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Espn writer states he thinks Boozer may start season on Jazz roster? Serious mistake if it happens as a total disruption to Jazz . Do you start Boozer or Millsap? If Millsap is your PF then should start him and bring Loozer off the bench. Guarantee Loozer makes waves and team in turmoil while KOC has his head up his azz.

Trade Loozer for best deal possible and move on. KOC, you were stupid enough to match Millsap's stupid contract but dont compound that mistake by benching him to start the season while the lame duck Loozer goes on his contract run.

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=14807

The Jazz have always been big proponents of starting training camp with the team you plan on making your playoff push with. They aren't big on changing team chemistry, especially at this level half way through the season.

They'll get a deal done before the start of training camp.

You don't rule it out, or your bargaining chips are devalued if you are desperate. Certainly the entire air of desperation can't be cleared, but he is still at the very least a large expiring contract and at best an all-star. If Theo Ratliff was so freaking valuable as an expiring no way should the Jazz get pushed around and settle for less. Boozer might not be in the future plans, but he isn't a team cancer on the level of a Marbury. He is self-interested and will try and play well if it comes to that.

Holy Toledo, get a happy life. Your diatribe against others, in this case Carlos Boozer, tells me you don't feel good about yourself. Go cut the grass or wash the windows. Be productive.

And DelaneyRudd, what's with "He is self-interested"? We all are. Tell us some great things about yourself that are represenative of the total absence of selfishness in your life. Please keep it to just a paragraph or two.

OK, so how does that change the fact that Boozer will play hard in an effort to secure a large contract from another team?

Less than 1% chance Boozer is on the roster to start the season.

A deal will be done before training camp or never as far as I am concerned. It shouldn't be a surprise if Boozer is on the roster when the team hits camp and pre-season games. I actually am beginning to accept the fact that Boozer will be on the Jazz for a good portion of the this next season if not all of next season.

On a positive note...if he does stay for the season it means I don't have to take down my D-Will/Boozer poster in my entertainment room.

If the jazz decide to keep Boozer then the jazz might be thinking a heaalthy jazz team then the jazz have a chance for a tittle then try and move Harpings contract.They might be willing to pay the luxury tax but try and keep pay roll under 80 million by moving Harping. The jazz trade Harping contract then sign Othyus Jeffers for 700,000 and James Augustune for 700,000 and keep payroll under 80 million . The jazz team
C. Okur Koufos, Fess
Pf Boozer, Millsap, Augustine
Sf Kirilenko, Miles, Jeffers
Sg Brewer, Korver
Pg Williams,Price, Maynor

Just read this article from the trib: http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_12861146

normally, I'm not a fan of the sports writers in Utah, but I thought this article was a pretty good summation of what our current situation is.

KEVIN O'Connor said he would do whatever makes the Jazz best, which may mean keeping Boozer if a good deal doesn't come our way. This is like an episode of my Name is EARL. Same old ideas being thrown around day in and day out.

Reports out Miami: The Heat are going after LO first, if and when they sign LO, they will turn there full attention to the Jazz. The Jazz and Heat have talked but the Jazz want to get rid of extra salary(CJ Miles or something) which the Heat would not want to take on, unless they get LO. So once the LO signs somewhere, we will get a better grasp of whats going on with Boozer, till that happens, look for things to be quite. Wade has been text and talking to LO, so lets see.

I don't think there's any question that Boozer will be in a Jazz uniform to start the season.....And whatsmore, they're going to play him! I think they've made up their collective minds to eat the Luxury Tax. As a matter of fact when the trade deadline rolls around, if it looks like we'll go deep into the playoffs, they'll worry about resigning him or letting him walk when it's over. The Miller's have a lot of money invested and they're too smart not to get their money's worth.

As a side note, the Miller family has gone into hock to meet the Portland offer for Milsap. I hope you all now judge him with the same strictness you've judged Carlos.

tankster wrote:I don't think there's any question that Boozer will be in a Jazz uniform to start the season.

You couldnt be more wrong. He might still be on the team during training camp, but he wont be invited. Jazz fans are crazy if they think Boozer will play another game in a Jazz uni. Utah just cant risk that Boozer might play hard and re-establish his trade value enough that a team will trade for him to get his bird rights.

The Sheik wrote:You couldnt be more wrong. He might still be on the team during training camp, but he wont be invited. Jazz fans are crazy if they think Boozer will play another game in a Jazz uni. Utah just cant risk that Boozer might play hard and re-establish his trade value enough that a team will trade for him to get his bird rights.

If Boozer is not traded, he will play. End of story. You don't pay a man $12 million dollars to not show up unless your the Knicks (Marbury). If he's healthy, he's on the roster, he's playing plain and simple.

majortripps69 wrote:If Boozer is not traded, he will play. End of story. You don't pay a man $12 million dollars to not show up unless your the Knicks (Marbury). If he's healthy, he's on the roster, he's playing plain and simple.

I don't think you got it.

KOC should wait until he gets the right deal. Who cares if he's still on the roster by training camp? As far as the rest of the team is concerned, he's basically harmless. He's basically just a big boob who likes to play on one end of the floor. Sloan's not going to put up with any shenanigans.

Panic and desperation will only lead to accepting a lowball deal. The pressure will continue to mount for other teams who could really use him (Chicago, Miami) the closer the season gets. The Jazz have plenty of time to make the right move.

The Sheik wrote:

tankster wrote:I don't think there's any question that Boozer will be in a Jazz uniform to start the season.

You couldnt be more wrong. He might still be on the team during training camp, but he wont be invited. Jazz fans are crazy if they think Boozer will play another game in a Jazz uni. Utah just cant risk that Boozer might play hard and re-establish his trade value enough that a team will trade for him to get his bird rights.

Am I reading this wrong?
You think that Boozer playing hard and establishing trade value is a bad thing?
That is exactly what needs to happen.

I was listening to the guys on 1320 talking about this very issue, they were making the case that keeping Boozer and letting him walk, or trading him at the end of the season could be the best move for the franchise.
They argued that a motivated, playing for a contract Boozer could be the difference in making the playoffs, that a motivated Boozer could be the difference between a first round exit and a deep run in the post season, and that the revenue generated by a deep run would offset the losses.

They talked about how making a trade that will make a significant difference in the payroll is very difficult given the rules regarding trades in the NBA, that dumping his entire salary would be necessary to get under the tax, and given that there are no teams with the cap flexibility and the desire to have Boozer on there roster that the best case would be a marginal player in return for marginal salary relief.
keeping Boozer may be the best option all around.

All this has been overblown. The Jazz don't do business the same way other teams do. KOC has refused to trade AK47 now for 3 straight years because he won't just cut his losses talent wise in exchange for financial relief. He refused to trade Boozer three years ago as well when EVERYONE was convinced that he would be dealt because he wasn't getting offers that were in line with how good the player was. If KOC doesn't get a deal that brings back some actual basketball value, the Jazz will keep him and he will play until the trade deadline. If the Jazz are playing elite ball and/or if they can't find good value in return, Boozer will play out the season. We aren't going to hand a top 20 NBA player away for nothing like Toronto did with VC, Memphis did with Pau, or Detroit did with Chauncey. We aren't doing it.

I agree with the "don't panic" line that some are taking. Having Boozer on the roster until the trade deadline has its advantages. If he stays healthy his value should increase and chances are we will be a better overall team with him (we just can't afford him now). We will also be able to judge other team trade options and the Knick draft pick prospects better, effecting what direction we take.

Chemistry shouldn't be too much of an issue, everyone has played together, the biggest problem has been whether or not Boozer is motivated to play D, which he will be. It's in his best interest to be a team player to keep his stats high and Sloan will bench him if starts to whine. Boozers greed will push him to help the team. Paul should be happy because he got his payday, he knows he is in the long term plan, and we still can give him 30+ minutes.

I agree we should take an immediate offer for Boozer if we are getting fair value in return, but if we are not getting good enough offers we should wait and squeeze as much out of him as possible.