[slash787Participant]

Here is the article from Sheridan Hoops.

http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2013/02/06/sheridan-al-jefferson-to-spurs/

Jefferson may be dealt for Tiago Splitter, Stephen Jackson, and Patty Mills. I will believe when I see it.

[dmo21Participant]

That’s a rough one. I think Utah can do much better. They aren’t getting anything they need. The best player they are getting back will have to play behind Millsap, Favors, and Kanter, so that logjam is still there. Jackson is just a salary throw in and Mills isn’t good enough to be their point guard of the future.

[slash787Participant]

I agree I do not see why they would do this even if picks are included.

[MkadozaParticipant]

They would do this because they are on the verge of losing Jefferson for nothing, and getting multiple expiring contracts, including the very attractive Splitter would allow them to make trades easier than say moving Jefferson’s one big contract. They’d do it for roster, financial, and transaction flexibility.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

Have you seen that Tiago’s pecs! Dayyyyum…

Wait…

Wait…….

[CynthiaParticipant]

Half man, half sexy machine.

<3

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

^^^^

[CameronParticipant]

I really hope the Spurs don’t do this, I don’t see how it makes them better.

[thparadoxParticipant]

I think you guys underestimate just how good Splitter is. I’m not saying he’s as good as Jefferson, but the gap isn’t as big as you might think.

Also, Jefferson’s contract is expiring, so his value as a contract is relatively high (expiring), and his value as a player is relatively low (since he can leave).

It still surprises me that Utah didn’t trade Jefferson or Millsap a year ago.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

The Spurs Should be arrested for Robbery if this deal does go thru….

[TyroberParticipant]

Jefferson is going to the highest bidder in the summer. I doubt he resigns in Utah… he most definitely would resign there but are they going to pay him and keep the logjam there? I highly doubt it so getting anything back wouldn’t be a bad idea.

[bankjungParticipant]

all 4 big , only Big Al love The Utah City but jazz fan want him out (may be the salary wage)
others 3 that the jazz fan want him to stay , …………..

[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

This deal is bittersweet. Al Jefferson is a slight improvement over Tiago and I love Al Jefferson’s game, but I feel Tiago compliments the Spurs much better with his. He is an underrated finisher around the basket and is in chemistry of his teammates. Not saying that Al won’t be able to do so in time, but if it ain’t broke…

Giving up Captain Jack would hurt a bit as well. He’s not having his best season, but he brings to the Spurs what Reggie Evans, Metta, Caron Butler, etc bring to their teams: Aggression.

[bloodshyParticipant]

I actually like this trade. However, I’d like it better if a 1st rounder was thrown in.

First, I think Jefferson is overrated as a player. He’s improved in many aspects of his game (passing, P&R defense, etc.), but is still not great on D. Moreover, he’s not elite–from an efficiency standpoint–on O, even if he has a phenomenal skill set on O.

Second, I don’t think the Jazz have any intentions of re-signing Al. He’ll be paid $12-15M/year on a 3-5 year deal as a free agent this off season and the Jazz aren’t interested in making that payment for a guy with his deficiencies.

Third, the Jazz are not contenders. They will finish somewhere between #7 and #9 in the West this year and, if they make the playoffs, will most likely be swept by the Spurs or OKC. As such, even if a trade like this causes us to lose a few more games it will open up minutes for Kanter/Favors. Moreover, if a draft pick is included, it improves the team in the future.

Fourth, I think Splitter is underrated and is likely to be signed at a much lower rate in the off season than Jefferson. While he’s probably not quite as valuable as Al, it’s a lot closer than most people think.

[Sewok15Participant]

There are certainly a lot of potential playoff teams that would love to have a guy like Jefferson who you can throw the ball to in the post and get a bucket. He is not a good defender but he still helps you out because he will score 20 a game and even with Jefferson defending them most big guys in the league can’t do that consistently.

I would certainly wait and see if I could get a better deal than this. I doubt they get any potential starter at PG but they at least need to get a decent 1st round pick for him.

[chevilicousParticipant]

I dunno, as a jazz fan i dont mind this trade whatsoever. What scares me is the possibility of Al Jerfferson actually being discipline enough to buy into a system. If he bought into that spurs system along side Duncan that could be absolutely filthy, and in my mind put them in serious title contention. I for one have never been a Jefferson fan, I have never liked the guys effort, his defense, his shot selection and his inability to make his team mates better. However his overall offensive talent has been something i have never questioned. But the one thing that is for certain is Popovich’s ability to essentially plug anybody he wants into that system and make them productive. He does this with problemed players, un athletic players, and one dimentional players, and he does so better than any coach in the league. If he can do that with Jefferson, which quite frankly i dont think anybody has anything of substance to say he cant do it, then look out..

[HitsterParticipant]

I don’t really get this trade as Jefferson isn’t a huge upgrade over Splitter when you take his likely salary demands into consideration, they are both 28 but maybe Splitter has less miles on the clock. I had been wondering how the Spurs were going to sort out their frontcourt line up around Duncan with Blair and Splitter both due for renewal this summer.

Splitter must surely be in line for something in $8 million per year plus range given that this could be his one big NBA contract and using Asik and Taj Gibson as a rough yard stick.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Asik is considered a franchise changing defender, so please do not compare him to Splitter. The Rockets are in the playoffs in the West and they basically admit that their entire defense goes to Sh!t when Asik is on the bench. Splitter is fine, but defense is half of the game. Splitter doesn’t change the entire basis of half of a franchises’ game.

[rileymcshea3Participant]

Are y’all crazy? Al Jefferson is so much better then splitter. Why do you think the jazz are in the playoff race? It isn’t because of the back court that’s for sure, him and Millsap make that team who they are.If you put splitter in the starting lineup for the Jazz there is no way they would be in the same position as they are right now.If any one on this website has watched a spurs game ,all of splitters points are from easy layups because the spurs pass and spread the court so good.The Spurs would be my favorite to win the championship if they some now pulled this trade off.

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

if Kawhi Leonard is not included I don’t see why the jazz would entertain this offer,
I like the rumor of Monta Ellis much better!

[thparadoxParticipant]

I agreed that Jefferson is better than Splitter. But the gap isn’t that big. And on this spurs team, Splitter fits in very well:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&per_minute_base=36&type=advanced&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=2013&year_max=2013&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=99&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&is_active=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=&c1comp=gt&c1val=&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ws

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Seriously guys?!? The Spurs have the best record in the LEAGUE! Why in the world do you think they are going to do a big time trade and mess up their chemistry with a guy who will immediately go head to head with Duncan about how many minutes he should get per game at PF?

How about the Spurs just coast into their top three spots in the West conference. Play some home playoff series. Eventually meet OKC and the Clippers in a series and then let the SH!T get real. It will the second round of the playoffs, so the season will already be a success. Duncan is getting two days off of rest at that point and playing 40 minutes a night. Who cares who is backing him up?

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Seriously guys?!? The Spurs have the best record in the LEAGUE! Why in the world do you think they are going to do a big time trade and mess up their chemistry with a guy who will immediately go head to head with Duncan about how many minutes he should get per game at PF?

How about the Spurs just coast into their top three spots in the West conference. Play some home playoff series. Eventually meet OKC and the Clippers in a series and then let the SH!T get real. It will the second round of the playoffs, so the season will already be a success. Duncan is getting two days off of rest at that point and playing 40 minutes a night. Who cares who is backing him up?
——————————————————————————————————————————————–

They had the best record in the league last year, and the second best record in the league and best in the conference two years ago. It didn’t matter once the playoffs started either time.

Just because they have the best record in the league at the moment is no reason to rest on their laurels and not do anything to improve. I think Pop and Buford know that and if a deal comes around which they think can make their team better they won’t hesitate to pull the trigger.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

I don’t think this is a great deal for the Spurs. Jefferson is very good but it’s not much of a improvement over Splitter, as someone already said. Anyway, I’m confident coach Pop has something interesting under the sleeve to surprise us.

[aamir543Participant]

Tiago is really good, a very talented guy, but he’s not what the Jazz need. The value is good but not at the right position, and there will continue to be a logjam in the front court for the Jazz, but at least it won’t be as bad as before, assuming Tiago won’t get all of Jefferson’s 34 mins, leaving probably about 8-10 more mins for Favors or Kanter.

As for the Spurs, this might be the trade that put them over the top, I can’t imagine Duncan and Jefferson in the high and low post, that’s going to be scary. Also gibe them a short term solution to life after Duncan, but I think Jefferson can thrive with the Spurs, I think this time they’re getting the right Jefferson, lol.

[HitsterParticipant]

The Spurs are never team to rush into a deal and in Pop and Burford they have perhaps the best coach/front office combo in the league The Spurs were always a team that seemed to find that extra 5% in the play offs but in recent years despite superb regular season form their play off form has lacked slightly.

Also they are now having to look beyond the big 3 and with Manu up for renewal and a likely reduced contract they could maybe afford Al Jefferson on what would be a likely $60 million 4 year range deal. The trade works well financially with Jackson going with Splitter and perhaps being brought out and then returning to the Spurs but I feel that Utah would want a first round pick at least.

At Utah we all know that surely Millsap or Jefferson has to move on and they can renew Favours this summer which surely they will do, that is likely to be in $10 million per year range at least and Millsap if he stays would want similar I’d guess so Splitter would just be a rental but also maybe a safety net if Millsap did move on.

Aamir rightly points out that Splitter would take up less playing time than Jefferson so immediately gives Favours and Kanter say 5mpg extra each.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

While I do agree that Al Jefferson has some holes in his game, I’m laughing at the comments that he’s not that much better than Tiago Splitter lol. That’s a joke. He’s A LOT better than Splitter.

While I think Splitter has a place in the NBA, I’ve been disappointed with him. After being so good in Euroleague, I expected a MUCH better player coming over. I know the Spurs did too.

I wonder how Jefferson would play alongside Tim Duncan and fit in with the Spurs though? Coach Pop would make this work.

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