Contract Expiration Impact

Posted by Jared Conger on September 25, 2008

‘Ronnie Brewer: Trade Fodder?’ (Rocky Widner – NBAE/Getty Images)

So this is a big year, you get that right? Not only are we riding the lineup we have with little to no changes with the thought that this is whom will get us to the championship level, but we have a whole slew of players that can opt-out or will see the end of their contracts come season end (Mehmet Okur-player option, Carlos Boozer-player option, Paul Millsap, Ronnie Price, Brevin Knight, Jarron Collins, Kyle Korver, Kyrylo Fesenko-team option, Morris Almond-team option).

Now lets factor in that good-ol’ CSKA Moscow has been reported to be approaching Andrei Kirilenko again (apparently following up on the request that Andrei made to void his contract so that he could play overseas) – but you know that doesn’t make complete sense for the Jazz to do that … don’t you? Besides the money that we would open up, what would be the point of letting a jack-of-all-trades like him go? I understand that next year the Matrix (Shawn Marion) will be available, but could he fill the shoes of the wiley Russian? I think not my friends!

But maybe we should play a little make believe here, lets pretend for a moment that we let Andrei walk at the end of the season, opening up some $34 Million dollars over the next few years. That move would give us the leverage monetarily to retain the services of Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, and one other top tier player (either free-agency or current roster).

Let us not mince words here, the upcoming salary-cap problem is going to be a big one for the Utah Jazz, especially with all of those players coming up on contract years.

So let’s make it easy, who can we just not resign?
- Jarron Collins
- Brevin Knight
- Kyrylo Fesenko

Now who is trade fodder? Good question, I’m really feeling like some top notch trade fodder would be found in the following:
- Ronnie Brewer (as much as it pains me to say)
- Kyle Korver
- Ronnie Price
- Morris Almond
- Paul Millsap (I know, no fan wants us to trade him away, but that is why he is such GOOD trade bait, I can sense a sign and trade coming on here, remember he will be owed some big $$$ after this year is over)

Of course I must say I don’t think we need to be dangling bait for trades, with a team built like this one is the trade offers will come rolling in from those in greater need than we are. I mean let’s face it, if you have a logjam at a position filled with talented players, should they not get the opportunity to see some playing time with a team that can offer that? – (that is if if the offer is right…)

I hope that the fans out there know where we stand to be at the end of the season as far as salary cap figures go – it reminds me of a Johnny Cash song, “I hear my train a-comin”. This season should figure to be one wild ride with us having as many players playing into contract years (you know the old adage, if its a contract year, the other team better fear).

But I’m rambling on and on now, so I must get to some figures so that it once again all makes sense:

the salary cap for the 2008-09 season will be $58.68 million
the salary cap for the 2009-10 season will likely be somewhere around $65 million
the salary cap for the 2010-11 season will likely be somewhere around $69 million

The way our salary looks for 2009-10 is around: $73 Million for 11-players under contract (Kirilenko, Williams, Boozer*, Okur*, Harpring, Korver, Miles, Brewer**, Koufos, Almond**, Fesenko**).

What can be done to rectify the situation? I’m taking all suggestions…

*= Player Option for 2009-10
**=Team Option for 2009-10

9 Comments

justalars on September 25, 2008 said:

I see the Jazz waiting till the trade deadline or close to it before thinking about a deal. And they are not going to void AK’s contract at least not this year. How come everyone thinks we need to get rid of him now. We don’t need the space till next summer. And when I say everyone I mean everyone. I read alot of articles about the Jazz and most people want to get rid of AK. Are they stupid or just ignorant?

Linda McFarland on September 25, 2008 said:

My suggestions is that we get on a REAL positive note with the games so close and think about trading after we see who produces what during this year. We just may have someone take a stand and be our star of the team this year when they have been mediocre during the past. One season has the potential to be completely different from the last one. Who knows???? GO JAZZ really soon.

Jared Conger on September 25, 2008 said:

I have some good feelings about this season; we will be really good, and possibly, dare i say it… too good? we may have too many players being chased by other teams, which is a positive thing for now!!!

Bill Austin on September 26, 2008 said:

In my opinion the only player is off the trading block would be D-Will. Boozer will opt out. No doubt in my mind, he has made several comments about playing for the biggest contract he can get. With that in mind i think that you hang on to Millsap. Talk with AK47 and really see what he wants to do. He makes such an impact on the floor on so many catagories. I would prefer to keep him unless he absolutely wants to go back to Russia. Brewer, Korver and Almond will all be fighting for playing time but i don’t see anything different happening there, unless you can get a single player for multiple players on the Jazz that will lower our pay roll and will not hurt the team.

enojay on September 27, 2008 said:

I say keep AK he is valuable to the jazz, however if he wants to leave and go to back to Russia, then let him…he will do more damage then good if he wants to go and the jazz are keeping him where he doesn’t want to be! As far as the 2-guard…we have a big traffic jam there my thought is…trade as many players as it takes to get a big name player, even with all the players we have the Jazz are still one big player away from a Ring, trade all our 2 guards (Brewer, Almond, Price, and i hate to say it but…Korver) for Dwayne Wade…..he is on a very bad team that is going no where fast! The jazz need a great 2-guard!!! Ok maybe keep Korver and give up our Draft pick Koufos… i watched him play in the Rocky MTN Review and was not impressed at all in fact i was pissed that we took him and he played that way!!!

Linda McFarland on September 27, 2008 said:

Dwayne Wade has a bad shoulder and has many past injuries making him a real risk. We don’t need another year like the first year we had Boozer! I agree about AK.

Annie Whittaker on September 27, 2008 said:

There were an abundance of disappointments from many players at the revue. One bright spot was Britton Johnson. I hope he comes out of the gates really well for the Jazz. I’d like to see him stay here in Utah as a productive role player.

JayD on September 27, 2008 said:

In my opinion I think that this trade thing is a little to early to be talking about . I think that we might be a bit surprised at what our players can do for us . I think that each player has their own value to the Jazz . But with that being said if any of them such as AK wants to be somewhere else then they will hinder the success of this season . So if that is the case then I say let them go . But I have a hard time thinking that any of them would want to leave a team that has been so successful , outside of not getting a Championship. I believe that if they all work hard for the same goal , that we will be hard to beat . Lets hear it for our boys , Go Jazz !!!!!

enojay on October 03, 2008 said:

Britton Johnson will not make the Jazz roster….and if he does he will be the 12th man and get very little playing time….

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