Deron"s Delay

[tankster]

Saturday Scoop: Deron's Delay
HOOPSWORLD
By: Bill Ingram Last Updated: 7/12/08 4:31 PM ET | 2366 times read


Yesterday we reported that there is no truth to the rumors that Carlos Boozer could be headed out of Utah, and as far as we know that's still true. However, according to a source close to Deron Williams the primary hold-up is that the Jazz point guard wants to know exactly what he's committing his long-term future to. There's little doubt that Utah will offer the max in terms of the extension, but if Boozer is on his way out, his counterpart would like to know that he's playing for a team with championship potential.

With Boozer and Williams in place, the Jazz are considered one of the best young teams in basketball, arguably one piece away from being serious contenders. Without Boozer they're suddenly closer to being a lottery team, depending on who comes back to fill the void . . .and there just aren't many Boozers out there. The Jazz are committed to being contenders, though, so the expectation is that the Boozer trade talk is all summer fodder and Williams will get his deal done. But you can't blame Deron for being concerned.

What the Jazz are saying is that the sticking point surrounds Deron's insistence on an opt-out clause, which is definitely the real concern. Deron wants to know that Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer are locked in long-term before he commits the best years of is career.

[DelaneyRudd]

Tell him to ask Carlos about that. We want him around... and we aren't a lotto team without Booz.

[fivas14]

I don't blame him, I'd wait a little bit also.

If him and Booz stay around for 10 years, they could go down as one of the best duos ever.

[Neon Black]

He could just as easily be pushing for the Jazz to make some moves and get some interior D.

[GP]

Deron is just being smart, I am sure he is pushing for 3 years + a player option for a 4th type contract (just like CP3). The author is correct without boozer the jazz are closer to a lottery team than a contender, simply because they play in the super-competitive west (7 games separated the lakers from denver). There is no room for error, losing a 20, 10 guy would be bad, last year if the jazz had lost 4.5 more games, they would be in the lottery, rather than in the playoffs. The Jazz had a great season, but every other team in the west did too, this is why I'd imagine he is concerned about what happens to boozer.

[JTSPEED]

I am just thinking out loud with this one so don't rip my head off, but could Deron cost us a championship.......................... I know, I know. Just here me out.............................. If this article is true then it sounds like Deron wants to keep he, Boozer, AND Okur together in the near and possible distant future. That is a HUGE chunk of change. Don't get me wrong I like the three of them but to keep them on the payroll as well as keeping other serviceable players to fill out the roster like Milsap, Brewer, AK (at a lower price), and at least a few others that aren't G** awful doesn't seem possible. I really don't see how we can do that under the cap. I know that I am not really the one that has to do or worry about that but I think someone is going to have to go unless they all decide to take less money to stay together. I love Deron, in a purely heterosexual way, but I think that he might be asking for a little much.

[carrottop12]

JT, this guy is just talking out of his ass.

Obviously, Deron wants to know what the Jazz's future plans are, but he also doesn't want to see the Jazz so bound up in salaries with Boozer that they can't afford to keep guys like Millsap, Brewer and Okur around.

The only thing I could remotely see Deron asking about is what is the situation with Andrei Kirilenko. Other then that Deron has to realize that the NBA is a business, and the Jazz are as committed to winning as any team in the league.

[Getjazz]

I guess that I don't see the problem. If D Will signs a 4 or 5 yr deal with a Jazz option instead of and opt out for him, he can still demand a trade if he feels uncomfortable with the team in 4 yrs. He can rule around here!!! Give Boozer and Memo something to hold on to. A true commitment the a winning team. I just hope that LHM will do the same over the next 4-5 yrs.

[JStockLivesOn]

"... arguably one piece away from being serious contenders."

Go to hell, Hoops. I think we've proven we ARE serious contenders. What we're one piece away from is a championship.

Anyway...

On the substance, there's no way on Earth Deron won't sign an extension. It would be the "what the ****?" equivalent of John Stockton sitting out a game with "flu-like symptoms."

[Neon Black]

this article is BS guys, it's 100% speculation. Earlier this offseason Deron's been quoted as saying that he wants the Jazz to get some experienced interior D if possible, and no Kosta Koufos is NOT the answer. He won't try to manipulate the Jazz into keeping Boozer or Okur at the expense of the team, he's a smart guy. He will be signing a contract with the Jazz, all they're doing is ironing out details.

What blows my mind is how Boozer can have a horrific 2nd half of the season followed by an even worse playoff appearance and all anyone sees is how he used to get 20 and 10 every night. He gets a lot of benefit of the doubt if you ask me. I say give him another shot this season; if he continues to rape us defensively then trade him or let him walk.

[tankster]

this article is BS guys, it's 100% speculation. Earlier this offseason Deron's been quoted as saying that he wants the Jazz to get some experienced interior D if possible, and no Kosta Koufos is NOT the answer. He won't try to manipulate the Jazz into keeping Boozer or Okur at the expense of the team, he's a smart guy. He will be signing a contract with the Jazz, all they're doing is ironing out details.

Manipulate is your word and it's doubtful anything of that nature will take place. He's on record as saying however, that he's going to have to be comfortable with the Jazz direction, and hasn't been exactly shy about what that might include.

See the quote from Des News below:

Meanwhile, Williams was doing enough thinking and worrying about Boozer for the both of them.

"I definitely want him to hang around," he said. "I definitely want him to re-sign. But it's a business move ... he's doing what's best for him."

Williams called Boozer's anticipated opting out "a no-brainer" but added that he hopes he stays with the Jazz.

"He's definitely a big part of our organization, a cornerstone of our team," said the Jazz point guard. "I definitely want him back with me — he knows that and I've expressed that."

And Williams admits to be a little worried about the prospects of a Boozer-less Jazz team. "You never know what's going to happen, you never know who's going to throw money, so you've got just to hope that he likes it here, that he likes it with me enough to stick around."

And yet, Williams — who himself is ready to negotiate a contract extension with the Jazz — understands the prospects of Boozer doubling the fortunes of his current contact.

"It's great to be him," he said!"

DWill signing an extention with the Jazz is a foregone conclusion, the length of it however is less certain. A move such as LeBron made is more likely, allowing Deron a period to see if the Jazz are going to make the right moves to stay in the hunt.

[GP]

What blows my mind is how Boozer can have a horrific 2nd half of the season followed by an even worse playoff appearance and all anyone sees is how he used to get 20 and 10 every night. He gets a lot of benefit of the doubt if you ask me. I say give him another shot this season; if he continues to rape us defensively then trade him or let him walk.

Here are boozers stats on his "horrific" 2nd half of the season: 20.4pts 9.8reb. This is why people can claim that he was a 20, 10 player every night. Putting up those kinds of numbers puts boozer in an elite group of players (only 5 players in the NBA). Consider that this postseason he averaged 16.6 points and 12.2 reb, the fact that during last years post season he averaged 23.5 points and 12.2 reb and quite a few people would look at this post season and give boozer the benefit of the doubt. Now as far as Boozers defense, its bad, but I think this can be something he can improve (IMO). BTW the other players to average 20 and 10 this year were:

Dwight Howard
Al Jefferson
Tim Duncan
Antwan Jamison

[russ1]

The problem is, I don't think he wants to improve on the defensive end. I am starting to believe that his stats are more improtant to him than winning a title.

[tankster]

The problem is, I don't think he wants to improve on the defensive end. I am starting to believe that his stats are more improtant to him than winning a title.

Well I'll be dipped!..........A Boozer confidant. Someone who actually knows what Boozer wants and doesn't want. Why don't you fill us in there big guy.

[Neon Black]

Dwight Howard
Al Jefferson
Tim Duncan
Antawn Jamison


All of these players play defense.

Boozer will never be a real hall-of-famer if he continues to suck at it.

You can't downplay the issue: Boozer's defense is not bad, it's atrocious. When you pay special attention to it during games it will make you sick. Right before the playoffs he went through a stretch of ten or so games where he averaged about 14 points and less than 6 rebounds. Even before that, his numbers were consistenly low with an occasional big game that would pad his stats.

He was among the best in the league the first few months of the season in ppg, rebounds and fg% but all of that steadily dropped off to lower where than they should have been.

Let's put it this way: I just got sick of seeing Drew Gooden, Charlie Villanueva and Chris Wilcox own his ass and negate half of his offensive effort night in and night out.

[GP]

Dwight Howard
Al Jefferson
Tim Duncan
Antawn Jamison


All of these players play defense.

Boozer will never be a real hall-of-famer if he continues to suck at it.

You can't downplay the issue: Boozer's defense is not bad, it's atrocious. When you pay special attention to it during games it will make you sick. Right before the playoffs he went through a stretch of ten or so games where he averaged about 14 points and less than 6 rebounds. Even before that, his numbers were consistenly low with an occasional big game that would pad his stats.

He was among the best in the league the first few months of the season in ppg, rebounds and fg% but all of that steadily dropped off to lower where than they should have been.

Let's put it this way: I just got sick of seeing Drew Gooden, Charlie Villanueva and Chris Wilcox own his ass and negate half of his offensive effort night in and night out.

I see your point eleven, as for the numbers, lets put that to rest, because even if his numbers did slip (since his average is so high), during a similar period he had some really great games to even them out. Stat wise he puts up elite numbers on offense, now on defense I do agree with you. Boozer is not a good defender by any stretch, but what makes his defense look even worse, is that his offense is so great. Which leads many to wonder why his defense is bad, I honestly, believe that he just doesn't have the "instincts". We see these athletes do amazing things and so when they can't do something well, it must be for lack of trying. I just think boozer can't defend rather than won't defend, either way its not good. Again, though we are fortunate to have a player like boozer, there are a lot of teams that would love to have boozer despite his defense. We will actually see this play out next offseason, I'd imagine that he could easily get a contract similar to Brand's (even though brand is much better defensively, he is coming off a major knee injury and he is older than boozer).

[fivas14]

Al Jefferson
Antawn Jamison


All of these players play defense.

Please pass whatever you're smoking, that must be some GOOD ****.

Jamison and Al Jeff are WORSE then Boozer and Memo on defense. Jamison is the black version of Memo.

Al Jefferson hasn't played defense since being traded to Minny.

[partnerfusion]

Another somewhat private and sensitive reason for Deron's delay:

Miller's health - still in the hospital. A deal will still get done but this doesn't make it any easier.

[russ1]

One doesn't have to personally know Boozer to realize that he does not want to play defense. As stated, by others we got lit up by other power forwards who had no business doing so this past season.

[moevillini]

Beyond Deron Williams' brief family vacation to Mexico earlier this month, general manager Kevin O'Connor shed no light Tuesday as to what is holding up agreement on a contract extension between the Jazz and their Team USA point guard.

He did, however, suggest dialogue between the sides continues.....

......Williams hopes to reach agreement on a three-, four- or five-year max-money extension beyond next season by the end of this week, when he leaves to honor Olympic commitments in advance of next month's Summer Games in Beijing, China.....

......O'Connor had no comment when asked if there is hope for getting a deal done on Williams' timetable, and no comment when asked if there is concern it wouldn't get done before the Jazz's exclusive negotiating rights with Williams expire in late October.

from today's DesNews http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700243529,00.html