And I believe Utah is doing the right thing too. Which is checking every FA that has a chance in coming to Utah. Looks like they got Maggette (hoping the Clips don't match) and I'm sure they'll get another big FA before the season. At least they're moving in the right direction, something a lot of NBA teams haven't done *cough* Bulls.
Uh, no. It's common sense. The Jazz are a veteran team coming off a 47 win season and have lost their two best players. The Rockets are a young team coming off a 43 win season and will have Yao Ming in training camp for the first time. Shall I draw you a diagram?
Uh, the Jazz also may get Maggette who is a strong player, they're shooting for Brand (which I doubt they'll get), and they've still got some solid play thanks to AK, Harp, and Collins. Again, no one is stating Utah won't lose a step. But I do believe that if Utah can get a few more solid FA, they'll play tough and give the Rockets hell, of course, both teams will lose out in the end and not make the playoffs.
And I believe Utah is doing the right thing too. Which is checking every FA that has a chance in coming to Utah. Looks like they got Maggette (hoping the Clips don't match) and I'm sure they'll get another big FA before the season. They should be checking out every fa, true. I don't think there's much out there that would be considered big, other than Arenas. Again, I wouldn't want to spend big lump sums on pieces, rather than what should be "the" piece. At least they're moving in the right direction, something a lot of NBA teams haven't done *cough* Bulls. I think it'll take quite a big longer than a few weeks to tell if the Jazz are truly headed in the right direction.
You're right, there isn't many people Utah can sign. Thus when they do pick up a Meggette, it is at least a good pickup. None the less, I agree that it'll be hard to gauge Utah's offseason until it's officially over. That said if Utah gets its wish list (Arenas, Brand) they'll have the makings for a solid team. Maybe not playoff ready, but something they can build on. Yes the Jazz will have a bad season next year, most teams do after 20 years of having the same two players as their stars. BUT I do think the Jazz are at least trying to be competitive in a few years. They went from one of the oldest teams in the league, to one of the youngest. There will be a LARGE change.
You don't really understand what made Utah a good team apparently. Who's going to get AK and Harpring the open shots they got last year? It won't be Maggette that's for sure. What happened to Shandon Anderson and Howard Eisley when they left Utah? You're going to be in for a rude awakening as to how much impact Stockton and Malone had on these "solid" players. Barring a major injury, the Rockets will make the playoffs. There's no doubt in my mind about that. After missing by one game last year and all the changes we're having now plus another years experience, there is too much momentum in that direction right now for them not to make it.
Well I don't doubt Karl and Stock made Utah a good team, I also believe you need to give a little credit to Jerry Sloan. He helped in making Utah a power team out in the west, and he's still going to be there. The Rox very well may make the playoffs, but if the Jazz get their wish list (as I posted above) they too will give them a run for their money. But I'm not going to say anything until I see the first full month of the NBA season.
Utah is done for a few years, just face it. Sloan is a fine coach--but it is Karl Malone and to a lesser extend Stockton that kept the Jazz as first round fodder the last few years--admitedly that is better than the Rockets over this period. BUT, the Rockets have 2 young stars the level the Jazz have zero in, and the Rockets' were 1 game out of the playoffs, the Jazz made it by like 5--it is obvious to about every impartial person the teams are on different trajectories. No, Brand they will definetely match because Brand is a good value at any salary now allowed by the NBA. Maggette is the 2nd guy they will match--it will have to be a ridicoulus offer (say starting at 8 mil+) for them not to match him. Dre they will let go. Odom they probably would to if he were similarly overpayed (7-8-9 mil per year), Brand they will match or trade no matter what (won't let him walk) and Maggette too for all but the most unreasonable offer. Also, I really like Maggette. But he isn't the kind of talent (Yao, Francis, Brand) to really be a cornerstone for a rebuilding team. In short he would be a great guy to have around Stockton and Malone--but in no form is he any kind of replacement.
Like I've said above, I don't doubt the Jazz are done for a few years. BUT that doesn't mean they haven't started to build the base of their future team - which is good. As for the Jazz not making the playoffs, I AGREE. But the west has just gotten THAT much better, and the Rockets haven't done much this offseason that should push them up to the playoffs. May they get Utah's seed in the playoffs? Sure. But I still am in doubt.
They won't match Maggette for a max offer sheet. I was thinking a sane contract Sterling would. If not SA then someone else is going to a put a tricked up offer sheet for Brand in front of Sterling. No way he matches an offer sheet that would require him to pony up $30 mil in cold hard cash in the first year to keep a player, no matter who he is. Even without that I find it hard to believe that Donald Sterling finally saw the light and is going to make a good faith effort to retain talent and build a team for the long term. Every summer the Clippers always talk about how they are going to sign all their free agents and spend all this money and then every summer those free agents leave, save for Eric Piatkowski. Sterling is deathly afraid of the old long term guaranteed contract that is standard fare in the NBA. That doesn't fit his business model for the franchise. Why would he suddenly decide to throw caution to the wind and commit to paying $50 mil in total compensation next year? I don't see it.
No more Jazz bashing please. They're doing the right thing trying to rebuild around whoever they can get their hands on. Maggette is a nice change of pace from what they have had in the past. They have a decent foundation in Harpring/AK47. Maggette, though it may seem like an odd marriage, will definitely do a lot to help that team out. Besides, the only reason we hated the Jazz were because of Stockton/Malone. Now that they're gone, can't we just be nice to the Jazz fans? I hate the Lakers more than any other team in history.
I agree, only a crazy contract for Maggette he won't match, and well if it really is the max that is a crazy contract for him. Sterling won't lose too much sleep over it. Sterling has to spend money. Brand is his best player and barganing chip. He can always match a 6 year max deal, and in 3 months trade Brand for an expiring contract and cheap long term but effective players and young talent and draft picks. (for instance Rice, Mobley, Griffin and #1--I am sure some other teams could come up with similar offers too) Again it makes no sense to let Brand go because he is his hottest commodity, even at signed to a 6 year max deal, and teams over the cap will line up with offers of value contract players, drafts picks, expiring contracts, to get him (even more if he is locked away 6 years at any price). Brand could put some pressure to make the Clips S&T now and the Clips might do it (say he will leave after next year and absolutely does not want to play for them), but the bottom line is the Clips would want good value for any trade in return. They hold most of the cards.
The thing with Sterling is that he doesn't have the Allen/Cuban mentality when it comes to his team. The team is something he enjoys owning but it's gotta produce for him. He seems wary of building the team through doling out long term contracts. He's had a good team before in the early 90s IIRC and he let that one go. He's found a sweet deal in generating cash off his cut of league revenues and keeping his payroll low and avoiding long term deals and the expense that goes along with having players under those contracts (ie insurance). The Spurs apparently have an offer sheet that would require Sterling or themselves to pay Brand $20 million up front as soon as the contract is signed, along with other 'poison pill' type clauses.
