WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah

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WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#1 » by StocktonShorts » Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:32 am

Everyone opts in during the summer, then this week:

Boozer says he doesn't want to be traded, practically begs publicly for the team to be kept together this year and AK says he wants to re-sign with the Jazz in 2011 for less money.

Where have all the Derek Harpers and Rony Seikalys gone?
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#2 » by HammerDunk » Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:45 am

It's funny, most people talk trash on living here, but I think most of the people that come here end up enjoying it for many reasons. Boozer may have realized that staying with a team with a system like this is in his best interest. AK has lived here for a long time now and may want to keep his family here since they are wanting to bring kids into the picture. Maybe they are worried about the forecast of the upcoming free agent market and know that Utah values them.

Who knows why they want to stay, but I'm really not surprised.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#3 » by schneiderjazz » Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:46 am

I can understand AK wanting to stay. The Jazz gave him a big fat contract. He's been playing for the Jazz for almost a decade and it seems he and his family are happy in Utah. As for Boozer, he's playing well and judging from what I've seen from him, he seems to be happy playing with the team. Staying with the Jazz also increases his value as a FA IMO. The Jazz keeping him makes him look more like a pro and less of a distraction.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#4 » by Fido » Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:48 am

I was thinking the same thing. Even though Boozer doesn't want to move to another team now, there is no guarantee he wouldn't move on after the season. But it would be tough for him to get moved now to a team looking to clear cap space for next season--meaning they are not likely in the playoff hunt.

AK is one of the better defensive players but has the contract to help bring in another difference maker. Both moves would drop the level of this year's team unless they brought back productivity in return. Maybe the best option is to see who they can get with a trade exception to drop the cap hit for a team out of the running without costing any talent this year. Hmmm......
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#5 » by Sloanfeld » Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:29 am

AK should sign for like $3.5-4M per year to offset his horrible contract now. From what I read in the SLC papers online last week, it seems as if the Jazz were looking to move AK.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#6 » by Ming Kong! » Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:54 am

Never been to SLC, but I guess people just seem uncomfortable with the idea of living there due to the way it's generally advertised as boring, but I guess the players that play there get comfortable and call it home. Hell, Williams was from Dallas, went to college in Chicago. but decided to extend his stay in SLC, and he doesn't seem like the stereotype of a SLC resident, so there you go.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#7 » by carrottop12 » Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:14 am

I know Deron has a second house in Park City as well so it's not like he is forced to stay in SLC all the time. And as opposed to most resort towns it's all of a half hour drive from most places in the Salt Lake Valley so it's not like he can't get away a little bit whenever he needs too.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#8 » by Soul Patch » Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:48 am

They love Utah as much as I do. I'm a little bummed that AK wants to stay, I really want to see him on a team where he can play PF and be the AK of old.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#9 » by GP » Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:27 am

grew up in Cali, then lived in SLC for a few years, hated it. Moved as soon as I could, the lifestyle there wasn't my thing. Of course, I'd imagine my experience would be greatly enhanced by having a salary that ranged in the millions............
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#10 » by seejaydeja » Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:12 pm

What else do you want Booz to say? I'm not convinced he doesn't want to leave, especially when another team offers him a helluva lot more than the Jazz can this offseason. He's saying what he's gotta say to bolster his image to teams around the league. Not a bad thing, but not surprising.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#11 » by Matt007b » Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:46 pm

I don't blame AK for wanting to stay..heck he could probably run for state senate (unless he gets a DUI as well..that would suck)

anyway, he's been treated well by the fans, paid well - watched karl and john stockton retire (statue's and all) his wife has a business at the gateway mall which i'm sure she doesn't want to sell or uproot. Has a family now, kids in school I think. He publicly admits he's worth less now but still wants to play for the Jazz...

I say keep him..it's refreshing to hear someone say they really want to stay. Staying loyal and giving back to the community. Wish we had a bunch more like him.

Boozer, I don't trust sadly..I want to but his track record is crap. He's playing well and not injured in his contract year (which is lame) and I want to give him the benefit of the doubt of those injuries but.. whatever, hopefully KOC will do the right thing for the future of the Jazz and if it hurts boozers feelings then...well I just got over it - he's made a bunch of stupid comments in the past, finally now near the trade deadline he's saying the right thing...things he probably should have been saying years ago.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#12 » by RIJazzMan » Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:48 pm

I'm actually thrilled that both Boozer and AK want to stay. Over the summer I obviously wanted Boozer gone but I don't think we'd be anywhere without him. AK works hard all the time and always gives us stats across the board. Sad to say, I think Okur needs to go. Never would of said this before, but we obviously need a defensive big. If we kept the same lineup now and got rid of Okur for a good defensive center/power forward we would be a great team. Or even move Booze to center.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#13 » by DelaneyRudd » Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:51 pm

I wonder what people do in other states you can't do here. I don't really have a different lifestyle than I did living out of state, and I am a liberal boozing single atheist. Peoples experiences are usually defined by their relationships, so if you have good friends in a place you typically enjoy being there.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#14 » by StocktonShorts » Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:25 pm

Personally, I've lived in SLC most of my life but have traveled/lived in enough other places to have some perspective. I don't think I could happily live in Utah county, but I have no problems with SLC other than the air quality during inversions. In general I think it's a fantastic place to live.

While the cynic in me (which is most of me) is quick to point out that Boozer is just saying what serves him best, the other side of me counters that Boozer hasn't always been the most PR-savvy guy (witness his comments last year about this time and all that crap over the summer). It may be true that Boozer just says what he currently thinks without much of a filter. It's also worth noting that, counter to everyone's fears going into the season, Boozer has NOT been a distraction in the least. He has done everything Jazz management has asked him to do and then some.

As for Kirilenko, it's not that surprising he says he would like to stay here. Despite all of his ups and downs this franchise values him more than any other because we'll always remember the good old 5x5 days. Still, it's a surprising change of attitude when you compare it to a couple summers past when he ripped on Sloan and hinted at seeking a buyout so he could go play in Europe.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#15 » by DelaneyRudd » Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:04 pm

I think Masha has established her business and has established relationships now. I think the biggest thing that causes NBA players to have issues with locations is the wives. The NBA players are heroes and big shots where ever they go. The wives are anonymous regular people. The reason Fish went to LA was because his wife had family and friends to help her with a sick child. I think it's probably harder for women since they don't have work friends (teammates) like the husbands do. They move into neighborhoods with middle aged women, not young mothers. I doubt they find many people in Cottonwood Heights or Olympus Hills who they can relate to, especially if they are African-American.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#16 » by StocktonShorts » Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:06 pm

DelaneyRudd wrote:I think Masha has established her business and has established relationships now. I think the biggest thing that causes NBA players to have issues with locations is the wives. The NBA players are heroes and big shots where ever they go. The wives are anonymous regular people. The reason Fish went to LA was because his wife had family and friends to help her with a sick child. I think it's probably harder for women since they don't have work friends (teammates) like the husbands do. They move into neighborhoods with middle aged women, not young mothers. I doubt they find many people in Cottonwood Heights or Olympus Hills who they can relate to, especially if they are African-American.


I think you're onto something there.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#17 » by StocktonShorts » Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:08 pm

Also, in a continuation of my Boozer-lovefest, here's this Q&A from David Thorpe's chat on ESPN today:

Dave (MN)


Can you name some of the nicest guys in the league?
David Thorpe
(12:20 PM)


Way too many to mention. But a player once told me that Carlos Boozer was the nicest man he'd ever known.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#18 » by DelaneyRudd » Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:10 pm

Maybe his natural niceness is what causes him to say everywhere is a nice place to be; Cleveland, Utah, Miami, Chicago.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#19 » by StocktonShorts » Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:26 pm

DelaneyRudd wrote:Maybe his natural niceness is what causes him to say everywhere is a nice place to be; Cleveland, Utah, Miami, Chicago.


The same niceness that enabled him to smile while stabbing Cleveland in the back.
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Re: WTF? No One Wants to Leave Utah 

Post#20 » by The Sheik » Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:35 pm

At this point do you think Boozer is going to say trade me? I am also sure KOC has told him to keep his big yap shut. Not to mention if he does not get traded and continues to play well he doesnt want to burn his bridges in Utah...aka the most $$$ he can get.

I think Utah needs to do some critcal thinking and figure out what they want to do. From day one it was to trade or let Boozer go and have Milsap be the new PF. Now all of a sudden there are thoughts of bringing Boozer back.

Secondly, can this team continue to band-aid together a team and make them into a championship team? Our "rebuilding" process was a complete band-aid job. We threw our cap money at AK and two little known FA's. Lucky for us we struck oil and didnt get Dampiered by Okur and Boozer. We have seen what this team can do at its peak and at its lows, we've band-aided with Fisher and Korver, but now we are at the point where we should know what this team is going to be. Which is a 4-8 seed, that cant win on the road or play D.

Personally as a life long Jazz fan I do not want any more band-aids. I want this team to be rebuilt. Obviously we cannot do a total rebuild job, but a semi-rebuild involving the departures of two of these three players (boozer, AK, Okur) would be ideal.

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