Monday report
Kyle Korver had the same question I did Monday evening: Just how tough usually is Jazz coach Jerry Sloan's first practice back after the All-Star break? As it turns out, Sloan didn't have what he calls a "gut-buster" on the agenda, although some running was expected.
"You're kind of caught in a tough situation," Sloan said. "We play [Tuesday]. We've got to be back at 10 o'clock for shootaround. I've always tried to run 'em.
"I don't want them in too much contact because I'm also concerned about getting somebody hurt because they haven't played for a while and I'm sure not a lot of them came and worked out on their own and did a lot of individual stuff while they were off."
Mehmet Okur said he thought the Jazz would do some running and scrimmage. Carlos Boozer said after the All-Star Game that he was looking forward (or not) to some suicide sprints. The Jazz are helped that their first game back from the break is at home.
* * *
Sloan didn't see the headband Ronnie Brewer wore in Friday night's All-Star rookie/sophomore game but he said he heard about it. Safe to say, Brewer's not going to be wearing another unless it's in the All-Star Game next season.
"He won't wear it in practice," Sloan said, adding, "I don't have any control over that. If he wants to wear a headband when he's there, I guess he can go ahead and do it. Nobody told him he couldn't."
* * *
Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said he expects there will be more moves across the league in advance of Thursday's trade deadline simply because of the number of "seller" teams out there.
Just looking at the standings, there are 13 teams that I think fit that description: New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Indiana, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Miami, Seattle, Minnesota, Sacramento, L.A. Clippers and Memphis.
The Jazz are in the market for a backup big man, but are almost certainly not looking at a major overhaul given the youth and success of their current roster. It's interesting then to look at what's out there from those seller teams:
You've got: Jamaal Magloire, Stromile Swift, Calvin Booth, Samuel Dalembert, Eddy Curry, Jerome James, Randolph Morris, Joe Smith, Jeff Foster, David Harrison, Dan Gadzuric, Jake Voskuhl, Ryan Hollins, Nazr Mohammed, Earl Barron, Mark Blount, Johan Petro, Kurt Thomas, Theo Ratliff, Brad Miller, Mikki Moore, Lorenzen Wright, Aaron Williams, Jason Collins and Darko Milicic.
This is just the big men available on those teams. Would love to hear some thoughts on any of these bigs that you think highly of as a fan.
--Ross Siler
"You're kind of caught in a tough situation," Sloan said. "We play [Tuesday]. We've got to be back at 10 o'clock for shootaround. I've always tried to run 'em.
"I don't want them in too much contact because I'm also concerned about getting somebody hurt because they haven't played for a while and I'm sure not a lot of them came and worked out on their own and did a lot of individual stuff while they were off."
Mehmet Okur said he thought the Jazz would do some running and scrimmage. Carlos Boozer said after the All-Star Game that he was looking forward (or not) to some suicide sprints. The Jazz are helped that their first game back from the break is at home.
* * *
Sloan didn't see the headband Ronnie Brewer wore in Friday night's All-Star rookie/sophomore game but he said he heard about it. Safe to say, Brewer's not going to be wearing another unless it's in the All-Star Game next season.
"He won't wear it in practice," Sloan said, adding, "I don't have any control over that. If he wants to wear a headband when he's there, I guess he can go ahead and do it. Nobody told him he couldn't."
* * *
Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said he expects there will be more moves across the league in advance of Thursday's trade deadline simply because of the number of "seller" teams out there.
Just looking at the standings, there are 13 teams that I think fit that description: New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Indiana, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Miami, Seattle, Minnesota, Sacramento, L.A. Clippers and Memphis.
The Jazz are in the market for a backup big man, but are almost certainly not looking at a major overhaul given the youth and success of their current roster. It's interesting then to look at what's out there from those seller teams:
You've got: Jamaal Magloire, Stromile Swift, Calvin Booth, Samuel Dalembert, Eddy Curry, Jerome James, Randolph Morris, Joe Smith, Jeff Foster, David Harrison, Dan Gadzuric, Jake Voskuhl, Ryan Hollins, Nazr Mohammed, Earl Barron, Mark Blount, Johan Petro, Kurt Thomas, Theo Ratliff, Brad Miller, Mikki Moore, Lorenzen Wright, Aaron Williams, Jason Collins and Darko Milicic.
This is just the big men available on those teams. Would love to hear some thoughts on any of these bigs that you think highly of as a fan.
--Ross Siler
11:17 PM
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7 Comments:
I know it would take some financial work, but I've always liked Darko. Was he worth the pick he was taken at? No. But he's still a good basketball player and would be a good backup. He's kind of in the Van Horn situation in that he was always under scrutiny for going so high in the draft, but was actually a good contributor to a handful of teams. I'd love to see the Darko resurrection in Utah.
It's illogical, but I love Darko, too. He's onery.
I would love to get Dalembert. He can alter and block shots like we need.
I'm not yet sold on Darko. Looks like he can score okay, but I don't know about his defense.
Brad Miller I would love to have. The problem is, he isn't a shot blocker. The guy can hit the outside jumper, but he never has blocked many shots (at least that I remember).
I would almost take Jarron Collins over most of the rest. He knows the system and doesn't take stupid shots. Sometimes, that can be more important than a few blocked or altered shots.
Mikki Moore would be a nice pick-up. He played great filling in for Krstic on the Nets last year, as J-Kidd set him up for numerous open dunks. Deron could do the same thing, and he's very active defensively. Obviously, he's no Dalembert, but he'd likely come at a MUCH lower price.
I think the problem with acquiring a good big man is who do you trade?
Most teams would want youth and a large expiring contract that would give their team cap relief. The only players the Jazz might be consider moving would be Kirilenko, Collins, CJ Miles, and maybe Jason Hart (but not likely). The Jazz would really have to be creative to get a defensive center. I don't think the Jazz have enough assets for a two team trade, perhaps a multi-team trade would work out better.
The way Kirilenko has been playing this season it would be a big hit if they lost him in a trade for a center. They would essentially be giving their best defensive presence (or help defender) for a backup center. It would be loosely comparable to what the Suns did by trading Marion for Shaq. I know by trading Kirilenko the Jazz would receive cap relief (maybe) but I think it would hurt the team overall unless the Jazz received two defensive players in exchange for one all around Kirilenko.
Of the players listed I believe Jamaal Magloire, Samuel Dalembert, Jeff Foster, Nazr Mohammed, Mark Blount, Johan Petro, Kurt Thomas, Mikki Moore, Darko Milicic would be the best players to go after skill wise. The top three in my mind would have to be Dalembert, Milicic, and Mohammad. Dalembert would be the ideal choice for the Jazz. He plays with energy, can block, rebound, and even score a little while shooting 71.7% from the free throw line. Only problem is he has a large contract ($10 million for 4 years) which is almost Kirilenko like.
It's not going to be easy, but my gut tells me I don't think the Jazz will trade Kirilenko now since they're playing so well, unless they receive an incredible offer they can't refuse.
I think that the answer here has to be Darko. He is still young and lacking in experience, but I also think that his price tag would not be terribly high. In just under 25 minutes a game he is averaging 1.9 blocks, so he could help the Jazz clog up the middle. I think that a deal with this guy could be similar to the Tyson Chandler deal. You bring in a guy who has been under a lot of pressure due to high expectations and watch him flourish because the all-star pressure is on the other guys around him.
I would like to see the Jazz sign an athletic shotblocker like Justin Williams who just became available with the Bibby trade.He average over 5 blocks a game at Wyoming most of them came against BYU. He could be had on a 10 day contract,if he is a bust he would cost nothing. Earl Barron for Jason hart would be good as well,he lit up the jazz in the loss in Miami.
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