Friday, October 31, 2008

Who's the Nut?


This morning, the Jazz announced that they would not pick up the option on Morris Almond, the sharp-shooting guard drafted by the Jazz in the first round of the 2007 draft.

Apparently, Almond was not surprised by the decision, as the writing on the wall became apparent when the Jazz chose to match C.J. Miles' offer from Oklahoma City this past off-season.

While Almond is a terrific scorer, posting multiple 50+point games in a D-League game last season, his inability to grasp the wholistic approach to Coach Sloan's system, coupled with a glut of 2's and 3's on the roster, ultimately led to his undoing in Jazzland.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the Jazz are attempting to trade Almond, perhaps as early as this week. While a trade would have minimal affects on the Jazz's payroll, it would free up a roster spot, which could be very valuable if a Jazz regular is injured and someone else needs to be signed. Teams that may be interested could include San Antonio and Detroit, who showed interest in Almond before the 2007 draft. The Griff's recommendation: DO NOT DO THE SPURS ANY FAVORS.

So let's hear it: 
Good move by the Jazz for casting off someone unwilling to buy into the system?

Or did the Jazz pull a "Raul" by keeping C.J. and abandoning Almond too quickly? 

(NOTE: For non-Jazz fans, a "Raul" refers to the Jazz's decision to keep Carlos Arroyo and Raul Lopez while letting Mo Williams, now an NBA starter, walk)

10 comments:

Orlando said...

Morris Almond will never be an NBA starter. He may be a regular rotation guy, but that's his ceiling.

Also, I hate the "don't trade with a rival" crap that the NBA thrives on. If San Antonio wants our D-league trash and we think we can get a better player in that spot (like Lance Allred or Johnnie Bryant) let's do it.

Tucker McCann said...

I will be honest, I have never really seen Almond play in all of his years with the Jazz (except for a few minutes of Rocky Mtn. Review, which shouldn't count), so I have no opinion.

Wait . . . Hey Golden Griff, how about Morris Almond for Elton Brand?

Draft Guru said...

Log jam. I think it'll be good to trade Almond. He has the ability to play in the League but, it wasn't going to happen with the Jazz. Too many 2/3 options...especially with Harpring coming back. I don't know if we can get anything for him. Perhaps we could include him into a larger package deal... AK47?

Anonymous said...

trade him. I do like Guru's idea of packing him into a larger deal. Although I have loved AK's 6th man play these first two games, maybe that only increases his trade value.

Pasty Gangsta said...

Last week a number of close friends told me I made the worst pun ever on TCG when I said Jerry Sloan was likely to go with Price "at this point." I would like to submit, for the record, that asking "Who's the Nut?" in a post about Mo Almond is worse.

The Golden Griff said...

While using a "nut" pun is definitely bad, most people easily understand the pun. "Price point" is not only shameful, but it was a pun obscure enough to require explanation. Therefore, "Price point" is still the worse

Pasty Gangsta said...

Dammit man, the pun was not "Price point"! The pun was going with Price "at this point" meaning a) right now and b) at the point guard position.

Anonymous said...

pasty gangsta. I love the Price Point Pun. Anyone who didn't get it doesn't really "GET" baskteball in my view!

Tucker McCann said...

"Anonymous" must be a total idiot, or pasty's gay lover, because the "price point" pub was as stupid as they come.

Anonymous said...

booner, I really feel for ya man. How do you not get point guard? Just blogging to blog huh. No basketball IQ apparently. Oh well.