After losing Carlos Boozer to Chicago via free agency, the Utah Jazz have found a replacement. The team announced Tuesday that they acquired center/forward Al Jefferson from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for center Kosta Koufos, the Memphis Grizzlies protected 2011 first-round pick (obtained by the Jazz a previous trade) and an additional future protected first-round pick. "The Miller family stepped up today," said Jazz General Manager Kevin O'Connor. "They've committed to winning and committed to putting an elite team on the floor." O'Connor and the Jazz made a deal for one of the best low post players in the NBA and gave up very little to make it happen. The Jazz have had interest in Jefferson for some time. O'Connor admitted the team tried to acquire him at last year's trade deadline and again around the time of June's NBA Draft. Minnesota's acquisition of Michael Beasley from the MIami Heat led the Timberwolves to shop Jefferson and the Jazz had the assets necessary to get the deal done. Minnesota General Manager David Kahn had this to say about Jefferson after sending the six-year pro to Salt Lake City. http://www.ksl.com/?nid=304&sid=11562803
"OK, let's start right from the top: Would you trade Carlos Boozer for Al Jefferson? You'd at least have to think about it. Jefferson is three years younger and had better numbers over the past three seasons. He can play center -- Boozer cannot -- which allows the Jazz to paper over Mehmet Okur's expected absence and move Andrei Kirilenko up to power forward in stretches, where he's more effective anyway. Jefferson's not a great defender, but neither was Boozer. Yes, he's probably worse than Boozer in this respect, but last season's particularly lead-footed performance could be partially attributed to the fact that he was still recovering from knee surgery. And the price is less. Jefferson has only three guaranteed years left on his deal; keeping Boozer would have cost at least five. Would you rather pay Jefferson until he's 28 or Boozer until he's 33? Apparently Utah thought the same thing, because it effectively completed a Boozer-for-Jefferson swap Tuesday, using the trade exception from Boozer's sign-and-trade to Chicago to acquire Jefferson from Minnesota. The Timberwolves, in return, get two first-round draft choices and Kosta Koufos.I consider this a pretty solid endgame for Utah. Jefferson can coexist with both Paul Millsap and Kirilenko offensively, and while the former pairing might have some rough nights on D, they'll be a hellacious combo offensively. Jefferson will have to get used to more pick-and-rolls and fewer post-up isolations, but he can handle it." Hollinger's take
