What Does KOC Have Up His Sleave?

[Hitman]

How can you use the Vet Min on a guy that has played 1 year in the NBA?

He is entering his third year. What is the rule on the Vet min?

The term "Veteran Minimum" is misleading. The CBA includes a scale of Minimum Salaries, which rises with years of experience, and players who signed minimum contracts are often referred to as signing "Veteran Minimum" contracts, but the scale applies to all players, including rookies. A rookie gets $473,604, a 10+ year veteran gets $1,352,181. However, if a player has been in the league for at least 3 years and signs a one-year minimum contract, the league pays all of his salary in excess of the 2-year veteran minimum level.

The number of games played in a season are irrelevant, a player need only play 1 game in a season for that to count as a year of experience (e.g. both Gaines and Jeffers are 1-year veterans). Tolliver has played in 2 seasons so his minimum salary would be $854,389.

 

[vj_74]

And when was the last time a player took LESS just to play in Utah? Sorry to burst the bubble of a lot of you fans, but Salt Lake City just doesn't have the same cachet for most players (Raja being a rare exception) as Los Angeles or Miami.

Barnes was a nice pickup for them. He commented on how it would nice playing on the same team as Kobe instead of against him. Ratliff for me, is meh. It's been 4 years since he's been relevant. Jazz could sign Araujo and get the same production that Theo will give the Lakers.

All I said was it is too early for the SLC media to start having orgasms over the offseason moves, as if we became a title contender by doing these moves, when all we did was stop ourselves a little bit from getting much worse. And especially more so,when a team like the Lakers, who were already more talented, fixed their bench.

And whatever you might say, a bench that has Lamar Odom, Steve Blake , Barnes and Ratliff is more than decent. That was their only weakness last season and they fixed it quietly.

 

[NotDeadYet]

Great points. And also to sirkicky on his roster analysis. Jazz could upgrade over Jeffers and Gaines, but it would take the right player for KOC to go in and ask for Gail to open up her purse.

I don't think AK's trade value is all that high right now. Teams don't start thinking about dumping salaries and players until they're near the deadline and pretty much out of the playoff picture. About the only team that's acknowledged they're in full rebuilding mode is Minnesota.

I've been a huge AK critic - maybe even the biggest. But I absolutely agree with KhaOZ abotu holding AK until the deadline. Right now the Jazz have a few question marks:
1. How healthy will Okur be to start the season?
2. Can Millsap play 35 mins/per without fouling out?
3. Is Raja a 30 min/per starter at SG?
4. How much can Hayward contribute right away off the bench?

AK figures prominently in all those situations.
A. If Memo isn't ready to play major minutes, Jefferson will have to be a full-time 5. And AK will have to backup Millsap.
B. If Millsap is constantly in foul trouble, AK could see some time at PF.
C. If Raja struggles a bit with trying to play 30 mins, then CJ will have to play more at the 2 - and that leaves more time for AK at the 3.
D. If Gordon can't give 10-15 mins off the bench, then the 2/3 becomes a 3-man rotation with Raja, CJ and AK all getting 30+ mins.

Spot on!
We should never under-estimate the value of a player who can play multiple positions. AK right now is a very key player for us; he's never been a big numbers man,
but he makes contributions in a lot of ways during the course of a game with his versatility. Trade him and we almost need TWO players to replace his overall production...

 

[NotDeadYet]

Regarding our lack of activity since Raja signed, I don't see anything happening until Fes is signed. If we take on more salary, we would be less likely to match any offer Fes could get. Lose Fes, and we are left with Jefferson and a hobbling Okur at C. We'd need to replace Fes with another C, costing us again. Portland, for instance, wouldn't mind throwing $$$ at Fes...

I agree about needing better play at backup PG. Gotta like Ronnie Price's effort, but so far he just doesn't look like a real PG. I have to wonder how long before the Jazz move in another direction. Sundiata is fine as a #3 PG...
Unless there is a trade involving Price or Sundiata gets replaced and the new guy is even better than Price, I doubt this situation changes this year.

 

[InGameStrategy]

Regarding our lack of activity since Raja signed, I don't see anything happening until Fes is signed. If we take on more salary, we would be less likely to match any offer Fes could get. Lose Fes, and we are left with Jefferson and a hobbling Okur at C. We'd need to replace Fes with another C, costing us again. Portland, for instance, wouldn't mind throwing $$$ at Fes..

I agree about needing better play at backup PG. Gotta like Ronnie Price's effort, but so far he just doesn't look like a real PG. I have to wonder how long before the Jazz move in another direction. Sundiata is fine as a #3 PG...
Unless there is a trade involving Price or Sundiata gets replaced and the new guy is even better than Price, I doubt this situation changes this year.

I don't have anyone else in mind, but I was really disappointed by Sundiata's inability (and seeming unwillingness) to run the offense and distribute the ball in the summer league. I hope that KOC and the FO are aware of this and focused on an upgrade. A good backup PG is important for 10 MPG.

Or somebody can tell Sloan to tell Sundiata to run the damn offense.

 

[JAZZFAN_2814]

So you're saying you're excited at the notion of re-upping AK next summer for four more years?

Yes.

In the same way OJ was excited on the night of June 12th, 1994.