Should we have kept the money man?

by G Note on Jan 13, 2012 7:55 PM MST

"I'm worth more than a 2020 2nd round pick O'Connor!"

So earlier this season the Jazz traded Mehmet Okur ~~to clear some salary space~~ for a large trade exception and a conditional 2nd round pick we'll likely never see. At the time of the trade there wasn't as much fuss as I expected from Jazz fans, probably in part due to our promising young front court combo of Favors & Kanter.

Whether it went slightly unnoticed or not, the Memo trade may be one the Jazz soon regret. We're still in the first month of a lockout shortened seasons, and already the injuries are starting to pile up. Particularly injuries to star big men on contending teams.

Exhibt A - Al Horford, Jeff Green, Zach Randolph, Eddy Curry, Greg Oden, (Kwame Brown? Ronny Turiaf?)

That's a pretty huge list for a season that isn't even 1/6th done yet. And now back to Memo, who is a proven baller, has won a championship, and plays that ever-important NBA position - the big C.

It doesn't take a roster building genius like David Kahn to realise Memo is (or: could have been) an incredible asset this season. With so many teams needing starter quality talent at the C position, Memo would have been at the top of every team's want list. He plays hard, trains hard, has size, and brings elite outside shooting.

Yet the Jazz dumped him ASAP, to the Nets for what amounts to nothing in my amateur opinion. Now it's easy to insult a trade with hindsight, but was it really so unimaginable that there would be a long list of big man injuries this season? Potential trading partners who could give more than a non-existent 2nd round pick and some imaginary trade exception? I think it's a pretty safe bet, had a championship-contending team needed a big man badly, that they would give up a first-round pick or at least a solid role player talent.

When the Nets come to SLC, I'll be cheering most for Memo. He was all you could want from a Jazzman, and would have gladly stayed with the franchise (which is what separates him from D-Will). I wish the Jazz would've kept him (you can never have enough big men) - or at the very least - I wish the Jazz would have traded him for what he is worth. And what Mehmet Okur is worth is MUCH more than a 2nd round pick and some fluff.

(Disclaimer: Should KOC use said trade exception to land a quality talent in Utah, I'll eat my words)

All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.

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Comments

Should have kept Okur

and sent Bell packing so we would be forced to play CJ and Burks over Raja Bell.

How long should you try? Until.
- Jim Rohn

by Matt_Grbac on Jan 14, 2012 10:37 AM MST reply actions

Over the trade at this point.

There are plenty of other things about the team that makes me angry. But I was against it at the time, and that still holds true. I think the FO should have held onto him until closer to the trade deadline, and then unloaded him.

by hamfist on Jan 14, 2012 12:49 PM MST reply actions

I think this is the biggest problem I have with the trade

I feel that they didn’t get enough value for him. Maybe they can buy the Lakers’ pick with the cash savings and make it worth it. But a future second rounder and a trade exception just doesn’t feel like enough.

But like you, I am content that they are getting all of the big guys minutes and that Okur isn’t here to further complicate the situation for Corbin. The 4 bigs are playing well and Kanter and Favors are developing well.

I am in no way affiliated with the blog of the same name.

by JazzHype on Jan 16, 2012 10:34 AM MST up reply actions

no

good for Memo – sad for us – but saved a lot of coin (10miiiiiilion dollars). but more minutes for Kanter/Favors. Sometimes you got to make a move when the move is there to be made.

Still Memo rules – peace Money – keep it rollin’ out there.

yojimbo is jazzed
2011-2012 is our 2012-2013 pre-season

by jazzed on Jan 15, 2012 1:25 PM MST reply actions

Best move Ive seen

what good was he , cant play defense, slow, dont rebound, slow, shooting has gone with the wind, slow, as you clearly seen in the New jersey game the other nite they will probably cut hime once their big is back. good move

by SKIN39 on Jan 16, 2012 9:00 AM MST reply actions

I was sad to see Memo go,

but sadly he wouldn’t have contributed much to us this season anyways. He’s at least been healthy so far this season, but he has not shown that magic touch that he had in the past. I think it might be a stretch to think that a team would have wanted him bad enough to send us a 1st rounder. At this point in his career, he’s really not adding much to any team he’s on unless he finds his range again. I think the trade was good for us and our team.

by TurboJazz224 on Jan 16, 2012 9:50 AM MST reply actions