Jazz don't have to make a deal at the deadline


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SALT LAKE CITY — February 24, 1994.

That was the day the Utah Jazz acquired Jeff Hornacek at the 1994 NBA trade deadline.

It has to be considered one of, if not, the greatest trades in franchise history. It is also considered by many to be the greatest deadline deal in league history because of the impact it had on the Jazz franchise.

With Hornacek the Jazz reached the NBA Finals twice and the Western Conference Finals four times. He was the type of player the Jazz needed to add for years to help them get over the hump after so many disappointing playoff appearances. Jeff meant so much to the franchise that his No. 14 hangs in the rafters at EnergySolutions Arena.

Is there a player like Jeff Hornacek available at Thursday's trade deadline? If Dennis Lindsey determines that the answer is no, then Utah should avoid making any deals at the deadline.

The Jazz seem to be mentioned in just about every trade rumor leading up to the deadline, and for good reason.

First, they have eight, and potentially, ten expiring contracts which is an asset that has become even more valuable because of the latest collective bargaining agreement.

Second, they have a log jam in the front court. If Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter are the future bigs of the franchise, than either Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap or both need to be moved.

The Jazz also lack star power in a league where a star or multiple stars is required to contend for a championship. The franchise seems to be stuck in that seventh or eighth spot in the Western Conference. There is clearly a need to dramatically improve this roster in order to become a contender again.

So, the Jazz do have good reason to consider making a move on Thursday, but they should wait until the offseason. Here is why:


We can react to a lot of different eventualities. If this team finds a rhythm as Gordon comes back, as Mo comes back and we advance we can react to that. We have the flexibility to react to that and keep our own guys. If the team doesn't finish as strong as we want we can react to that situation as well. We can react to a lot of different alternatives.

–Dennis Lindsey


I mentioned those eight expiring contracts — nine if Marvin Williams declines his player option for next season and 10 if they decline the team option on Kevin Murphy — and how valuable they are to teams around the league. They are just as valuable to the Utah Jazz.

Utah will go from an estimated $65.5 million in payroll to $25.7 million. The Jazz will have flexibility they haven't had since the summer of 2004 when they landed Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer in free agency and gave Andrei Kirilenko an $86 million dollar extension. In fact, only one team, the Atlanta Hawks, are set to have more salary cap space next summer than Utah.

The Jazz become a major player in the free agent market next summer with that kind of flexibility.

Now if you are going to move one of those valuable expiring contracts and take on a player with a long-term salary, then that player or players you acquire has to make you dramatically better.

If not, then the Jazz are better off not moving any of those players at the deadline and letting their contracts expire at the end of the season.

Acquiring big money free agents isn't the only reason why it's so important to clear cap space this summer.

I think we will be surprised this offseason by the number of big names that become available via trade because a number of teams may be desperate to unload salaries and avoid harsh luxury tax penalties.

The luxury tax under the new collective bargaining agreement is even more punitive than before. There is a reason Memphis was so desperate to unload Rudy Gay, even if it hurt their chances of a deep playoff run this season.

Under the previous CBA, teams paid one dollar for every dollar they spend on salaries above the luxury tax threshold. Beginning next season, teams will be forced to pay an incremental tax that increases with every $5 million that is spent ($1.50, $1.75, $2.50, $3.25). Teams that are repeat offenders have a tax that is a dollar more with each increment ($2.50, $2.75, $3.50 etc.).

So as an example, at the end of the 2013-14 season, a team that is $10-15 million over the luxury tax level will now pay $25 million in Luxury tax penalties. If they are a repeat offender (paying tax in four of the last five seasons) they will pay $35 million or more in penalties.

If Memphis didn't move Rudy Gay before the end of the 2013-14 season, they would have had to pay an estimated $14 million in penalties based on a luxury tax level of $70.3 million.

Even if you are the Lakers, Heat or Nets, that is a lot of money to lose.

There are eight teams, Brooklyn, Miami, LA Lakers, New York, Orlando, Chicago, Golden State and Denver that are likely going to be over the luxury tax next season. Some, if not all, of those teams will be looking to unload players with big salaries. If a player becomes available that the Jazz have interest in, then they will have the flexibility to make that deal.

It's impossible to predict what type of names may become available, but the point is, the Jazz will be a major player with the amount of cap space they could have next summer. This may be a way for Utah to acquire a star player they couldn't get otherwise.

This information isn't news to new Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey. He is very aware of the opportunity this franchise has during the offseason with so much cap space.

Tom Kirkland sat down with Dennis Lindsey and asked him about the flexibility the Jazz have this offseason and how they plan to use it. You can see the interview on SportsBeat Sunday.

"We can react to a lot of different eventualities," Lindsey said. "If this team finds a rhythm as Gordon comes back, as Mo comes back and we advance, we can react to that. We have the flexibility to react to that and keep our own guys. If the team doesn't finish as strong as we want, we can react to that situation as well. We can react to a lot of different alternatives."

Fans can also be optimistic. The Utah Jazz have a chance to build something special starting next summer. It's up to Lindsey, Kevin O'Connor and the Miller family to take advantage of the opportunity.

It's understandable why fans may be frustrated right now. It's difficult to find any progress from last season. The team is good enough to make the playoffs, but far from contending for a title. They see other small market franchises like San Antonio and Oklahoma City on top of the league standings. Why can't that happen here? They believe it can.

They want changes, but the truth is making a move on Thursday may not be in the best long-term interest of the franchise. Patience may pay off next summer and beyond.

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Jeremiah Jensen

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