Tremendous Upside - A Utah Jazz Association

[Clusterfudge]

Utah Jazz say Goodbye to Watson

Earl Watson played for the Jazz for a full season, but this year, it's time to part ways.

It's hard to say goodbye to any player in a smaller franchise, and this is no exception. We have received reports that Earl Watson, Demarre Carroll, and a future second round pick will be shipped to New Orleans to acquire Greivis Vazquez, and Jason Smith.

How this Trade rates for both teams.

New Orleans: They get a veteran point guard who brings energy, a toughness, and who makes his teammates better in a game. They also get a small forward who is aggressive and can score and rebound decently. A second round draft pick is just to simply sweeten the deal.

Utah Jazz: The Jazz receive a younger point guard, who can both score and assist, and brings youth to the point guard spot. They took on Jason Smith because New Orleans wanted to give them to the Jazz in exchange for Carroll, it is reported that Smith may be waived, since his style of play and current role may conflict with Jazz plans.

This was an interesting trade, which the Jazz sought after to gain a younger point guard, and with Jamal Tinsley playing well, there was no reason to have two older point guards on a team that needed a younger one.

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JASON SMITH WAIVED TO REDUCE ROSTER SIZE

A young big man in the NBA, Jason Smith was one of many in Utah's packed frontcourt.

It seems like the trade that happened only a day ago was meant to just acquire Greivis Vazquez, but the Jazz had to add in parts, and Smith made the salaries work.

The Jazz made a questionable trade, trading Earl Watson, Demarre Carroll, and a future 2nd round pick for Vazquez and Jason Smith.

Jason Smith would have been another big on a Jazz roster full of bigs, and it seems they traded away many smaller pieces to acquire youth at the point guard spot.

With the improved play of Ante Tomic, and Enes Kanter as of late, and with Jeremy Evans in the D-League, acquiring another big was boggling. Now that Jason Smith is released, it helps free up their roster, and shows that Jazz have confidence in their rookies, Ante Tomic and Enes Kanter.

With Greivis Vazquez now on their team, the Jazz have a younger core that can grow together, and has amazing potential.

[Clusterfudge]

The SLC Reporters #01

WHY THE JAZZ WILL LOOK DIFFERENT AFTER THE DEADLINE

The Jazz have been doing better than many thought of them as of late, but they have already made several trades. For you Jazz fans who may think the trading is over for the season, think again.

The Jazz need consistency, and with many of their players being free agents after the next few seasons, they need to trade now, so they can have a consistent roster later.

The Jazz team will be completely gutted in the next few years, from both free agency, and by trades.

For those of you who do not know, the Jazz have most of their roster leaving within the next few years, with C.J. Miles, Josh Howard, and Jeremy Evans having expiring contracts after this year.

Next year the team disappears completely, with Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, and Devin Harris all having their contracts expire, and it's doubtful that the Jazz will want to resign them further, with all the talented young players waiting to get their chance. Jamal Tinsley's deal, (which includes a team option) also expires, as well as Corey Brewer's.

The Jazz have already shown that they are aware of the limited roster they will have in a few years, with Raja Bell being shipped off right before the season started, whose contract expired in 2013.

Earl Watson and Demarre Carroll also being traded solidifies our claim, since Carroll's contract expires after this year, and Watson's is over in 2013.

The Jazz losing four of their starters is the most impactful however, and this team will most likely trade at least one of them before the deadline occurs.

Next Time: We will be reporting on the fates of the Jazz members whose contracts are expiring soon, and say who will stay and who will find a new team.

[Clusterfudge]

OKC Barely Edges Out Jazz

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant lead the Thunder to a 6-0 run to end the game.

The Jazz, with Al Jefferson injured, and with Josh Howard now in a new role player position instead of as starter. Alec Burks is the new starter for the Jazz at shooting guard, and Gordon Hayward is moved to small forward.

The Jazz had seven players with 10+ points in tonights game, but a collapse with a few minutes left led the Thunder to another win.

Alec Burks led the Jazz with 14 points, and both the Jazz and Thunder played great games, but the Thunder barely managed to pull out the win.

The Jazz will face Chicago tommorrow, and it is a crucial game, since they are 4-6 right now.

Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder
Nov 20, 2011	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Utah (4-6)	30	29	29	19	107
Oklahoma City (7-5)	32	26	24	28	110

Utah Jazz
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Devin Harris	30	3-6	0-1	5-5	3	7	0	0	0	11
Alec Burks	29	3-9	2-6	6-6	0	3	0	0	4	14
Gordon Hayward	30	2-9	0-2	1-1	3	5	2	1	1	5
Paul Millsap	28	6-9	0-0	0-0	10	1	2	0	1	12
Al Jefferson	21	5-13	0-0	3-4	3	0	0	1	1	13
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Derrick Favors	21	6-9	0-0	1-1	4	1	0	0	1	13
Enes Kanter	16	2-2	0-0	1-1	6	0	0	0	0	5
Josh Howard	14	1-2	0-0	2-2	1	1	0	0	1	4
Greivis Vazquez	16	2-5	0-0	2-2	1	2	0	0	3	6
C.J. Miles	15	4-6	0-0	4-4	4	0	2	2	1	12
Ante Tomic	10	2-7	0-1	6-7	4	0	0	0	1	10
Jamal Tinsley	10	0-2	0-1	2-2	2	4	0	0	1	2
TEAM TOTALS		36-79	2-11	33-35	41	25	6	4	15	107

Oklahoma City Thunder
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Russell Westbrook	38	10-16	0-0	10-11	4	9	1	1	3	30
Thabo Sefolosha	29	0-1	0-0	2-2	4	0	3	0	0	2
Kevin Durant	36	12-24	2-9	7-10	5	1	1	1	3	33
Serge Ibaka	34	4-7	0-0	2-2	7	2	4	1	0	10
Kendrick Perkins	30	1-4	0-0	0-0	11	1	0	1	2	2
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
James Harden	23	2-8	1-3	4-5	3	3	0	0	3	9
Nick Collison	13	1-1	0-0	1-2	3	1	0	0	0	3
Daequan Cook	11	3-6	2-4	0-0	2	0	0	0	1	8
Reggie Jackson	9	3-6	1-2	0-0	0	2	0	0	0	7
Nazr Mohammed	8	1-3	0-0	1-4	1	0	1	0	3	3
Nenad Krstic	6	1-1	0-0	1-1	1	1	0	0	0	3
Cole Aldrich	3	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0
TEAM TOTALS		38-78	6-18	28-37	41	20	10	4	15	110