Why would you need another PF with Milsap and AJ? There would only be minutes for him while Okur is out (1-2 months). You don't take on 9 million dollars for 2 years for that. Id rather just throw Evans into the fire and get him some experience for whatever backup minutes we initially need, that is why they are signed after all. So not only do I think Diaw is a scrub, he also plays a position the Jazz have no need for. If KOC can find a halfway decent small forward or center for AK I'm all in, because that would be a position of weakness. Outside of that, you hold out for a better offer which will come along at the trade deadline.
Because AJ is slotted in at center. Do you want AJ to play 15 mins at PF behind Millsap and only 20 at the 5? Then you have Fesenko or Elson playing 28 minutes at center. Good gawd, I hope that doesn't happen!
No one knows how long Okur will be out. Nor do we know how long it will take him to be effective. History suggest a full year of recovery time for his type of injury. What I'd hope to see is Okur playing 10 mins/per by January. So having Jefferson playing 35 mins at C, with Millsap 33 at PF leaves 28 mins to fill for a few months. If the Jazz had Diaw, he could play around 20 mins and the remaining mins would go to Fes/Elson.
Unless the Jazz are willing to take back a bad contract for AK's expiring, a better deal MAY NOT come along. There are others who have just as much they can deal. For example, Sacramento has Dalembert's contract, which they'll be looking to shed at the deadline if Cousins is ready to start.
I don't think the Jazz see SF as a position of need. If you read what has been said about the scrimmages, Hayward has been impressive and everyone is doing cartwheels over Evans' play. I see Hayward getting 15-20 mins/per (and if you think less, just refer to how many mins Pavlovic played as a rookie, or Snyder, or Humphries, or Millsap). Pencil in CJ for 30 mins and Raja about the same. So that's 75-80 mins out of 96 at the 2/3. Evans or Thompson could get soime minutes. So could Deron in a 2-PG set (Sloan played Deron and Maynor together last season). And if the trade goes down, Q Ross could get spot minutes. As could Ronnie Price.
To save anywhere between $14-$20M, dealing AK would be a no-brainer under the current scenario. Now it may not happen now, but I agree w/ Shad. The Jazz WILL try to save some money before the deadlien by dealing AK.
