Jefferson with another average game... He put up a double-double but did so with a high volume of shot attempts, which isn't uncommon for him...
Jefferson is essentially what he is to me: a guy who can get you buckets, will rebound and is consistent in what he gives you (for the most part)... The problem with Jefferson is I wonder how much of what he gives you actually contributes in a positive way to winning and what he doesn't give you (defense, high effort 100% of the time, inability to be a transition, size at center, etc.) contributes in a negative way to winning... For a guy who is going to demand a max contract, or damn near it, I'm not sure if he's worth locking up and asking to be a part of the core... You now take 3 guys who NEED the ball in their hand to be most effective (Irving can be effective off the ball, Waiters is slowly learning) and none of them are passable defenders...yet...
Is that what we want? I still like Jefferson and the opportunity to be acquired should be looked into, because big guys who can score at a good age aren't readily available, but his impact down the road should be looked into...
On the other hand, Millsap is playing like a man possessed... His PER is creeping up around 22 for the second consecutive season and he doesn't looking to be slowing down.. He's every box score lovers dream as he fills it up with multiple assists, steals, blocks, high FG%, he gets to the line, grabs rebounds in bundles and scores... Except this year, more so than last, he's added 3PT range to his game consistently... He's 8-12 after going 16-54 the past two seasons... He's slowly becoming a more complete player, as he's seemingly added something new each off-season..
If there's one thing I could say about Millsap is that you don't worry about him getting his or worry about whether or not he'll impact the game... Whether he scores or not, or whether he gets his shots or not, he's going to positively effect the outcome of the game...
The other thing that attracts me about Millsap is that adding to the core would not be only benefical talent wise but on and off the court too... That's not to say Jefferson isn't a bad player or doesn't work hard, but Millsap is cut from the cloth where he works his ass on and off the court and gives a damn on the court... Some nights it looks like Varejao and Kyrie are the only ones that give a damn... Add Millsap in there and having a player at the top of the totem pole who demands respect with this attitude and with the way he plays, I think would automatically raise the play of others and automatically make them more accountable...
I also like the fact Millsap is a little bit of a better defender than Jefferson, despite his size, and the fact you can get a way with Millsap more at the defensive end playing PF than you can Jefferson playing center... I also think Millsap is a much better fit here and would be a great piece of the core..
I'm all for Millsap but I think he's going to be harder to get and the one the Jazz probably want to keep more... I'm not sure what type of package they'd want but I'd probably give them anything within reason... I also think Millsap will come at a better value than Jefferson; something in the tune of $12-$13 mill a year (does 5 yrs, $60 mil sound right for him?) which is something that would be much easier to swallow and better for the financial future of this team...
My whole worry with Millsap, and why I don't think this would happen, is that it would require Grant to move Thompson to the bench and commit to Millsap long-term... I'm not sure half-way into his 2nd year if Grant would do that after just picking Thompson #4... I know it sounds like absurd reasoning but that's unfortunately how GMs think, especially when it's "their guy"...
