Last Minute Trades
‘Higher Temps?’ (Dave Hogan - NBAE/Getty Images)
You know, there is just something smelly in the air when a team trades this late in the season. Sure, it is ALLOWED but is it right. It may be legal, but is it ethical??
Okay, I admit, I’m getting somewhat sentimental here. But bear with me. Shouldn’t the roster that gets a team to the playoffs, actually be the roster they enter the playoffs with? I think setting the trade deadline this late in the season , stinks. Yep that’s the word. STINKS.
Why should you be able to bring in a big name after he was UNABLE to bring his own team to a decent playoff spot? It’s just not right. AND, I think, to some degree, it may backfire. How does the rest of the team feel about that? I guess not too bad if it results in a Championship. But, what if it doesn’t? “Oh you guys aren’t talented enough to compete in the playoffs so we’re bringing in _______” Fill in the blank.
I realize this is competitive, ‘win at all costs’ basketball. But seriously, where’s the coaching talent if their best move before the playoffs is to bring in someone else. What a shot to the morale of the other, ‘been here from the beginning’ players.
Sure, I can hear you all out there saying “It’s a dang good thing she isn’t a coach” and you’re right. However, I hope the Jazz never sink to that level. . . . But, if they do, they might want to go out and resign Karl Malone, I’m sure he’d like a Championship Ring. PLUS, then he only has to play less than half a season! Or, better yet, let’s bring back Stockton, Malone and Jordan. . .what the heck. Just to ensure a win. I have no clue how we’d make it under the salary cap but maybe Larry H. Miller could throw in a few cars, a dealership, free movie tickets. Under the table of course. (Did I say that?)
9 Comments to “Last Minute Trades”
Search Jazzbots.com
Be connected!
Get the latest from Jazzbots delivered to your email
Get the latest from Jazzbots delivered to your phone
Bookmark and favorite Jazzbots.com
Jazz Inside Scoop
The FREE, Official E-mail Newsletter of the Jazz.
The Inside Scoop is one of the best ways to keep up-to-date with your Utah Jazz. We'll provide you with information year-round about the Jazz -- breaking news, special event information, unique merchandise & ticket offers, promotions, advance contest opportunities and more.
Featured Sponsors
Jazzbots Recent Readers
Jazz Polls
Loading ...
Last I checked the Jazz did sink to that level when they brought in Kyle Korver.
I like your blog. As for Kyle, it was not a last minute thing and he replaced a player who wanted to be traded. I think there is at least a teeny difference. I think also the Jazz seem to try hard to make everyone on the team feel a part of the team and really support them when they are in the game. I may be looking through rose colored glasses because I do love the Jazz but you have to admit they are doing well.
The difference between the Korver trade and the two most recent scandalous trades is that the Korver trade happened before the half point of the season. Korver was in a Jazz uniform for the first January game . . . 18 games ago. I agree in season trades should be allowed, just not at such a late stage in the season. I also agree with Linda that Korver was traded as a solution to a problem with an unhappy player. It was not “get Korver so we can win a championship”.
NOK, you know I am a Jazz fan and I do admit that I also have “rose colored glasses” (like Linda) but I still think trading for Shaq in February is a bit of a stretch.
While I can see your point about the lateness of the trade, I understand that Marion was unhappy with his situation in Phoenix as well.
Wow, since nobody here seems to have much knowledge on why the Suns trade actually happened…. Marion has been crying like a baby to get out of Phoenix since last summer, when HE demanded a trade! After being a perennial all-star and in the top 10 in just about every statistical category he’s now down to his rookie season averages and playing horrible. He’s been a consistent cause of stress and contention amongst the team in the locker room and on the court. The guy has been mailing it in all season waiting to get out of town. Is this really so much different that Giricek and his attitude? The Heat contacted the Suns about a possible swap… the Suns get rid of a guy WHO WANTS TO LEAVE and his having his worst season ever, and they get Shaq in return. A move that nearly everyone considers a total bust because of Shaq’s health, and his lowest numbers in years.
I’m not quite sure how you can justify your point of view by saying the Suns are somehow unethical or not playing the “right” way. They did what’s best for their team and they’re taking one of the biggest gambles in NBA history. The number one team in the west, second in the NBA trades a core player for a broken down shell nearing retirement.
If I were a Jazz fan, I’d be jealous of the improvements by teams out west as well… I don’t know that I’d get on my stool and start calling them all unethical cheaters. Maybe it’s just me.
The fact is, the Jazz have a very slim chance at repeating in the Conference Finals again… that success was obviously due to a total meltdown by the Mavs last year. If the Jazz are ever going to get back to the NBA Finals they need to add some major pieces to this team or just wait it out until the Spurs, Mavs, and Suns have lost everyone due to old age. Hopefully the Jazz will pick up some of the pieces in the off-season or by the first of January or whatever date is fair to the rest of the league.
By the way, the Suns have played 49 games, only 8 games into the second half of the season. We’re just starting the second half of the season. Are you seriously saying it’s not fair or right or ethical to make any trades when the season is barely half over??? That’s ridiculous.
What’s unethical is an NBA millionaire who welcomes being traded from arguably the best team in the NBA, only months away from their first championship and sitting at 1st place in the West to the worst team in the Leastern Conference with no chance of winning a title anytime in the coming years. Who wants an unmotivated cancer like that on their basketball team… obviously not the Suns. They’re taking a major chance here and are being laughed at by many teams around the league. I think Kerr deserves some respect for having the balls to make it happen. That was a big time move and absolutely fair. I wish the Jazz would do something unsafe once in a while. Maybe they’d break out of years of consistent mediocrity.
Travis,
You have some fair arguments. And, I am not saying that the Shaq/Marion trade in itself was wrong, just that it should have been done earlier in the season.
I do have a problem with all of the “NBA Millionaires” and the whining and “I’m not happy here, take me away” attitude. Most of us would go almost anywhere for that type of money.
But, for me, it takes away from the game if we are re-organizing a team that we thought would make it at the start of the season. For that reason, I think it points out what a great coach Jerry Sloan is. Because he takes what he assembles and brings them to the playoffs . . . consistently. You are right, we do need to add pieces to our team, but I argue that it should be done at the start of the season or during the season break. We just encourage players to whine more if we are always jumping in to trade them anytime they start to complain.
Call me old-fashioned, but society sends enough messages that state “if you are unhappy . . . get-out”.
As a Jazz fan, I don’t feel threatened by the trades. In fact, I believe that in most cases, the late trades backfire. And I certainly won’t go on record as saying that the Jazz are completely ethical, trade-wise, either.
I disagree about the future of the Jazz this season. One thing that Sloan does very well is re-group. Which is why I think he is such a skilled coach. One reason that the Jazz are so dangerous is that they have the ability to beat anyone in the league, if they are on. Their biggest downfall is inconsistency . . .which will improve as the team matures.
Thanks for the comments!
Travis…..I think you have mixed up the word “ethical”. The first, and I think the second blog, were talking from a woman’s view (you know hormones) in a players view of contributing to a lot of wins and then be traded and not left to get a ring. We know in our minds that this is big business and that the team’s owners, managers, and coaches are doing what they need to do. These are grown men and this is their employment but when you look at Williams or Kover they all seem like our sons. Yes, the moves are needed and will be interesting. I have a feeling everyone wuill be surprised what Shaque does now that everyone says he can’t do it.
How does shack make any team better…. the run and gun of the Phoenix? What is he (i.e. shack) going to do? Stay under his basket while his team runs back and forth, does Phoenix think they can play 4 on 5. I’ll take any team trade in the west that makes a team weaker…..
Any word on Brewer (Aka Grasshopper) GO JAZZ
The word ethical has a meaning that implies dishonest, illegal, etc. Every team in the league has the opportunity to make trade up to the established deadline, for whatever reason it deems necessary. Does that mean the Lakers are Unethical because they robbed Memphis blind by giving them their garbage in exchange for their best player? No. Does it make the Suns cheaters because they add Shaq? No. Would it make the Jazz cheaters if they go out and add a big man who can play defense for the stretch run? No. The simple fact of the matter is that the rules state that a player can be traded up til the 21st of February. So there is nothing either dishonest, illegal or otherwise about any of the recent trades.
I seriously doubt any jazz fan was crying that it was unethical when the Jazz shipped Jeff Malone off to Philly in exchange for Fan Favorite Jeff Hornacek on the night of the trade deadline.
Personally I am excited to see some exciting basketball down the stretch and into the playoffs, and the recent trades have done nothing but increased that excitement.
Leave your Comment