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Morning Report: Gordon To The Jazz?

Gordon And The Jazz?: Before you get too excited about the notion of Ben Gordon heading to Utah, Jazz sources shot down the idea via early morning text message almost immediately. Funny what "NO CHANCE" looks like in a text reply. That did not stop The Salt Lake Tribune from answering an e-mail question from a fan asking is "there any way the Jazz could work something out " – Yes the Jazz could work something out, they just are not inclined to do so. Have the Jazz surveyed the market, yes. The reality is that Andrei Kirilenko is not a huge key to what the Jazz are doing, he has not blossomed into the mega star the Jazz had hoped he'd become and the closer he gets to the end of his deal, the more likely he'll be traded. Andrei makes roughly $15.1 million this year, $16.4 in 2009, and $17.8 in his final year in 2010. It's easy to look at those numbers and ask what could you buy with $15 million in a sign-and-trade deal with Chicago? The problem everyone glosses over, is Chicago is not going to spend $15 million more this year, so unless Utah is taking back Larry Hughes and his remaining 2-years and $26 million, or Andres Nocioni and his remaining 5-years and $36 million, the Bulls are not moving on Andrei Kirilenko. Now let's be fair - the Jazz did pursue Luol Deng fairly aggressively. In fact it's believed the Jazz set the market for Luol with a sign and trade offer, so its not like the Jazz are sitting anything out and the speculation is viable. The Jazz would make a deal. The problem with these kinds of speculations is that it takes two to tango, and the Bulls dance card is all full – almost to the luxury tax. So the only way Chicago moves Gordon is to a team that can take on more than they send out, and as of today there are only two teams that can do that in a meaningful way – Memphis (capspace) and Denver (trade exception).

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