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NBA sets new luxury tax number

Not good news. Hope the Jazz can get rid of Boozer and/or Kirilenko before the the trade deadline next year. Hopefully we can get some value from their contracts.

This trade works and gets the Jazz to $64.5 million -

Chicago gets:
Boozer
Kirilenko

Charlotte gets:
Brad Miller
Matt Harpring
Kyrylo Fesenko
Taj Gibson
DeMarcus Nelson

Utah gets:
Gerald Wallace
Boris Diaw
John Salmons
Joakim Noah

Chicago and Utah would definitely do this deal - Charlotte is rumored to be looking for takers for the Diaw and Wallace contracts - they get back nearly $20 million in expiring deals...

You have to look at this in context. The main thing it does is remove money out of next year's vaunted free agent market. That means that even if LeBron, Wade, and other stars get what they want, there will be even less money available for Millsap, Okur, Korver, and other free agents next year - who could be motivated to stay with the Jazz. It also raises the value of Boozer and his expiring contract in trade right now (but decreases the trade value of Kirilinko and his exorbitant dead-cap-weight contract). The only apparent solution there is for AK47 to get his head together, forget about his outside scoring game for a change, and start playing up to his potential with defense, rebounding, steals, blocks, and layups.

But the Jazz foundation, with Williams, Okur, Brewer, AK47 and hopefully Millsap is solid - all they need to be champs are a solid SG and/or C. We need defense and perhaps one more good clutch outside / midrange shooter, like Richard Hamilton.

Ok so you have the Jazz trading Kirilenko and Harpring. That's good since there's a log jam at the 2&3 spot. Then you have the team getting Wallace and Salmons in return. Not so good, since that Utah still has Brewer, Korver, and Miles. Whom all play the same postion as Wallace and Salmons.

So who's the odd man out, on who doesn't get any playing time?

More than anything the team needs a reliable Center no more shooting guards or small forwards.

How fast can you do that trade?

The Jazz now become a championship contender

Now we just need a coach

This is from Hoopsworld.

"Look at last season's numbers. The NBA 6 best defensive teams in terms of opponents FG% - were the Celtics, Cavs, Magic, Nuggets, Rockets, and Lakers.

The six worst defensive teams — teams that allowed the highest FG% against — were the Kings, Wizards, Knicks, Thunder, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, and Clippers.

It's not a difficult concept, but somehow brilliant basketball minds seem to overlook it."

The Jazz need to fix their defense now. The rest will work out. We need some action not a bunch of hot air from Sloan and management. If the current players can't or won't defend, then replace them with cheaper better defenders. Sloan's offensive system will score enough if the defense is good enough.

The Jazz are capable of contending if they get talent and defense. Sloan might get a ring if he got a defensive coach and a decent defensive strategy.