The Downbeat - 30 August 2010 - #304 - The End Of Summer Edition
by Basketball John on Aug 30, 2010 9:16 AM MDT
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Kelly Dwyer finishes up his pre-season player rankings with the centers. He puts Big Al at #10 due in part to having to learn the flex offense,
Well, he's healthy, but there's concern that he could need a little while to figure out Utah's flex offense and that could limit his contributions while players like Paul Millsap streak to the correct place on the court.
He's ranked right behind Marc Gasol, Nene, and Noah. I would definitely take Al ahead of Nene right now if we're talking about who's going to have a better season. I'll bet that he picks up the flex a lot quicker than expected.
So if you're keeping track at home, Deron Williams was listed as #2, didn't get a shooting guard listed in the top 30, AK at #9 for small forwards, Memo at #30 and Millsap at #17 for power forwards.
Of course I bullish on all of those spots.
Kurt Helin talks about the free agents next season possibly trying to get extensions before the current CBA runs out on June 30th next year,
Heck, Caron Butler, Shane Battier, Zach Randolph, Samuel Dalembert, Jason Richardson, Tony Parker, even Andrei Kirilenko might be wise to also adopt the why-wait approach, provided their teams will have them.
I know most here, if not all, would be jumping up and down at an extension for AK. I think it makes sense for both parties to get something done.
From the Jazz point of view, AK's biggest non-basketball value comes from his $18M expiring contract. I don't think it has the value it would have had had it been expiring last season. There aren't a lot of marquee free agents next season. Certainly nobody is trying to cut their roster to just a couple of players so that they can give out three near-max contracts.
At this point, I think his basketball skills and in particular his role in the Jazz offense/defense, are worth a lot more than what he could bring back in a trade. Looking at who the Jazz could get back for AK in a trade, and whether it would help the team or not, is something to discuss in a longer post.
From AK's standpoint, he's never been a true FA. He could test the market and see what teams offer him. On the other hand, we just don't know what the new CBA will bring as far as salary restrictions so he could possibly get more money under the current CBA. With as much as AK has made over his career, he doesn't have to worry about how much his next salary will be. He'll play where he fits in best and I think that's right here in Utah.
If you frequent other SBN sites (and you should, they're all really good), you might have noticed a fan confidence poll in the upper-left hand corner of the sites. Well, that's been rolled out to all sites now.
It's a weekly confidence poll that will show the previous rankings as the year goes on. It will reset on Mondays with the new results showing up two days later. So just drag the slider, click vote, and check back Wednesday.
NBA Playbook breaks down some post moves from Ante Tomic in the USA/Croatia game (he had 12 & 8). I'm impressed with how he can back a player down and finish with either hand. This comment comes from someone who said that Tomic would never see any time in the NBA when the Jazz originally drafted him. Here's a recent highlight video,
Monday poll,
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I love the confidence meter! I think it will be real cool to see how realistic the results are. Kudos SB Nation.
Twitter: bjcseven
Nice draft by the way. You and Shums are my early favorites. Tough teams.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
I LOVE my fantasy team this year.
I have every base covered.
Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?
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1. Look thru all the pictures 1-32 and it will quickly become apparent that Zydrunas Ilgauskas HAS to be in every picture. Heck you even get a pic of him with a little hair.
Dwyer's been doing that as a joke, I think.
He put OJ Mayo in all the SG ranking photos.
Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?
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I never noticed the other positions
But yeah…
PF Troy Murphy
SF Lebron
SG OJ Mayo
PG Ty Lawson
He must have been doing that as a joke or something. Must have had some bet with the guys in his office or something.
4-
May I suggest a nickname for Ante? How about “Atomic” ya know A. Tomic… and the turn around hook shot/floater can be the “A-Bomb!”
4. Look at that chicken wing Tomic puts up as he barrels through that guy at 1:32. Man, I would HATE to try to defend that. Used to play against a neighbor kid when I was young who would ALWAYS do that, stick his elbow up right at throat level. Drove me nuts.
Anyway, neither here nor there. I hope Tomic is tough enough to bang with NBA big guys, because those finesse moves might not cut it and he’ll get punched if he sticks up that elbow too often.
Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?
SLCDunk.com: Bringing you ninjas, The KOOFs and anti-jinxes since 2008.
New to the Dunk? Read the Manifesto.
I want Tomic to come over for the sole purpose of being able to play that song on his highlight video. Awesome stuff.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
I want Tomic.
I just think he’s a player.
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
I think as far as AK it will go down as follows
1. AK will sign an extension and that’s that. That is my personal preference. I think AK will re-sign for a reasonable 6-10 million a year (I realize that is a big scale—I don’t have a real good idea of what he’ll fetch on an open market) This would secure AK’s valuable services long term, as well as give us enough money to hopefully persuade Ante Tomic to come over
2. AK refuses to sign an extension. IN this case the Jazz would have to decide if they trade him and get what value they can, or risk trying to re-sign him over the summer. If this were last summer, we’d get a good value out of a trade, this year may be a different story.
All in all, I hope AK resigns and we bring Tomic over.
I think AK has more trade value this season than last...by a long shot.
Teams are always looking for expiring contracts and his is one of the biggest this season, if not the biggest. And if you can trade for an expiring contract AND get a fantastic player, well that is huge.
But I think I just realized what you meant. Last summer, people were giving away fantastic players to get ready for the summer of 10 and this year will be less so. But there are teams that will want to free up money to go after Melo I suppose.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
I think he would in normal years
But there’s just not many prizes to be had in the FA market next season. Teams are going to get a bit of relief anyway if there’s a lockout by not having to pay salary.
If there’s a lockout, who knows what the new CBA will be like? They can’t sign players anyway next off-season as the current CBA expires before the free-agency period begins.
There could still be some teams trying to shed payroll, but are there any out there like that that have anyone the Jazz would want/need?
Melo could also be off the table. If he gets traded, it may be a precursor to a long-term deal.
by Basketball John on Aug 30, 2010 4:30 PM MDT up reply actions
I am not sold on Tomic yet.
He is 23 and is still super scrawny. He has good moves around the basket but if he doesn’t put on some serious pounds, he will not make it in the NBA as a center or PF. or he can work on his 3 pointers and take memo’s role. Don’t get me wrong though, I think he has potential.
You're not sold because he is skinny?
Watch this video of Pau Gasol when he was 21 going on 22 and tell me that guys can’t put on 20-30 pounds or be really good when they are way too skinny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOtlOTvUwLg
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
first of all...
that is the gayest video I have ever seen (see min. 2:43)
Secondly, Gasol looked a lot more athletic and he also wasn’t afraid to take the ball to the rim. Sure Tomic might be able to turn into that, but from the games I have seen, Tomic is not as good as Gasol. I am just not ready to crown him as the future star of the Jazz until I see him play in the NBA.
also, is anyone else losing patience with fesenko’s development. looking at his FIBA tourney numbers, Fes is looking as pathetic as ever.
I agree on Fes
He’s got the size, but it’s becoming apparent that he just doesn’t have any real talent or work ethic. He could be a solid contributor off the bench if he ever decides to work for it.
My prediction is the Jazz give him another one year contract then bring Tomic over for the ‘11-’12 season. He may not be the next Gasol right now, but he’s still an upgrade over Fes and has incredible upside.
Tomic has potential
There were moments during the US/Croatia game that I had goosebumps watching this kid play—moments that didn’t necessarily show up in the box score or highlight reel because they were broken plays. One, he set a high screen (just like a Jazz center in the flex) and as the defenders doubled the ball-handler, Tomic, recognizing the opportunity, beautifully and quickly rolled to the basket. Sadly the guard was unable to dish the ball to his open teammate, but I couldn’t help but think to myself that Deron would have nailed it.
On another play, Tomic had set up with good position on the block and turned to face his defender, but rather than make his own move, he zipped a crisp pass to a running teammate with even better position. It was one of the prettiest passes I have seen by a big man in a long time. Again, great passing is a trait big men in the Jazz flex are well served to possess. I noted both of these instances in addition to the solid offensive moves he showed throughout the game as well as flashes of potential on the defensive end.
Of course, all of my excitement is tempered by his turnovers and fouls. He needs work (on the court and in the weight room), but he could be a great asset for the Jazz.
But just think if we have Okur, Millsap, Jefferson, Tomic and maybe AK and there is a season next season.
That would put a lot pressure on Deron to stick around because that is a long and talented group of bigs, one that actually would compete with the Lakers. We would be set up to be very good for the next few seasons.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
Tomic looked pretty good
I think he has a great feel for the game and he’s tall – he’s a true 7 footer. But who knows if he’ll ever see action in the NBA.We can only hope.
Has anyone heard Tomic's intentions?
Has he said anything about coming over to the NBA? I do know it’d be contractually possible for him to play next (not upcoming, as in 11-12) season.
About how much would it cost to bring him over? Some Overseas players, like Splitter for the Spurs, came rather cheaply. Others it can take quite a bit of dough.
On a different note, should talks with Fesenko go sour, would Hassan Whiteside be a good fit? He won’t get much playing time for Sacramento, they may be willing to trade him. If he would be a good fit, what would we give up for him?
I'm pretty sure Tomic will be expensive
I wouldn’t be surprised for it to take 5-7 million for the Jazz to entice him over. Maybe even more. I think it’d be worth it though.
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
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