This trade had me thinking a lot about what the heck does this mean in the way of a statement by the Jazz. Obvious answer is it makes us better and covers up for the loss of Boozer. But seriously their has to be more! With that in mind I have come up with 2 main points that this trade tells me.
1- Paul Millsap is loved by the franchise but they know he is not capable of handling the scoring load that Boozer did last season. If they truly thought he was able to do this why on earth would the acquire an offensive minded big man? Would it not make more sense to obtain a defensive minded big man?! Although we are all high on Millsap this to me is telling in that he is not far from his peak in potential.
2- Memhet Okur injury is very serious and full recovery does not look optimistic. I have felt that Okur injury is so serious that he might not even return to play and if he does it will be in a very limited role. This is a point that Digan always talks about with him. With the Jazz adding Jefferson this tells me that the Jazz want to play with Millsap at the 4 and Jefferson at the 5.
Now I will be honest in admit that I believe both of these issues played a large role in the Jazz acquiring Jefferson. Kevin O'Connor in an interview yesterday on 1320 Kfan said that Millsap has been saying he can be the guy and that this year he is going to get a chance to prove that. He said that knowing that Jefferson was coming to Utah. In my opinion the Jazz will start Millsap and Jefferson next season and Okur (if healthy) will come off the bench. My whole point is that there is a lot more to this trade than just replacing Boozer's offense.
1 comment:
bulls eye! Jefferson is considered one of the 10 best scores in the league, not one of the 10 best defenders. Now that may change slightly now that he has a winning team to defend for, and a "4" in milsap that likes to bang and d-up even though he is under sized. No body likes to be out muscled by a smaller guy... except Booz!
I love this combonation down low, but I would love it even more if Jefferson was slid to the 4, milsap was traded to Orlando for starting center Gortat and a backup "4" in Brandon Bass.
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