Comments about ‘Utah Jazz notebook: Extra mileage on Raja Bell not a big issue’

The Jazz really do need another big who can defend and back up PF. I am glad to see KOC has the green light to go after someone.

Millers appear to be serious about getting the best team they can. Hopefully they have cable revenue to help fund the lux tax.

They are getting good both character and talent.

They may make some more moves at the trade deadline.

Wesley, you should not have had your agent demand any Jazz offer be at the full mid level exception if you wanted the Jazz to make an early offer to you. (take charge of your agent!) You knew $3.5-$4 million was a more than fair value for a 1st year player, so why demand $6 million x 5 years if you liked it here?

If you really wanted to play for the Jazz again (and start instead of ride the bench at Portland) you would have never signed that front loaded toxic offer, but would have allowed the Jazz to sign you first for the full mid-level non toxic offer. No, you jumped on the Toxic Portland offer and hoped the Jazz would do another crazy match to hamstring our team salary. There are a ton of available players at your position, so you really should not sound so naive when you sign a crazy double your worth Toxic Portland offer. Your a stud player for a rookie, but that kind of money is Crazy! Good luck to you on the bench! Wish you were here, but it's YOUR Fault!

I feel bad for Wes but I understand the position the Jazz were in. I believe the Jazz were going to make Wes an offer but they hard to settle other matters first like Booz and Korver. Wesley's agent didn't give Ut a chance to give him a contract. he signed that deal with Portland sat the 10, only 3 days after booz left. I think we can all agree that finding another post player was priority for the Jazz. And we all know the Jazz are not a team that does anything quickly, they take their time and run all the risks first.
If Wes he hand only waited the Jazz would have made him a fine offer I'm sure. Maybe not $9.2 mill but better that the 400K he made previous.
Good luck to you Wes, just remember who gave you your shot when every other team passed on you. In 3 or 4 years after your sick of riding pine I bet you'll be dying for a trade back to Utah. And you know, fans here would love for it too.

Terry is exactly right.

If you're so heartbroken on not playing for the Jazz, YOU shouldn't have signed the PORTLAND offer! The Jazz, the Jazz fans, we all wanted you back, but if you think the Jazz are crazy enough to pay you 34 mil over 5 years, you're...crazy.

You basically just signed up for 5 years of bench duty playing with an average point guard. You dug your own grave buddy.
Best of luck though, you were a nice kid. No one blames you for taking the money, but you certainly should NOT be surprised at how the Jazz reacted to your offer.

Well said Terry. My sentiments exactly. These kids need to take responsibility.

I just love the fact the the Jazz stole him from Bryant several hours after they had some big talks! He must have smelled his arrogance and decided he could go to a place where Bryant would get booed constantly when he came.

Wes won't be riding the pine in Portland as they will trade him soon enough. I was sad as were most fans to lose Wes but I was also sad to see Wes manifest his lack of loyalty.

The NBA seems to be synonomous with the almighty dollar. Too bad you fell for that too although that is why you hired an agent. An agent has the job of getting the player the best contract, just sounds like you wanted your cake and to eat it too.

I don't feel sorry for Wes at all. He was playing in summer league a year ago. He is set up for life now while he hones skills and develops talent.

POR really does not need him so they will package him in a trade before to long. They will eat the signing bonus and have to subsidize the trade.

That is good for them. They deserve it. They did not hurt the Jazz at all and may have improved them for less money.

They had no business making an offer like that especially with out a GM. The next GM will go in some unexpected direction and start shuffling players. Wes will have the bonus and an over paid multi year contract.

It is going to cost POR more than money to unload Wes. In the long run he gums up their plans by eating up cap for a back up.

Bad deals for good players do not make you team better.

KOC is saying he will try to get a shot blocker if he can find the right player for up to about 2.7 Mill.

Hamady N'Diaye is a second round pick by MN who was the 3rd best blocker in the NCAA behind Whiteside and Varando. He is not likely to make the MN roster since they have so many bigs.

I am not saying he is the right choice, but just that he might be worth a look. He is also cheap.

I think we are all sad to lose Wes, I think he could have been the future. At the same time we need to let Portland choke on some of its own toxicity. Wes we will mis you and it's not like things haven't worked out for you. You are now a very wealthy man.

I have mixed emotions over Wes. I'm sad he won't be playing for the Jazz next season but I'm happy Raja is here for reasonable money. I'm happy Wes is getting a lucrative contract. He certainly earned a pay-raise. On a side note, I reviewed the Salaries of the starting 2 guards in the NBA and, minus the superstars (Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, etc.) SG's make around $4M/year.

I don't think Wes was dis-loyal. I'd venture to say that if any one of us could double our current salary ($3M Jazz, $6M Portland) we'd jump at the chance. I do think Wes relied too heavily on his agent. He shouldn't have been surprised that the Jazz didn't match a toxic offer from Portland. $9M puts him in the John Salmons range. That's veteran money, not 2nd year money. His agent must have been giving him bad advise.

I am curious why the Jazz didn't make an initial offer. I understand not making an offer that's above market value but a $3M/year offer would have sent a message that they're serious.

Bell, assuming he passes his physical, is a GREAT addition to the team. They have needed someone to bring some toughness to the team that makes others around him step it up. Williams is good at getting himself to step it up, but Bell has the ability to make others around him step it up.

T Buck needs some help on his math. If raja is 34 at the start of this year, he will be 35 at the beginning of next year (his second) and 36 at the beginning of his third and final year. Not 37. Come on T-Buck, thats basic.

Congrats Wes on your new contact, the Jazz will miss you. I like Raja, but again the Jazz are late again. They should never have let him go when he was a free agent. Now they pick him up at age 34. I don't think this deal improves the Jazz for a Championship run. I can see Darrin Williams watching all these moves and just waiting for his 3 year contact to come to a end so he can also get out of Utah.

i would say if the jazz had made a 3 million offer first then portland made their offer he would have signed it any way. probly hoped jazz would have mathed but would have signed and would be in portland so all that is inmarterial and water under the bridge. injoy the money. i guess wes could tell us in about a year if money buys happiness

Hamady N'Diaye was the best blocker in the Big East and his wing span and reach are very close to Whitesides. He shot 58%.

Bell's age is an issue but it depend on the role he needs to play. He can replace Kover as long as he can shoot the 3. He probably will defend better for cheaper.

It remains to be seen if he can start and carry heavy minutes with a lot of age.

BTW Mr. Buckley, please check the math Bell will be 36 during his last year on this contract. If Bell is 90% of the player he was in his best two years in Phoenix, then he is an upgrade over anything Wes will ever be. It is a sad commentary on the state of the Jazz defense that a marginal talent with effort is its best defender. Wes is a great story, which will continue as he is needed in Portland. Fernandez will be traded and their star Mr. Roy has a bad knee.

I would see if Portland would trade Fernandez for the Brewer Trade Exception.

As far as the Jazz Lineup, I think Evans will make the team.

I know Gaines is liked, but there are some better prospects that can come in for just as cheap

Jeremy Lin from Harvard - I heard he could have been a late first round pick
Bouldin from Gonzaga
Torrance from Alabama

I also think that Landesberg should be looked at at shooting guard.

Williams, Price, PG#3 (Gaines)
Bell, Miles
AK, Hayward
Millsap, Evans, Augustine??
Jefferson, Okur, Fes??

Fess will be the big that O'Connor is talking about and he will get a short contract w/team options in it. He better step it up this year or his NBA career is done. It's up to you now Fess!

I loved this comment by tmoney "I think we are all sad to lose Wes, I think he could have been the future. At the same time we need to let Portland choke on some of its own toxicity. Wes we will mis you and it's not like things haven't worked out for you. You are now a very wealthy man."

Good for him that he's making so much money now. I really do feel bad, he was just a little too confident in our financial abilities and his place on the team. I love the kid and hope to hear bigtime cheers when his name is announced at ESA when the Blazers are in town.

At the same time I'm excited for Jefferson and Raja to go to work!