Is it really time for Milsap to go?

by TurboJazz224 on Feb 15, 2012 10:29 AM MST

So after watching the last month of games, I think the idea of trading Milsap is finally starting to grow on me a little. Dont get me wrong, I love Milsap and everything that he brings to our team. I wont even go into all the good he does for our team. We all know he is undersized, but has developed his game and improved every single year. But that's not really what I want to discuss.

After watching Milsap try to play against the longer power forwards in the league, it's very apparent that even though he can hold his ground by hustling, he will never be someone that can consistently provide offense when he is over matched. Earlier this year he had a string of four or five games where he dominated the best power forwards in the west. (Griffin, Gasol, Dirk, Love) While those games were amazing, they were probably the exception as well. Milsap has really struggled against Aldridge, Ibaka, and even Ayon. The problem seems to be that is Milsap isn't at the top of his game, he is going to really struggle against against half of the power forwards in the league.

The one thing I have learned about Milsap is never to count him out. I am by no means trying to hate on Milsap, I just think as long as he is on our team Favors is never going to get the time he needs to develop. All the things that Milsap lacks, Favors has. He has shown a handful of very solid post moves, his long range jumper looks decent, and even his free throw shooting has vastly improved. I think it's time to hand the reigns over to Favors and let him turn into the power forward that we need. If we play Milsap off the bench, that's fine I guess, but I think Milsap deserves to be a starter, even if it's on a different team.

I have been opposed to trading Milsap ever since we got Favors, but the thing that has finally put me over the top is that this years draft has a plethora of solid power forwards. Our draft outlook has never looked better considering our record has plummeted, and Golden State has been playing very well. Chances are that we will get two lottery picks, so we can easily add power forward depth to our bench to backup Favors if we decide to trade Milsap.

Poll

Should we trade Milsap?

Yes, as long as the deal is right

67 votes

No, he's our starter!

25 votes

No, just bring him off the bench.

23 votes

115 votes | Poll has closed

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

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Comments

A part of me will die the day Millsap is no longer a Jazzman

But I’d absolutely (quietly) investigate what he could bring back via trade.

The one thing I hesitate about is I think Millsap’s strengths and overall game will fit much, MUCH better than Al’s once Kanter and Favors are the starters. If he’s willing to come off the bench and play just 24-28 minutes per game, I think the Kanter-Favors-Millsap bigs rotation will kick butt as soon as next year.

I cannot imagine a scenario in which Al fits in with them.

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by Yucca Man on Feb 15, 2012 12:17 PM MST reply actions

Couldn't agree more

Al seems to be the odd man out. It’s a shame Kanter is the rookie and Favors is the soph. If they came into the league the opposite of the way they did, that would be a perfect situation to where we could trade Al.

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by TurboJazz224 on Feb 15, 2012 1:29 PM MST up reply actions

Absolutely Sap will fit in better than Al would with the youngsters

(see my post from a couple weeks ago)

This isn’t to hate on Al, it’s not even mild criticism of him. He plays the low post with the occasional jumper. Kanter and Favors are both leaning towards that low post play- though I think Kanter will have a more reliable jumper than Al, and will end up the better scorer of the two.

Sap plays the high post, primarily. I think he gives us a better blend of offensive positioning and skillset, as Kanter and Favors will become more and more redundant with Al’s skillset.

by Stockton2Malone on Feb 15, 2012 1:36 PM MST up reply actions

This

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by TurboJazz224 on Feb 15, 2012 3:19 PM MST up reply actions

Millsap has been my favorite Jazzman since his rookie year.

I hope that he can come off the bench and give us 20 something minutes of what he does better than almost anyone else in the league. There are very few players in the NBA who are tougher and grittier than Millsap. But he is not a starting PF for a real contender. A smart team will (and have) expose the flaws he has. Favors has all the potential and tools to be a starter for a championship team. If Millsap doesn’t want to come off the bench then the right thing to do is to seek a trade for him. But a front line of Favors-Kanter-Millsap would be beast.

by hamfist on Feb 15, 2012 4:39 PM MST up reply actions

I'm still open to Paul playing some SF

He’s shown us some great dribble and drive moves this year. If we’re in the midst of a blow out, there’s no harm in trying him at the 3 spot.

by G Note on Feb 15, 2012 4:56 PM MST up reply actions

Has he played any SF minutes this year?

I just don’t see it happening. Seemed like Paul was adverse to it, and doesn’t seem like Ty wants to either.

by hamfist on Feb 15, 2012 6:27 PM MST up reply actions

I don't know if the Jazz will end up trading or keeping Millsap.

However, as long as he is still on the Jazz, I don’t think he should start against long, tall PFs such as Pau Gasol or Serge Ibaka. Favors should certainly be starting against PFs that fit that profile, with Millsap coming off the bench.

by Fesenko for President on Feb 15, 2012 4:12 PM MST reply actions

Yeah, every time I see him struggle I cant help but think how much Favors needs that experience against the longer power forwards. I think it’s important that we make a decision and stick with it though. We definitely shouldn’t be altering who the starting 4 is based upon who is on the other team.

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by TurboJazz224 on Feb 15, 2012 4:30 PM MST up reply actions

I would like Millsap to be a Jazzman forever....but

More than that I’d like the Jazz to win a championship. I love Millsap, when he’s on (which is most of the time, but not recently) he is the hardest worker in the NBA and gives a bit of everything. Sometimes a lot of scoring.

But we need a PG. And Millsap, because of how great he is, would be the only player we have that could draw in some true talent. Maybe Al, who I’d trade before Sap, but I don’t think he’ll get the same offers (bigger contract).

One reason to consider trading ‘Sap soon is the 2012 draft. It’s packed with big men, and a couple of solid guards. The Jazz are likely to have 1 or 2 picks around the #8 to #16 range. I highly doubt we’ll get a chance at Austin Rivers without trading up for him, which may be hard to do. A lot of bad teams with picks ahead of us want guards (Toronto for example). We will likely end up having to pick the ‘best player available’ which will be a PF.

We don’t need another young PF!

So in the best interests of this team, moving forward, I really feel we need to deal a big. I love Millsap, but I also love what he could bring in a trade. KOC would be foolish to not at least be considering what offers are out there.

by G Note on Feb 15, 2012 4:38 PM MST reply actions