Those of you who are Star Trek Fans may remember when student James Kirk was
tested in Starship Commander Training at the Academy, when he was given a no win
situation in a battle with overwhelming odds against him. Faced with no choice
but to surrender or die, he did what had never been done before. He reprogrammed
the Academy computer, changing the parameters of the equation, beating the odds
and starting the legend of the Starship Captain who has never been defeated in
battle.
The Utah Jazz, faced with much the same situation, are in a battle for their
franchise’s existence, just like Captain Kirk. An overstatement? I only wish.
This year, unless a major trade changes the parameters of the equation, the Jazz
will be somewhere in the 64 million dollar salary range. The luxury tax is set
at 71 million this year, and probably 74 million next year. For each dollar over
the luxury tax, the Jazz or any team has to pay a dollar to the NBA coffers, to
be distributed equally among the teams under the Luxury Cap.
Next year, as every Jazz fan knows, Carlos Boozer can opt out of his contract,
making him an unrestricted free agent, and join a very solid class of free
agents. A max contract could be nearing the twenty million dollar range, and
with several other contracts needing to be redone and renewed, it could put the
Jazz well into the Luxury Tax. Remember, the Jazz not only have to pay the tax,
they lose the remittance given to the teams under the Tax, this year about four
million dollars.
It could mean a loss of ten to fifteen million dollars for LHM and the Jazz. It
could mean the difference between contending for the Championship, or even
contending for a winning season at all. It could mean the loss of not only
Carlos Boozer, Paul Millsap, Ronnie Brewer, Memo Okur…..And then possibly Deron
Williams jumping a sinking ship when his contract is over.
The Jazz are staring at a staggering financial burden on one hand, or an equally
staggering loss of playing talent, and competing for the Championship.
They are staring at a no win situation, just like Ensign James Kirk faced at the
Academy.
The solution, the salvation, is simple. Change the parameters of the game. It’s
also heartbreaking, for those of us who have loved the Jazz and grown attached
to each player like a member of our own families.
Someone has to go. A trade, a buyout, a change in those terrible parameters, is
the answer.
The obvious answer is Andrei Kirilenko. Trade him for expiring contracts, trade
him for whatever we can get that will put us under the Tax. Say it’s done, say
he’s gone. Then what if next year Carlos Boozer decides it isn’t money, it’s
that he wants to live somewhere else? Like Miami?
No Andrei. No Carlos. Is it the end of the Jazz?
No.
It’s a serious setback, but it’s not the death of the franchise, thanks to Kevin
O’Connor and the Jazz management.
Memo Okur isn’t going anywhere, from what I hear. He likes it here, he likes
playing for Jerry Sloan. Just suppose….
A lineup where Memo plays PF, Fesenko or Koufos play center, supplying the post
game that Carlos gave, and shifting Ronnie Brewer or Paul Millsap to SF, and
letting CJ Miles or Mo Almond play SG?
That might be where the Jazz are in two years, and that team, depending on the
development of the two big guys, might even be a better team. Fess or Kosta
supply the post up game, Memo cleans the boards and spreads the offense, Ronnie
and Paul supply athleticism and slashing from the three position, and CJ Miles
and Mo Almond blister the nets from outside.
It could work, it could be that solution to that no win situation.
It could also be simply facing reality, and knowing that the life of an NBA team
is just like the life we all face as we live our simple existence.
Sometimes, there is no easy solution, no easy answers. You get up in the
morning, deal with life, go home, sleep, and start all over again. Some days are
better than others, some worse. You go on.
Just like the Jazz, who have faced terrible loss in the Stockton and Malone
retirements, and still rebound and remain arguably one of the best franchises in
sports.
A loss of one of two players, heartbreaking, I suppose. I remember the tragic
and yet wondrous, life affirming accident that mountain climber lived through a
short while ago, where he cut off his hand, so that he might live. He changed
the parameters, reprogrammed the situation, however horrible and unthinking that
solution might be.
He won. We all win a little each day, facing life.
So the Jazz will win, one way, or the other.
The Jazz will win. There is no other option, not for this franchise.
And life, like sports, sometimes rewards those who are patient, who persevere,
who think beyond the next day and hope for better.
Otherwise, why play the game?
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