[the27guyParticipant]

If you’re sick of reading about the Jazz, please stop reading now and go away. Please do not post anything, just click that little arrow pointing left in the upper left of your screen. Thanks.

Okay, with T-Minus- 2 days and counting, I’ve finally figured out what’s going to happen with the Jazz in the draft, and in free agency–well, most of it. I’m going to say some things that Jazz fans aren’t going to like, but I really think I’ve figured it out, so hear me out on this, okay?

First, the Jazz are taking Luke Babbitt. Period. They’ve been planning on it since the lottery. Monroe will be gone, and all this Ed Davis stuff is just a smoke screen. With this high of pick, the Jazz aren’t taking a project like Davis, it’s not their style. Anyone who knows the history of the team knows that the Jazz will always take a guy they believe will be a good player over the (high risk/reward) guy who MIGHT be an all-star. They’re banking on Babbit being their at 9, and if he’s not, they’ll be shocked and will be forced to pick Henry. They will not be drafting a big.

Why won’t they be drafting a big? Would you like to know? Get ready for this one. It’s going to blow you away. They’re going to resign Carlos Boozer. It’s true. I figured it out. I don’t even have a little doubt in my mind. I’ll tell you why. Name the major players in the market for big time Power forwards…. Chicago, Miami, New Jersey, New York… anybody else? There are a few other teams with cap space, but the 4 teams that I just mentioned are the most likely teams to make an All-Star power forward an offer. Each of these teams is going to go hard after some big names, and here’s what’s going to most likely happen. Bosh is going to Miami or Chigago (He is NOT resigning in Toronto). Whichever of those two teams he doesn’t go to, Stoudemire will sign with (He is NOT resigning in Phoenix).

That leaves New Jersey and New York. Well, as you might know, New Jersey is most likely drafting Derrick Favors; neither he nor Boozer can move to the small forward, so it would be foolish for them to make a play at Boozer. New York is not in a position to win, and unless Lebron or Wade jumps ship, Boozer won’t follow. I know what you’re thinking, “Boozer only cares about money, and even if New York was the only option offering more than the Jazz, Boozer would still choose New York over Utah”… if you were thinking that, you’re wrong. Boozer knows that his name has been tarnished. He knows everyone still remembers the way things went wrong when he left Cleveland. Although money is what matters the most to him, he doesn’t want to leave a legacy as a two-faced guy who only cared about money. If he signed for less in Utah the fans would appreciate that. So, Utah will offer him a 4yr $55 Million deal, with a player option on the 4th year.

Korver and Fes both are going to find better offers in other places, and so the Jazz will let them leave. The 2 and the 3 spots will largely be filled by Miles and Matthews, with Babbitt playing probably 15 minutes a game at the 3, and 10 minutes a game at the 4. I know that’s a lot for a rookie in the Jazz system, but Sloan is going to love Babbitt.

Lastly, Andrei Kirilenko has played his last game in Utah. Their trading him. Where? Probably New Jersey, but maybe Minnesota. The Jazz are going to send Andrei along with the Grizzlies pick for however little the other team is willing to give back. It’s not going to be easy to get rid of AK, but with only one more year on the deal, it’s time. I think the Jazz will probably have to take back a guy who is overpaid, but in the last year of his deal and making $5-$8 mill per year, and since there are a ton of teams under the cap, the Jazz won’t have to take back equal salaries.

If you’re a Jazz fan, and you’ve just read the above few paragraphs, you’re probably thinking, “but how does that help us beat the Lakers?” Babbitt will help, but won’t turn the table in the Jazz favor…. I hate to say it, but the Jazz aren’t going to become better than the Lakers over night. They’re just not. No one at 9 (No, not Whiteside, Udoh, or Davis) will be enough to make the Jazz better than the Lakers and you know what? That’s okay. Neither will any other team. It’s not JUST about beating the Lakers… it’s about becoming a better team.

If you read all of the above paragraphs then I commend you. Oh, and just remember, this is going to happen, and when it does, remember that I told you so. 🙂

[richgatesParticipant]

I am not sure I agree with you, but it was a detailed post, and it is a possibility.

[cycloParticipant]

I don’t know of any teams that want Boozer at the price he’ll be asking.

Anyone heard Boozer’s name connected to another team?

Boozer’s resigning with the Jazz.

As Elton Brand and the 76ers can tell you, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

Actually the Jazz could go for a big.
Honestly who the Jazz pick depends a lot on who the Kings, Warriors, and Pistons take. Here is what I am expecting
Kings: Cousins (They need a center and while Monroe is more their style, Petrie is one smart GM. Last year he shocked the whole nation and picked Evans over Rubio. It worked out and now all of Sacramento loves Petrie. This year Monroe looks to be their pick but with the smarts of Petrie I expect him to shock again and take the more athletic and more powerful Cousins.)
Warriors:Aminu (Maggete trade explains every thing. No Magette means no 3. Randolph is playing more like a 4. Warriors love potential, raw and athletic type players. This description fits Aminu to the core.
Pistons Monroe (Pistons would die if Cousins slipped to 7 which could happen but likely will not. If Monroe is still available by 7 then Dumars will cut his losses with Cousins and take him. He will not pass him up and take Davis because the Pistons need a Center and Dumars knows it.
Clippers:Of course we all know that if Aminu is not available at 8 then Clippers will take Babbitt.
Which leaves Davis for the Jazz. Jazz have taken projects before. Remember Kosta Koufus and Krylyo Fezenko. Both are project centers yet are still on the Jazz roster. 1 was picked by us in the first round, and the one we traded for on draft day. Also Jazz have been high on Davis since day 1, Yes even longer then Babbitt. If Monroe is still available which is almost impossible then of course would take him as they are even higher on him but if Davis is still available at 9(Which he likely will be) then Jazz will take him.

Boozer will not resign Boozer. At the beginning of the year I would have been with you, but not so much know as Miami, Chicago, New York will all try and get him some how. New York is likely to get Bosh. Chicago either Amare or Booz and Miami who ever is left. Booz likes both places as we all know from last year. Now I will shock you, Jazz should just let him go and not even try and resign him or do a sign and trade, Why: Because of who we could bring over come 2011 when AK comes off the books. Ante Tomic (our draft pick in 2008) He is playing excellent with Real Madrid so the time to bring him over should be soon. ( He is compared Pau Gasol, how do we not compete with Lakers with a younger GasolIf we resign Booz or do a sign and trade then in 2011 when AK comes the book we would not have enough money to bring over Tomic.

Now I know all of you think by no resigning Booz or doinga sign and trade then we will just fall off the face of the earth and suck this year. Also not gonna happen. Dwill is just too good and Sloan is too good of a coach to let us stink. Millsap is too polished of a 4 to let us stink. Davis may be raw but he is not that raw. he could help and would do well with a bench rool. Miles and Matthews have improved too much to let us stink.

I also think that somehow someway we are going to get a mid to late first round pick. We could offer AK, Koufus, Miles, or Korver for that pick. This would give us a chance to select James, Pondexter, Ebanks, or Hayward and thus fulfill our need of a 3.

[the27guyParticipant]

DWill8,

How do I say this? You didn’t say anything that I haven’t heard all of my Jazz friends say… and just like all of them, you’re wrong. Don’t get me wrong, I think you’re well informed, and you’ve clearly thought a lot about what you think is going to to happen, it’s just that I’m right about this. You’ll see on Thursday. After Stern says Babbit’s name, you’ll start to feel better about it. 🙂

Also, Bosh is not going to NY. No way. Not happening. He’s been in loser-hell for the last 7 years. He wants to win now.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

Sorry about the errors. I wanted to fix them but the site would not let me. It kept saying “access denied”.
And 27guy how is AK going to Jersey. I know the owner is russian and loves but I honestly think that we need to get someone of equal value. Who would the Nets offer us? they are not letting Lopez go or Harris and now would we need Harris. I would like to have Williams but i doubt the Nets would be willing to part with their rookie who could be promising just yet. Maybe one of their draft picks but again I doubt they would be willing to part with them when that rookie could be promising. And the wolves, there is no one that I would like from the Wolves except for Brewer, this could happen. Seems more plausible but Brewer really improved last year. He added a 3pt shot to his arsenal. You would think that the wolves would like to keep this talent as he would help them out. I think he stays and Jazz resign him next year for much less. Maybe 5 or 6 million. The only plausible solution would be the wolves and we get Brewer and some other players, but i doubt this would happen because of how much Brewer has improved.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

I know Bosh wants to win now, but New York has a ton of money next year and are likely to sign 2 max free agents. How do the knicks not start winning with two max free agents on their roster? I would not be mad if Babbitt is drafted by us, but I just hope that we are able to resign Booz if this happens because I do not want to see Koufus backing up Millsap. I don’t even want to see Koufus in a Jazz uniform.
What team would offer Fez a contract? Korver I understand and actually expect because of his hot shooting. Fez improved somewhat this year but I have not given up on him yet (unlike Koufus) and I don’t think the Jazz have either. They are going to resign him in order to keep seeing what they can get out of him. And it will not take much to do so maybe 1million or so. And Babbitt is not playing the 4. Are you kidding he is only 217lbs, He would get killed if he played the 4 for even a minute in the NBA. The NBA aint college he is going to be destroyed if he plays the 4. He will be playing 3 his entire career. Like I said Babbitt but i think Davis will still be available at #9 and I think the Jazz will bite and pass on him because of the situation they are in with Booz.

[the27guyParticipant]

I’m a CPA, so you could say that I’m a bit of a numbers guy. I think about finances a lot more than most fans do. Simply, AK’s contract is killing the Jazz. I agree with you that it would be nice to get him in the $5mil area, but that means that we wait an entire year and pony up $18 mil for him during the yr. After you see Babbitt in a Jazz uni, you’ll forget about AK. The team doesn’t need equal value… what it needs is to get under the luxury tax.

[the27guyParticipant]

DWill, good questions.

#1 Koufus isn’t ever going to be a starting center in this league, but he’ll make a good backup. I think you’ll like him more when he gets more time and it’s not just against the Lakers.

#2 Fes’ contract is really going to surprise some people. Like Koufos, fans are making a mistake by just judging him based on what he did against LA. He’s the 3rd biggest guy in the league, he’s active, and he intimidates normal teams. Did you happen to watch the Nuggets series? He was great! I’ll bet he gets a 3 yr $10Mil deal, and we’ll just wave goodbye.

#3 Babbitt is 6-9. He can shoot. His combine numbers suggest that he’s pretty quick. He’ll be a good stretch 4 in a small ball lineup against certain teams, plus, obviously his frame can handle another 25 lbs. Your hyping Ed Davis, but in all reality he’s like 5 lbs heavier.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

#1 No Koufus, I have given up on him completely. He is horrible and I hate seeing him in games. Period, I want him gone. Adios and good riddens.
#2 I like Fez and he was great in the Nuggets series but I have heard other people’s reaction to Fez and Koufus and they hate them both. Not many team will be asking for Fez, because he never really had a dominant game. Yeah he was great but honestly if Nuggets had their usual coach back from Cancer , he would have ripped him to shreds just like the lakers did. Teams know this so they will not ask much for him. A 3 year deal for 10mil is too much, way too much for him. Teams will be smart and only offer him what he is worth, which is at most 2 years for about 5million.
#3. Honestly I do want equal value for AK. Even if we do get Babbitt. Why because I am worried about Babbitt’s defense . I love his shooting but I don’t know about his defense because of two things, 1 he is a tweenner, 2 he played in a weak conference, so his defense may have been good against them but will that transfer to the NBA??? Even the Jazz themselves are worried about this. With AK, I know I will get defense. Without, maybe, but I would rather have definitely yes, then maybe, maybe not.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

Trust me Babbitt will get killed as a 4. Might be able to handle it when he has more experience and puts on more weight but not when he is a rookie. He is not just going to get 20lbs stronger in just a few months. Even if he does he would still get bullied down in the post, and I am still a little worried about his D.

[JazzinSLCParticipant]

Between Aminu and Babbitt. They could throw a real wrench into Utah’s plans if they decide on Babbitt. I would hope the Jazz would select Udoh (assuming he’s available) if the Clippers take Luke. I’m not really a Babbitt fan, so I could care less either way.

Reportedly, when the Nets decided to take Wesley Johnson with the third pick instead of Favors, is because they plan on throwing a big deal at Carlos Boozer. If they are willing to pass up a talent like Favors, then I would suspect there going to offer Booze close to max money. If they do, I don’t think the Jazz try to match.

Also, trading AK (a great idea) will be much easier said then done. I will be very surprised if they can pull it off. Not very many teams are in a position to take on that large of a contract (even an expiring one).

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