Kevin on Trades, Carlos and C.J.

Posted by Derrick Daye on April 02, 2009

Taking a breather between games and scouting, Kevin O’Connor jumps in today with reactions to some of our recent conversations…

On “Statistical Exploration: C.J. Miles”
The fourth year is our option, but it’s basically a three-year (guaranteed contract). What we saw was a young player who was 20 years old who had been in the league for three years and that was still improving. We expect him to continue to get better. I think he made a big jump this year; he can add some strength, he can add some quickness, which I think he can do through some exercise. I think this summer is going to be important for him to come back in even better shape than he’s been in. His improvement has been important for us as a franchise, both for him and for us to have a player come in and be able to play. This year, early on, Matt Harpring really wasn’t playing. That was something that kind of forced our hand about playing (C.J.) at the beginning, starting him, and bringing Andre (Kirilenko)i off the bench. Then when Andrei was hurt, we had to rely on (C.J.) and Ronnie a little bit more than we probably anticipated we would. This year has been a good year for (C.J.), he’s played through a lot of things and it’s been a good year for us.

On “Why the Jazz Don’t Make More Trades”
You can say lack of trades, we like to try to grow from within with homegrown talent. But I think if you look, over the last five years, our roster has totally changed with the exception of Jarron Collins, Andrei (Kirilenko) and Matt (Harpring). (We have) those three guys, but we’ve added 12 other players. I don’t think we look to make a trade cosmetically. I think we look to make a trade to improve ourselves. When we made the trade last year for Kyle Korver, we made it earlier than right around the trade deadline because we were 16-16 at the time and we wanted somebody to play 50 games rather than 30 games. We were anticipating making that deal and had been talking about it for awhile. We feel that there’s a value to having the players know the system and know what we’re trying to do and that’s one of the reasons we haven’t historically made a lot of different moves. If there’s one out there to make, we make it; I think if you look at what Larry H. Miller did five years ago and to change the face of our franchise when we went out and signed Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur for the contracts that we did and gave Andrei his contract, we were being, I think, aggressive. We’re just picking and choosing a little more than other teams.

Unless you’re trading for a guy in the last year, or year and a half of his contract at the trade deadline, your biggest key is to understand what it can do long term for you. We’re a small market team, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try to put the best team on the floor.

On “The Case for Carlos”
If you look at some of the other players and what their stats are when he was there and when he was back, he helps make other players better by being a low-post presence. Big guys that have injuries, especially on ankles and knees, it takes them a little longer to rehab. They’re carrying around a little bit more size and the knee is the same structure, it’s just that there’s more weight on it, and so it always takes big guys a little longer to get back. The key thing is going down the stretch, we hope everybody stays healthy and we’ll see what we are as a team. The fact that he was awarded two All Star appearances certainly says something for him. He’s an undersized power forward that still averages double-figures in rebounds; one of the things that doesn’t get pointed out is that he consistently shoots better than 50 percent from the floor.

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Boondock Saint on April 02, 2009 said:

Thanks for the input Kevin. It’s nice to get a front office view on some of the questions plaguing Jazz fans.

Austin Emery on April 02, 2009 said:

the jazz should trade andrei kirilenko and carlos boozer

Trent on April 02, 2009 said:

If CJ does continue to improve, I’m all for him staying. If he doesn’t turn out the way we’d like, I’d say Morris Almond has a good chance of filling in along with Kyle Korver. I just hope we can keep this team together.

Go Jazz!

justalars on April 02, 2009 said:

I love the common sense approach KOC uses. More fans should read his comments and accept him for knowing more than they do. Obviously he likes Boozer

Laurence on April 02, 2009 said:

Why wouldn’t Sloan be using the much more talented and younger Ronnie Price over Kinight.

Long term Price’s contract will be up this year and there shouldn’t be any reason why you wouldn’t keep a younger more athletic, energetic, spark than Ronnie Price.

The defensive spark you need he always brings, and he can create instead of keeping a dead game going which is the reason Jazz can’t win on the road. It may be too late this year, but don’t make a long term mistake and loose R. Price to a 12 year 10 team player on his last legs like Knight.

Get Ronnie Price in more and don’t loose him. This organization will be loosing a talented, hardworking, humble, spark that the Jazz absolutely can’t be without. Remember a Mo Williams?

derek nielsen on April 03, 2009 said:

Okay first of all I agree that Boozer is not 100%. Maybe next year he will be back to what he was in the first year with the jazz. Except I still think he should go because he just cant play against the bigs, plain and simple his height is too much of a disadvantage. I just dont think he can get us there, to what we all have been urging for, which is a ring. Now I think its obvious to everyone that kirilenko needs to go, ya he has his moments and can contribute to the team, but he just takes too much of the cap, and with that we can sign a far better player. Okur stays, no doubt,he has improved a lot this year in my eyes, the guy actually has a inside game, as well as he has always had the outside game. So get rid of Boozer if you can, and as soon as A.K.’ contract is up, he is gone, and maybe, just maybe the jazz will be able to get that other guy to team up with williams who can make things happen in the clutch.Or for that matter, away from the energy solutions arena.

Chris E. on April 03, 2009 said:

Here’s my issue with our trading practices. If you look at the top teams in the league, Cleveland, the Lakers, Orlando, and Boston they all have MVP caliber players. Lebron, Kobe, Dwight and KG. In a league where so many teams are so evenly matched it’s very difficult to simply “develop home grown talent” and expect to be able to find your way into that elite company. I believe that this organization is amongst the best at focusing on and developing young players but SOMETHING has to be done to tip the scales in your favor. We need a superstar. Deron is absolutely amazing and he is really developing into something really special. He’s a difference maker and has amazing heart and GUT. He is arguably the best point guard in the NBA. But he’s not a Kobe, or a Lebron or a Dwight Howard type of player. The reason those teams are killing it right now is because they have that one superstar, a consistent MVP candidate type of player that tips the scales. A balanced attack cannot be undervalued but the Jazz have been doing the same thing for 25 years and suprise! No title! Something needs to change, something drastic needs to happen. Two years from, hell let’s drop the whole bucket and unload everything we have and go for Lebron. Who says we can’t do it? Why not us? Because we are Utah? No. I understand that mathematically that would be nearly impossible with the contracts that we currently have but that’s just a drastic example of what I’m trying to say. You see teams that aren’t even playoff contenders pick up a guy like Lebron or Dwight Howard and two years later they are legitimate contenders for the NBA championship! The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. What else can we do?

montgump on April 03, 2009 said:

I totally agree about Price. Knight is a good back-up, but Price just brings so much energy to the team. Remember the block on Luke Walton? And he will give you the occasional dunk on someone that gets the team fired up.

Chris E. on April 03, 2009 said:

CJ!!! I really wonder if he read my post yesterday about him sucking it up. I think it may have pissed him off because he had a great game last night, despite the fact that we lost … as expected. So, I doubt that he read it but if he did and maybe could possibly be reading this I just want to say that CJ you had a great game but you are still eating it out there. You have the potential to be an All-Star caliber player! When you focus you are unstoppable. So go out there with a chip on your shoulder. I think that you could go either way right now, continue playing at a sub-par (at best) level or come out of your shell, loosen up and play at the level we all know you can. If you need some more motivation I’m glad to oblige. You have been playing like crap lately. I think you can play a lot better. But I don’t think you will. I would love for you to prove me wrong. So let’s see it.

Kendall Harton on April 03, 2009 said:

did you watch the denver vs utah game booz was horrible every time i saw that he was coming in i thought to myself get him out all booz does is foul and play horrible d-fense he kept taking and taking shots and missing over time and time again booz i luv u but i dont want you in utah anymore im fed up

Amir on April 03, 2009 said:

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY FEW WORDS PROBLEM WITH UTAH THEY DONT HAVE A GUY WHO CAN STOP YOU IT USE TO BE ANDREY KYRILENKO BUT HE IS NO MORE THOSE INJURIS SLOWED HIM DOWN.ALSO THERE IS NO GUY BESIDES DERRON WILLIAMS WHO YOU GIIVE BALL TO CREATE HIS OWN SHOT ,NUMBER THREE NO BACK UP CENTER COLLINS DONT GET PLAYING TIME THE REASON WHY JERRY SLOAN USING KNIGHT AS BACK POINT GUARD HE HAS TO YOU CANT LEAVE VETERAN GUY ON BENCH AS BEING 12 PLAYER.THE GUY WHO WOULD FIT IN UTAH THE BEST IS CORRYE MAGGETTE HE CAN CREATE HIS OWN SHOT.DEFENCIVE STOPER SHANNE BATTIER IN ROCKETS BACK UP CENTER GIVE HIM MORE PLAYING TIME OR REPLACE HIM BOOZER IS OK HE CAN PLAY WHEN HE WANTS BUT CAN YOU BOOZ TRY JUMP HOOK INSTEAD OF LAYUP UNDER NEED ANDERSON FROM DENVER BLOCK COUPLE SHOTH

Linda McFarland on April 03, 2009 said:

Chris…A team has to have so many players and they all have to be paid. Do you realize what the “stars” are paid? Utah just doesn’t have the finances to pay for that kind of team. I guess we could double the price of tickets etc., but then how many of us could afford to go. I agree with you that I wish we had a big “stand out” player besides Williams but I think we just have to take one of players who is willing to work super hard and make then into a player who will step in and shut down the middle.

In my personal opinion, the first thing you need is a player who WANTS to play with the Jazz. If they aren’t happy they aren’t going to give 100%. They get the same money for playing or sitting on the bench. I’m glad that Kevin has to settle on the players because we want to keep the team together but we may also need some changes. Good luck Kevin from me to you.

Pelon on April 03, 2009 said:

Chris E. (1st comment)-
See 2004 Pistons, Detroit and 2008 Celtics, Boston. You don’t have to have a superstar, you just have to have a team committed to defense (but you do have to have multiple stars).

drew on April 04, 2009 said:

Pelon: 2008 Celtics did have 2 superstars. KG and Pierce. And i completely agree with Chris E. This is the way of the NBA now… acquire a superstar or be left with no titles.. plain and simple. His example of the definition of insanity is perfect for the jazz. Serious changes are needed and home grown talent is fine but you wont win a championship with it.

Pelon on April 04, 2009 said:

Drew-
I don’t consder Pierce a superstar in any way, shape, or form. Garnett maybe, but his (and the rest of that team’s) calling card is defence.

Chris E. on April 04, 2009 said:

Hey Amir next time you post try using some punctuation and spell check. Talk about a run-on sentence. Try adding a period here and there. Your post might make a little sense. And don’t type in capital letters, it’s annoying and it means you are yelling. Go Jazz I still love you even though you were embarassed on your home floor against the T-Wolves!?!?!

Amir on April 05, 2009 said:

chris e you are hell of a guy can you give me a break conserning my spelling and also being a foreign guy who understands the game perhaps better than you do yes i am not from usa i am from bosnia and herzegovina in that country basketball is so popular i been watching nba since 1996 i know more players and what team they played for than you do kevin o conner you are good man but you must make some trades you need back up center who can defend the paint also you need a guy who can create his own shot and step to the freetrow line maggette from golden state is great example and utah needs to defend perimeter better denver and minnesota killed them from 3s last 2 games and in 2007 western semi finale spurs did same thing in their gym sorry again chris e if you continue to pickin on me i will call greg ostertag to get you.

Amir on April 05, 2009 said:

i wish jarron collins gets at least 5 minutes of play every game he really working hard on defencive end in the paint thats where jazz hurting jerry sloan give your back up center some playing time or replace him

Linda McFarland on April 05, 2009 said:

Amir….Please keep writing. It will probably help your English. If someone doesn’t like it, he doesn’t have to read it.

Amir on April 06, 2009 said:

thank you linda i love jazz same as you do the reason why i love them is team basketball exspecialy when they playing at home they play team basketball thats whats all about its not like cleveland cavs we will give lebron ball and all 4 of us will stand out of the way so he can go 1 on 5 utah is great jerry sloan is the best i wish they got more fire power they needs to have all 12 guys to play to be good in playoffs

Dallan on April 07, 2009 said:

Ok so here is the thing ronnie price does not get playing time because we picked up brevin knight for 5 million this year and so the money we are paying him we are not going to sit him on the bench i HATE brevin knight so dont get me wrong i love ronnie price but its all about money… Plus we need to get a better back up point guard in the draft this year thats where we need to go. We need someone that will score and actually help the team and not screw us over like when brevin knight comes in. I am throwin a name out there but ty lawson would be awesome for us. But amir are you serious Jaron Collins? He is the biggest waste of a big man i have ever seen there is a reason he does not get minutes what we need to do is get him out of there and play the 2 centers we have sitting in the D-League. Boozer is prob not gone even though he wants to opt out he is going to find out no one wants him. With the injuries he is not going to get the money he will be getting with us next year.

Amir on April 08, 2009 said:

what a terrible loss in dallas tonight dallas is not that good to blow out utah with 30 points utah needs to make some changes next year this year they are done they will end up at 8th place and they will play lakers in first round utah needs to replace 5 man on their roster they need some defenders defense stinks

Amir on April 11, 2009 said:

im living for a moment to see when jazz will beat spurs at their own gym i feel sorry for jerry sloan jerry your team needs some changes i am sorry buddy

Bruce on April 11, 2009 said:

I am done with the Jazz this year. They gave up so I have given up on them. As for trades if Boozer is not gone next year I will not buy another Jazz ticket. I do like watching his terrible defense. I will not be watching any more KJZZ games this year. I really do not like listening to Bolerjack too many times I wonder if the man is watching the same terrible game that I am. Put him up for trade also.

skinsfan on May 18, 2009 said:

The Jazz need to do what they can to try get get one of the top 3 picks of this years draft to hopefully get Blake Griffiin or Hasheem Thabeet. Griffin is a beast like Dwight Howard with a lot more energy. Not quite the outside game of Boozer but a better finisher around the basket, a better defender, more athletic and he brings it every night. It would be sooo nice to see him run the picknroll with Deron every night. If you have to sign and trade Boozer or AK or use Miles plus they have the Knicks pick next year they can throw in. All the while keeping Okur, Millsap, and Korver. If not him than Thabeet. He’s 7′3″ and can clog the middle like the Jazz so desperately need. His offense isn’t great but he can finish This way they can get rid of Okur, AK, Miles, maybe Millsap while keeping Boozer. He’s like a Tyson Chandler but better, not quite the offensive skill set as Ming or Gasol but better in all other categories. How would Deron like to run the picknroll, much like CP3, does in the big easy where he goes off Boozer and can just throw it up for Thabeet who just has to stand on his knees to put it away. Both can jump out of the place especially Griffin. How much better a player would Deron be if he could just throw up passes and his teammates can come out of nowhere for the slam. On top off all that they both bring energy to the game. Who does that for the Jazz now. NOBODY!

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