What to do with AK?

[SaltyDawg]

In the same year AK was flailing, he was, per 48, amongst other 3's in the league:

13th in scoring
18th in rebounds
1st in assists
1st in blocked shots
7th in PER

How can you keep ignoring all this? Or how do you account for why it doesn't matter and there are lots of guys who can do this?

Per minute stats are worthless when you are talking about a player that spent a good portion of the year coming off the bench, and another good portion of the year wearing a suit behind the bench.

 

[SaltyDawg]

Al Harrington didn't say he wanted to play for the Jazz. I believe he said he would give them a look.

Uh, no. He said, "DWill is Cold as Ice. Would be my pleasure to RUN with Him!"
https://twitter.com/a7harrington/status/18312442964

He had a few other comments too, but that one flat out says he wants to play for the Jazz.

 

[freakazoid]

At $7-8M, yes. I wouldn't tie up that kind of salary in a 30 yr. old with a history of ankle and back problems. Give me a young player who has upside, or spend more on a very good starting wing who can hit some outside shots. AK is an inconsistent shooter. He can drive into the lane and get some fouls called at home. That's less effective on the road. If we accuse others of "flopping' then I think we need to come up with another term for what AK does, perhaps "flailing?"

OK, so as I read it, you think AK isn't worth 7-8 million per year?

What's he worth, then?

 

[billyshelby]

Per minute stats are worthless when you are talking about a player that spent a good portion of the year coming off the bench, and another good portion of the year wearing a suit behind the bench.

Right. The old bench stats argument. Except AK started 35 of his 58 games. And we all know AK closed halves and games until he got hurt. I have no idea why you think these arguments work.

 

[silesian]

With Memo injured, I expect to see Big Al at C to start the season, which leaves AK as the only viable backup to Millsap at PF.

yes but this is mitigated by AJ's ability to play PF with Fes at Center

 

[seattlejazzfan]

Per minute stats are worthless when you are talking about a player that spent a good portion of the year coming off the bench,

Uh, Salty, that's why per minute stats get used. Because, um, it wouldn't make much sense to compare a bench player's production, playing 25-30 minutes a game to starter's production who plays 35-40 minutes. Just a thought.

 

[freakazoid]

Speaking of Boozer, when we got rid of him we replaced himwith Al Jefferson. Not bad at all.

Sorry, man.

I just thought you were one of those morans who defended Boozer at all costs. My bad.

 

[SaltyDawg]

Uh, Salty, that's why per minute stats get used. Because, um, it wouldn't make much sense to compare a bench player's production, playing 25-30 minutes a game to starter's production who plays 35-40 minutes. Just a thought.

Well it doesn't make much sense to compare a player's stats when he is going against bench players, to another player's stats who is going up against starters. And that is exactly what comparing AK's per minute stats is doing.

 

[SaltyDawg]

Sorry, man.

I just thought you were one of those morans who defended Boozer at all costs. My bad.

I didn't defend him at all costs, I just said it would be stupid to trade him for scrubs like Tyrus Thomas or Udonis Haslem. Now that we have Jefferson, I guess we can all agree I was right about that.

Jefferson is defnitely a lot better than those scrubs.

I'm a fan of the team. I'm not into any one player more than the team.

 

[freakazoid]

I didn't defend him at all costs, I just said it would be stupid to trade him for scrubs like Tyrus Thomas or Udonis Haslem. Now that we have Jefferson, I guess we can all agree I was right about that.

Jefferson is defnitely a lot better than those scrubs.

I'm a fan of the team. I'm not into any one player more than the team.

Fair enough.

Anyway, I agree with you. Boozer sucks.

 

[SaltyDawg]

Fair enough.

Anyway, I agree with you. Boozer sucks.

I wouldn't say he sucks, but the Jazz certainly won't be hurting by replacing him with Jefferson either. He is a good player, but obviously not someone that can't be replaced.

Anyway, back on topic- if AK actually makes the team worse, then there is no way he is under rated. And no matter how many times someone says to leave salary out of it, it doesn't change the fact that salary IS considered by the people putting the team together.

So while you can speculate on AK signing a small contract, staying healthy, bringing it every night, and then at that point possibly being under rated, right now the fact is he is anything but under rated. He is actually hindering the team BECAUSE of his contract, so you can't just pretend his contract isn't there.

 

[David Stern]

I'm voting we dump him at the nearest Chevron.

 

[freakazoid]

no matter how many times someone says to leave salary out of it, it doesn't change the fact that salary IS considered by the people putting the team together.

So while you can speculate on AK signing a small contract, staying healthy, bringing it every night, and then at that point possibly being under rated, right now the fact is he is anything but under rated. He is actually hindering the team BECAUSE of his contract, so you can't just pretend his contract isn't there.

Good point. I always thought Boozer was a decent player because AK was making more than him. Now I see your point, and realize the true point. Even if Boozer was only getting paid one dollar every year, he still totally sucked ***, just like AK. Money really doesn't mean anything. AK sucks *** and so does Boozer. Those chumps shouldn't even be allowed to play in this league. Thanks for showing me the light.

 

[SaltyDawg]

Good point. I always thought Boozer was a decent player because AK was making more than him. Now I see your point, and realize the true point. Even if Boozer was only getting paid one dollar every year, he still totally sucked ***, just like AK. Money really doesn't mean anything. AK sucks *** and so does Boozer. Those chumps shouldn't even be allowed to play in this league. Thanks for showing me the light.

Boozer made less than AK, and was much better than AK while he was here. And if you want to debate that, then we'll just see if AK gets 80 million when his contract is up like Boozer did.

Not saying Boozer was under rated, because he certainly wasn't. But he did make less than AK, and got an 80 million dollar contract when he left (with at least one other team upset that he didn't give them a chance to match it). Those are the facts.

 

[freakazoid]

Boozer made less than AK, and was much better than AK while he was here. And if you want to debate that, then we'll just see if AK gets 80 million when his contract is up like Boozer did.

Not saying Boozer was under rated, because he certainly wasn't. But he did make less than AK, and got an 80 million dollar contract when he left (with at least one other team upset that he didn't give them a chance to match it). Those are the facts.

Ok, I think I'm starting to understand. What you're saying is that Boozer sucks, but he is worth a lot of money for a suck-*** , Alaskan washed up wanna be.

On the other hand, AK sucks cause he's from Russia.

Is that correct?

 

[SaltyDawg]

Ok, I think I'm starting to understand. What you're saying is that Boozer sucks, but he is worth a lot of money for a suck-*** loozer, piece o chit washed up wanna be.

On the other hand, AK sucks cause he's from Russia.

Is that correct?

No, I'm saying Boozer is a good player, but he's not somebody that can't be replaced. The Jazz actually got better with Jefferson. And Boozer is still a heck of a lot better than AK.

Any reason you have to say Boozer sucks, you can also say AK sucks for the same reasons. AK is soft, injury prone, is known to not give a full effort often, openly stated that he wanted out of Utah, and has a ridiculous contract that is hindering the team.

Yeah, AK is capable of being a decent or even pretty good player. But that requires him giving a full effort every night and staying healthy. He has never shown that he is capable of doing either of those things.

So, again, your point seems to be that AK will be under rated SOMEDAY, if he signs a small enough contract. But he is definitely not under rated right now. He's actually hurting the team right now.

And again, AK makes more than Boozer right now. No way you can say he's under rated. We'll see if he makes anywhere near what Boozer makes next year. And at that time, then you can debate him possibly being under rated depending on what type of contract he gets.

 

[freakazoid]

Any reason you have to say Boozer sucks, you can also say AK sucks for the same reasons..

Sweet. I was starting to think we weren't on the same page.

Boozer is a chump and so is AK. Someday, I'd like to kick both of them in the nuts. Ya feel me, homie?

 

[Scorpjazz]

Keep him. The Jazz know what kind of player they have in AK. He can impact a game the way few players can. My beef isn't as much with AK as it is with the way Sloan has utilized him.

Big, huge, mighty fail.

 

[Hopper]

AK sucks cause he's from Russia. Is that correct?

Correctomundo! Stone-cold fact, dat.

 

[NAOS]

First, billyshelby is pwning this thread and nobody is backing down from their AK-hate.
Second, the Jazz are, in the final analysis, building a team that is going to require some postseason magic in order to breakthrough. Magic isn't too strong a word against the likes of the Lakers and the Heat. If AK doesn't exude that kind of potential-magic, then I don't know who does. You keep him. Roll the dice.