Jeffrey Wank on February 08, 2010 said:

They might be showcasing CJ in regards to a trade.

Tyler F. on February 08, 2010 said:

I agree with 99.9% of your post . . . wait, scratch that, I agree with 100% of your post. I for some strange reason have always like Boozer even in light of him running his mouth. There is no way that we will get another player that is the caliber of Boozer in a trade. Plus, it’s hilarious to me how many people I hear on a day to day basis saying “TRADE BOOZER”, are we the only fans out there that don’t want him? I guarantee that there are 29 other teams fans out there that would gladly take Boozer in a trade (ok, maybe 28, Cleveland).
Also I have nothing but respect for AK if he’s willing to take a pay cut to stay here and finish his career in Utah.
And finally, CJ, we all like your attitude, hustle, and willingness to come off the bench, but where is the production? We all LOVE watching game when your scoring 15-20pts, but they are getting few and far between. Give Korver the minutes that he deserves, it’s coming playoff time and I don’t think that we can survive if we don’t have a legitimate threat from deep.

Jeffrey Wank on February 08, 2010 said:

If the Jazz do a trade it should obviously be for a defensive center to back-up Memo and be another tall body in the playoffs against the Lakers, et al. Two options I thought of are Brendan Haywood or Hasheem Thabeet.

CJ Miles + Kosta Koufos for Brendan Haywood
CJ has been a good spark off the bench and they lose his potential for the future. Plus, Haywood is only a rental and and it adds $2 million to the salary and luxury tax this season, but for a player of hs quality he is very affordable. Washington gains youth for their rebuilding plans and saves about $2million this year.

Ronnie Brewer + Fesenko/Koufos for Hasheem Thabeet
Utah needs a defensive center and Memphis likes Brewer. Utah loses their best thief and high flyer, but gains one of the best centers of the future. Memphis also gets a young center in return. With Marc Gasol being the clear starter, Memphis may not need the $15 million investment in Thabeet and might like having a young back-up in Koufos/Fes and a great wing off the bench that acts as an insurance policy, in case they lose Rudy Gay this off-season. If Utah has to include a draft pick, I would swap picks, so Memphis gets the better between Utah’s NY pick (estimated @ #9) and Memphis’ (est. @ #13).

Brian McCann on February 08, 2010 said:

Tyler- I 100% agree with you as well.

Jeffrey- We totally need to land a defensive minded big, and if we can do it in exchange for one of our many wings (preferably CJ), I am all for it. Let’s hope the Jazz get it done.

Diana Allen on February 08, 2010 said:

I agree 100% with you Brian. I so want CJ gone. I can’t believe how many times I yelled at my TV when CJ was chucking it up on Saturday night. I mean CJ seems nice and I enjoy his Tweets but thats not a reason to keep a player It bugs me that Korver is buried on the bench while CJ plays the way he does. Why do you think he is playing CJ over Korver. I can only hope for a trade showcase like you said. If he still gets minutes over Korver past the trade deadline I’ll be so mad!
I love Boozer and AK this season. Both are playing with more heart than I’ve seen in a long time. I don’t want either of them gone. They with Williams are our core. Lose one of them and we would not be winning like we are!

Isaac on February 08, 2010 said:

Totally agree. I’m beyond sick of seeing Sloan give CJ so many minutes. First he did it at the expense of Kirilenko/Matthews and now at the expense of Korver. I’ts ridiculous. THat’s the kind of thing that makes me doubt about how good a coach sloan really is. I’m not one of those “fire sloan” fans, as I think that would bring more bad than good, but I definitely think he has been making the same mistake for quite a while now. I think the only players we can really consider trading are CJ, Fes, and maybe one of the backup PG, depending on what we get back. I’m certainly not better than KOC as a GM, but I’d keep this team as it is, give KK Miles’ minutes, and use miles the way Sloan has been using KK(playing him 2 out of every 3 games or so, and giving him just a few minutes when he does play). I don’t think It would be very wise to trade CJ for just cap space, because, as bad as he is, he is insurance in case one of our wing players gets injured.

Shannon in Sacramento on February 08, 2010 said:

Great post, as always! I am curious, though, you say you would consider bringing back Boozer for next season. At what cost? We all know (because of Boozer’s big mouth) that he wants a nice, hefty paycheck. Should we give him what he wants to keep him? I’m just curious what your opinion is on the matter. I’ve loved how he and AK are playing again. It seems like they are remembering this year why they love to play.

Brian McCann on February 08, 2010 said:

Shannon- Thanks for your comment and compliment! I wouldn’t consider bringing him back at all costs, but I would strongly pursue him. Especially with a new CBA looming, and after the owners initial low-ball proposal as a strong indication of things to come, I don’t think Boozer will get a max-money offer this summer unless something changes. This years FA class is one of the best all-time and while Booz is one of the best PF’s in the league, there are going to be a few guys in this years class that teams with money will view as more valuable. The Jazz actually might be able to sign him to a contract similar to th one he currently has simply because I don’t think he will get a lot of better offers from other clubs, and even if he does, they might not be much better.

Booz says he likes it here, and while many fans say that is just a front, I feel like their skeptisism is based more on emotion than fact. Thanks!

A.G. on February 08, 2010 said:

110% agree! CJ has had his chances in Utah. Ship him out and clear the way for Korver. Kyle has proven to be a more reliable threat anyway. What does Sloan see in Miles? Or one could also ask what he has against Korver.

cds1 on February 08, 2010 said:

I agree completely. I think boozer should only be traded if a equally talented player replaces him.
I think Ronnie B. is a vital part to this team tho D wise with his steals. he works well with D-will too.

Caderade on February 08, 2010 said:

The problem with trades is that the other team has to agree to them too. I doubt even Washington or Memphis would be dumb enough to agree to those offers. For better or worse, I think we’re stuck with CJ. Sloan has been doing a relatively good job this year of playing whoever is having a good night, and that’s probably the best we can hope for.

Mal on February 08, 2010 said:

i’m wondering if a trade is in the works for kyle and that’s why we haven’t seen him in the rotation much as of late. i sure hope not, that would be a mistake. i’m with all the rest of you – please get cj out of a jazz uniform.

Deb on February 08, 2010 said:

I have to wonder why CJ is getting the minutes instead of Kyle. I wonder if Kyle is in the Sloan’s doghouse, like Gordon Giracek or Carlos Arroyo. I can’t imagine why Korver might have done to iritate Jerry that much. Maybe it is a matter of match-ups, but it is hard to see Korver have 2 DNP’s in the last three games. I am hoping the team stays as it is for this year. I just read a comment from Greg Miller that they would not trade anyone just to get under the salary cap. I hope he is sincere about that.

dwillroks on February 08, 2010 said:

trade CJ for cap space, stay out of luxury tax, sign booze, let AK do what he wants, sign Korver, and do really REALLY good with the draft pick, get a solid rookie center, train him up real good, and then WIN.

Dave on February 08, 2010 said:

I totally agree with your post 100% AK and Boozer have been playing awesome this year. I really like the front court of AK, Boozer, and Millsap that they put on the floor against Denver when Okur got into foul trouble. I also agree with everyone else to either give CJ’s minutes to Korver or trade CJ. I was at the game pretty early watching the warm ups and Korver couldn’t miss. The guy is amazing!! And to see him not get a chance to play in that game was very frustrating. Its pretty sad when a section of the arena up in the upper bowl including myself either are screaming “Don’t shoot it!” When Miles touches the ball or you can clearly hear the groans whenever he has the ball. I like CJ but this wanting to shoot the ball every chance he gets is not flying well with fans. I really don’t know what Sloan is thinking and maybe it is for trading purposes. I am with Diana that if there is no improvement in minutes for Korver after the trade deadline, I fear me may loose him. I have a good feeling about this team and how they have been performing! Keep it up!!
Jazz fan thru and thru!!!!!

French Dude on February 09, 2010 said:

You want a big wall at low cost, trade with memphis but not for thabeet, for Haddadi, if someone have seen some olympics games, he understand me, memphis never give him a chance, but at the end of the olympics he was 4th at the eficiency and with 16.6 pts, 11.2 rbs, 2.6 blcks…… and we can take him for quite nothing……. and for boozer, if i can have Joe Johnson i take him, if not i keep him for the rest of the season, but No Way he will stay after that

Clark on February 09, 2010 said:

Lanis Miles would be really disappointed to hear you say those things about CJ after you did that in-depth interview with her.

I am not opposed to trading CJ Miles, necessarily, but I find it funny at how adamant you are (and your followers) about getting him out of Utah. The kid is only 22 years old and improving in some areas. He isn’t the polished player everyone expects him to be, but he attacks the basket better than previous years and plays a little better defense as well. He would be a rookie this year if he had gone to college all four years. He is younger than Wesley Matthews.
But more importantly, you can’t call out “Boozer Haters” for wanting him gone and then turn around and call for CJ’s head.

Are you sure it isn’t emotional rather than well thought out? It’s not like CJ is losing the team games.

Brian McCann on February 09, 2010 said:

Clark- I am just glad you came back to comment again! Its always such a joy to have you post your well thought out, or at least antagonistic thoughts on our blog. Like I said before, I would be happy to put you in touch with Lanis or any of your favorite player’s moms, but all you have to do is ask. Don’t be afraid, just let me know…

CJ came into the league when he was 18 out of his own will and desire to play in the big leagues. He decided he was ready, so don’t pull out the “he’s only 22 and would be a rookie” argument. He is a veteran, and one that has been here for a while now, so that doesn’t fly. I don’t want players on the court just because I like them (I do really like CJ by the way…I’m so close to Lanis that I kind of feel like he is my big brother in a way. I know it’s corny, but were just sooo close ya know?).

And comparing CJ Miles to Carlos Boozer is a pretty far and reaching stretch. Boozer is arguably our best offensive player and CJ is arguably our biggest offensive liability when you factor in minutes, touhes, FG%, and shot selection.

Emotional would be me saying “I hate CJ! I just know he doesn’t like Utah and all he really wants is more money!” like the Boozer “haters” have been so fond of saying. Well-thought out would be me saying “wow is CJ really only shooting 40% from the floor, and 31% from three?!! How many three pointers is he jacking up per game?? And how has his competition for those minutes (KK, Wes, Ronnie, AK) played? Come on now buddy, is that really calling for his head or is it just plain common sense? Would you rather see CJ gone or one of the other aformentioned players, cuz you can’t have them all. Really think this one through before you make a decision…put your personal feelings aside.

Its a no-brainer Clarky. Keep your emotions out of it and just look at the facts. Go to Hollingers PER or CJ’s +/- if you must…the writings on the wall.

L.K. Anderson on February 09, 2010 said:

People need to check out their trade proposals on a trade checker or other trade tool. CJ and Kosta is not enough for Haywood in contract value and Ronnie, Fess an Kosta is way too much for Thabett. Besides unless he vastley improves he will be considered a bust. But he is young .Trades have to be within a percentage of equal value according to their contract. When the lakers got Gasol they sent back only Gasols little brother that was of value. Kwame Brown with his huge inflated contract made up the monty difference. Kwame Brown will go down as one of the largest busts ever. Thats why popovich says the trade was unfair fo the rest of the league and I would totaly agree. The trade was made by Jery West who is Mr. Laker. I do agree CJ needs togo.Yes he isyoung but has been in the league for a few years. He will never be a constant total package..

Bones on February 09, 2010 said:

Im all for trading CJ, all I heard was how this was his year to shine. He had worked so hard in the off season he was going to blow us all away. As was stated earlier, i cringe when they pass him the ball. I have seen too many jacked up bricks from behind the 3 point line when the game was on the line by CJ to have faith in him anymore.

Boozer, while playing well and being a huge push for our team. He is not going to be here next year. If the trade were good enough Id do it before we lose all the value he has in bargaining. I woudlnt be willing to give him a pay raise, espically after what we paid Milsap. If he wanted to stay he would have to take a simillar contract to what he had. AK’s contract has to come down or he can walk, I liked him early in the Jazz days and he has shown us he can play at that level again recently. He has been too inconsistent to make as much money as he is in my opinion.

I like Brewer, but he better work on his jumper this off season. Its great to have his athleticism espically for defense. He needs to be a little more of a threat to open the floor for the others besides his cutting and slashing ability.

KK needs to get his minutes and be resigned.

Koufus i thought had a lot of potential and still might, Putting him in the game with 30 seconds to go isnt teaching him anything. If someone wants him, a trade might work. Fes gets the minutes, is a bigger body, and might turn out ok if we keep working with him.

Everyone else should stay where they are. Therse a lot of names out there i’d like in a Jazz uniform without being over the top, like claiming we can get LBJ or Dwade. Kmart from Sacramento if hes being shopped around would be nice, im not sure what the Kings would want from us though.

I’m not much worried about trades this year, just anxious to see how the draft and off season goes for next season.

Alex Kibby from indy on February 09, 2010 said:

Im am 16 years old and am very far away from Utah but I have fell in love with the Jazz.! I think its mostly because I played football with Kendal (Deron’s Step brother) and i found it so cool that he was related to Deron because i watched Deron when he played at Illinois. I have front row seats to the Pacers vs Jazz game when Utah comes to town. Im stoked for that game and i hope i get to meet Deron and Boozer.

Now to the the CJ and Boozer ordeal. Ok if you get rid of Boozer its going to kill our Jazz’s PPG by alot. Not only can Boozer score but his defense is getting better everyday. Also its going to ruin their inside game and would leave Millsap the Jazz only real big man. Boozer is absolutely worth the money he would request and with AK chopping his paycheck alot just to be a Jazz for the rest of his career would free up alot of money they could use to bring Boozer back. Memo has a big paycheck too and if they could convince him to cut it some then we could use that as well. Now one thing no body has mentioned is that although Ronnie is a very talented player but there is definitely better talent out there. Now i think we can all agree that the Jazz’s big men are extremely talented therefore focusing on the back court is something we should do before the trade deadline. I think that CJ is not as good and isnt producing the way he should for the amount of minutes he is getting. Korver is a hundred times better and should definitely get his minutes. So deals i think the Jazz should make are as follows:
1. Ronnie Brewer and CJ Miles for Memphis’s OJ Mayo
2. Ronnie Brewer, CJ Miles, and Ronnie Price for Jason Terry and a draft pick for this year
3. CJ Miles for a First Round Draft Pick from a team thats not so good.
4. Memo Okur, Ronnie Brewer, CJ Miles and a draft pick later than the First Round for Phoenix’s Amar’e Stoudemire and Jason Richardson
5. Ronnie Brewer to Houston, Tracy McGrady to Detroit, and Ben Gordon to Utah
Those would be some of the options i think the Jazz should look into. I love Okur but if Carlos Boozer and Amar’e Stoudemire where on the same team and then through Deron Williams and Jason Richardson in there, you have a team that can compete with the Lakers and Cavaliers. That is a Trade that I wish i could honestly somehow tell the Jazz’s Front office cause Pheonix is willing to trade Stoudemire so that is a very resonable deal. Anyone agree? Give me a follow up comment letting me know. Thank You and GO JAZZ!

Linda on February 09, 2010 said:

Great blog and makes one think. I’m afraid that I have a little bit of trouble keeping all of the (motherly-grandmotherly) emotions out of trading. I guess I just want to keep adding more and more team members and keep everyone? Just joking because I do know about the limit of team members ext. One question I have is why are we keeping the two big guys? I keep hearing that they are going to be a vital part of the team but I don’t see that coming to fruition in any way? What do you think Brian?

Jared on February 09, 2010 said:

1st, the chance that the Jazz front office has the guts to make a trade of any real size is 0.

2nd, with all of the talk about CJ being an offensive liability I think is off base. I think he is overpaid, and I would have let him go rather than match his offer, but he is a decent shooter. The real offensive liability is Ronnie Brewer. That guy has got to have the worst % from 3 for a starting shooting guard in the league. His jump shot percentage from 2 is also horrid. His defense is replaceable. The only reason any other team would take him is for his expiring contract. That said, I would be happy to trade either or both. I think that trading both players could get Korver and Mathews more minutes and we would be a better team. When the Jazz lose (and thankfully it hasn’t been often lately) it is because noone respects Brewer’s shot and they collapse into the paint. Korver, Okur, Williams, CJ and now Matthews can make them pay, but Brewer is shooting an awful 25% from 3. That is like 3 turnovers for every made 3. But what makes it even worse is that the other team’s athletic 2s generally kill us on the other end because they do not have to work on the defensive end.

3rd – I think that trading Boozer for a quality starter (i.e. Igudala, Martin) would be a great move. Although Boozer has been playing lights out, he isn’t a long-term option for the Jazz and getting someone who could be a solid piece to a championship for him before he walks this summer would be good. In addition, although we would need to replace is solid production, Milsap and Okur tend to play better with him out of the lineup. I don’t think our front court production would drop off much.

4th – As great as AK has been playing as a starter, if we have an opportunity we should trade his 17 million contract for next year. I would be happy if we re-signed him afterwards at a reasonable rate, but the 17 mil is going to kill us this off season.

Jeffrey Wank on February 09, 2010 said:

The 2 trades I posted for Haywood and Thabeet both work out financially according to ESPN Trade Machine.

Brian McCann on February 09, 2010 said:

Linda- I don’t know why some seem to think these two are such a vital part of our future. Fes has the body but is very limited in his skill and coordination, two things that are a lot harder to teach than we might think, and the Koof seems to have serious confidence issues. Neither has shown much promise as a viable threat in our rotation. The only reason they are still around is because they are cheap peices to an expensive puzzle that has to remain at 13 players. Thanks!

J R Stewart on February 09, 2010 said:

If the Jazz make a move for purely economic reasons, Korver has an expiring $5.3m contract which would make the Jazz a tax receiver, if a team like Orlando wanted to use their TPE on him and give the Jazz back draft pick(s) or Matt Barnes, with his $1.6m expiring contract for the Jazz TPE (the Jazz would have to do an additional maneuver to put them under the tax, if Barnes were involved). This would be a $13-14m cash windfall for the Jazz, and they could still pursue KK this summer.

Complicated, but CJ’s $3.7m contract won’t be enough to make it work to excape the tax, plus it has another year and a team option year.

The big buzz this year is the expiring contract, because teams can get rid of long term contracts or position themselves for this summer.

CJ’s defense is better then KK’s right now, and I suspect that’s why he’s getting more time.

Jazzaholic

L.K. Anderson on February 09, 2010 said:

You are correct Jeffrey. I didnt know thabett got paid so well. I still think that the jury is out on him and he is still a project. However the CJ and Kosta for Haywood I would pull the trigger on. Its a good deal for both teams. Both CJ and Kosta could blossom and Haywood would fit our needs..

Mal on February 09, 2010 said:

JR – Do you really think we could get Matt Barnes, even just for a couple months? Boy do I like that!

http://www.jazzbots.com/web/2008/12/09/ready-the-leagues-best-looking/

James Seaman on February 09, 2010 said:

Mal,
Matt Barnes? Are you kidding?? That guy looks like he would rob a liquor store at any moment. He should go to Denver to play with JR Smith, Kenyon Martin, and the Birdman. Denver would then have the largest collection of neck tattoos in human history.

Brian (and everyone else),
Yeah, CJ is no bueno. Unfortunately, the Jazz made this bed by matching Oklahoma City’s foolish contract offer, so now they have to lie in it.

French Dude on February 10, 2010 said:

I’ve just seen that Ray Allen may be availiable, I want Ray Allen, I always dream to see Ray Allen wearing our Jersey, please for all my future birthdays, give me Ray Allen, just for 3 months if you want, but i want Ray…….. And James, I look like i rob liquor stores every day….. and i really like that

Joe on February 10, 2010 said:

Haven’t even read the comments, because I agree completely with every word of the post. CJ has to go. Just go, I wouldn’t even ask for cap relief, just letting Korver get his playing time.

steve on February 10, 2010 said:

I’ve thought CJ was the weakest link on the Jazz for quite a while now. I didn’t understand why Sloan was playing him last year.

I love AK and want to keep him at a reasonable salary.

I think you’re wrong on Boozer though. I like Boozer, and I don’t think he’s a detriment to the team. I am not angry at his earlier comments or anything. I think trading him is the right move, however. The error in your logic is that you seem to think the only way to get a good deal out of Boozer is to get someone with the exact same skillset, only better. You’re thinking Chris Bosh. We don’t need Chris Bosh any more than we need Boozer. They are practically the same player, with only a slight difference in skill level. Bosh may not even be as good as Boozer. He may shine a little brighter because he’s on a lesser team than the Jazz. Put him in Boozer’s place and you may find out that Boozer is the better player.

The issue here is that we have 3 star caliber power forwards and a star caliber center already. We don’t need another star power forward. We need a star SG or SF and a competent role player to fill 10-15 minutes at PF/C.

Sacramento needs a big man. They’ve offered Kevin Martin to Phoenix for Amare. They would probably be willing to trade for Boozer as well. With Boozer out of the lineup, Milsap, AK and Okur would all give us increased production. We would lose almost nothing. The gains we would get from adding a great SG would be immense. Martin scores. He is among the top outside shooters in the league – something the Jazz are sorely lacking. He’s quick and gets to the line better than any other guard. These are things the Jazz need.

Sacramento may be willing to throw in Dante Green for CJ Miles, seeing as how they would have less time available for Green at PF with Boozer in the lineup. Green is similar in production to Miles. Salary wise, we’d be about $6 mil lower, which would bring us under the salary cap, and Sacramento I believe could absorb the $6 mil without going over. Both teams would be greatly improved, and we’d be further helping ourselves, because with Boozer on board, Sacramento would almost certainly improve and pass up New York, making our pick from New York that much better next year.

Boozer would be a better complement for Sacramento than Martin because his skillset doesn’t overlap Tyreke Evans, while Martin would help Utah because his skillset doesn’t overlap Milsap.

I think this trade would be good for everyone.

TameKate on February 10, 2010 said:

Honestly I think I am a rare – has not hated boozer – fan. Players run their mouths, players leap before noticing a cave, and they always, always look for the better deal when they support a family.

With that being said, I honestly think that with a little more “meshing” and “leader teamwork” together of Dwill and Boozer, that Boozer should stay. His numbers are producing. Boozer has worked hard and most of the team seems to pipe up around him and Dwill. Don’t get me wrong, Dwill is the franchise player, but he seems to need the type of attitude in a “go to” guy that Carlos has. Boozer has shown more life, pep, attitude, hutspa (however you spell it) then I have seen out of most of the players. Hes always there to high-five someone, growl, charge, roar, punch the air, make fists, make cheesy cat grins and look at you with a stare that says “roll over and die for us today peasant”. If I saw those qualities in about 5 other players, then maybe he could be a trade-viable player. I just do not believe it is that time to let him go. I get more kick out of watching his antics and cheering then I do if someone has 1 good night and 10 bad ones.

It is all about getting into the game. Locke himself said that the Jazz are playing their best basketball when they seem to have fun (paraphrasing, sorry). AK picked it up on defense and is leading our spurts again. CJ and Korver both came off injuries that disrupted the style of play that they worked so hard in the off season to make better. They are tradeable but they also run into what boozer did last year, adapting after a major injury.

Koof, well, I dont know much about him. I was trying to cheer him on, and when him and Fes helped bring down some bigs last year for Memo, I was cheering more. However, this year, he makes a viable trade subject. I don’t know if it is just me, but he doesnt seem to be there mentally as much as the other team mates from watching his actions on the bench.

The other one I would look at for a trade is Memo. We have more then enough 2 and 3 swing players that are hitting their 3’s now which makes Memo’s defense and his paint movement more of a necessity, and less reality. We have sugar-coated his style of playing for the last 2 years with him having a good night, and 3 bad ones. In this type of team average isn’t going to cut it. Decent, but not spectacular stats, and decent but not consistant points of his game, in my eyes make him a liability. Stockton – Malone was awesome, but not quite enough to take us into a dominant category last time. I remember thinking that Eaton, Ostertag, and Bailey are great at times, get the job done, but weren’t enough to make them a triumverate. I think the Jazz should look at trading Memo for someone who is good blocking in the paint without the foul trouble that fes gets into, and without the slower pace that Memo seems to work with. We need someone fast and charged emotionally as Boozer and Dwill is to make a triumverate to take us over the top this time.

Brian McCann on February 10, 2010 said:

Steve- Just as Bosh might not flourish here, Martin might not as well, especially considering the fact that the Jazz run a power forward-centric offense, something that Martin has never played in.

Kate- I agree with you on Memo. Great guy, great attitude, but he’s a defensive liability, he’s slow, and he is not a leader.

Boozer is a leader. Paul Millsap has yet to become a leader, and if you trade Booz away, you don’t need someone with the same obvious skill set as much as you do someone that will feel his leadership role on and off the court.

Jared on February 10, 2010 said:

1st, I think that playing with a point guard of Williams quality inflates the numbers of the players on our team. If someone is putting up numbers in the same range as Boozer with a mediocre point guard (like Jose Calderon) they will put up better numbers here. Where that is different is on a team whose point guard is so bad that they effectively give the ball to their shooting guard to run the offense because he is their best player – but even in those scenarios, I think that they benefit from playing with a great point guard because they can focus on their game more.

2nd, the only player that the Jazz have ever had with the true shooting ability of Kevin Martin is Jeff Hornacek. The motion offense would be a great fit for Kevin Martin. He is quick and agile, and I can see him hitting the free throw line curling catch and shoot jump shot and making it all day long. He would be a BIG benefit on the offensive end.

3rd, the leadership dynamic is a tough one to figure out. For a long time I felt like D-Will should assert himself more. Now I think that bringing in other players will help him be more of a leader. Boozer, Okur and AK were all here before D-Will – so they did not come here to play with him. Any player who we pick up now is coming here to play with D-Will, and they will naturally look to him. Also, D-Will getting his first All-Star appearance should help him in this regard. Before, he was a non-All-Star with three former All-Stars on the roster. I think that being an All-Star will help him be a better leader on our team.

steve on February 10, 2010 said:

I understand that any player may not flourish with a new team. My point is that Boozer and Bosh play the same position. The only way to get better is if Bosh is just better than Boozer. I don’t necessarily think that’s the case. I think Boozer and Bosh are fairly evenly matched. But by trading Boozer for Martin you’d be trading a Power Forward, which the Jazz have a more than adequate replacement for in Milsap, for a Shooting Guard. Boozer is not a significant improvement over Milsap. Martin is a huge improvement over Brewer, Miles, and Mathews. So by trading Boozer for Martin we lose a little (maybe) by having Milsap instead of Boozer, but we gain a lot by having Martin over Brewer.

We would get increased production from Milsap because he’d get the minutes he deserves. We’d get increased production from Okur, because he’d get more plays run for him. We’d get increased production from AK because he’d be our primary backup PF, where he plays his best basketball, instead of SF with maybe a handful of backup PF minutes.

Then you’d add Martin, who is one of the biggest outside threats in the league, which is the one area most people would agree the jazz are weakest in. Martin doesn’t have to be as good as Boozer for this to be a good trade, because he brings a skill that we need to the team that Boozer does not have. Bosh would have to be better than Boozer for the trade to be good for us, and if he was, why would Toronto want to trade him for Boozer? Kevin Martin can be good for us, and Boozer can be good for Sacramento, and neither player has to be superior to the other for it to be a good trade.

You throw in the Miles/Green trade to help fill the holes left on the rosters by losing Boozer and Martin in positions that each team is now going to be heavy at with their new acquisition.

Lanis Miles on February 10, 2010 said:

This is to Brian and anyone else on this board talking about Cj. I could care less what you say or think about Cj. People will talk about you until the day you die. Free country, say and think what ever you want. You guys are my least concern. So….. God bless you all!!!

French Dude on February 11, 2010 said:

Gasol give booz a lesson…… after that LA game, who still believe booz can give us a title…..

Brian McCann on February 11, 2010 said:

Come on French Dude- That’s like me saying Farmar gave Deron a lesson, who still believes DWill can give us a title…One game is not a large enough sample size to make a statement like that. No one played exceptionally well last night-their heads just weren’t in it. This is a team game, and you can’t put the blame on Booz. We have seen him dominate Gasol in prior games. One game doesn’t discount the fact that they have won 13 of their last 15 in large part because of the play of Carlos Boozer.

TameKate on February 11, 2010 said:

Agreed. Something was off with no pistons firing steady last night. It also says something that the longest win streak was 10 with the cavs. All that aside, any trade has to better the team regardless of money and regardless of who anyone wants to trade. In my opinion we dont need much more help in the power forward position then boozer and milsap. We need help matching the quickness and power other centers seem to provide as well as a sprinkle of leadership to make it complete.

French Dude on February 11, 2010 said:

The problem is not that Gasol dominate booz last night, gasol is better than booz and it’s a fact, but odom too….. we have won 13 on 15, we maybe finish the season on step 2 of the western, but my problem is that this team will never going to beat LA on a playoffs series, and i assure you i only want that, but no victory on LA equal as no NBA final equal as no ring, and i want the ring, that’s i will never want booz re-sign with us, because if we re-sign him we will just have the same loosing team for 3 or 4 more years……. maybe you don’t understand my point of view, but in the NBA every year you 1 winner and 29 looser, that’s all….

Reed on February 13, 2010 said:

Finally people agree with me to keep Boozer. It seems that everybody and their dog wants him gone. But he is a vital part to the Jazz. Paul Millsap couldn’t put up Boozer’s numbers night in and night out. And I don’t see Paul Millsap being part of team USA any time soon. But I am still a big Paul Millsap fan.

I say trade CJ for a decent center and give Korver more playing time.