The Downbeat - 28 December 2009 - #131 - The Holiday Hangover Edition

by Basketball John on Dec 28, 2009 5:00 AM MST in The Downbeat Comment 21 comments

1_medium The Jazz could be signing a PG this week. Scott at Ridiculous upside breaks down some top candidates. Could we see a return of a couple of former Jazz men?

2_medium Thanks to BC7 for forwarding this on. Here's a letter from Greg Miller to season ticket holders after the Maynor trade. Also, so as to not get lost in the message, Greg is now on twitter, http://twitter.com/GregInUtah

December 23, 2009

Dear Jazz Season Ticket Holder:

As a follow-up to yesterday’s trade, I want to personally let you know why we made the decision we did as we value your commitment to the Jazz.

1.       Fact: I want the Utah Jazz to win.

2.       Fact: The Jazz need to be financially viable in the long run.

3.       Fact: Unfortunately, due to Matt Harpring’s numerous injuries, he is unable to play. This means the Jazz is paying $13 million (salary and luxury tax) and getting nothing in return.

4.       Fact: I am not happy about trading Eric Maynor.

The genesis of yesterday’s trade began last summer when Boozer, Okur and Korver all exercised their option to continue to play for the Utah Jazz. I was surprised, but happy when all three were back on our roster at the start of this season.

Portland then made their run at Millsap in the late summer. As a franchise, we believe in Paul and hope he has a long and prosperous career with the Utah Jazz. Because of this, I felt strongly that we needed to make an unprecedented move to match Portland’s offer and keep Paul here. Doing this meant for the first time in franchise history, the Jazz entered the luxury tax realm. To me the reason for this is obvious: Millsap can help us win.

It is important to note that from a financial standpoint this is a double negative—first because we have to pay one dollar of luxury tax for every dollar of player salary over the luxury tax threshold and second, because the teams that pay luxury tax forfeit their ability to collect their share of the tax paid by teams over the limit.

We entered the season committed to an all-time-high salary expense. We did it with our eyes wide open. I don’t mind paying the luxury tax for healthy players that can help us win, but it is very difficult for me to pay the money and not have the benefit of a player’s services. The trade with Oklahoma City resolved this concern.

Having the league’s premier point guard in Deron Williams, and a veteran backup in Ronnie Price, took some of the sting out of this decision.

Again, I am not happy about trading Eric Maynor away and truly wish him the best going forward.

I appreciate the years Matt Harpring played with the Jazz. His toughness and work ethic are consistent with the values of this organization. Matt will always be part of the Jazz family.

My family and I appreciate your continued support of the Jazz and wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

Sincerely,

Greg Miller

CEO

8_medium The NBA released the second round of all-star voting results just before the holiday break. I completely missed them. Here are the results in the West:

WESTERN CONFERENCE Forwards: Carmelo Anthony (Den) 1,204,234; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 668,243; Pau Gasol (LAL) 565,414; Tim Duncan (SA) 564,728; Kevin Durant (OKC) 406,581; Trevor Ariza (Hou) 355,529; Luis Scola (Hou) 295,691; Shawn Marion (Dal) 268,853; Ron Artest (LAL) 197,689; Lamar Odom (LAL) 152,684; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 129,909.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,380,383; Steve Nash (Pho) 546,064; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 541,190; Chris Paul (NO) 521,468; Jason Kidd (Dal) 372,225; Aaron Brooks (Hou) 298,892; Chauncey Billups (Den) 241,737; Deron Williams (Utah) 208,991; Jason Terry (Dal) 195,456; Brandon Roy (Por) 189,137; Manu Ginobili (SA) 171,624.

Centers: Amar’e Stoudemire (Pho) 950,737; Andrew Bynum (LAL) 588,471; Nene (Den) 199,667; Marc Gasol (Mem) 160,686; Greg Oden (Por) 108,147; Al Jefferson (Min) 98,669; Antonio McDyess (SA) 94,479; Marcus Camby (LAC) 86,719; Andris Biedrins (GS) 77,287; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 69,612; Emeka Okafor (NO) 61,823; Spencer Hawes (Sac) 20,646.

The only good news is that Nash overtook McGrady for #2 on the guard list. The reason that's good is that McGrady won't steal a spot on the team from someone else. It's even better for Deron because it would have made it that more difficult for him to get picked even by the coaches with Nash and Paul not being in.

The bad news of course being that it's not likely that DWill will be voted in by the fans. Still a lot of time to vote though. It would be nice to get him in above Brooks, Billups, and Kidd. He seems kind of down though about not getting voted in:

Williams said he isn't paying attention to the balloting process and didn't know he is only in eighth place among West guards.

"I know I'm not going to get voted in," Williams said, "so it doesn't matter."

Sucks to hear him say something like that but now he can just turn his focus to the game.

Surprising that Boozer still hasn't cracked the list yet given the year he's having. But like someone said in one of the comments, if Jazz fans aren't even voting for him...

4_medium Got a green/yellow D-Will jersey for Christmas as well as a couple of tickets to a Jazz game that was part of the Hardwood classics promotion. The game I get to go to? The New Jersey Nets. At least I should see a win, right?

5_medium What is a Jazz fan supposed to do for three days while the Jazz are off? Honestly.

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8.
Damn you China! Aaron Brooks, McGraddy, Scola and Ariza do not deserve to be in the list!

Utah fans should vote for Steve Nash as well.

Silly question: Why isn’t Deron Williams clickable while other players are?

5. Work?

by iLoveBooks100per on Dec 28, 2009 9:14 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Names only get auto-highlighted once

And he was listed already

SLCDunk.com, The Utah Jazz on SBNation

by Basketball John on Dec 28, 2009 10:00 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

1. I hope it’s someone we’ve never seen in Utah before. I hope it’s a young up and comer and not a 34 year old has been (never was).
2. cool that the owner wants fans to understand. Is that unprecedented for the Jazz? Fact: I think it’s a cool thing for him to do.
8. They should have a 4th category since not all guards are created equal. Let’s call that category “Pieces of S%$#” and let McGrady win it.
4. Got a new poster of the world from Public Radio’s “The World” program. I can tell you where Myanmar, and all the ‘istans’ south of Russia are. So yeah, I’m a little jealous of your green jersey and your jersey tickets.
5. Speculate about the Saints’ kicking game…. no, that won’t do. How about go bowling with the kids and all the cousins this evening?

I'll make it coach.

by MTN on Dec 28, 2009 9:56 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

1. I menitoned Dontell Jefferson some time ago and got no response. What are everyone’s thoughts on him now?

by MelMan2002 on Dec 28, 2009 10:32 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

McGrady and the Vote

8) We’ve known it for years, but the voting for McGrady just puts an exclamation point on it—letting fans vote for All Stars is a joke and only benefits the big-market teams. Oh yes, it is also good for Stern as he rakes in more cash from Houston than from SLC.

by Taivo on Dec 28, 2009 10:56 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

People make the argument that the allstar game is just a big entertaining show and its okay to be a popularity show.

But when you list players´´ past recognitions and such with allstar appearances then it sort of does matter about the quality of the player. I am sorry or my poor english, but I am in Chile and haven´t heard English spoken for a couple of days.

The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.

by clarkpojo on Dec 28, 2009 12:45 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Please not Brevin Knight again...

although I have to agree with upside. The Jazz would probably go with someone who knows the system. So, no worries. We should be seeing Brevin Knight clanking 18 footers in no time. So, they sign Brevin and this is the exact same team as we had last year.

Yeah, I guess I can understand the logic of trading Maynor. Still, this one is going to sting for a while.

McGrady’s own team won’t even let him play for them. The all star game is a glorified exhibition game of the games most recognizable stars (on the most marketable teams), not the best players. Period. Its a shame, because I don’t think it used to be that way. John Stockton would be an example. John Stockton played for Utah and he was one of the most low key athletes ever. Yet he made several all star teams. I think if John Stockton played today, he would be getting the same screw deal the DWill is getting.

by brock38 on Dec 28, 2009 10:58 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, the problem is that the title of “All-Star” is attached to players as if it were something meaningful. But people seem to continue to use it as something that sets a player apart from other non-All-Stars. With the voters extending across the globe, the title should have lost all significance.

by MelMan2002 on Dec 28, 2009 11:08 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

same team as last year

damn

I'll make it coach.

by MTN on Dec 28, 2009 11:09 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of Stockton

Couldn’t he play 5-7 minutes a game?

by chamont on Dec 28, 2009 1:42 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

That's what I've said

I’m sure he could give 10-15

SLCDunk.com, The Utah Jazz on SBNation

by Basketball John on Dec 28, 2009 1:57 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Please, don't say such things

I’ll get excited and make a mess on the rug. Imagine DWill and Stock in the same rotation…

Possibly the southernmost Jazz fan in the world!

by TazzJazzFan on Dec 28, 2009 3:12 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, he will be 38 next year. But he still looks like he could lace them up.

SLCDunk.com, The Utah Jazz on SBNation

by Basketball John on Dec 28, 2009 4:13 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

You mean 48. I'm closer to 38 than Stock is

Possibly the southernmost Jazz fan in the world!

by TazzJazzFan on Dec 28, 2009 10:27 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

jerry wants us making messes on the rug too

“Yeah,” he said. “I’d take John Stockton back if he was available.”

When it was suggested that the 47-year-old Stockton could probably still play 10 minutes a night in the NBA, Sloan said, “He probably could.”

http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_14083666

by moni on Dec 28, 2009 11:53 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Oops.

But I’m sure he’d play like 38 :)

SLCDunk.com, The Utah Jazz on SBNation

by Basketball John on Dec 29, 2009 7:16 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Nah, 28.

It’s Stock.

I can only dream as to what he could do out there against kids who haven’t learned to play D against old-school players. Seriously, 10-15 minutes a game, 5 assists per.

Possibly the southernmost Jazz fan in the world!

by TazzJazzFan on Dec 29, 2009 4:30 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully

Deron will put this all past him now and kick even more ass. Having TMac even on the ballot is a joke.

by KaBar6 on Dec 28, 2009 12:43 PM MST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

MTN...I feel you on the Saints

I think Nick Folk is available. Seriously, what is it with my favorite sports teams not being able to beat teams they should dominate??

(Saints lose to bucs, Jazz lose to T-Wolves, Houston Astros lose to…no wait, they’re actually just bad)

by brock38 on Dec 28, 2009 4:19 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Highlights

Well, at least the Jazz occupied two of the weekly top ten plays on sportscenter. DWill getting by Wade and Man-Dunking over a helpless heat player. DWill doesn’t dunk much, but they are so fun to watch. That was the first time I think I have ever seen a reverse dunk off an alley oop like Brewer did. Now if he could just get a consistant jumper…

by brock38 on Dec 28, 2009 4:47 PM MST reply actions 0 recs