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Which Free Agent Would You Sign?

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utahquad

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I was looking thru the list of this summers free agents, and was trying to decide who I would want out of that list that would help out the Utah Jazz. The list can be found here... https://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FreeAgents-11-12

As I perused the list, I was trying to decide what the team needed, and what players I would consider going after and my short list is as follows:

1) Shane Battier - Memphis - Unrestricted Free Agent - Fills a need with a defensive wing who can also shoot decently

2) Jamal Crawford - Atlanta - Unrestricted Free Agent - Wing player who can shoot, has off the dribble moves and is decent defensively

3) Caron Butler - Dallas - Unrestricted Free Agent - Veteran Wing Player with good moves and a good ranged shot (Only if he is healed)

4) James Jones - Miami - Unrestricted Free Agent - 3 point shooter, spreads the floor, quick release, decent defense as well

Of the free agents that we currently have who could be departing this season (Andrei Kirilenko, Krylyo Fesenko, Ronnie Price, C.J. Miles, Earl Watson, Francisco Elson), I would keep Kirilenko IF, and only if the money is right. Also I would keep Fesenko as he blossomed some at the end of the season, I think Ty could get more out of him as a backup, and he has uses against certain teams as well. As far as Earl Watson, I think you keep him as well as he does provide veteran leadership as a backup guard. I am undecided on CJ Miles and Ronnie Price, I like the guys a lot, but they are both very inconsistent players, and I feel that hurts the team more than helps it. Also I do not think I would bring back Elson under any circumstances. I did not feel he played well last year at all.

One other player that intrigues me, though we would have to make some diffcult choices to get, would be Marc Gasol. He is an unrestricted free agent as well, though we would have to lose someone else to get him, otherwise we would have too many bigs who would be starter type players.

So, take a look at that list, and if you were interested in any of the players there, give a name, and why. I would be interested what players you all think the Jazz should go after and why. Lets keep this all in one thread here, and compile a list of options of who WE want to see. Maybe we can get one or two of these free agents to help us out, IF the season goes ahead this year.
 
I don't think Utah will have the cap space or the interest to sign big name veterans like Caron Butler or Tayshaun Prince who will demand high salaries, long terms deals, and probably will wantt to go with possible contenders, so I made my list with what I feel are realistic free agent target options. I also avoided restricted free agents. I think the only stretch might be Jamal Crawford, but he is a 6th man specialist, so wouldn't necessarily take starting spot from Hayward and be a good mentor for Burks (similar style, build).

PG: TJ Ford - If given the option, I would take Ford, but I thought Watson did a great job and could easily re-sign.

G: Jamal Crawford, Shannon Brown - Utah tried to sign Brown, but ended up with Bell. Obviously they would have been better served with Brown than Bell.

SF: Al Thornton, Shawne Williams, Maurice Evans - Thornton is a good defender and hustle player; Williams is one of the best 3-point shooters; Evans is a veteran and all-around good player and teammate who does a lot of everything, sort of like a veteran version of Wesley Matthews

PF: Josh McRoberts - Not that Utah needs another PF, but he would be good and fit in well without taking too many minutes.

C: Joel Pryzbilla, Alexis Ajinca - I'd be fine bringing back Fesenko, but with the biggest need being rebounding and interior defense, Pryzbilla is one of the best when healthy and Ajina is 7'2" and athletic.
 
I would only look at SF's. We are not winning a title next year, I would rather see what we have with our young 'uns than have another Bell situation where the crappy vet plays 3/4ths of the year.
 
https://www.hoopsworld.com/story.asp?story_id=18192

My ideal FAs
PG: E.Watson (already knows the system & played well as a starter), A.Carter (tough, gritty vet), or TJ.Ford (good stop-gap/backup if we had traded Harris & drafted Knight/Kemba/Jimmer)
SG: R.Afflalo (UFA 4-6M), S.Brown ("Let Shannon Dunk", D.Stevenson (Raja w/ INK), M.Daniels (very good defender, better ver of Brewer), JR.Smith (3pt threat w/ baggage), or C.Douglas-Roberts (roster filler)
SF: Chandler (UFA & may cost ~6-8M), CJ (1yr QO), AK (only at 2-3yr, vet min), TMac (2yr opt to groom Burks), Battier (great vet, esp if Bell is traded), M.Dunleavy (older ver of GTime), K.Azubuike (if healthly), I.Udoka (nice defender), or J.Evans (roster filler, artist, & GTime's BFF)
PF: Mbah a Moute (nice defender/rebounder), JMcRoberts (great athletic PF), S.Williams (roster filler), M.Howard (hustle player but only cause he's from Butler)
C: J.Foster (white Jarron Collins, roster filler), Fes (maybe he can dye his hair blonde now that Sloan is gone aka roster filler), or J.Przybilla (if Al is traded)
 
I think the free agents I'd go after I mentioned in one of the other free agent threads that gets posted weekly, oftentimes by new posters who care not to look past the first page.
 
I don't want any FAs. Just pick up a couple scraps to fill out the roster. If Watson wants back bring him back. If Fesenko wants back I don't care yay or nay. Pick up CJ's option to keep any trade options open. Just say no to Kirilenko, even if he offers to pay his own way. Bring back Price unless we find a really young guy on the cheap that shoots threes.
 
With the new proposed hard-cap I would actually not sign any big contracts next year.

Just play Miles at SF - he's like what $4m?

If we suck again next year, try & get a SF in the 2012 draft.

Cap management will be key in the next era under the new CBA.
 
Hotttnickkk said:
With the new proposed hard-cap I would actually not sign any big contracts next year.

Just play Miles at SF - he's like what $4m?

If we suck again next year, try & get a SF in the 2012 draft.

Cap management will be key in the next era under the new CBA.
Click to expand...

Owners have backed off the hard cap.
 
I wonder if our best bet of getting someone good would be a sign and trade for a FA, or just an outright trade w/ another team for a player not a FA. We don't really have the cash to pick up someone good. I would do a sign and trade for Marc Gasol if it could be done with Memphis, for Jefferson. I would be open to a sign and trade for a good SF in exchange for Sap too... depends on the player and the money.

Just a few thoughts.
 
With our current roster (assuming we are accepting CJ's final year) we will need:

(1) PG - I would take Watson over everyone FA available, Patrick Mills maybe (remember when everyone wanted him)
(1) Wing - I would attack the undrafted rookies here, SCOTTY HOPSON!
(1) Center - Fesenko. Big and cheap. I see no one better as a 3rd string center.
 
My preference going into the draft was Arron Afflalo or Wilson Chandler, but I was thinking the Jazz would pick a point guard (B Knight) and a raw backup center (Biyombo or Valanciunas). Now that we have Kanter and Burks, with 11 players (including rookies) under contract, I almost inclined to just re-sign Watson and maybe Weaver and call it a season...
 
Off the list James Jones would be a good addition IMO. Guy is a great shooter and has length. That would really help with stretching the defense.
 
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