My chat with Chad Ford

Well, I just finished chatting with Chad Ford, NBA draft specialist...okay, me and everyone else on ESPN's web page finished chatting with him. But at least he answered one of my questions. That's exciting right? I didn't ask him anything about the Jazz because frankly, that's sort of a mess. They're picking 20th in a really bad draft class. Plus, Sloan refuses to play rookies and half the roster may be gone next season. So trying to figure out what they're doing in the draft would be pointless given how different this team will be once free agency starts. So instead I asked Chad about the Phoenix Suns. I might as well start following them since Kaiti and I will soon be living there.

Rich (SLC, UT) : Is Flynn around for the Suns when they (most likely) pick?

Chad Ford: (4:51 PM ET ) He's a possibility. I think Earl Clark and Austin Daye would be too. And I hear Steve Kerr likes Blair .. a lot.

What? Blair? Do the Suns really need an undersized power forward? Unless (que dramatic music) they play on getting rid of either Shaq or Amare...
There are a lot of rumors out there saying that both of these guys are being shopped around. Even Steve Nash might be on his way out. Personally, I think this would be a huge mistake. Getting rid of any of these guys would be a disaster. Shaq has played well and his expiring contract is worth a lot. If they want to trade him wait until the deadline, you're likely to get more for him from a team looking to cut money. Amare is the best player on the Suns, period. He has been a little disgruntled, but it'd have to be a damn good trade to get rid of a guy with his talent. Maybe he'd be more likely to stay happy if the ownership and GM stopped making stupid mistakes and trading away draft picks and all-stars (Joe Johnson anyone?). Nash is past his prime, but he's the face of the franchise and there aren't a lot of point guards out there better than him even at this stage of his career. The bigger reason not to get rid of any of these players is the 2010 draft. The Suns don't have a pick in it. If any of the above mentioned players is traded, the Suns forfeit their lottery pick. They'd tank a season and wouldn't even have a chance at improving in the draft. Not a smart move.
If they keep all those guys why draft Blair? He wouldn't see much playing time behind Amare and doesn't really help in any real way. The guy would fit better in a slow offense, not with the run and gun suns. Johnny Flynn is a much better option. He's a smart point guard and could take the much needed back-up point guard role while Nash groomed him to be the future of the franchise.
Steve Kerr has really made a mess of the Suns. Before he showed up the Suns were the most exciting team to watch. They were one of the top teams in the west and had a great coach. What did he do? He got rid of the coach, changed the philosophy of the team and took the fun out of the game for the remaining players (goodbye Raja Bell and Boris Diaw). He needs to go before he makes another mistake by taking Blair in the draft.
Or maybe Chad Ford is wrong. After all, the last time he answered my question he didn't hesitate to say that the Jazz would win the Northwest division in a landslide against the Nuggets. How did that one turn out again Chad?

Hall of Fame Bound

It was announced today that Jerry Sloan and John Stockton will be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. It's fitting that both of them will receive this honor at the same time since Stockton spent his whole career under Sloan and they both enjoyed success in part because of one another.
Stockton was one of the greatest point guards to play the game. He still holds the records for most assists and most steals all time. He also holds the NBA record for the most seasons and consecutive games played with one team, leading the Jazz for nearly 20 years. He was a ten time all-star and won two gold medals.
Sloan still coaches for the Jazz and is the fourth most-winning coach in NBA history. He coached the Jazz to 16 straight playoffs and to the NBA finals twice. But even when his two star players, Stockton and Malone retired Sloan stayed with the franchise and nearly coached a team everyone thought would be at the bottom of the standings to the playoffs. Although the team missed the playoffs the next two years, he took a new group of players to the conference finals in 2007. The Jazz have again reached the playoffs this season under his leadership and are always considered a dangerous and well disciplined team.
These are two quality guys who were committed to winning and playing the right way and it was a pleasure to grow up watching them.
I am sure that the third member of the historic Utah Jazz team of the past, Karl Malone, will join them shortly.

What to do about Carlos Boozer?

As you may already know I am a huge Utah Jazz fan. I was there when Michael Jordan knocked down his final shot to knock them out of the finales. I was there for the 26 win season, and I was there when Derron Williams, Paul Milsap, CJ Miles, Morris Almond, and Ronnie Brewer were drafted. Yes, I follow them somewhat religiously. But, recently I've been having a difficult time watching and following my favorite team. Why? It's not because they're losing these days. The Jazz often struggle and I somewhat like loveable losers (not the Cubbies though, because they aren't loveable anymore, they're just losers). It's because one of my favorite Jazz players, Carlos Boozer, has now missed the last 18 games with a mystery injury. Now, I've stood up for the big guy since he joined the Jazz in 04, but his latest actions have made me question just how awesome he may be. The guy was supposed to only miss a few games, but now he doesn't know when he's coming back. That I can understand. Injuries are tough to get through. Not everyone can be Karl Malone. But, during his extended hiatus he announced that he was opting out at the end of this year so that he can get more money on the open market. Why in the world would he pick now to say this? Yes, everyone sort of expected it, but come on...now? Why not wait until you're back on the floor? This coupled with the recent revelation that he was almost traded last year begs the question, should the Jazz trade him now and get at least something in return before this guy walks out at the end of the season? Clearly they aren't getting much from him these days since his injury, and Milsap seems to be doing alright. Sure, he's not as good as Boozer, but he's getting there. So, what should the Jazz do? My opinion is to trade him. Yes, it will be tough to let go of a 20-10 guy, especially when he's opting out at the end of the year. But Miami is the perfect match. First, Miami would do it to get a post presence to team with Dwayne Wade. Plus, even if Boozer opted out and signed with a different team they would be getting a ton of cap space for 2010. Plus, Boozer would probably want to re-sign with them anyway, given that he lives there during the offseason. The Jazz can try and get back Michael Beasley and Mark Blount (for salary matching purposes). Sure, Beasley is a rookie, but he has a high ceiling and is a good scorer. Match him with Derron Williams and good thing will happen. Miami might not make this deal because Beasley is a future talent and Boozer is often injured, but it wouldn't be the first time they took a risk like this. They gave up Caron Butler and Lamar Odom to get Shaq a few years ago. Plus, Miami has been showing a lot of interest in Boozer already. Yes, there are a lot of drawbacks. Sloan doesn't like to play rookies and Beasley has been somewhat immature. But, if Boozer is going to leave at the end of this season and doesn't play this season due to his "injury" the Jazz should at least get something for him. Sadly, I think the Jazz will stand pat. Boozer will come back around the All-Star break, put up big numbers and they'll sneak into the playoffs. And after they lose in the first round Boozer will be off to Miami. The Jazz need to try and get something back.