Williams to the Nets

**Mumbai1986** · 02-23-2011, 11:54 AM

Don't forget, D-will cannot opt out until after a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. And from what I have been hearing, it is not going to be kind to the players. I think D-Will is staying in New Jersey/ Brooklyn and NY knicks are gong to go after either Paul or maybe draft a young PG like the Celtics did with Rondo.

**CyJack13** · 02-23-2011, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

It really depends on your perspective. First, they play two completely different positions (Melo is a SF, Williams is a PG). Second, Melo is the #5 scorer in the league, Williams is the #17 scorer. But to further that, what is the purpose of a PG supposed to be - to lead the team in scoring, or to distribute to the team's leading scorers? Third, yes, Melo is known for not being able to play defense, but D'Antonio doesn't coach defense in the first place - you think that's really a concern with him? Fourth, in a year and a half the Knicks are going to pick up a top level PG anyway, whether it's Chris Paul or the very Deron Williams that's being discussed (and for the last couple of years it sounds like Paul is the preferred PG).

So while perhaps Williams > Melo overall, acquiring Melo > acquiring Williams for the Knics right now.

I think the Knicks would have been much better off if they could have got Williams instead of Carmelo. Williams is a much better fit for that team, they just didn't have the pieces to pull off that deal.

**Neckbeard** · 02-23-2011, 01:16 PM

It sounds like Williams was blind-sided by the deal and not happy at all. Better get Jay-Z on a private jet to meet with him. If he doesn't want to sign an extension this was a franchise killing waste of resources. Usually those signals are sent prior to any deals being cut.

**bostrem00** · 02-23-2011, 01:23 PM

At least they didn't give up 4 first round picks and half the team for him like the original trade for Carmelo...

**Yes13** · 02-23-2011, 01:24 PM

Utah has been the cheapest team the last few years. If you're not gonna spend money as an owner than SELL your team.

Jazz did get a decent deal, but they are in rebuild mode. They don't have much on their roster. The Nets, you don't really need a point guard when you don't have a team to put around that guy. I guess some free agents will want to team up with Williams though.

**CyJack13** · 02-23-2011, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by Yes13

Utah has been the cheapest team the last few years. If you're not gonna spend money as an owner than SELL your team.

What are you talking about? Utah is currently over the luxury tax. They had to choose between Boozer and Milsap this past summer and Boozer's wanted out for a while. This is a very good trade for them. Deron Williams is not resigning with them, why should they keep him for another year and a half and then let him walk away for nothing? They could come out of this with Derrick Favors and possibly Kyrie Irving and another lottery pick in 2012, plus they're probably not done trading this year. I'd expect Devin Harris, Okur or AK-47 to be traded soon. Even with Williams they were not making it past the second round this year, if you're going to rebuild, might as well go all out.

**Yes13** · 02-23-2011, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by CyJack13

What are you talking about? Utah is currently over the luxury tax. They had to choose between Boozer and Milsap this past summer and Boozer's wanted out for a while. This is a very good trade for them. Deron Williams is not resigning with them, why should they keep him for another year and a half and then let him walk away for nothing? They could come out of this with Derrick Favors and possibly Kyrie Irving and another lottery pick in 2012, plus they're probably not done trading this year. I'd expect Devin Harris, Okur or AK-47 to be traded soon. Even with Williams they were not making it past the second round this year, if you're going to rebuild, might as well go all out.

They've given away players in the middle of a playoff run to stay under the luxury tax. They resigned Milsap partly because he was cheaper, didn't resign Wesley Matthews.

**MNCyGuy** · 02-23-2011, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Yes13

They've given away players in the middle of a playoff run to stay under the luxury tax. They resigned Milsap partly because he was cheaper, didn't resign Wesley Matthews.

Back in the days when Minnesota made the playoffs every year, if you had told me that we could blow up the team, suck for 1-2 years, but then be an actual contender instead of being stuck in 1st/2nd round rut, I would have taken that deal in a heartbeat. Even if it had meant gambling on trading Garnett. This seems like a similar situation.

**CyJack13** · 02-23-2011, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by Yes13

They've given away players in the middle of a playoff run to stay under the luxury tax. They resigned Milsap partly because he was cheaper, didn't resign Wesley Matthews.

Wes Matthews is not worth the insane $34 M deal he got from the Blazers, they were smart not to match that offer.

**CyJack13** · 02-23-2011, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by MNCyGuy

Back in the days when Minnesota made the playoffs every year, if you had told me that we could blow up the team, suck for 1-2 years, but then be an actual contender instead of being stuck in 1st/2nd round rut, I would have taken that deal in a heartbeat. Even if it had meant gambling on trading Garnett. This seems like a similar situation.

Exactly. The worst place you can be in the NBA is in the 40-48 win range. You're missing out on lottery picks, and going nowhere in the playoffs, if you even make them. Jerry Sloan was a terrific coach, who always had them competitve, even with some less than stellar rosters, but he's gone now. Now is the time to go in rebuild mode. The Jazz now have four first round picks in the next two years, plus a good young front court in Milsap, Favors and Jefferson, plus several other trade chips for this year. Since you're never going to be able to get a lot of top of the line free agents to come to Utah, those draft picks they got are huge for the future of the franchise.

**MNCyGuy** · 02-23-2011, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by CyJack13

Exactly. The worst place you can be in the NBA is in the 40-48 win range. You're missing out on lottery picks, and going nowhere in the playoffs, if you even make them. Jerry Sloan was a terrific coach, who always had them competitve, even with some less than stellar rosters, but he's gone now. Now is the time to go in rebuild mode. The Jazz now have four first round picks in the next two years, plus a good young front court in Milsap, Favors and Jefferson, plus several other trade chips for this year. Since you're never going to be able to get a lot of top of the line free agents to come to Utah, those draft picks they got are huge for the future of the franchise.

Especially when you are not a big market or destination team (Lakers, Boston, Miami, etc.) where big name free agents actually want to sign. If you're a small market or the Clippers you really need to focus on being able to pick-up and retain a young core in the draft a la Durant/Westbrook or Gordon/Griffin. The Jazz were just barely too good for their own good. Who were they going to convince to come play in Utah to pair with Williams? Who was going to be left for them in the draft?

**Yes13** · 02-23-2011, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by CyJack13

Exactly. The worst place you can be in the NBA is in the 40-48 win range. You're missing out on lottery picks, and going nowhere in the playoffs, if you even make them. Jerry Sloan was a terrific coach, who always had them competitve, even with some less than stellar rosters, but he's gone now. Now is the time to go in rebuild mode. The Jazz now have four first round picks in the next two years, plus a good young front court in Milsap, Favors and Jefferson, plus several other trade chips for this year. Since you're never going to be able to get a lot of top of the line free agents to come to Utah, those draft picks they got are huge for the future of the franchise.

I agree, but rebuilding isn't much fun either. Not every rebuilding story ends up like the Thunder. Most of them end like (or continue like) the T-wolves.

If the Jazz got the Nets first round picks than they owned this trade. The Nets right now are D-Will and Lopez (a PF that can't rebound), and now if they don't have picks, they're screwed. The Jazz's outlook looks much better. That's if they draft right. I don't see much for trade bait on that team.

**MNCyGuy** · 02-23-2011, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Yes13

I agree, but rebuilding isn't much fun either. Not every rebuilding story ends up like the Thunder. Most of them end like (or continue like) the T-wolves.

If the Jazz got the Nets first round picks than they owned this trade. The Nets right now are D-Will and Lopez (a PF that can't rebound), and now if they don't have picks, they're screwed. The Jazz's outlook looks much better. That's if they draft right. I don't see much for trade bait on that team.

T-Wolves got hurt because they waited to long to read the writing on the wall.

...also because Latrell Spreewell couldn't figure out how to feed his kids on million dollar income.

**CyJack13** · 02-23-2011, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by Yes13

I agree, but rebuilding isn't much fun either. Not every rebuilding story ends up like the Thunder. Most of them end like (or continue like) the T-wolves.

If the Jazz got the Nets first round picks than they owned this trade. The Nets right now are D-Will and Lopez (a PF that can't rebound), and now if they don't have picks, they're screwed. The Jazz's outlook looks much better. That's if they draft right. I don't see much for trade bait on that team.

The Nets had five first round picks over the next two years. The Jazz now have the Nets own pick this year, which will probably end up in the 5-8 range. They also picked up the Warriors pick for next year, which is top 7 protected, so best case scenario that's a mid to late lottery pick. You're right it all comes down to drafting well though.

**Yes13** · 02-23-2011, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by CyJack13

The Nets had five first round picks over the next two years. The Jazz now have the Nets own pick this year, which will probably end up in the 5-8 range. They also picked up the Warriors pick for next year, which is top 7 protected, so best case scenario that's a mid to late lottery pick. You're right it all comes down to drafting well though.

If they can get Harrison Barnes, Terrence Jones, Alec Burks, or maybe Brandon Knight. They'd be well on their way.