AK is also one of the only guys on the team who can play defense. harpring just fouls people and brewer was completely abused in the playoffs. CJ and Korver can’t play defense. getting rid of AK isn’t going to help.

what would help would be to trade someone for a defensive big WHILE keeping AK on the team. a redundant piece like collins (or dare i say it, maybe boozer) could fetch a solid back-up 5 who block shots and plays good defense. (though, they don’t all grow on trees)

why sould th jazz send their star faraway for nothing?

Close observers of the Jazz and Josh Smith would realise that Smith is nothing more than a sideways step at Jazz SF. Both he and AK47 are better utilised as quick PFs. Plus, Andrei’s a better shooter from distance, and a much more rounded, mature and intelligent player. Yes, he’s a little on the expensive side, but basketball-wise, the Jazz would rather have Kirilenko.

What Kevin O’Connor has said is essentially no different to the standard answer he’s given any question from the local media pertaining to roster moves in the past couple of years. There’s no harbinger for change or dramatic move imminent, no more than there was the last time O’Connor answered similar questions, or the time before that, or before then.

The Jazz were comfortably beaten by the eventual champs in ’07, were shaded by the Western champs in the playoffs just gone, and were one of only a couple of teams to beat the champs on their home floor last season. It’s by no means a stretch to suggest they’re good enough as constituted. It’s crazy that most ‘experts’ and fans – enamoured by the CP3 and James Posey hype machine – put the Hornets a tier above the Jazz as title contenders next season. Why? Because they ran the Spurs close – a team nowhere near the traditional threat last season thanks to Manu’s ill-being – and recently acquired an overpaid (albeit a very good) role player?!

If Kirilenko is shifted, they’ll need a perimeter stopper with an accurate long-range shot in return. Actually, a player like Posey would’ve helped the Jazz a lot more than New Orleans, where – with Mo Peterson, Peja Stojakovic and Julian Wright already on board – he could prove redundant. He’s the type the Jazz used to have before Raja Bell jumped ship and got a little old.

Nonetheless, don’t hold your breath for any major deal involving Utah.

That rule is only for free agents. If you sign a FA, he can’t be traded until sometime in December.

Lol @ post #2