Can Jerry Sloan save Shareef?
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford Tuesday, December 9
Updated: December 9
10:14 AM ET
Is Jerry Sloan the best coach in the NBA?
Phil Jackson has more rings. Larry Brown has more accolades. Pat Riley has a longer reputation. But Sloan has gotten the most from the least in his career. Isn't that what good coaching is all about?
"The media weren't the only ones who missed on the Jazz this year," one GM told Insider. "I didn't talk to one person in the NBA who thought they'd be this good."
To put it into perspective, good is a relative term. The team is 11-9 and just got blown out by the lowly Celtics at home. But for a team many thought would be one of the worst ever, 11 wins in early December is down right amazing.
Ben Handlogten?
Even more amazing is who Sloan is getting production from. Only one player on his roster, Andrei Kirilenko, looked like he had the makings of a star before the season. One more, Matt Harpring, was Sloan's success story last season. Under Sloan's tutelage, Harpring when from a decent role player to a breakout star with the Jazz last season.
No one gets the most out of his players like the Jazz's Jerry Sloan.
The rest of this season's roster was a hodgepodge of rookies and journeymen who had never done much in the NBA. Carlos Arroyo, DeShawn Stevenson, Greg Ostertag and Raja Bell are all having career years, exceeding even the most optimistic of projections. Rookies Raul Lopez, Alexsandar Pavlovic, Maurice Williams, Curtis Borchardt and Ben Handlogten are having unusually good freshman seasons.
The credit goes to Sloan. "He's such a great teacher," Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor told Insider recently. "I think a lot of people expected Jerry to step down when Karl [Malone] left and John [Stockton] retired, but he really wanted this challenge. Deep down Jerry believed that hard work and a good system could overcome our lack of experience."
For many years, folks wrote of Sloan because he had two dominant players running a simple pick-and-roll offense to perfection. With Stockton and Malone gone, everyone is seeing that Sloan has plenty of other tricks up his sleeve. Two months after I sat down with Sloan during the Jazz's training camp, his words seem prophetic.
"Basketball hasn't changed," Sloan told Insider then. "All it is is basketball. Some teams are going to be better than others. But if you love basketball, you keep working your butt off."
"Hard work will give them the chance to get better," he said. "If players work hard they usually improve ... Will that add up to a lot of wins or a lot of losses? People say that it will add up to a lot of losses but I don't think you try to go out and get better with the idea that you're going to lose. I've always believed that you try to win. Anything less than that you're a loser."
"We're here, we've got a job to do -- so go out, bust your butt and go home."
On most nights, the Jazz do bust their butts. Sloan's decision versus the Lakers on Sunday to play a roster of Williams, Bell, Pavlovic, Handlogten and Collins the entire fourth quarter against future of Hall of Famers Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Gary Payton defines him.
With Sloan's three best players sitting on the bench, he challenged a group that would struggle to win in the NDBL to come back from a 20-point deficit and defeat the mighty Lakers. The reserves outscored the Lakers 32-20 in the fourth and were a last-second Devean George 3-pointer away from toppling the Lakers at the Staples Center.
Said Sloan of his decision. "Whenever we can't find somebody, we keep searching to find someone that wants to play hard," Sloan said.
The Sloan Resurrection Program
Since when did Sloan get the title of Master Teacher added to his name?
"I think Jerry's been doing this for years," another GM said. "Matt Harpring, Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley, Donyell Marshall and Bryon Russell did things in Utah that they haven't done anywhere else. There's a pattern there of Jerry maximizing a guys talent and putting him into situations where he can be successful."
All of this makes you wonder. If Sloan can get this type of effort out of Arroyo and Handlogten, what could he do with a couple of talented, but underachieving players who haven't found a way to take their game to the next level?
O'Connor has major cap room again next summer, but the free-agent class of 2004 looks pretty weak. Maybe O'Connor should use some of that cap room to trade for an enigma or two and see if Sloan can figure them out. If he could, the payoff would be enormous.
Here's a look at three players we'd love to see Sloan work his magic on.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Power Forward
Atlanta Hawks
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
21 20.7 9.8 2.4 .518 .886
Shareef Abdur-Rahim, F, Hawks Since coming into the league at 19, Abdur-Rahim has averaged 2 ppg and 1.5 rpg more than he did his rookie season with the Grizzlies. Scouts agree that Abdur-Rahim has an enormous amount of talent, but he's lacked the fire and the discipline to keep improving his game.
"I think he'd be the perfect player for Sloan," one NBA scout told Insider. "He's very consistent and he can be devastating in the paint when he wants to be. Jerry would toughen him up, constantly ride him and the Jazz's staff would force Shareef to improve his one weakness, that perimeter shot. He's only 26 years old. It isn't too late for him. I think he could be a superstar with the Jazz if Sloan worked with him for a year."
A trade of Keon Clark and the Jazz's No. 1 pick next summer might tempt the Hawks into making the deal. The move would get the Hawks under the cap for next season and would give them two high picks in the 2004 draft.
Keith Van Horn, F, Knicks Rumors that the Jazz have been high on the former University of Utah star have been floating around for years. Like Abdur-Rahim, Van Horn has never really progressed much after a stellar rookie campaign. He's a good offensive rebounder and he can be dominant when he plays aggressively, but he's rarely done that the past three seasons.
"I think it would be a great fit," the same NBA scout said. "He spreads the floor, is a good rebounder and would have a lot of support from the fans. Jerry would find a way to maximize his talents. On his last few teams, Keith's really been an after thought. He'd have more responsibility in Utah. I think it would make a difference."
Would the Knicks be willing to give up on Van Horn so quickly? Maybe. It would probably cost the the Jazz Harpring and Clark in return, but on a team that is challenged for size, Van Horn might be worth the sacrifice.
Kwame Brown, F, Wizards Sloan's track record with his high school player, Stevenson, has been so-so. Stevenson has started to progress this season, but it comes after three years where Sloan was ready to choke him. Brown, however, has much more talent. Michael Jordan and Doug Collins couldn't motivate him. Eddie Jordan doesn't seen to be getting through. Could Sloan?
"I think it would be a rocky relationship at the start," the same scout told Insider. "Sloan likes smart players who play hard all of the time. That's not really Kwame right now. But I will say that Kwame's really never been put in a chance to succeed. Jerry's offense would get him good shots. With a boost of confidence, maybe he'd turn around. I hear he's a very good kid."
Getting Brown from the Wizards wouldn't be easy. They're still reluctant to give up on him, despite his recent benching. A swap of Laettner and Brown for Ostertag and the Jazz's No. 1 would give the Wizards roughly $15 million in cap space next year to make a splash in the free-agent market. Would that be enough to get them to part with Brown?
Around the League
The dust on the Bonzi Wells deal hasn't even settled, and already there's talk that the Grizzlies are on the prowl for a blockbuster deal. There's no question that they have a lot of talent stacked at the two, three and four. Are people just doing the math or does Jerry West have more tricks up his sleeve?
"We're just trying to get better," West told Insider. "I'm not going to get into every conversation we do and don't have, but I think it's safe to say that when deals like this one with Bonzi come along, you have to be prepared to pull the trigger. To be successful in the league, you have to take some risks. We want to win games period. I'm not interested in draft picks or potential. I'm looking for guys who can play."
Read into that what you want. West isn't in love with raw potential the way some GMs in the league are. He knew that the first-round pick he gave Portland wasn't going to produce a player as talented as Wells in the next three years, so he didn't hesitate to give it up. It also looks like owner Michael Heisley's wallet is open wide, meaning West doesn't value expiring contracts the way most teams in the league do.
West's old school approach to things (talent over potential and cap savings) may just get him to the promised land. He's got a number of young talented players with small contracts. Is it just a matter of time before he parlays two or three of them into a rugged big man to patrol the paint? With Shane Battier and Stromile Swift apparently expendable after the Grizzlies' last two trades, West has some pretty valuable trade bait if he wants to use it.
Erick Dampier
Center
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
18 12.1 13.6 0.8 .497 .548
After failed attempts to steal Erick Dampier away from Golden State this summer, don't be surprised if West goes after him again. There's talk that Dampier might opt out of his contract next summer and try to get more than the $16.8 million he's due the next two seasons. Despite Dampier's solid play, that may be enough to scare the frugal Warriors into trading him. Would a combo of Battier, Swift and Jake Tsakalidis be enough to lure the Warriors into a trade?
Other possibilities include Cleveland, which will move Zydrunas Ilgauskas for the right price. Battier, Swift, Tsakalidis and Bo Outlaw for Z and Chris Mihm may make some sense. When healthy, Ilgauskas is one of the best centers in the league, and Mihm has started to produce. The move would give the Cavs some much needed depth in the frontcourt to balance an already deep backcourt.
Seattle has Jerome James (a West target in 2002) back on the block. You've got to believe the Sonics would do a Swift-James trade in a heart beat. However, with the way James has regressed the past two seasons, it's just as hard to believe that West still has interest.
The other interesting name is the Jazz's Greg Ostertag. Ostertag is having a career year in Utah. He's one of the strongest centers in the league and one of the few guys who can guard Shaq. He's an unrestricted free agent next summer, so the Grizzlies' risk would be minimal. Would O'Connor move Ostertag (whose likely gone at the end of the season anyway) for a chance at a couple of nice young players in Battier, Swift and Tsakalidis?
Teams are getting nowhere in their attempts to pry Al Harrington away from the Pacers. GMs have looked at the Pacers roster and felt that Harrington would be expendable at the right price. With Jonathan Bender coming back from injury and the Pacers promising minutes something has to give, right?
Over the last five games Harrington has averaged 18.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg and 2.6 apg on 48 percent shooting from the field. He's firmly entrenched into the rotation and helped the Pacers not miss a beat when Ron Artest was out with back spasms. Harrington has found a way to be effective whether he starts or not.
"Let's face it, we have six starters on this team if you really look at it," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told the Indianapolis Star. "Al's a guy that's certainly deserving to be a starter on most teams in this league. And his day will come, there's no question about that. The fact that he's been professional enough to accept the role we've asked him to says a lot about what kind of person he is. And make no mistake about it, he's a big part of what we're doing whether he starts or not."
Pacers president Donnie Walsh has been patient with the Pacers kids for years. Now that they are starting to produce, he's extremely reluctant to let them go. Walsh remembers when the Blazers, who needed a veteran big man, gave up Jermaine O'Neal to Indiana for Dale Davis. It turned out to be one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history. Walsh doesn't want to be on the wrong end of the next one.
"I still don't think we've seen everything Al's capable of," Walsh told Insider recently. "He's still just 23 years old and is just now getting regular playing time. He's going to be a special player in the league. I don't think you can trade away a guy like that unless your getting a top player in return."
Cavs coach Paul Silas said he'd like the Cavs to re-sign Darius Miles when he becomes a restricted free agent this summer. After a slow start, Miles has started to break out a little, averaging 11.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 2.0 apg on 43 percent shooting in his last three games.
"I've only been around him a couple months," Silas told the Morning Journal. "I've seen a change in him in recent weeks. If he continues to do that, he'll be a heck of a player. He'll continue to get better."
While Miles isn't thrilled about coming off the bench, he's taken the demotion in stride.
"As a player, you always want to start," Miles said. "We were down and out as a team. We still haven't won a road game. I'll do whatever it takes. I have a lot of respect for the coach. Hopefully, it's the right decision by the coach. I don't make the decisions around here. If I just play two or three minutes, I'll play hard and try to (put up good numbers). I'm trying to stay focused."
Given all of the turmoil he's faced in Cleveland, does Miles really want to keep playing there?
"I wouldn't mind. That's up to the two men upstairs (Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund and general manager Jim Paxson)."
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford Tuesday, December 9
Updated: December 9
10:14 AM ET
Is Jerry Sloan the best coach in the NBA?
Phil Jackson has more rings. Larry Brown has more accolades. Pat Riley has a longer reputation. But Sloan has gotten the most from the least in his career. Isn't that what good coaching is all about?
"The media weren't the only ones who missed on the Jazz this year," one GM told Insider. "I didn't talk to one person in the NBA who thought they'd be this good."
To put it into perspective, good is a relative term. The team is 11-9 and just got blown out by the lowly Celtics at home. But for a team many thought would be one of the worst ever, 11 wins in early December is down right amazing.
Ben Handlogten?
Even more amazing is who Sloan is getting production from. Only one player on his roster, Andrei Kirilenko, looked like he had the makings of a star before the season. One more, Matt Harpring, was Sloan's success story last season. Under Sloan's tutelage, Harpring when from a decent role player to a breakout star with the Jazz last season.
No one gets the most out of his players like the Jazz's Jerry Sloan.
The rest of this season's roster was a hodgepodge of rookies and journeymen who had never done much in the NBA. Carlos Arroyo, DeShawn Stevenson, Greg Ostertag and Raja Bell are all having career years, exceeding even the most optimistic of projections. Rookies Raul Lopez, Alexsandar Pavlovic, Maurice Williams, Curtis Borchardt and Ben Handlogten are having unusually good freshman seasons.
The credit goes to Sloan. "He's such a great teacher," Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor told Insider recently. "I think a lot of people expected Jerry to step down when Karl [Malone] left and John [Stockton] retired, but he really wanted this challenge. Deep down Jerry believed that hard work and a good system could overcome our lack of experience."
For many years, folks wrote of Sloan because he had two dominant players running a simple pick-and-roll offense to perfection. With Stockton and Malone gone, everyone is seeing that Sloan has plenty of other tricks up his sleeve. Two months after I sat down with Sloan during the Jazz's training camp, his words seem prophetic.
"Basketball hasn't changed," Sloan told Insider then. "All it is is basketball. Some teams are going to be better than others. But if you love basketball, you keep working your butt off."
"Hard work will give them the chance to get better," he said. "If players work hard they usually improve ... Will that add up to a lot of wins or a lot of losses? People say that it will add up to a lot of losses but I don't think you try to go out and get better with the idea that you're going to lose. I've always believed that you try to win. Anything less than that you're a loser."
"We're here, we've got a job to do -- so go out, bust your butt and go home."
On most nights, the Jazz do bust their butts. Sloan's decision versus the Lakers on Sunday to play a roster of Williams, Bell, Pavlovic, Handlogten and Collins the entire fourth quarter against future of Hall of Famers Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Gary Payton defines him.
With Sloan's three best players sitting on the bench, he challenged a group that would struggle to win in the NDBL to come back from a 20-point deficit and defeat the mighty Lakers. The reserves outscored the Lakers 32-20 in the fourth and were a last-second Devean George 3-pointer away from toppling the Lakers at the Staples Center.
Said Sloan of his decision. "Whenever we can't find somebody, we keep searching to find someone that wants to play hard," Sloan said.
The Sloan Resurrection Program
Since when did Sloan get the title of Master Teacher added to his name?
"I think Jerry's been doing this for years," another GM said. "Matt Harpring, Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley, Donyell Marshall and Bryon Russell did things in Utah that they haven't done anywhere else. There's a pattern there of Jerry maximizing a guys talent and putting him into situations where he can be successful."
All of this makes you wonder. If Sloan can get this type of effort out of Arroyo and Handlogten, what could he do with a couple of talented, but underachieving players who haven't found a way to take their game to the next level?
O'Connor has major cap room again next summer, but the free-agent class of 2004 looks pretty weak. Maybe O'Connor should use some of that cap room to trade for an enigma or two and see if Sloan can figure them out. If he could, the payoff would be enormous.
Here's a look at three players we'd love to see Sloan work his magic on.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Power Forward
Atlanta Hawks
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
21 20.7 9.8 2.4 .518 .886
Shareef Abdur-Rahim, F, Hawks Since coming into the league at 19, Abdur-Rahim has averaged 2 ppg and 1.5 rpg more than he did his rookie season with the Grizzlies. Scouts agree that Abdur-Rahim has an enormous amount of talent, but he's lacked the fire and the discipline to keep improving his game.
"I think he'd be the perfect player for Sloan," one NBA scout told Insider. "He's very consistent and he can be devastating in the paint when he wants to be. Jerry would toughen him up, constantly ride him and the Jazz's staff would force Shareef to improve his one weakness, that perimeter shot. He's only 26 years old. It isn't too late for him. I think he could be a superstar with the Jazz if Sloan worked with him for a year."
A trade of Keon Clark and the Jazz's No. 1 pick next summer might tempt the Hawks into making the deal. The move would get the Hawks under the cap for next season and would give them two high picks in the 2004 draft.
Keith Van Horn, F, Knicks Rumors that the Jazz have been high on the former University of Utah star have been floating around for years. Like Abdur-Rahim, Van Horn has never really progressed much after a stellar rookie campaign. He's a good offensive rebounder and he can be dominant when he plays aggressively, but he's rarely done that the past three seasons.
"I think it would be a great fit," the same NBA scout said. "He spreads the floor, is a good rebounder and would have a lot of support from the fans. Jerry would find a way to maximize his talents. On his last few teams, Keith's really been an after thought. He'd have more responsibility in Utah. I think it would make a difference."
Would the Knicks be willing to give up on Van Horn so quickly? Maybe. It would probably cost the the Jazz Harpring and Clark in return, but on a team that is challenged for size, Van Horn might be worth the sacrifice.
Kwame Brown, F, Wizards Sloan's track record with his high school player, Stevenson, has been so-so. Stevenson has started to progress this season, but it comes after three years where Sloan was ready to choke him. Brown, however, has much more talent. Michael Jordan and Doug Collins couldn't motivate him. Eddie Jordan doesn't seen to be getting through. Could Sloan?
"I think it would be a rocky relationship at the start," the same scout told Insider. "Sloan likes smart players who play hard all of the time. That's not really Kwame right now. But I will say that Kwame's really never been put in a chance to succeed. Jerry's offense would get him good shots. With a boost of confidence, maybe he'd turn around. I hear he's a very good kid."
Getting Brown from the Wizards wouldn't be easy. They're still reluctant to give up on him, despite his recent benching. A swap of Laettner and Brown for Ostertag and the Jazz's No. 1 would give the Wizards roughly $15 million in cap space next year to make a splash in the free-agent market. Would that be enough to get them to part with Brown?
Around the League
The dust on the Bonzi Wells deal hasn't even settled, and already there's talk that the Grizzlies are on the prowl for a blockbuster deal. There's no question that they have a lot of talent stacked at the two, three and four. Are people just doing the math or does Jerry West have more tricks up his sleeve?
"We're just trying to get better," West told Insider. "I'm not going to get into every conversation we do and don't have, but I think it's safe to say that when deals like this one with Bonzi come along, you have to be prepared to pull the trigger. To be successful in the league, you have to take some risks. We want to win games period. I'm not interested in draft picks or potential. I'm looking for guys who can play."
Read into that what you want. West isn't in love with raw potential the way some GMs in the league are. He knew that the first-round pick he gave Portland wasn't going to produce a player as talented as Wells in the next three years, so he didn't hesitate to give it up. It also looks like owner Michael Heisley's wallet is open wide, meaning West doesn't value expiring contracts the way most teams in the league do.
West's old school approach to things (talent over potential and cap savings) may just get him to the promised land. He's got a number of young talented players with small contracts. Is it just a matter of time before he parlays two or three of them into a rugged big man to patrol the paint? With Shane Battier and Stromile Swift apparently expendable after the Grizzlies' last two trades, West has some pretty valuable trade bait if he wants to use it.
Erick Dampier
Center
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
18 12.1 13.6 0.8 .497 .548
After failed attempts to steal Erick Dampier away from Golden State this summer, don't be surprised if West goes after him again. There's talk that Dampier might opt out of his contract next summer and try to get more than the $16.8 million he's due the next two seasons. Despite Dampier's solid play, that may be enough to scare the frugal Warriors into trading him. Would a combo of Battier, Swift and Jake Tsakalidis be enough to lure the Warriors into a trade?
Other possibilities include Cleveland, which will move Zydrunas Ilgauskas for the right price. Battier, Swift, Tsakalidis and Bo Outlaw for Z and Chris Mihm may make some sense. When healthy, Ilgauskas is one of the best centers in the league, and Mihm has started to produce. The move would give the Cavs some much needed depth in the frontcourt to balance an already deep backcourt.
Seattle has Jerome James (a West target in 2002) back on the block. You've got to believe the Sonics would do a Swift-James trade in a heart beat. However, with the way James has regressed the past two seasons, it's just as hard to believe that West still has interest.
The other interesting name is the Jazz's Greg Ostertag. Ostertag is having a career year in Utah. He's one of the strongest centers in the league and one of the few guys who can guard Shaq. He's an unrestricted free agent next summer, so the Grizzlies' risk would be minimal. Would O'Connor move Ostertag (whose likely gone at the end of the season anyway) for a chance at a couple of nice young players in Battier, Swift and Tsakalidis?
Teams are getting nowhere in their attempts to pry Al Harrington away from the Pacers. GMs have looked at the Pacers roster and felt that Harrington would be expendable at the right price. With Jonathan Bender coming back from injury and the Pacers promising minutes something has to give, right?
Over the last five games Harrington has averaged 18.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg and 2.6 apg on 48 percent shooting from the field. He's firmly entrenched into the rotation and helped the Pacers not miss a beat when Ron Artest was out with back spasms. Harrington has found a way to be effective whether he starts or not.
"Let's face it, we have six starters on this team if you really look at it," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told the Indianapolis Star. "Al's a guy that's certainly deserving to be a starter on most teams in this league. And his day will come, there's no question about that. The fact that he's been professional enough to accept the role we've asked him to says a lot about what kind of person he is. And make no mistake about it, he's a big part of what we're doing whether he starts or not."
Pacers president Donnie Walsh has been patient with the Pacers kids for years. Now that they are starting to produce, he's extremely reluctant to let them go. Walsh remembers when the Blazers, who needed a veteran big man, gave up Jermaine O'Neal to Indiana for Dale Davis. It turned out to be one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history. Walsh doesn't want to be on the wrong end of the next one.
"I still don't think we've seen everything Al's capable of," Walsh told Insider recently. "He's still just 23 years old and is just now getting regular playing time. He's going to be a special player in the league. I don't think you can trade away a guy like that unless your getting a top player in return."
Cavs coach Paul Silas said he'd like the Cavs to re-sign Darius Miles when he becomes a restricted free agent this summer. After a slow start, Miles has started to break out a little, averaging 11.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 2.0 apg on 43 percent shooting in his last three games.
"I've only been around him a couple months," Silas told the Morning Journal. "I've seen a change in him in recent weeks. If he continues to do that, he'll be a heck of a player. He'll continue to get better."
While Miles isn't thrilled about coming off the bench, he's taken the demotion in stride.
"As a player, you always want to start," Miles said. "We were down and out as a team. We still haven't won a road game. I'll do whatever it takes. I have a lot of respect for the coach. Hopefully, it's the right decision by the coach. I don't make the decisions around here. If I just play two or three minutes, I'll play hard and try to (put up good numbers). I'm trying to stay focused."
Given all of the turmoil he's faced in Cleveland, does Miles really want to keep playing there?
"I wouldn't mind. That's up to the two men upstairs (Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund and general manager Jim Paxson)."
