The Jazz have traded 22-year old point guard Eric Maynor and 33-year old SG/SF Matt Harpring to the Thunder for 2002 2nd round pick Peter Fehse. Maynor played in 26 games (2 starts) for the Jazz this season and he averaged 14.0 minutes, 5.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Matt Harpring has not played at all this season due to injury. He played in 63 games (2 starts) last season for the Jazz and he averaged 11.0 minutes, 4.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Fehse has never played in a NBA game and he likely won’t for the Jazz either. This trade saves the Jazz $13 million bucks and that is why they were willing to trade Maynor to the Thunder.

The 6’1” 170 pound John Stockton always looked more like your average Joe rather than one of the best point guards of all time.  The unassuming Stockton starred at Gonzaga before going 16^th in the 1984 NBA draft to the Utah Jazz, where he and Karl “The Mailman” Malone wreaked havoc on NBA defenses with their perfected and nearly unstoppable pick and roll.  Stockton averaged  13.1 ppg and 10.5 apg and finished his career with 15,806 assists, a number no other player is even close to (Mark Jackson is 2^nd all-time with 10,334 assists).  Stockton also has the most steals in NBA history with 3,265.  Stockton was always known for his toughness and “old school” style and look, donning those short shorts long after the baggy shorts became popular. 

Stockton’s coach, Jerry Sloan, is also headed to the Hall of Fame this year.  Sloan helped lead Stockton and Malone to two NBA finals appearances in 1997 and 1998, losing both to the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls.  Sloan was known for his toughness and defense as a player with the Chicago Bulls and brought that mentality to his coaching style.  Sloan became the head coach of the Chicago Bulls in 1979 and stayed there until 1982, before joining the Utah Jazz in 1988.  Sloan is the longest tenured coach not only in the NBA but also in all of the American major league sports as he is still the head coach of the Utah Jazz.  The 67-year-old Sloan definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame with a career record of 1136-747, coached two hall of famers in Stockton and Malone, had 15 straight playoff appearances from 1988-2003, and yet he has uncharacteristically never won the NBA coach of the year award.

 The Hall of Fame ceremonies are from September 10-12 in Springfield, Massachusetts and the other members of the Class of 2009 inductees includes the great Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan, San Antonio Spurs’ great David Robinson, and Rutgers University women’s head coach Vivian Stringer.

The Utah Jazz have been really busy in re-signing their own players to keep the team together. Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Price have all been re-signed to new contracts and that’s a good thing. Carlos Boozer exercised his option on his contract and then started complaining that he wanted out of town. The Jazz are looking right now to trade Boozer as Paul Millsap is more than ready to step into the starting lineup. The Jazz also selected Eric Maynor (PG) and Goran Sutton (PF) in the NBA Draft but neither will likely get much playing time this season.

OFF-SEASON GRADE FOR THE FRONT OFFICE SO FAR: B+

The Jazz have matched the 4-year, $32 million dollar offer to power forward Paul Millsap. The 24-year old is a key to the Jazz’ future and they could not afford to have a rival get them on their team. Millsap played in 76 games (38 starts) last season for the Jazz and he averaged 30.1 minutes, 13.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steal and 1 blocked shot per game. He has now played in 240 games (41 starts) in his three year NBA career and he has averaged 22.8 minutes, 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. The Jazz really need to trade Carlos Boozer to open up a starting job for Millsap, pronto!

27-year old power forward Carlos Boozer exercised a option in his contract for the 2009-2010 NBA season. He played in 37 games (all starts) for the Jazz last season and he averaged 32.4 minutes, 16.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steal per game. The Jazz are actively trying to move Carlos Boozer so that they can keep Paul Millsap who has received a huge offer from the rival Portland Trailblazers. Boozer has played in five seasons with the Jazz covering 276 games (262 starts) in which he averaged 34.0 minutes, 19.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game. The Jazz will probably be better off if they can move Boozer and retain Millsap who is a emerging star.

The Jazz have brought back 30-year old center Mehmet Okur on a 1-year deal. Okur played in 72 games (all starts) last season for the Jazz and he averaged 33.5 minutes, 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Okur nailed an amazing 44.6% from three point range last season which is deadly considering that he’s a center. Okur has now played in 531 games (373 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 29.5 minutes, 13.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. It was a smart move to bring back Okur by the Jazz.

The Utah Jazz have re-signed 28-year old small forward Kyle Korver to a 1-year deal. Korver played in 78 games (2 starts) last season for the Jazz and he averaged 24.0 minutes, 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He will likely get more playing time during the 2009-2010 season for the Jazz. Korver has now played in 465 games (103 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 10.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Korver’s main value to the Jazz is his long range shooting as he has nailed 40.4% of his three point attempts in his NBA career.

The Utah Jazz have signed 22-year old center Kyrylo Fesenko to a 1-year deal. Fesenko played in 21 games (1 start) for the Jazz last season and he averaged 7.4 minutes, 2.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He could be in line for more playing time next season depending on how the Jazz fill the roster before the 2009-2010 NBA season begins. Fesenko has now played in 30 games (1 start) in his NBA career and he has averaged 7.5 minutes, 2.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.

The Utah Jazz have re-signed 26-year old backup point guard Ronnie Price to a 1-year deal. Price played in 52 games (17 starts) for the Jazz last year and he averaged 14.2 minutes, 4.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. This was a good move as Price did a good job backing up Deron Williams last season. Price has now played in 200 games (21 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 10.2 minutes, 3.4 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.2 assists per game.

The Utah Jazz selected 23-year old PF Goran Sutton with the 50th pick in the NBA Draft. Sutton is a big guy at 6’10″, 245 pounds and he’s a four year college player just like the Jazz like to draft. Sutton played in 135 games at Michigan State and he averaged 8.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. The Jazz will likely go slow with Sutton because they have a lot of quality depth in the frontcourt.