Jefferson to Jazz Deal is Done

[greg_kite]

Go get em Big Al!

Do you think he's a better fit for them than Boozer?

I just don't get it -- he's not a great fit. He's going to play next to Okur on the defensive end? And when is Millsap going to finally see starters minutes?

Memo Okur is a borderline rotation player at this point in his career. He is skating by his reputation rather than his ability.

Utah should start Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap. That is their best duo. Utah should go big across the perimeter with Deron, Hayward and Kirilenko to try and offset some of their lack of size on the interior.

Okur actually had some decent stats towards the end of the season before he hurt his leg.  I even picked him up in fantasy and he helped me with threes and blocks for a few weeks.
I think if he can get back to his former status he'd be the perfect offensive complement to Al.  It leaves Al all alone down low while Okur would be on the outside.  But it also allows Okur to play center on defense and Big Al to go back to covering PFs.

[greg_kite]

Wow, they seriously traded Al Jefferson for 2 1st rounders that probably won't sniff the lottery (I assume the Grizz pick is protected) and the ability to sign Luke Ridnour. Someone put this gm out of his misery.

Going to be good for Big Al. I've always thought he can be especially effective in the pick and roll because of his hands, jumper and quickness. What a situation for him. Might fit better than Boozer.

Come on, Kahn is a genius.  Any time you can trade away your best player to free up time for Michael Beasley and Darko Milicic you're obviously the next coming of Red Auerbach.

Kidding aside, I love this move for Al.  While Sloan is known as a hard nosed guy, his teams usually aren't known for defense.  They're known for very efficient offense and PFs who score a lot.  There might not have been a better place for Al to go.  I'm glad he out of Minnesota, I was sick of rooting for such a crappy team!

[kozlodoev]

Okur actually had some decent stats towards the end of the season before he hurt his leg.  I even picked him up in fantasy and he helped me with threes and blocks for a few weeks.
I think if he can get back to his former status he'd be the perfect offensive complement to Al.  It leaves Al all alone down low while Okur would be on the outside.  But it also allows Okur to play center on defense and Big Al to go back to covering PFs.

Yeah, unfortunately, the NBA championship is not given out in fantasy basketball.

I don't see how a spot-up shooting center is a "great complement" to an inside shot power forward who never passes the ball.

[greg_kite]

Okur actually had some decent stats towards the end of the season before he hurt his leg.  I even picked him up in fantasy and he helped me with threes and blocks for a few weeks.
I think if he can get back to his former status he'd be the perfect offensive complement to Al.  It leaves Al all alone down low while Okur would be on the outside.  But it also allows Okur to play center on defense and Big Al to go back to covering PFs.

Yeah, unfortunately, the NBA championship is not given out in fantasy basketball.

I don't see how a spot-up shooting center is a "great complement" to an inside shot power forward who never passes the ball.

Did I say they would win a championship?  I was saying he was more than just a rotation player.

So you don't understand that a spot up shooting center opens up more room for Al down low?

[FallGuy]

Big Al will respond well to Sloan.  I think his defense will improve and so will his offense.  Good for Big Al.

A no-nonsense, teamwork-oriented coach and a player who reportedly only cares about his points and rebounds, on a contender. Sounds like a match made in heaven.

I give them 1 month before they butt heads after Sloan politely explains to Al that the Jazz are bigger than Al Jefferson.

You got any kind of substantiation of that charge re: Jefferson's attitude? Haven't heard that before.

[Andy Jick]

Big Al will respond well to Sloan.  I think his defense will improve and so will his offense.  Good for Big Al.

A no-nonsense, teamwork-oriented coach and a player who reportedly only cares about his points and rebounds, on a contender. Sounds like a match made in heaven.

I give them 1 month before they butt heads after Sloan politely explains to Al that the Jazz are bigger than Al Jefferson.

You got any kind of substantiation of that charge re: Jefferson's attitude? Haven't heard that before.

If it's on the internet, it's truth. 

[Snakehead]

Good move for the Jazz

1) Takes Deron Williams away from the "dangerously close to demanding a trade" zone

2) Al Jefferson for Boozer I believe is at least even. I'd say Al is not as much of a proven rebounder but he did average 11 in his best season, which is obviously a very good number, and I could absolutely see him doing that again.  He's a better scorer though and also will be better against long, athletic teams like the Lakers that eat Boozer alive.  Neither are good defenders, but I'd say Al has more potential to become a good one in Utah, since I still feel he's going to get better and has never really been on a good team that might compell him to play to his full ability and give that extra defensive effort.

3) He can play center.  I like the lineup of AK-47 at PF and Big Al at C.

[Lucky17]

Good move for the Jazz

1) Takes Deron Williams away from the "dangerously close to demanding a trade" zone

2) Al Jefferson for Boozer I believe is at least even. I'd say Al is not as much of a proven rebounder but he did average 11 in his best season, which is obviously a very good number, and I could absolutely see him doing that again.  He's a better scorer though and also will be better against long, athletic teams like the Lakers that eat Boozer alive.  Neither are good defenders, but I'd say Al has more potential to become a good one in Utah, since I still feel he's going to get better and has never really been on a good team that might compell him to play to his full ability and give that extra defensive effort.

3) He can play center.  I like the lineup of AK-47 at PF and Big Al at C.

Remember, Utah also sends Koufos (a young center prospect) and two future 1sts to Minnesota (Memphis' 2011 pick, and a future 1st from Utah).

So it's really Boozer, Koufos, and two 1sts for Al Jeff.

I think Al would do better alongside Okur, whose outside range should space the floor more evenly, than next to Kirilenko.

[Snakehead]

Good move for the Jazz

1) Takes Deron Williams away from the "dangerously close to demanding a trade" zone

2) Al Jefferson for Boozer I believe is at least even. I'd say Al is not as much of a proven rebounder but he did average 11 in his best season, which is obviously a very good number, and I could absolutely see him doing that again.  He's a better scorer though and also will be better against long, athletic teams like the Lakers that eat Boozer alive.  Neither are good defenders, but I'd say Al has more potential to become a good one in Utah, since I still feel he's going to get better and has never really been on a good team that might compell him to play to his full ability and give that extra defensive effort.

3) He can play center.  I like the lineup of AK-47 at PF and Big Al at C.

Remember, Utah also sends Koufos (a young center prospect) and two future 1sts to Minnesota (Memphis' 2011 pick, and a future 1st from Utah).

So it's really Boozer, Koufos, and two 1sts for Al Jeff.

I think Al would do better alongside Okur, whose outside range should space the floor more evenly, than next to Kirilenko.

You're right, that is a bit of a heavy price.  I was only speaking from an impact player perspective.  We'll see how it works out but I really like the potential.

I think Al and Okur is better in the halfcourt set but running the floor Al at C and AK at PF would be a better combination.  You play both but I think that'd be an interesting look.  AK doesn't get enough time at PF I believe.

[BballTim]

2) Al Jefferson for Boozer I believe is at least even. I'd say Al is not as much of a proven rebounder but he did average 11 in his best season, which is obviously a very good number, and I could absolutely see him doing that again.  He's a better scorer though and also will be better against long, athletic teams like the Lakers that eat Boozer alive.  Neither are good defenders, but I'd say Al has more potential to become a good one in Utah, since I still feel he's going to get better and has never really been on a good team that might compell him to play to his full ability and give that extra defensive effort.

  I think Al averaged around 11 boards a game 3 years in a row. He's probably a better scorer, and if he's healthy he should improve in this area as he won't be a much better scorer than anyone else on his team.

[kozlodoev]

You got any kind of substantiation of that charge re: Jefferson's attitude? Haven't heard that before.

After the Garnett trade, Pierce went on the record to say that one of the problems of that pitiful 20-win team was that some guys just cared about their 16 points per game.

Make of this what you will, but it doesn't take too much to do the math. Especially given that anyone who's watched Jefferson play should be well aware that the guy is a black hole on offense and never looks for anything else but his own shot.

[greg_kite]

You got any kind of substantiation of that charge re: Jefferson's attitude? Haven't heard that before.

After the Garnett trade, Pierce went on the record to say that one of the problems of that pitiful 20-win team was that some guys just cared about their 16 points per game.

Make of this what you will, but it doesn't take too much to do the math. Especially given that anyone who's watched Jefferson play should be well aware that the guy is a black hole on offense and never looks for anything else but his own shot.

That easily could have been Gerald Green he was talking about.  If he was talking about Al I don't know if that would qualify him as having an "attitude".  McHale used to say to Ainge that he never passed it because he shot 60% and Ainge shot 45%.  It makes sense.  Most people would have preferred an Al post move over a Rondo or Tony Allen jumper.  I don't think anyone said McHale had an attitude, but a scorers mentality.  That's what Al has.  Especially when he's usually been the #1 or #2 option on his team.
And at that point in time, who was Pierce to be calling people out on being a ball hog?

[kozlodoev]

That easily could have been Gerald Green he was talking about.

Given that Jefferson averaged exactly 16 points per game that year, it was pretty clear who he was talking about

I don't know if that would qualify him as having an "attitude".

I don't know whether that's qualified as an attitude. All I am saying is that the subtext was that he didn't care much about winning an losing as long as he got his stats.

McHale used to say to Ainge that he never passed it because he shot 60% and Ainge shot 45%.

Yes, but I don't remember McHale ever being ok with losing.

And at that point in time, who was Pierce to be calling people out on being a ball hog?

Only the best player on that team, a perennial allstar and the guy who was asked to carry an enormous load year after year when he was surrounded with quality contributors like Bruno Sundov, J.R. Bremer, and Jiri Welsch.

But I guess calling out Pierce is a great argument in defense of Jefferson.

[BballTim]

You got any kind of substantiation of that charge re: Jefferson's attitude? Haven't heard that before.

After the Garnett trade, Pierce went on the record to say that one of the problems of that pitiful 20-win team was that some guys just cared about their 16 points per game.

Make of this what you will, but it doesn't take too much to do the math. Especially given that anyone who's watched Jefferson play should be well aware that the guy is a black hole on offense and never looks for anything else but his own shot.

  Can you find that quote? Not only do I not remember reading that, but I don't remember any threads about it on celticsblog and I have a hard time believing that such a quote would have been ignored here. I remember Perk and Al complaining about Blount's attitude when he was traded, but I don't remember anyone complaining about Al's.

[CoachBo]

Big Al will respond well to Sloan.  I think his defense will improve and so will his offense.  Good for Big Al.

A no-nonsense, teamwork-oriented coach and a player who reportedly only cares about his points and rebounds, on a contender. Sounds like a match made in heaven.

I give them 1 month before they butt heads after Sloan politely explains to Al that the Jazz are bigger than Al Jefferson.

You got any kind of substantiation of that charge re: Jefferson's attitude? Haven't heard that before.

I'd like to see that substantiation, too. Or is it just another Celtics Blog chapter in the hyperbolic glorification of what I'll call Danny's Kids today?

I STRONGLY suspect the latter.