[url]http://www.ksl.com/?sid=33347850&nid=304&title=close-jazz-loss-to-portland-highlighted-by-big-blazers-run[/url]
Only mention of Rudy is getting dunked on! Unbelivable! :wtf:
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[url]http://www.ksl.com/?sid=33347850&nid=304&title=close-jazz-loss-to-portland-highlighted-by-big-blazers-run[/url]
Only mention of Rudy is getting dunked on! Unbelivable! :wtf:
[QUOTE]"All possibilities at this point are still open," Stoudemire said of a possible buyout. "The door is still open for that. But at the same time, I am with the Knicks now. I got to stay optimistic about things and what we are doing here. I can't really focus on the future because it's not here. Yahoo! Sports
One team that could have interest in Stoudemire if he becomes a free agent is the Los Angeles Clippers, whose coach Doc Rivers said the team would be in the market for buyout players. The Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers are also looking a big man. Yahoo! Sports
The Knicks, however, are more focused at this point on negotiating a buyout with forward Andrea Bargnani than Stoudemire, a league source said. Yahoo! Sports[/QUOTE]
Got to think Booker could bring a first rounder especially with his new 3 point range.
[QUOTE]Rudy had a limited impact on the game tonight.[/QUOTE]
Limited minutes. Looks like he did what he usually does.
[QUOTE]I thought Enes Kanter played the first half as well as he can play. He finished with 16-10 and had an assist to Derrick Favors.
Quin said it which ever big is playing well is going to play. Tonight Enes 31 minutes, Favors 29 and Rudy 24. Quin has been very consistent in this regard.[/QUOTE]
Nice to see. Been waiting for Enes to get more minutes than Favors when he's playing better since his rookie year. Rudy has to play more than any of them though.
[QUOTE]At what point do the Jazz start to cash in assets5?
I keep thinking the Jazz are about to turn the corner from asset accumulation into putting some pieces in place. Given how young they are, they
[QUOTE]Rudy Gobert might've been more surprised than anyone that Damian Lillard dunked on him Tuesday night in Portland.[/QUOTE]
It was surprising because most players try to avoid him and those that have challenged him have usually failed. The fact that he'd been out on the perimeter most of the game might have hurt hm too.
[QUOTE]Not because he believes Lillard isn
[QUOTE]Utah leads the NBA in offensive rebounding rate and has the second-highest overall rebounding rate, according to ESPN’s Hollinger Team Statistics.
With one of the deepest frontcourts in the league — featuring Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Rudy Gobert and Trevor Booker — the Jazz are averaging 42.7 total rebounds. That number includes 11.7 offensive boards an outing.
While expounding on Utah’s rebounding, Snyder complimented Kanter for crashing the offensive glass.
"You watch him and he works,” Snyder said. "It’s not easy wrestling down there.”
Good rebounding isn’t just about strength and size, the Jazz coach added.
“There's a lot of big guys that don’t like to rebound because it’s hard,” Snyder said.
Snyder was especially pleased last week when small forward Gordon Hayward grabbed 15 rebounds in the 110-100 win over the Warriors. That kind of production from the wings goes a long way in helping the bigs and the team.
“I’d like to see our guards continue to rebound better,” Snyder said. “That’s been a real point of emphasis.”[/QUOTE]
It's nice that they've continued to get offensive boards when a point of emphais was getting back in transition D. They need to do better on the defensive glass still. It's hurt them. Not as much since Rudy started playing more.
[QUOTE]BOOSTING BURKE: Point guard Trey Burke, who scored a team-high 21 in Utah's 100-90 loss to Memphis, continues to come off the bench and keeps getting positive reviews from his coach.
"To me, he’s not a bench guy,” Snyder said. "He happens to be on the bench in the beginning of the first and third quarters, but when we go through everything … I think he’s a core guy, and as a core guy, he’s able to see what the team needs.”[/QUOTE]
Remains to be seen. Right now he's a D-leaguer or 3rd stringer. Sub 40 % shooting and crappy D. :confusedshrug: He helps their offensive rebounding numbers anyway.
[QUOTE]After Tuesday's loss in Portland, Hayward also spoke highly of Burke, who has become the Jazz’s sixth-man spark in the two weeks he’s played in his reserve role.
“It’s just one of those things that you look around the league and the best teams have somebody coming off the bench that can really go,” Hayward said. "It’s not a demotion, we talked about that, it’s just kind of when he gets to play. He can pick his spots and be more aggressive there in the second unit and really lead that group for us and he’s done a great job. I think he’s taking it really well.”[/QUOTE]
And Maxi G knows. He played some his best ball off the bench.
[QUOTE]FAMILIAR FACES: The next two opponents will be against teams coached by former players and coaches of the Jazz. Utah travels to face Jeff Hornacek’s Suns in Phoenix on Friday, and then hosts the Tyrone Corbin-coached Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.
EMAIL: [email]jody@desnews.com[/email]
TWITTER: DJJazzyJody[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Christopher is progressing back to being a basketball player again. He says he's about two weeks away from being cleared for non-contact drills. His rehabilitation is going as planned, and he's about a month away from returning to the court.
"I'm a local now," Christopher said.
The shooting guard was in his first career start when he dislocated his knee against the Atlanta Hawks at the end of December. It was a physical injury, but also a mental one. Christopher had slogged through basketball's minor leagues, hoping for a chance to become an NBA player. Injuries to Alec Burks and Rodney Hood allowed him that opportunity, and he was rewarded by being placed in the starting lineup.
There is no word on if the Jazz will sign him back - he was waived to make room for Elijah Millsap - but it's clear the organization took a liking to him as a player and a person.
Christopher was at the Jazz/Grizzlies game because he was in camp with Memphis during the preseason. He's been living in SLC during his rehab.
Tony Jones[/QUOTE]
I'd guess he could be back depending on what happens with the new guy and the trade deadline.
[QUOTE]The Jazz shoot 21 3s per night, making seven of them. That puts them near the bottom of the league.
"I think if you look at the stats, we're a bit inconsistent," Utah forward Gordon Hayward said. "I do think we're starting to get more 3s off weak-side reads. It's something that we have to work at, and just kind of improve."[/QUOTE]
You are certainy inconsistent. Need better shooters Simple really.
[QUOTE]Of the core rotation players, Hayward is the best shooter, knocking down 38 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. Most of the best NBA their have a 40-percent shooter in its starting lineups. For instance, the Atlanta Hawks have Kyle Korver. The Golden State Warriors have Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The Portland Trail Blazers have Wes Matthews.
Shooting 3-pointers is a key part of making Snyder's offense flow, a key facet in the spacing Snyder wants on the floor. Maybe it's an issue that will be addressed when Alec Burks and Rodney Hood come back from injury. But, make no mistake, Snyder wants this part of the game to get better for the future.[/QUOTE]
Assuming Hood is the shooter he was advertised at.
[QUOTE]"I think right now we have to recognize that we're not one of the better shooting teams in the league," Snyder said. "But shooting and spacing flow into a more cohesive offense. We've had some games where we haven't made shots. We've had games where the shots have fallen. We need it to be more consistent."
Another ex-team
Joe Ingles had a chance to play for the Memphis Grizzlies last season with a deal on the table. The starting shooting guard opted to go to Maccabi Tel Aviv instead.
Time's almost up
Jazz guard Chris Johnson's 10-day contract expires Friday. The former Dayton star has yet to appear in a game. Previously, the Jazz signed Elijah Millsap to a pair of 10-day contracts, and will keep him for the season.
[email]tjones@sltrib.com[/email]
twitter: @tjonessltrib[/QUOTE]
I imagine he'll get another 10 day.
Jody Genessy: Trey Burke on Ty Corbin: "He instilled a lot of confidence inside of me. ... He made me a better player, no doubt in my mind." Twitter @DJJazzyJody
Not sure why they didn't put Rudy on Morris when he was going off? :confusedshrug:
[url]http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznotes/2152378-155/jazz-let-christapher-johnsons-10-day-contract[/url]
[QUOTE]With the trade deadline less than two weeks away, the decision to let Johnson's contact expire could be about maintaining flexibility for a potential move. [/QUOTE]
Has mosre to do with the all-star game. I'd guess he'll be back if he's not picked up by someone else.
[QUOTE]Rudy Gobert, C
17 MIN | 2-2 FG | 0-2 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 0 TO | 4 PTS | -4 +/-
While his frontcourt counterparts dominated on both sides of the ball, Rudy continued a rough stretch of late, playing just 17 minutes and not making quite his usual recent impact. He
[QUOTE]In Gobert
[QUOTE]John Reid: Anthony Davis will not play Monday night against Jazz, Pelicans just announced. Twitter @JohnReid64[/QUOTE]
Jazz need to take it.
Bloody horrible shooting night from Burke, Millsap and Exum (they were a combined 4-29). Thankfully Hayward still played well and a cameo appearance from Novak was a boost. 21-3 run was enough to get them over the line. Also they were +17 when Gobert is on the floor and -16 for Kanter and -11 from Favors.
Typical night from Trey not to mention what Gordon and Tyreke did against him at the other end. Everything starts and ends with Rudy. They might be able to get away with Novak as long as Rudy is on the floor. Might want to try to get Booker some more minutes at the 3 too.
[QUOTE]They likely will have to face Utah on Wednesday without Tyson Chandler. They also could be short Monta Ellis. And they already know Rajon Rondo is out. That
[QUOTE] Rudy was the clear fourth big in Utah for much of the first two months, cracking 20 minutes in just three games before December.[/QUOTE]
Him and Booker.
[QUOTE]Midway through 2014
[QUOTE]Lots have people have jumped to the conclusion that Kanter might be on his way out this trade deadline, so the Jazz can capitalize on him as an asset and clear the way for Gobert in the process. But would they be giving up on Kanter too soon? Here's a solid piece from 1320 KFAN's Ben Anderson weighing the pros and cons of that decision:
Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey allowed Paul Millsap to leave in free agency to the Atlanta Hawks, hoping to clear up cap room for future roster additions, only to see the power forward qualify for two straight All-Star games, leading the Hawks to the Eastern Conference's best record this season. Lindsey won't want to mar his reputation by allowing another home-grown Jazz prospect to flourish in another franchise's hands.[/QUOTE]
Wasn't just any homegrown player. Millsap is the type of player any franchise should want to keep around. It's a joke that they let him go really. Same with Demarre. Kanter or Favors it's easier for me to see letting go.
[QUOTE]And what of Gobert's future? To this point in his career, Gobert has appeared in fewer than 100 games, having started fewer than 10. Can the Jazz afford to move Kanter in order to clear room for such an unproven prospect? [/QUOTE]
He's proven! :rolleyes:
[QUOTE]Seven-footers are unique, and when they click with a team, they are potential franchise changers, but injuries are always a concern, and there is a reason successful big men of Gobert's build are few and far between. If the Jazz were to bet the future on Gobert, only to see it derailed by obstacles outside of their control, Kanter could be a franchise saving spare piece, or the one who got away.
It's an enviable conundrum for an NBA team -- oh, three starting-caliber big men? WHAT A PREDICAMENT -- but it's one I don't have an answer to yet. On one hand, Gobert's ceiling is definitely higher than Kanter's. [/QUOTE]
Defensively anyway. Kanter has more upside at the other end for sure.
[QUOTE]On the other...well, I'm tired of seeing former Jazzmen flourish on other teams, like Millsap and Kyle Korver (both now All-Stars in Atlanta this season). I'd hate to see the same thing happen with Kanter. At the very least, it'll be an interesting story to watch as the trade deadline nears.[/QUOTE]
But I'll bet you were on the start Favors bench/trade Millsap bandwagon with everyone else right?
[QUOTE] We've had a tumultuous relationship with rookie rankings so far this season. With three first-year prospects in solid rotation, almost every column devoted to rookie analysis has mentioned a Jazz player. But now a fourth rookie has gotten some love from CBS Sports' Sean Vecenie: the newly-contracted Elijah Millsap:
Finally, Elijah Millsap earned himself a full-season contract with team options for two more due to his hot shooting and defensive acumen in Utah. It's nice to see the Millsap tradition live on in the state after the Jazz were responsible for kickstarting his brother Paul's career prior to him flourishing with Atlanta over the last two seasons.[/QUOTE]
Flourished with the Jazz too. It's not like it should be surprising what he's done in Atlanta.
[QUOTE]Truthfully, Millsap The Younger probably wouldn't be sniffing the Jazz lineup if not for injuries to fellow rookies Rodney Hood and Joe Ingles, not to mention Alec Burks. (Geez, we've had way too many SG/SF injuries, haven't we?) But he's been doing the most with his role, and it's nice to see him get some recognition.[/QUOTE]
He should be playing ahead of Hood and certainly competing with Ingles.
How about revisiting the AK trade idea? Have enough cap space to get him for nothing. He can't shoot like the rest of team but his D, passing and vet presence would certainly be welcome.
Guess we can say bye-bye to Kanter. Hopefully they use it as a chance to bring in a really solid piece and aren't afraid to include someone like Burkes in the deal if it brings back a really good talent.
[QUOTE]Meanwhile, until now, the Jazz front office had felt that his potential was worth more than the limited interest they had received in Kanter from other teams. [/QUOTE]
Sounds like he might be here til the end of the year. Suns look like a possibility on paper. Might be time to look in the mirror and ask if other teams aren't that interested maybe you ought to just keep working where you're at?
[QUOTE]Before the 2013-14 season, they wanted to see what he could bring in more than a 4th big role. In Ty Corbin
[QUOTE]The Phoenix Suns have a glut of guards in the backcourt and Ryan McDonough admitted the team's balance is slightly off.
"I think our roster balance is a little off, and that's my fault," McDonough said Wedneday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. "We are a little too backcourt heavy, especially in terms of guys who, you know, I think you'd define primarily as scorers in the backcourt.
"So I think at some point we'll need to balance that out, try to get a little more size, a little more frontcourt scoring and rebounding."
The Suns are in the playoff picture but have lost seven of their last 10 games.
"At the same time it's a challenge because we do have talented players, they've all had success individually and team success in the NBA," McDonough said, "so those are some of the decisions we'll kind of mull over the next week or so and we'll see where we are on the 19th next week."[/QUOTE]
Not sure I'd want Dragic. Be a great fit offensively but he's a free agent to be. Isaiah Thomas or Bledsoe might work. Ennis I would take.
[QUOTE]Aaron Falk: Kanter's agent, Max Ergul, on 1280 says Enes' frustrations center on an a "lack of investment in his development" by the Utah Jazz. Twitter @tribjazz -[/QUOTE]
Can't say I agree. A big part of the problem is the way the league is set up. All these guys think they should come right in the league and be given everthing and some like Burke, Exum, and Hood are. Young guys need to earn their way in the D-league or end of rotaion or whatever.
Kanter got a chance to contribute to a playoff team as a rookie when he was still pretty raw. Biggest problem I've had is at times he's outplayed guys ahead of him and hasn't been given the opportunity at those times. I certainly dont see Favors as head and shoulders above him. They've both got strengths and weaknesses.
Ideally right now he should be getting more time. Made sense to start Marvin last year but he could have been given more time
Jody Genessy: Trey Burke on Enes Kanter saying he hopes to get traded from the Utah Jazz: "It
[QUOTE]Austin Horton: "He's one of the most dominant players of his generation. If he wasn't, Kevin O'Connor wouldn't have selected him with number 3 pick" - agent Max Ergul. Twitter[/QUOTE]
I think the problem starts with his agent obviously. Enes has a lot of upside but he's still got a lot to learn. If he can't pass out of a double team it's going to be tough for him to dominate on a nightly basis.
[QUOTE]Center Rudy Gobert hadn
[QUOTE]Jazz coach Quin Snyder reiterated Thursday that he
[QUOTE]Meanwhile, free-agent acquisition Trevor Booker has been a consistent momentum-changer, earning more minutes than anticipated.[/QUOTE]
He has? He's one of their highest paid players. He's probably playing less than expected since Rudy started getting more time.
[QUOTE]So coach Quin Snyder has tried to utilize both Gobert and Kanter effectively, and done a nice job. [/QUOTE]
No he hasn't. Gobert is the man. Need to figure out how Favors and Kanter fit around him. He hasn't done that.
[QUOTE]Some nights Gobert is simply undeniable. He blocked seven shots against Oklahoma City in January. Also, he has vastly improved his modest offensive game (shooting 63 percent).
But it’s the defensive side that has haunted Kanter, and the place where the coaching staff continues to focus. This leaves him frustrated and confused. [/QUOTE]
I think his passing or lack thereof is a much bigger weakness right now.
[QUOTE]He hinted occasionally this year that he wanted more playing time, but finally on Wednesday it became a declaration more than a hint: play me or trade me.
Kanter isn’t a malcontent whining about time he didn’t deserve. Rather, he’s sunny and optimistic, having worked diligently to improve since the Jazz drafted him No. 3 in 2011. That’s why his mood on Wednesday was jarring but understandable.
Still, this isn’t an Armageddon moment for the Jazz. It’s a good thing.
It means they’re getting better.
If the Jazz are talented enough to keep Kanter on the bench, somebody must be filling in.
Kanter is agile and teachable and could do nicely if he goes elsewhere.[/QUOTE]
Could? I don't think there's much doubt. Could be another Jazz move that looks bad after the fact. It makes their decision on him a lot easier but getting rid of Favors might be the better move in the long run.
[QUOTE]Whether the Jazz move him before Thursday’s trade deadline is another matter. As a restricted free agent, it could hinder talks. Some teams would rather wait for summer and get him without giving anything in return.
This isn’t the first time a Jazz player has wanted to be moved. Heaven knows, Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams weren’t the most content souls. Even Karl Malone had an occasional spat with management and would talk about leaving.[/QUOTE]
Occasional? Everytime he signed a new contract he'd be whining about getting more soon after.
[QUOTE]This, though, seems serious. The Jazz could use a shooting guard, with Alec Burks out for the season.[/QUOTE]
They need a pg more than anything but wing help too. Going to need a back-up center if they trade him. Evans isn't that.
[QUOTE]Kanter is averaging more points, rebounds and minutes than any time in his career. At the same time, Gobert has gone from a 15-minute-a-night player to sometimes more than 30.
If Kanter is traded before the deadline, or even if he leaves later as a free agent, he would be missed. The Turkish big man has skills. But the good news for the Jazz is that they’ve improved enough to even consider parting ways.[/QUOTE]
They have? I'd still rather have Millsap and Demarre personally.
[QUOTE]In sports, unhappy people are sometimes a sign you’re doing something right.
Email: [email]rock@desnews.com[/email]; Twitter: @therockmonster; Blog: Rockmonster Unplugged[/QUOTE]
but not in this case.
[QUOTE]In an on-air interview with 1280 The Zone on Thursday, agent Max Ergul said Kanter's frustrations with the Jazz date to his rookie season under former coach Tyrone Corbin.[/QUOTE]
The only problem I have with his rookie year is there were times when he was playing well and they'd pull him just because he was the 4th big in the rotation even if the 3rd big wasn't playing as well.
[QUOTE]"I don't think it's a one-game, one-postgame-interview outburst," said Ergul, whose client did not play in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's loss in Dallas. "I think there's a sensitivity to Enes related to his first couple years and how little he's been used.
[QUOTE]"I like Tyson Chandler," Gobert said. "He inspires me defensively and the way he plays the game. But I'm myself. I'm not going to be the same player he is. I'm just myself, and you'll see that I'm going to be in a few years."[/QUOTE]
Already better than Chandler too! :cheers: Gives you an idea what Chandler could have done for the Jazz if they'd traded for him instead of Al though.
[QUOTE]Gobert, who will play for the World Team in Friday's game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, will be joined by teammates Dante Exum, who also is on the World Team roster, and Trey Burke, who will suit up for the U.S. Team.
Recent events might speed up the discovery process for Gobert.
The 22-year-old center has taken a leap this year, and his minutes have cut into Kanter's. For Kanter, years of frustration over his role in Utah boiled over Wednesday, as he let reporters know he hoped to be moved in the coming week.
What will happen remains to be seen. Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey had no comment when reached this week regarding Kanter's situation.
Kanter will be a restricted free agent this summer, which could also complicate a potential deal should Utah decide to shop him. And Utah officials like the 22-year-old Kanter's potential, so they may stand pat with the trade deadline a week away.
Gobert, meanwhile, remains a work in progress himself, despite the gains he's made this season. In recent weeks, the Jazz's defense has actually been better with Gobert off the floor than with him on it, according to some metrics.
For Gobert, it's a case of stats not telling the whole story.
"A lot of people say that my numbers are not the same, but if they shoot 3-pointers, what can I do?" he said before the loss to the Mavs. "You know what I'm saying? I feel like they don't come to the paint as much as they used to because they know. When I'm on the floor, they're going to space and shoot 3s. But I do my job. I protect the paint. I can't protect the 3-point line."
Gobert's take evoked a chuckle from his coach later that night.
"I love him," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "But let's let him play defense and not let him analyze the numbers."[/QUOTE]
Rudy is right. Even early in the year when his stats looked pedestrian he was a factor. Stats don't begin to tell the story with him. He's probably their best perimter defender too. Too bad Favors isn't the rim protector his been advertised as.
[QUOTE]On the whole, Snyder said he believes Utah's defense is improving and Gobert "has been a catalyst for a lot of that."[/QUOTE]
all of it. They are ne of the worst teams in the league when he's not on the court. Look like a a team that can compete with anyone with him on the court.
[QUOTE]This weekend in New York City, Gobert will have a chance to show off his skill set against some of the league's other top talent.
"I'm pretty excited," he said Wednesday when asked about the upcoming activities. "I think its going to be fun. I have time to get some rest after."
It just may be less time than he expected.
[email]afalk@sltrib.com[/email]
Twitter: @tribjazz[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Option 1: Trade Kanter
Many assume this is a foregone conclusion at this point, but there are plenty examples in recent NBA
A. Sherrod Blakely: #Celtics monitoring Enes Kanter situation w/Utah, but aren't expected to make a run at the disgruntled center now, source says. #Celticstalk Twitter
Nice to see Exum attack the rim and take people off the dribble. Hopefully he can do that in a real game now.
[QUOTE]Marc Stein: Had chance to ask @Rudy Gobert postgame on @espnradio which nickname he prefers. Says he likes 'em both: Stifle Tower AND French Rejection Twitter @ESPNSteinLine [/QUOTE]
stifle tower!
[QUOTE]Marc Stein: Word is Suns more apt to try to move IThomas before trade deadline, to restore last season's roster balance, rather than surrender GDragic Twitter @ESPNSteinLine
Marc Stein: Suns understandably want lots for Dragic. Of course, if they find deal to ship out Thomas and then Dragic can't be re-signed, PG depth gone Twitter @ESPNSteinLine[/QUOTE]
They'd still have Ennis and Bledsoe. Could send them Burke.
[url]http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ogthqt9[/url]
[QUOTE]Based on this data, it appears as though Rudy Gobert and Andrew Bogut both have a good case to be selected as the defensive specialist for the Western Conference All-Star team this season. Gobert has the highest block percentage, holds opponents to the lowest field goal percentage at the rim and helps Utah
[QUOTE]The source said the Sixers could again partner with one of the league
[QUOTE]Tony Jones: The Utah Jazz are starting to get healthy. Have been told Joe Ingles and Rodney Hood are both getting close to return. Twitter @Tjonessltrib
Tony Jones: If Hood is healthy, this will be important last stretch for Hood. He's hardly played this season. Jazz wanna see what they have in him. Hood has been cleared to practice, I'm told. He and the team have been conservative about his rehab, want to make sure foot issues are done Twitter @Tjonessltrib[/QUOTE]
D-league
[QUOTE]there
[QUOTE]The more interesting questions surround Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried. Denver isn’t shopping those guys, but Jusuf Nurkic is the only true untouchable on the roster, per several league sources who have dealt with the Nuggets. The sense around the league is that you could land Lawson or Faried with a Godfather offer. They are gettable. Boston and Denver have had exploratory talks about Lawson, per several sources. Grantland [/QUOTE]
Been checking different scenarios in the trade machine as I read the rumors especially since Enes' statement and Lawson to the Jazz is the most exciting yet.
[url]http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=mztdpjo[/url]
Losing Enes or having to overpay him in the off-season would be a big risk and the tank would suffer but you get the young vet pg they have been missing since Deron was traded and another borderline all-star caliber player who has become more of a pass first guy but can shoot the 3 and score. Remember he was the best player on a very good team a couple years ago. Takes a lot of pressure off Maxi G. Not much of a defender I don't think but with Rudy it might not matter much. Give Exum time to develop behind a real NBA pg. Burke replaced by Neto next year. Tomic to back-up Rudy. With Rudy's perimeter skills they could play together some I'm sure too.
I think in the future Maxi G, Hood and Chandler could play the 4 alongside Rudy too as great as he is not too mention Booker and another lottery pick.
Improve their outside shooting, depth on the wing and the balance of the roster. Open up another roster spot. Pick up a pg and center.
Throw in whatever picks, cash and what not to make it work. Denver gets younger. Saves some money this year and next. Something like this looks doable. Involve other teams if need be.