I'd love Matt Harpring and Raul Lopez. Maybe they would like Juwon Howard and Tyron Lue. We could also give up Boki. I'm sure he'd be at least shanderson-esqe in Utah. That's not a bad deal for Utah. They get a legit, workmanlike backup power forward/center at a good price, they get a replacement backup 3 that can slash in Sloan's system and that's learned good defense, now. They give up redundant talent behind recently re-signed starters at 3 and 1. They get big for small. We could sweeten further with the TE. Probably won't happen - but within the real of possibility. Why do I like these guys? Harpring is a great defender at 3 and can shoot really well. Lopez is a nice talent as a distributor.
Utah wouldn't do this. They are one of the hottest teams in the league and have no need for Howard/Lue.
Actually, Utah has lost 4 of the last 5. One reason is that they are very thin up front, with only Jaron Collins and Curtis Borchardt behind Boozer and Okur. I think Howard would be very valuable. Harpring and Lopez have been injured. Harpring played a few minutes last game, collecting fouls quickly. He was subbing in for Bell and Giricek. With Kirilenko now getting superstar minutes at the 3, and Boozer now manning the 4, Harpring won't get the minutes he did when AK was at 4. Jazz picked up Howard Eisley and Arroyo is just back now. They are ok at the 1. If we gave them Boki as insurance at the 3 (we have to trade him anyway) and also Howard to shore up the frontcourt, they actually ought to be pretty happy with that. They'd be better off. Boozer is going to get in foul trouble more often than Kirilenko. Okur is going to need some emergency help at times. Howard would be a nice pickup at a good price. They can have Lue, if they want, to replace Lopez as a backup. It's a talent exchange that could help both teams. Harpring would play well at the 3 opposite Tmac. This is the primary exchange - Howard for Harpring. Contracts are close. Lopez would help the attack, able to play aggressive with the more cautious Ward to sub in. Boki for Lopez is a nice deal for both.
wouldn't we be a bit too thin at 4 then? who's going to play if motay has an injury? otherwise, I think this is a trade that favors rox
and bowen...if there is any position we are NOT worried about being thin at, its the 4. overall good trade for both. that would make us solid at the 1, 2, 3, and 5.
