to bring him in to replace Okur a year from now. Thereafter, Okur could stay as a back-up PF/C in the Sam Perkins mold if the salary is reasonable.

So that gets us to a starting line-up with D.Will, Hayward, Miles, and Tomic at center--a good, economical team to run Sloan's system. By freeing up the salary being paid to AK and/or Okur, the Jazz also have the $$$$ to throw at a big-time FA.

The question is.... who is that big-time player going to be? More of Boozer? An evolved Millsap? Amare?

 

[Shaggy]

WARNING WARNING WARNING ------------------DO NOT READ THIS POST IF YOU GET OFFENDED EASILY!----------------------WARNING WARNING WARNING


I don't foresee Matthews losing his starting two guard spot anytime soon.

Dwill isn't going to wait around for a guy like Tomic to save the franchise. By the time this guy ever gets here and turns into a player Dwill will be out of his prime and we'd have to start all over again.

We'll have to do something in the next 1 -2 years to make it easier for Dwill to sign an extension with the Utah Jazz

 

[Stifle Tower]

Forget about signing a big-name FA, it ain't gonna happen.

I think the only FA that might play here, due to his friendship with Deron, might be Bosh. But there's not chance in hell Boozer would sign a 6-yr deal to go play in Toronto.

I agree with Catchall that AK becomes expendable with Hayward coming aboard - if we could get a decent 4/5 in trade. If not, AK will get the backup mins behind Millsap and the Jazz will just let him become a FA next summer. However, I don't think Greg and KOC have made up their mind re: AK. I think they'll give him a legitimate chance at earning P/T at PF. He won't start over Millsap, but he could create mismatches against opposing backups. If he turns into a decent swing 3/4, the Jazz can see what his value is on the market next season. With a new CBA, maybe he becomes a $6-$7M player.

Deduct Boozer, Korver, and 50% or more of AK's salary, plus Okur's expiring, and after 2 years, the Jazz are in pretty good shape financially.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Deduct Boozer, Korver, and 50% or more of AK's salary, plus Okur's expiring, and after 2 years, the Jazz are in pretty good shape financially.

True, but they're a .500 team if they can't get another impact player in here. Or maybe their potential is this year's Atlanta Hawks. They need another star player.

That's why I think the Jazz should have tried to draft one.

 

[NAOS]

I can't really believe that i'm saying this, but as of now, given the post-draft roster, I'd sort of like to hold on to AK for a little bit. I've been calling for the end of the Boozer era for two years now, and while I've softened on that at times, watching him piss himself like a little Sally against the Lakers brought my mind back to the original point: let his *** go. I think holding on to AK and letting him play half of his minutes at the PF makes a good deal of sense in a lot of ways -- mostly because it allows us to get rid of Boozer. If an S&T can bring us a 5 and a back-up 4 (like Gortat & Bass) the Jazz might have a pretty good year next year.

That said, the Thunder kicked our *** on draft night. I think unless the Jazz have a great rest of the summer the Thunder will be the favorites in the NW.

 

[Stifle Tower]

True, but they're a .500 team if they can't get another impact player in here. Or maybe their potential is this year's Atlanta Hawks. They need another star player.

That's why I think the Jazz should have tried to draft one.

No argument from me there. I knew Cousins was a remote possibility, so I was hoping to get Udoh. Guess the Jazz weren't that high on Davis. Had the Jazz drafted a big, then they could have just re-signed Korver and/or brought in Elijah Millsap to backup CJ and Matthews.

KOC (or maybe it was Perrin) gave us a hint last week as to what the Jazz might do. IIRC, something was stated to the effect that if you can get a player who creates a real mismatch at a position, then you have to consider it. In retrospect, I think it was a reference to Hayward. With his ball-handling skills, I think they feel he can be a 6'8" off guard (or point-forward, whatever you want to call it0.

Miles is still a bit inconsistent, but he really started to come on the 2nd-half of the season. I think CJ, Matthews and Hayward can be a very good 2/3 rotation (with or without AK in the mix). I'm really hoping AK plays great as a backup to Millsap. If he does and the Jazz can re-sign him, that really gives Utah great flexibility. Not sure what to do at the 5 - pray for Fes to give up smoking and for Koufos to grow a pair?

 

[The Ghost of Blue Edwards]

True, but they're a .500 team if they can't get another impact player in here. Or maybe their potential is this year's Atlanta Hawks. They need another star player.

That's why I think the Jazz should have tried to draft one.

Even if the Jazz were to bring everyone back from last year's team, Hayward does not push them past the Lakers, or anyone else for that matter. It would make sense with the way things are currently constructed to aim for a mini-rebuild in 2011. Start over with Deron, Wes, and Sap at the core and try to bring in two high quality FA's ala 2004. Hopefully they can find a way to dump Okur's contract by then, but knowing O'Connor that's not gonna happen.

 

[My2Cents]

I've been calling for the end of the Boozer era for two years now, and while I've softened on that at times, watching him piss himself like a little Sally against the Lakers brought my mind back to the original point: let his *** go. I think holding on to AK and letting him play half of his minutes at the PF makes a good deal of sense in a lot of ways -- mostly because it allows us to get rid of Boozer.

How did AK play against the Lakers?

 

[NAOS]

Not sure what to do at the 5 - pray for Fes to give up smoking and for Koufos to grow a pair?

Personally, I still believe in Koufos. And, I think Fes is worth bringing back... if we can bring him back for somewhere around CJ's money.
That said, we obviously still need to bring in a 5. Looking over the rest of our assets I think our only real shot is in a S&T with Boozer... which gives me a sinking feeling.

 

[NAOS]

How did AK play against the Lakers?

 

[bat]

I think the Jazz realize that when AK is doing his best offensively he's an extra ball handler, a creator, has the ability to knock down open shots, grab offensive rebounds, and can get to the free-throw line at a high rate. And when AK is playing well offensively, the Jazz play well as a team.

Hayward's strengths are literally all of those things, so if he can come in and hit a stride and be consistent the Jazz hope to see their offense return to where it was in January before the All-Star break.

The only problem was the they forgot that Memo is out and Boozer is probably gone. :/

 

[TheMulletMutilator]

AK should not even be coming back anyway. People will point out that he is versatile and will make less money next year but he is also injured all the time. He should be traded.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I can't really believe that i'm saying this, but as of now, given the post-draft roster, I'd sort of like to hold on to AK for a little bit.

That said, the Thunder kicked our *** on draft night. I think unless the Jazz have a great rest of the summer the Thunder will be the favorites in the NW.

We say this about AK every year now. The best scenario for the Jazz is that he wakes up and becomes the 15/8/4/1.5 player that creates disruption on both sides of the court. He did this for about 10 - 12 games last year, and the Jazz won just about all of them. If AK and Boozer really played up to their potential, then this makes for a great front court along with a defensive C that clogs the middle (even Fess can do that).

The Thunder are okay, depending on how they build their frontcourt. No doubt--Westbrook, Harden, Durrant is a nice base. Now they're working on Ibaka/Aldrich. Portland is good too if Oden gets on track. Denver is stuck and declining along with Billups. Minnesota is Minnesota. The Jazz aren't doing badly, just need their players to pan out.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

No argument from me there. I knew Cousins was a remote possibility, so I was hoping to get Udoh. Guess the Jazz weren't that high on Davis. Had the Jazz drafted a big, then they could have just re-signed Korver and/or brought in Elijah Millsap to backup CJ and Matthews.

KOC (or maybe it was Perrin) gave us a hint last week as to what the Jazz might do. IIRC, something was stated to the effect that if you can get a player who creates a real mismatch at a position, then you have to consider it. In retrospect, I think it was a reference to Hayward. With his ball-handling skills, I think they feel he can be a 6'8" off guard (or point-forward, whatever you want to call it0.

Miles is still a bit inconsistent, but he really started to come on the 2nd-half of the season. I think CJ, Matthews and Hayward can be a very good 2/3 rotation (with or without AK in the mix). I'm really hoping AK plays great as a backup to Millsap. If he does and the Jazz can re-sign him, that really gives Utah great flexibility. Not sure what to do at the 5 - pray for Fes to give up smoking and for Koufos to grow a pair?

The future at the 5 has to be Tomic. He's got the most tools of anyone within our reach. The Jazz had to draft him two years ago when he was a sapling in order to get him. Same strategy as drafting AK. I'm actually not worried about the center spot because I think Tomic, Fess and Okur can cover it pretty well. I'm worried about finding an electrifying scorer that other teams have to double on defense. I thought that if Paul George were coached well and had a good system to work in, he had a 40% or 50% chance of being a Ray Allen-caliber player. He doesn't need to be T-mac, just run routes, hit shots and draw the defense. But who knows, maybe Hayward is the right pick. We'll see. In either case the Jazz still need a talented PF.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Personally, I still believe in Koufos. And, I think Fes is worth bringing back... if we can bring him back for somewhere around CJ's money.
That said, we obviously still need to bring in a 5. Looking over the rest of our assets I think our only real shot is in a S&T with Boozer... which gives me a sinking feeling.

I'd rather have Fess at $3mm than Dalembert at $12mm. I think Fess can have a Dalembert-like impact. He had 12 rebounds in his last game and had the effect of challenging and deterring drives when he played.

 

[NAOS]

We say this about AK every year now. The best scenario for the Jazz is that he wakes up and becomes the 15/8/4/1.5 player that creates disruption on both sides of the court. He did this for about 10 - 12 games last year, and the Jazz won just about all of them. If AK and Boozer really played up to their potential, then this makes for a great front court along with a defensive C that clogs the middle (even Fess can do that).

I know, it is a broken record. Still, perhaps...just perhaps...the move to the 4 will be good for AK. The calf injury last year was a bit freakish. I still have hope that he can play 70+ games this next year. If the jazz appear to be going nowhere, then you can try to dump his salary at the deadline. All I'm trying to say, in the end analysis, is that right now I'd rather take a risk on a healthy AK for one season than risk a healthy Boozer for 5 or 6 years.

 

[The Thriller]

It's amazing to me that people still believe in Boom Bitches. He averaged 1.5 points .1 blocks and 1.3 rebounds per game last year. After Memo went down with injury in the playoffs, his numbers actually decreased to .9 points, .1 blocks, and 1 rebound.

The sooner we understand that this kid is a bust, the better. Time to move on folks. Show is over.

Fess is another bust, he averaged 3.3 points, .5 blocks 4 rebounds, and shot 43% from the field and 33% from the FT line. That's horrible in all aspects for a player of his size. However, I'm willing to keep Fess on for one more year until we draft/sign another center.

But the dreams of either of these two ever having careers in this league are about as far fetched as finding cheese on the moon.

 

[The Thriller]

I know, it is a broken record. Still, perhaps...just perhaps...the move to the 4 will be good for AK. The calf injury last year was a bit freakish. I still have hope that he can play 70+ games this next year. If the jazz appear to be going nowhere, then you can try to dump his salary at the deadline. All I'm trying to say, in the end analysis, is that right now I'd rather take a risk on a healthy AK for one season than risk a healthy Boozer for 5 or 6 years.

AK47 seems to have "freakish" injuries every year.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

It's amazing to me that people still believe in Boom Bitches. He averaged 1.5 points .1 blocks and 1.3 rebounds per game last year. After Memo went down with injury in the playoffs, his numbers actually decreased to .9 points, .1 blocks, and 1 rebound.

The sooner we understand that this kid is a bust, the better. Time to move on folks. Show is over.

Fess is another bust, he averaged 3.3 points, .5 blocks 4 rebounds, and shot 43% from the field and 33% from the FT line. That's horrible in all aspects for a player of his size. However, I'm willing to keep Fess on for one more year until we draft/sign another center.

But the dreams of either of these two ever having careers in this league are about as far fetched as finding cheese on the moon.

Fess shot over 50% and had a rebound rate of 9 board per 40 mins. in the Denver series. He needs to rebound better, but he still has back-up potential, considering his main job is to keep people out of the paint.

 

[NotDeadYet]

First, Boozer is neither a "prime-time" player nor a go-to guy. Nobody needs to double team him. Yeah, he gets a lot of 20-10 games, but in a tight game in crunch-time, Boozer consistantly vanishes, without being double-teamed.
I totally agree about AK at PF; looking back, his best years were when he was playing PF, not SF. He's very tenacious defensively despite his lack of bulk, and his quickness and fearlessness often overwhelmed opposing PF's and C's in the paint. I would rather he stay to back up Millsap than to bring Boozer back. With that said, if NJ wants him over Boozer, I'd have to consider it if I were in KoC's chair.