Millsap

Indiana has a lot of cap room and word was they might make a run at David West. Mike Wells said the teams were talking before the draft about Millsap:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20111126/SPORTS04/111126003/Mike-Wells-look-players-Pacers-might-pursue

But, this article also lists West, Nene and Carl Landry as players the Pacers may go after. Still, with Chris Broussard of ESPN saying that the Jazz are unlooking to unload Millsap, Al Jefferson or both in order to make room for Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors, Millsap to Indiana could make sense. Apparently, Wells claims the Pacers would be willing to give a draft pick up to solve their PF situation. If they did, I think they could even throw in James Posey, who is in the last year of his deal and could either help the Jazz on the wing or probably be bought out reasonably.

To me, that sounds like a pretty viable possibility as they have similar contracts. Brandon Rush could be another player who might be included, as he is in the last year of his rookie contract and will be a restricted FA the Pacers could look to move. I highly doubt the Pacers throw in any of their younger talent and I think the Posey scenario makes the most sense. Millsap and George Hill would make the Pacers a better team, but getting some cap space and a mid-first round pick sounds like a best case scenario for the Jazz if they were to trade Millsap to Indiana. Plus, Indiana would be getting a nice upgrade at the PF spot, and more than likely would win the deal as Millsap definitely is a step up over an average mid-first round pick.

 Good for both parties, Indiana needs a starting caliber PF.  I feel Hansbrough is starting caliber, but is best suited for a bench role due to the energy he brings to the court and Millsap could provide scoring Hansbrough could not.

Utah is also building a new team and Favors and Kanter are going to need minutes next year.  No matter who they get for Millsap, I think he needs a fresh start as do the Jazz.

The Pacers might need a starting (more like "star," cuz I too agree that Hansbrough is starting caliber) PF and the Jazz def need to unload Millsap or Al but these two teams mesh horribly in terms of a trade. The Jazz don’t need Hibbert or Hansbrough. Posey is a veteran defensive presence but we tried that last year with Raja Bell and he was terrible (and Posey stunk last year, too). They don’t seem willing to part with the young and talented Collison, where the Jazz are looking for a future PG, as Harris is just a very good placeholder, not the future of a rebuilding team. They aren’t going to re-deal George Hill, a sort of hometown guy who they gave up a fairly major prospect for just a few months ago. With C.J. Miles, the Jazz don’t need Brandon Rush (at least as a starter) with Burks in the fold for the future, a much better long-term option than Rush.

It would seem that Granger is the most sensible player for Millsap, especially because the Pacers also have Paul George (who was hugely impressive last year on both ends of the floor) at essentially the same role on the court as Granger. The Jazz like Hayward but I think they could make way for Granger; if, like most, the Jazz brass feel that Burks is at least a year away from starting, they could certainly play Hayward at SG and Granger at SF while Burks comes along; in two years, Granger will be an expiring contract and Burks will still only be 22, and ready to take over.

Millsap and a 1st rd pick for Granger doesn’t seem too far-fetched to me. To make the salaries match the Jazz could throw in Okur and take back Posey. 

Millsap to the Pacers for a pick and a filler looks a nice deal in my opinion. We know that the Jazz want a PG long term and moving Millsap would give them more cap space for the 2012 FA market if required.

When Sammy mentioned Grainger above in the trade, I wondered if Grainger for Jefferson might work as Utah clear a frontcourt space for Favours and Kanter and the Pacers can slot Paul George in at SF and both teams still get a legit scorer so the change is effectively just positional.

Sammy, guess you are a Jazz fan. Well, why would you want to take on Granger’s contract? He is set to make 39 million over the next three years. Plus, you guys are in full rebuilding mode. I say, power to the youth movement. You are more than likely not going to have a very competitive team next season, and while Danny Granger is a solid SF, he is not one you want to necessarily be paying that kind of money to. I do not think Posey is the answer at SF either, but they still could legitimately re-sign Kirilenko (fingers crossed butidonthavemoney), with Posey freeing cap space to find a much more economically friendly option at SF. I think that the Pacers more than likely do not move Granger, either, as I believe they have every intention of playing he and Paul George on the wing, which got them a 8th seed last year. The Pacers want to build, I feel the Jazz need to rebuild, and I do not think Danny Granger is what you start with in that process.

Yeah, I don’t think Indiana would be willing to trade Granger for Millsap and throw-ins. I also don’t believe such a trade be in Utah’s best interest.

I like Paul Millsap, but if Utah wants to commit early to giving the Favors/Kanter duo playing time right away (that’s not a certainty, by the way), mikeyv’s deal works pretty well for both sides.

Collison/Hill
George/Jones
Granger/Rush
Millsap/Hansbrough
Hibbert

That particular rotation is deep, talented and capable defensively; promising in both the short and long-terms.

Oh, and I’m aware some folks would rather see Lance Stephenson in the rotation instead of Dahntay Jones. I am not one of those people.

When the Wolves were shopping Jefferson, they offered him for Granger, and Indiana declined, so I don’t see that happening now either.

And while George does have potential, he is no where near the level of Granger, and it would be very foolish for a promising team like Indiana trade their best player because a rookie who showed some potential. Yes, he has all the tools to be great, but he shot 29.7% from the 3 last year and struggles to create for himself. His realistic comparison will probably be Batum. Knock down spot up shooter, great wing defender, but not consistant in creating for himself. But either way he’s a great piece for the Pacers.

Millsap would be a great fit, but with the Jazz already having 3 picks in next years draft (two of which could be lottery picks) I could see them going for young players instead of picks, and that doesn’t seem like something Indiana could provide. Unless the Jazz were quite high on Rush, but that’s doubtful.

I also think they can get more for Milsap then a pick that will be around 20-15. He averaged 17.3 and 7.6 last year and is set to make around 6mi. One of the biggest bargains for players not on their rookie deals. Teams like Portland, Jersey, San Antonio, Denver, Philly all could use some PF depth and could offer just as much, probably more.

I really like where the Jazz and Pacers are headed right now, building stable, young, hardworking teams, but as trade partners they may not be the best fit if they both want to continue that mold.

I could see a Tiago Splitter, or a TImothy Mozgov and picks and maybe Andre Miller or Tony Parker for Millsap The veteran Points would fill in right now, and could hlp them make a run at the playoffs.

If we were getting really bold I wonder if Utah could put together a package maybe to get CP3 and try and keep him there. Millsap gives the Hornets a decent replacement for David West, they could absorb Okafor’s contract in exchange for Okur’s expiring deal and send Devin Harris to give NOH a PG. Utah would have to send pick/future picks or maybe even one of their young pieces if they didn’t absorb Okafor’s deal. But Utah could then perhaps move Jefferson for a pick elsewhere send that to NOH and still take Okafor as part of the deal.

NOH get an asset in Millsap, move Okafor’s deal, have Okur’s expiring deal either waive or trade and can rebuild.