NBA Preseason: Former Jazz players around the league

NBA Preseason 2012-2013:

Statistics!!

Psychologically we are always going to worry about "the one that got away," or at least all those romantic comedies I've seen suggest that this is a universal law. Our own former General Manager, Kevin O'Connor, seemed to have been obsessing about that for a while and brought back Mo Williams. I like Mo, so I'm not complaining. I'm also not complaining about most of the guys who were Jazz players but are no longer on the Utah Jazz. Let's take a look at how they are doing:

• Deron Williams (BRK) -- I guess it will always start with Deron for us. He was our last, universally accepted, amazing, awesome, All-Star / All-NBA player. His Brooklyn Nets have played in 5 preseason games, and he took the middle one off. Right now he's averages 14.5 ppg (35.3 fg%, 36.8 3pt%, 82.4 ft%), 6.3 apg, 2.8 rpg, 1.0 spg -- in only 31.3 mpg. His turn overs are a little high, and he only has a 2.08 : 1 assist to turn over ratio. Furthermore, his shooting has been pretty much crap this season, going 4/11, 3/11, 2,8, and 9/21 in the four games he has played. Still, his values bumped up for 36 minutes of action put him in the 15 and 7 range, which isn't bad from a starting point. It's just not amazing.
• Carlos Boozer (CHI) -- Boozer was the other "main" star from our most immediately successful past.Boozer is finding that life was a lot easier in Utah. He has played in all 5 games for the Chicago Bulls this season, and he averaging 11.0 ppg (42.6 fg%), 5.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, and 1.2 spg. He's playing in only 22.8 mpg, so his per 36 values are a more robust 17.4 ppg and 9.2 rpg. That's kind of what you want from a power forward; but he has almost exclusively become a jump shooter. He has only attempted 14 free throws in 5 games, and that's only 2.8 attempts a game. He needs to go inside more. He's also been coughing up the ball quite a bit, he averages more turn overs than passists.
  
• Mehmet Okur (--) -- Memo isn't even on a team, but he was the third dude from those fun Jazz teams.
• Andrei Kirilenko (MIN) -- AK-47 has played in only 3 of the 5 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but from what he has played (only 24.3 mpg), he has shown a few flashes of why he is so loved. He's averaging 9.3 ppg (61.5 fg%, 2.15 PPS, getting to the FT line 5.0 times a game), 5.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.0 spg, and 0.7 bpg. His per 36 values bring him up to 13.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3.0 spg, and 1.0 bpg. He hasn't shot much from deep (1/2) and today's NBA wings need to do that. Still, he is playing quite well.
• Kyle Korver (ATL) -- The Atlanta Hawks seem to be collecting former Jazz players. Well, Kyle has played in 5 of 6 games, and started in 4 of them. He's playing 20.2 mpg and is averaging 9.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, and taking 4.8 threes a game. And he's still making them. He's shooting only 36.8 fg%, but 100% from the FT line, and 37.5% from deep. If you give him starters minutes he's averaging 16.0 ppg, mainly behind 3.2 made threes a game.
• Ronnie Brewer (NYK) -- Brewer hasn't played a single second for the New York Knicks as he's injured right now.
• Wesley Matthews (POR) -- The Trail Blazers are starting Wes, and he has played in all 5 of their games. He's playing 24.4 mpg, and averaging 12.4 ppg (44.2 fg%, 33.3 3pt%, 85.7 ft%), 1.8 rpg, and 1.8 spg. He's not doing much besides scoring, which is only 18.3 ppg in 36 minutes. He does get to the line 4.2 times a game though, so there's that.
• C.J. Miles (CLE) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers and C.J. Miles appear perfect for each other. They are desperate for wing scoring, and C.J. will try his best to fill that void. He has played and started in all 6 of their games so far, but is only playing 21.8 mpg. He's averaging 12.3 ppg (42.9 / 41.7 / 90.9), 2.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, and 2.0 spg. He's not killing it, but playing him isn't killing the team as his eFG% is up there, and he has a 2 to 1 assist to turn over ratio. If you turn it up to starters minutes, C.J. is averaging 20.3 ppg, while getting 4 boards and 3 assists every gnith -- essentially the Kendall Gill "best player on a bad team" type of game. Of course, he's not the best player on his team. And I really don't think he needs to shoot 17 times a game. (That's how much he'd be shooting per 36 minutes)
• Ronnie Price (POR) -- It appears as thought the Portland Trail Blazers just cut Ronnie after playing him in 2 games, and being a DNP-CD in 2 games. They have played 5 so far, and he does not appear on the box score anymore. In his 28 minutes of action he didn't do anything that astounding, but was a super hard worker. His PER 36 minute values are 7.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 6.4 apg, and 1.3 spg -- but he shot only 28.6 fg%, missed both of his three point attempts, and as a "point guard" had a 1.67 assist to turn over ratio. Dude is an NBA player though. Hope he sticks somewhere.
• DeShawn Stevenson (ATL) -- He has played in 3 of their 6 games, and is averaging 6.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, and 1.3 apg in 20.0 mpg. He is almost exclusively only shooting threes now, and he's making 37.5% of them. I'm sure he's playing tough defense too.
• Kyrylo Fesenko (CHI) -- Fes played 1 game for the Bulls, was a DNP-CD for the next 3, and was cut. All he did in his 4 minutes of action is get one rebound, one turn over, and one foul. I'm absolutely certain that he was cut from the team not because of this, but instead because of some off-the court thing that he did in some classic 80s movie mishap. Like getting caught trying to break into his apartment after locking himself out, and he was just in a bathrobe. This is much more likely in my mind, because in my mind there's no basketball reason to cut a 7'1 dude who is a great paint defender.
• Kosta Koufos (DEN) -- The gallant to Fes' goofus, the Denver Nuggets are getting something out of The Koof. He has played in all four of their games (starting two), and is averaging 6.3 ppg, and 9.5 rpg in 19.3 mpg. Per 36 minutes that's 11.7 ppg and 17.8 rpg. That's not a math error. He's doing well. He's shooting only 44.4 fg%, and 20.0 ft%, and doesn't pass or steal or block shots. But he's getting boards, and that's an NBA skill you want your bigs to have.

This is a super long post -- let's speed it up

• Devin Harris (ATL) -- played in the last 3 of 6 preseason games. Averaging 12.0 ppg, 3.7 apg, 2.3 rpg, 1.0 spg in 25.3 mpg. Shooting 47.8 / 35.7 / 64.3 ft. I wish him well, hopefully the pace in ATL is better for him. Per 36 he's doing 17.1 / 5.2.
• Josh Howard (--) -- Man, Raja Bell is the MVP right now.
• Blake Ahearn (IND) -- The Indiana Pacers have played Blake only 19 minutes in 5 games. He hasn't done much, 2/5 fg%, made 1 three, 2 assists, 1 turn over.
• Marcus Cousin (HOU) -- I'm pretty sure he was cut during training camp, hasn't appeared on the boxscores for any of their 5 games.
• Francisco Elson (--) -- He's waiting for the phone to ring on that role in Harold and Kumar 4
• Kyle Weaver (MEH) -- He has played in 3 of their 6 games, but sparingly (only 5.3 mpg). He is averaging 2.3 / 0.3 / 0.3. I like this guy, I feel like he can contribute, but he has failed to do so
• Sundiata Gaines (IND) -- He's battling with Blake Ahearn, and they are both killing each other's chances for playing time. He has played in only 2 of the 5 games, but playing 10 mpg. He has shot only 14.3 fg%, but has that 3:1 assist to turn over ratio thing + 1.0 spg (is only 10 mpg) helping him stay afloat.
• Othyus Jeffers (PHX) -- I assume the Phoenix Suns cut him after 2 games, because he played in the first, got a DNP-CD in the second, and hasn't appeared on the box score for their last 2 games. He finished with 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, in 5 minutes of action. No turn overs, no fouls. I love this guy though.
• Eric Maynor (OKC) -- Dude has played in all 5 games for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's doing well in 20.0 mpg, 7.5 ppg, 5.3 apg, 2.5 rpg. He's shooting like dog poop though (39.3 fg%). But on OKC he's not there to shoot. His last two games were 7 assists, 1 turn over; and 5 assists, 1 turn over. He's doing fine there.
• Kris Humphries (BRK) -- The Nets also have Humphries, and he has played in and started four of five games. He's playing only 16.8 mpg, but averaging 6.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg. It's a double double at 36 minutes -- which is pretty much all they can hope to get him Kris.
• Sasha Pavlovic (POR) -- Yes, the Blazers also have Sasha. He's played in all five of their games, and playing 13.4 mpg. Aleksandar is averaging 3.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, and 1.2 spg. He's gone 4/10 from deep. He's doing just enough to stay in this league.

Out of all the ones that have gotten away, I guess the only ones that I really miss are D-Will, Andrei, Memo, Ronnie P, and Fes. And out of those five, only 2 are still playing in this league.