Comments about ‘Utah Jazz get some thunder down under the rim’

As good as this deal seems, it doesn't change the fact that they fell asleep at the wheel with Mathews.

Agreed.

@ Fuzz, yep because the Jazz knew Matthews was going to get offered the full mid-level exception months and months ago. *end sarcasm*

I love armchair GM's

Thanks Brad for reminding me of the long list of Jazz centers who have been failures.

Makes me all warm and fuzzy knowing how awful the Jazz have been at that position ever since they arrived in Salt Lake.

But then, I guess 7'4" mechanics don't grow on trees.

If anybody thinks locking the Jazz into a $34 million/ 5 year contract with large, early payouts for an undrafted, one year player, who happened to flourish in one coach's system, is good deal or a smart deal, please see me in the lobby. I have beachfront property in eastern Utah for sale.

Kevin O'Conner and the Jazz front office are not idiots, despite what many want to believe. You guys live in SLC, not LA, not New York, not even Chicago. And definitely not Miami. Marquee players are not beating down the doors to play there. It's not your fault that those players don't undertsand what a great place Salt Lake is to live. They just have a different standard by which they judge a city. KOC will get the best players available while keeping the Jazz in play for another great season. And those players will be glad they came.

Come on Duds, they knew he would be offered the middle level exception and the beginning 9 mil. They even knew it was the over the top Trailblazers to do it. Wait, you didn't know the Jazz brass have a crystal ball?

Jefferson is a PF. He played C last year in Minnesota because they had Kevin Love and they liked to play small. He's like Stoudemire, played at the C but really a PF.

AJ could become the new Malone. KOC said he would play at both C and PF. In the longer run do not be surprised if they move AK (depending on salary negotiations and CBA cap) or Millsap (at contract renewal or sooner) for a true C.

DWill, AJ and maybe Hayward could eventually give Utah its own "Big 3". If you add a true C then you have the Big 4 and can contend.

Please keep in mind that AJ may or may not decide to defend. He is also weak on pick and pop. That means you need more (not less) outside shooting to keep the middle open as he is predictably going to do pick and roll and the defense will know that.

IF AJ improves his efficiency (likely), defense (possible) and rediscovers his jump shot (also possible) he may become the new Malone. Until those 3 things happen all metrics indicate he is just Boozer 2.

His GO rating (since you all do not like WP48) says the same thing as WP48. He is slightly worse than Boozer overall. However, playing on a weak team may make you look better or worse depending on your role.

Jefferson is not a center. Watching him on Youtube is like watching Eaton only Jefferson often finishes as very few want to get between him and the hoop once he starts his mass moving.

Calling him quick is like calling Fes short. He has some dance steps he repeats but due to him using his size to his advantage he often scores.

He is never fast coming back down the floor and thus there may be a reason for Brewer. Ronnie can run back and guard til Jefferson lumbers back into the back half of the court. According to Minnesota then Brewer will really have to play D as Jefferson won't

Put him at PF and you still have a center who can move outside the box to unclog the lane. That center can also be threat from standing outside and spread the floor keeping some open space in the middle. Great pick up Jazz.

The NBA must love the Jazz who keep acting like the league is for real athletic competition, and keep putting together these teams that play hard, and compete. Helps them maintain an image, while really just being basketball version pro wrestling. Manipulated contracts, rigged mega-teams, "star treatment", and FANatics keep it all going. Thanks Jazz, I will enjoy another season at the circus acting like a clown

AJ will bring a monster of an offensive game to the Jazz! Wow, now Fes can really begin to learn to defend and develop his game, constantly working with and against the likes of AJ in practices. He'll learn to defend, and gain great new ideas for 'moves' around and underneath the basket. All those team workouts and practices, should eventually rub off, and we should begin to see some additional pay-off in other ways such as in helping other front-line players develop their games, hopefully.

Jefferson is a legit 6'10 270.. he can and will play center. If Sloan teaches him how to move his feet on Defense, he will be much better than Boozer overall. Good move by the Jazz. Gotta give credit where credit is due. Message to KOC, if there is a decision that needs to be made regarding bringing back Mathews (overpaying) and bringing back Brewer, please go with Mathews. What will Jazz starting lineup be when Memo is ready?
C - Jefferson
PF- Milsap
SF - AK
SG- Miles
PG - Williams

The Jazz have essentially traded Boozer and about $7-10 million in draft picks for AJ.

They have replaced Korver and Mathews with Hayward. KOC said bringing Mathews back is "likely prohibitive".

They will fill out the roster with "inexpensive" contracts. They may make a move at the trade deadline depending on how things are going (semi smart).

They are planning on Fes signing for cheap (KOC paraphrase).

They are relying on CJ and Hayward to keep the paint open (KOC paraphrase).

In the longer run they will probably move AJ to PF and Fes or a trade will play C.

They may add shooting if they are forced (.500 without Korver) at the trade deadline.

They will be about the same defensively (not good), but less efficient on offense to start the season. They lack quality depth. Injury is a major risk.

The Jazz need to add a draft specialist to the FO. Small market teams depend on good drafting. The Jazz are bad. Sloan, KOC, Rigby and scouts are good at evaluating existing talent. That costs a lot more than developing and keeping the right drafted talent.

Bad drafting (lux tax) puts a ceiling on the Jazz.

Wow....Lots of whining. The Jazz just got a gift from Minnesota for hardly nothing. Not too many players of AJ's ability in the NBA. If he is only as good as Boozer we got a big gift.

As far as Matthews goes, let him go. The Jazz have time to do another trade or pick up a FA out there on the market.

Who knows if Hayward will be any good or not until the season progresses. If he can play at all, then the Jazz will be better than last year due to their young players getting better.

The big question in all this is Millsap. Where does he fit in or do they trade him for a 2/3 outside shooting threat?

Doug is right. Al is a tough load for an opponent to handle under the basket. He doesn't shoot particularly well outside of 5 feet and he doesn't run well. His footwork is fantastic, one of the best deep-post players you'll find in the NBA. The best thing about Jefferson is he can shoulder a big points and rebounds load for the team. He'll run pick and roll all day but won't be as effective as Boozer at the pick and pop.

Interesting. I was under the impression that he was a PF-C but mostly PF. Rock seems to think he's more of a C-PF...guess we'll see...

The Jazz are not going to contend until they address their weaknesses.

1. They are not a good defensive team.

2. They are over paying AK and Memo for the output they get. That puts them up against the Lux tax and the team can not get the role players it needs to contend.

3. They are bad at drafting so they do not get the young cheap talent they need. Other good teams draft late and find a way to get adequate talent. The Jazz dumpster dive and get some talented but flawed players.

4. If they are going to use the Sloan flex they need to maximize the potential of each position. They often have players out of position.

5. They have to have as much collective talent in the best 8 players as the Lakers etc.

6. They might try a zone more (like OKC and PHO.

The major problems are still in the collective behaviors and biases of the FO.

He will play tons of minutes at Center with Millsap at the PF to start the year. I don't believe Okur will be ready to play by then and the Jazz will quickly learn that AJ and Millsap will be the starters for the rest of the year.

Fez will get the backup Center minutes with AK off the bench at the PF until Okur is back. Okur will eventually be the Jazz backup Center with Fez getting some limited miunutes when needed due to fouls, matchup or injury.

The Jazz still need a couple of players SG/SF to allow AK to be the backup PF, but he could thrive as the main option off the bench at PF. Heywards development will be big for the Jazz as well as the backup SF.

re: bugoff

Save the "contending" speech. Nobody will contend besides LA and Miami now with all the collusion that was utilized to build those two teams.

Literally D-Will could take his pick of any players on any roster (outside LA and Miami) and we would still lose. So your comment about contending is just silly. Not going to happen. Everyone besides those two teams are just searching for table scraps.

AS far as Matthews?

When you consider just the contract value....it is a BIG MAYBE. When you consider the dollar for dollar luxury tax you are essentially doubling the cost of the offer. That means absolutely NO!!!

Matthews is a solid system role player. He is replaceable for less.