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Is Al Jefferson part of the team's long-term future?

T

The Norm

Banned
This board seems fairly split when it comes to Big Al. Some people think he's an inefficient black hole and that his minutes should be going to the rookies, while others see him as a great asset that SHOULD be playing 37+ minutes a night. Personally, I feel like the rest of the offense suffers too much when we run it through him. Whether or not that's entirely his fault is up for debate, but last night's 3rd quarter was a brilliant example. He got his, he was actually on fire, but absolutely nobody else could do anything.

My two main concerns are how much better Favors is when he isn't playing alongside Big Al, and whether or not both Favors and Kanter are getting enough minutes. If Al Jefferson isn't part of the Jazz's long-term future, then why is he still getting 37+ minutes a night while Favors and Kanter are playing 10-20? The Jazz obviously aren't making the playoffs this year either way, so I don't see why they're stunting the development of those guys.

On the other hand, if Al Jefferson IS part of the team's long-term future, why did we trade for Favors and draft Kanter? I think both of them have sky-high potential, but neither of them are ever going to reach it if the Jazz plan on having Jefferson play starters minutes indefinitely. Trading Millsap is an option, but it doesn't change the fact that Favors and Jefferson really aren't compatible. (I don't feel like Jefferson and Millsap are compatible either, but that's an entirely different topic).

In sum, I'm frustrated with the direction the Jazz are going in this season: Riding the veterans to wins against horrible teams and putting heavy restrictions on the minutes for Kanter/Favors/Burks. So what's the future of the Jazz? Big Al ball style of offense (ie dump it into him in the paint and let him do his thing) or Favors/Kanter?
 
As much as I love a mantooth slap, there is no way he should be playing that much.

I think he is in the Jazz's mid-range plans. Hold him so we remain somewhat competitive and have someone to play the PF/C position who is not so green, and who won't get in so much foul trouble while the youngsters are learning. Then when his value is still pretty high trade him away to plug some holes.

Or trade him now for a real PG.
 
The Norm said:
If Al Jefferson isn't part of the Jazz's long-term future, then why is he still getting <> minutes a night while Favors and Kanter are playing 10-20?The Jazz obviously aren't making the playoffs this year either way, so I don't see why they're stunting the development of those guys.
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Maximizing trade value. Right now, I don't think the Jazz have decided one way or the other. I think the plan is to move forward as is, and let team success determine whether or not we keep Al. If we're going to trade him though, we want him to keep putting up games like he did last night, win or lose. Developing our young guys isn't a bad idea, but it defeats the purpose of building the team to put that ahead of getting full trade value for a 14 mill dollar player.
 
I like him as a person. Would be best fit on a team that focuses on a one-on-one offense. Slows us down and stalls the offense. So hopefully he isn't a long term piece.
 
At the very latest, Jefferson will be gone by next season's trade deadline.

However, I think the odds are better than 50% that he'll be in Utah through the end of this season.
 
I've always supported him but I have finally realized he doesn't fit with this team. He is a good low post scorer and has shown flashes of some defense but when he is in, no one moves and no one gets any shots besides him. However, without him, I just don't see who else would score. Not only do you have to replace his production, but then the production from the guy that will replace him.

Right now, the only scorers on this team are outside of Big Al are Josh Howard and maybe Millsap,Favors or Harris. Millsap hasn't played well yet and Harris is a bit inconsistent and his job should be distributing, not scoring. I think Favors could put up great #'s but don't think we can rely on him quite yet. Hayward and Burks have shown flashes but they will need time.
 
I have no problem with playing Al (and no, he won't be a Jazz uni 3 years from now). But we are wasting Hayward and Millsap playing them with Jefferson. If the offense is geared to feeding Al in the post, then play Kanter and Howard or CJ with Al and save Millsap and Hayward for playing alongside Favors.
 
I don't think he is. Al does some good things, but has some bad habits and with him it seems you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Right now we need him, because he is the only player we have that can take over a game. Without him we probably wouldn't win many games this year. If Favors and Kanter develop as planned I see him gone by next years trade deadline. I like Al i just don't see how he fits with our plans after this year.
 
Al won't likely survive the Jazz youth movement, but he's light years beyond any player we currently have in the post. He has his flaws, and he'll never be a great defensive player, but you can't find guys who can do what he does in the post. I would expect him to be traded at some point, but I wouldn't move him until it was clear Favors or Kanter could replace him, and right now they're far away from being able to do that.
 
No. It's not a given they will trade him, but come contract time, the Jazz won't risk losing their youth by offering Al more than 8-10 million a year. They'll simply be outbid.
 
While I can't hate on his last two games, I really wish the guy would learn how to pass out of a double/triple team. Unfortunately it seems like if he can't do it now he'll never learn.
 
If Jefferson would pass the ball when he is double teamed I think it would create better shots that our other players can take. When Jefferson is one on one he is basically automatic but when he is double teamed its like the offense dies and he throws up a forced shot. I think also that he gets a lot of minutes because Ty Corbin is trying to win games so he doesn't lose his job...
 
The Jazz obviously aren't making the playoffs this year either way
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It's that kind of attitude that created the Clippers. In order to learn effort, grit and pride, an NBA player needs to feel that they have a chance to win it all, that's why the Jazz play to win even if it limits the time for the rookies.

And i'm not ready to declare that the 'dog' Al will never learn new tricks. Malone learned to shoot mid range shots, and improved his free throw percentage, Jason Kidd learned to shoot the three at the end of his career. Al talks about learning to pass the ball, and assuming he isn't just saying what we want to hear, I think he's working on it. It may take a few years, but he'll probably get it eventually.

As to whether he does it with the Jazz, I agree with an earlier poster that we lose Al because they don't want to max his contract, not because the Jazz don't appreciate his value.
 
cctrackstar said:
It's that kind of attitude that created the Clippers. In order to learn effort, grit and pride, an NBA player needs to feel that they have a chance to win it all, that's why the Jazz play to win even if it limits the time for the rookies.

And i'm not ready to declare that the 'dog' Al will never learn new tricks. Malone learned to shoot mid range shots, and improved his free throw percentage, Jason Kidd learned to shoot the three at the end of his career. Al talks about learning to pass the ball, and assuming he isn't just saying what we want to hear, I think he's working on it. It may take a few years, but he'll probably get it eventually.

As to whether he does it with the Jazz, I agree with an earlier poster that we lose Al because they don't want to max his contract, not because the Jazz don't appreciate his value.
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Al won't be here in a few years.
 
He's actually looked surprisingly good tonight. I mean, he looks quicker than I've ever seen him. I realize that's not saying much, but I think his off season work is really helping him. And his mind, while still slow, seems faster than it was last year. And I've seen him manage some passes - in spite of the fact that offensively he's been on fire.

I like Jefferson and I'm really glad he's having such good games - because ultimately I think he needs to up his trade value. I don't think he can be in the Jazz' long term plans. I think Favors and Kanter have more upside - though they're not there yet.
 
I feel like I'm in a funny spot as a Jefferson fan yet I do not feel he is part of the future. There is a lot to like about Al Jefferson. He has come into this season undeniably in better shape, I have seen him do things he couldn't last year already, physically. So, Al has put in his work. Watching him I see a much improved AJ on defense. He is rotating inside and setting up for taking charges. There are things he can't do well but everything the haters have been harping on he has clearly been working on.

The thing is, Al is becoming a better player than he has ever been. He is clearly the best man the Jazz have on the floor. This makes it difficult to keep to plans that have no Al in the future.

But, that's what is perfect about the Utah Jazz's situation. We do not have to worry about it until next year. Next year is Al's contract year. As we know Memo is gone which means there will be no further Bigs moves. You take one more name away we got a really thin front line.

Al Jefferson clearly is not only the best player on the roster, but is committed to improving the aspects of his game which have been under scrutiny. Weather you like him or not this is a good thing. Either the team keeps him or it doesn't. If he stays you know you got a high character guy who will work. If he leaves you know somebody will pay for him. One thing that cannot be questioned is that Al's value is certainly higher than it was when the Jazz acquired him.

I'll wait until next season to give an actual opinion of weather the man should stay but again, that's a bonus. We don't have to endure 20 extra losses starting rookies, and Corbin actually has a guy he can depend on to score. I like this.
 
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