Comments about ‘Utah Jazz: Millsap's potential suitor list is getting narrower’

success is the result of being the PF in the Jazz system. Many have claimed Boozer's numbers would drop if he were on a different team.

Would not Millsap's numbers also drop. Further, there are some major holes in Millsap's game. Is he anything more than a rebound specialist, who hustles. He can't shoot the 3. His range is limited. He has trouble defending tall athletic front lines just like Boozer.

AK's numbers dropped about 25% when he moved from PF to SF. If Millsap's numbers dropped that much, how much is he really worth?

The bigger problem for the Jazz is if they keep him. He is not going to solve Boozer's limitations and he is going to have his own serious limitations. He is not the PF that Utah needs to win a championship.

During the next 2 years Utah needs to get the right PF. If Utah does that what is Millsap's role? Especially if he has been starting? Do the Jazz sign him and then trade him for the right PF?

It is better to let Millsap go than to pay to much for him.

I hope he has figured out that the economy is bad and likely to stay bad. It must be a shock to the NBA players who are so used to their salaries going up to have the bottom fall out.

Go look at all of the free agents who are going to take massive pay cuts because the best offer (if they get an offer) is the MLE at 5.6. Artest just took a pay cut. Ariza is signing for the MLE. There are a lot of big names and egos who are scrambling to find an average deal before those dry up.

If I were OKC I would simply wait.They have cap space and a lot of one year contracts. They can wait for a really good ideal player to fall into their lap. They want a big or two who are cheap and have experience. Millsap does not quite fit that.

OKC knows they are in the drivers seat on FAs. They are the only team left with space that is likely to be able to use it. Why blow a lot of money on Millsap other than to hassle Utah into spending to much?

of course Okur likes SLoan because he does not have to defend....And he does not anyway. Paycuts or not Artest to the Lakers so they aptly replace Ariza and add excellent defense even they lose some of Ariza length, blocks and court coverage...

Kevin O Connor. Incredible he can get a #2 guard loike Hamilton but does not want the 3 year $35 million extension because in long run where is money saved?

It should be "what spots do the Jazz need strengthened to compete for the world championship:?


As you all know it is about "fun and competitive"

We will get many comments on the ESPN article I am sure...

.. I stewed over this many times as a potential option for trades.
.. lets go O'connor trade Boozer for Rick Hamilton and Teyshaun Prince.
. It will fix your problem throw-in Mo Almond or Brewer or definately CJ Miles. Any one or two of them with booze for Hamilton and Prince is definately an upgrade. They just signed Gordon and Vilanueva to play with Stucky.
Anyways this allows you to give millsap his worth 30-40+ mil 5year deal.

Then let it play out after you get your last piece .. a true defensive center .. ie a Dampier type center to come off the bench.

Jerry Sloan can use AK/Millsap at the 4 and you would have some of the most physical defenders to match up with the Kobe's/LeBron's and Wades of the league. I guarantee a conference finals appearance.

Let's just look at HX what got you there last time. Mental playoff confidence that fisher brought in 07. Biggest mistake just letting fisher get away. my depth chart.

pg Williams Price/Maynor
sg Hamilton Korver
sf Prince Harpring
pf Millsap Kirlenko
C Memo Dampier or someone for the bench that actually plays Defense

around the PF and AK just does not match up with most PFs. He is not the right starter at the PF. He can back up if needed but that is not ideal.

Hamilton and Prince are pricy and really do not solve the Jazz problems. Hamilton does not shoot the 3 among other things.

The Jazz need to be patient and the get the right (and right priced players) for each position.

Harp is gone one way or another. The Jazz need one complete player at the 2/3 spot, one who can shoot and defend (Not Korver or Brewer). He does not need to be a big name nor have a big price. Just get the capability. That with Harp might get the Jazz back to a sustainable salary just under the luxury tax.

They also need the right PF (not Boozer or Millsap). I have not seen one among the FAs. The Jazz insist on Cs who can shoot the 3. But they need a C who also has an inside game.

Overall they need better defenders not talk about nastiness.

Fix the above problems and maybe they win the West.

Millsap is learing that maybe he's not worth as much as his agent thinks he is.

Hamilton would be a great fit in Utah's system.

Hamilton is a huge upgrade at the shooting guard, he's an easy player to like, he's always hustling. Now that detroit has gordon, they're remaking their team--it seems like a good trade for both parties. It creates a jam at the two guard for the jazz, but miles and brewer can also play the three.
As for villanueva, he was probably the best forward who was available. If that's what he signed for, I don't think lee will get as much, and millsap won't get as much as lee.

should get any more than CJ got. OR he can sign a one year deal and become an unrestricted FA next fall.

The Jazz have approached this team more like a family than a business. That is nice and a nice management style but it has to be rethought along the lines of SA. SA has no hesitation to replace a player with a better player if needed.

The Jazz tend to get players with flaws, develop them, keep them, over pay them and then get killed by the flaws.

It has got to stop or this team will never be any better.

Millsap will have all of the limitations of Boozer without the soap opera. Further, he will not have Boozer's moves.

Most other teams are realizing that if they take Millsap out of the Jazz system that he does not fit their system as well and he will not produce the same numbers.

He is a nice guy and a hard worker and will be a great back up PF. He can start for many also ran, cellerdweller teams.

He is not the PF for the Jazz.

they can probably trade CJ to HOU for Landry. He cost 3 mill and his contract is a team option in 2010-2011.

Landry does essentially what Millsap does. Last year Landry had big salary expectations but HOU signed him cheap anyway and that was in a good economy.

Utah has to stop over paying it's role players.

Actually Fez is the player HOU would love to have. They might fork over quite a bit for him. They might even give up Aaron Brooks. However, I like Fez and think he will be useful if Boozer is gone.

Compare Millsap's numbers with Koufos's.

Millsap had 13.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in 30 minutes.

Koufos had 4.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11+ minutes. Koufos in his second year should be able to rebound as well and maybe score better than Millsap. Plus Koufos is taller and can compete against tall line ups.

Suton should be able to do as well as Koufos plus shoot the 3.

There is not reason to get excited about Millsap. He is replaceable and quite cheaply and easily. There is nothing in Millsaps game that indicates he is going to be the next Kevin Garnett.

No only is there no way Detroit would give us Rip and Price for Boozer, its not even financially sound. We can only afford one or the other. Rip is going to make 10.8 mil and Prince is going to make 9.5 mil. Boozer is in the books for 12 mil. Sorry, the numbers dont add up. A Boozer for Rip trade is more realistic, but they just signed a PF to a 5 year contract, why would they want to take on another PF at 12 mil for 1 year? It doesn't make sense. Unless maybe they got villanueva as trade bait for boozer, but i doubt it, since they got Villanueva before Boozer even decided on his contract option. Maybe a Boozer/CJ trade for Villanueva/Prince? I dont know if the numbers add up, or if i even like that trade if they do.

have lots of options. Lets hope they start running the organziation like a business instead of a family reunion.

dont think suton will pan out to be honest, and I think Millsap should be paid under 10 mil, because he does have his limitations. And I hope the Jazz will somehow be able to trade either AK or Voozer because it will relieve some of the cap problems.

Boozer*

If you really want a decent contract?

1. Most real agents have long term working relationships with 25-30 GMs and other members of team organizations. The emphasis there is on long term and working. Your uncle has a long term working relationship with no one.

Get a Real Agent. A good one will more than pay for his fees.

2. The market is bad. Don't let your hopes and ego destroy your career. Look what Ariza just did to his. The market next year will probably be just as bad. Try to get a 3 year deal with the last 2 as player options. As your game develops and as the market improves, the Jazz will renegotiate or you will get your big contract. The above contract gives you flexibility.

3. Don't drink the OKC kool aid. They have no one on there roster who makes more than 6 Million. That is by design. They are not going to start busting the bank with you. They messed with the Jazz on CJ. If they do it with you, the Jazz may return the favor when Durant, Green, and others are FAs.

More later

4. Clay Bennett used to own part of the SA Spurs. He knows what he is doing. You do not fit that well into to the long run OKC plans. You may just be a stepping stone in a trade down the road.

5. So far the PR effort by your "representatives" looks like a lot of obvious smoke. You need some professionals to handle this. You probably have about 15 hanger ons, planning on spending your raise. Ditch them.

6. You have worked hard and done well. However, the timing for a big raise is not optimal. Your game still needs improving before you are established and proven. Take this one step at a time and get ready for the right time and opportunity. Cut a short term flexible deal now. Position for a good long term deal later.

the money. you will be sorry if you dont

The reason that the Jazz made it to the conference finals was not because of Fisher (although he helped). The reason the Jazz made it to the conf. finals was because of Golden State and Don Nelson. Dallas has by far the best team in the league that year. They lost because Nelson knew the Dallas system and organization and could exploit their weaknesses. Dallas would have mauled the Jazz and probably gone on to win the title. So the Jazz are on about the same level as we were two summers ago.
With LA signing Artest, SAS getting Jefferson, POR signing Turkaglu, and Denver about to sign Grant Hill, the Jazz are falling more and more behind. We still have one of the better teams in the west, but we have definitely not made the moves to stay on par with LA and SAS.
Signing Milsap as our long term starting PF is not a good idea. He is a good role player, but not much more than that. He is shorter and not as strong as Boozer and doesn't have anywhere near the same offensive game. His D is better, but not that much.

Milsap is another 2nd round high energy players. He reminds me a lot of Ronny Turiaf from last years lakers team. He got a deal starting around 4.5M a year. I think Milsap is a bit high talent than Turiaf, but not much. His contract should start around 6M a year, but not much more. I hope he stays in Utah, but not for the 10M a year he is hoping for.

the MLE pretty much establishes the market. It is unlikely that Millsap, Lee and other bright young talents will get a much more.