OT: Boozer and Millsap

[campybatman]

It looks like Boozer can opt out after this season and Millsap's a free agent after this season. With the strong play of Millsap while starting this season. Could he make Boozer expendable? This situation reminds me of Artest and Salmons last season. Salmons played so well that Sacramento was alright with trading Artest. I wonder would Utah consider trading Boozer and extend Millsap or trade Millsap while he's hot.

[Truthiracy]

Utah will be smart if they trade Boozer because there is no chance he stays there. Millsap is pulling his best Mark Blount impression IMO, nonetheless, find the best value for Boozer or lose him like the Cavs did (you reap what you sow).

[Zin5]

This isn't reminiscent of Artest/Salmons at all. There's a difference between a lottery team and a playoff team considering players expendable. For Sacramento, they knew they weren't going anywhere just yet, Ron Artest was not going to be in their plans, so they traded him to continue with the rebuilding process, as they got a decent prospect out of him. Salmons likely isn't a huge part of their future either.

Whereas in Utah they need to determine if they can still be successful with Millsap instead of Boozer and as stated, he's not coming back next year, so they should see what they can get in a trade for him.

[campybatman]

I was just thinking... If you're Boston, Cleveland and the Lakers and you'd a chance to have back Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer and Caron Butler, respectively. Which team would benefit the most from having that player back? For Cleveland, it would be ironic if they'd tried to trade for Boozer. Because Gordon Gund is no longer the principal owner who'd regrettable words about Boozer after him signing with Utah.

Boston's probably the only team of them that wouldn't necessarily need (their former player) Johnson now.

[Zin5]

I was just thinking... If you're Boston, Cleveland and the Lakers and you'd a chance to have back Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer and Caron Butler, respectively. Which team would benefit the most from having that player back? For Cleveland, it would be ironic if they'd tried to trade for Boozer. Because Gordon Gund is no longer the principal owner who'd regrettable words about Boozer after him signing with Utah.

Boston's probably the only team of them that wouldn't necessarily need (their former player) Johnson now.

Of the three, I'd say Boozer in Cleveland would have the most impact. He's got a bit of mid-range game like Z, has some post moves unlike Lebron, and can run the pick and roll like they've been trying with Varejao. Overall, he'd be a great offensive complement to Lebron and would have someone on the bench in Varejao/Wallace to help cover his defensive deficiencies.

EDIT: He's not going to Cleveland though. I can't think of anything the Jazz would want from them that would make up the value lost in Boozer.

[campybatman]

This isn't reminiscent of Artest/Salmons at all.

If Utah decides that they want to move on from Boozer and are content with the continuing development of Millsap. Then Boozer could be expendable. It isn't like his name's exempt from trade rumors because his name has been mentioned in trade rumors despite Utah denying he's on the block. My point is: If you've a back up player at the same position who can assume the role of starting in place of an injured or malcontent player or one who isn't a part of the future plans. Why not opt for the player with less of a salary and as good or equal to statistics? Utah has such a situation and Sacramento was afforded that option with the steller play of Salmons. Millsap could cost Utah less to resign than what it would cost Utah next season ($12.6M) if Boozer decides not to opt out. And Millsap is proving or has proven since he was a rookie that he's just as productive as Boozer in Utah's system and is younger. If Millsap commands the maximum salary, then he still could be worth it given his upside. You might have gone as far as you can go with Boozer as the starting power forward. But, that's for Utah to decide.

Salmons doesn't have Millsap youth but he's a role player who has emerged as a viable starter. So, too has Millsap. But, because Millsap is young. Utah has a nice player to fall back on with whatever happens with Boozer.

[Zin5]

This isn't reminiscent of Artest/Salmons at all.

If Utah decides that they want to move on from Boozer and are content with the continuing development of Millsap. Then Boozer could be expendable. It isn't like his name's exempt from trade rumors because his name has been mentioned in trade rumors despite Utah denying he's on the block. My point is: If you've a back up player at the same position who can assume the role of starting in place of an injured or malcontent player or one who isn't a part of the future plans. Why not opt for the player with less of a salary and as good or equal to statistics? Utah has such a situation and Sacramento was afforded that option with the steller play of Salmons. Millsap could cost Utah less to resign than what it would cost Utah next season ($12.6M) if Boozer decides not to opt out. And Millsap is proving or has proven since he was a rookie that he's just as productive as Boozer in Utah's system and is younger. If Millsap commands the maximum salary, then he still could be worth it given his upside. You might have gone as far as you can go with Boozer as the starting power forward. But, that's for Utah to decide.

Salmons doesn't have Millsap youth but he's a role player who has emerged as a viable starter. So, too has Millsap. But, because Millsap is young. Utah has a nice player to fall back on with whatever happens with Boozer.

You aren't getting what I said. It didn't matter if Ron Artest had a replacement or not in Sacto. They were going to move him anyways. It didn't matter because they knew they weren't going to be competing this year anyways. That's not the case with Utah, where they need to heavily weigh in whether Millsap can match Boozer's production or whether what they'll get in return for him is worth the difference. Millsap is making Boozer expendable, but Salmons didn't need to make Artest expendable, he already was given the team's situation.

[SonicYouth34]

I like Millsap, he reminds me of Powe only he has less of an offensive game. On a side note is Boozer playing tomorrow.

[threrf23]

Utah will be smart if they trade Boozer because there is no chance he stays there. Millsap is pulling his best Mark Blount impression IMO, nonetheless, find the best value for Boozer or lose him like the Cavs did (you reap what you sow).

Millsap has actually played really well since entering the league, and has shown consistent if not small scale improvement. He just plays for Jerry Sloan and behind Boozer and as a result it took an injury to Boozer for him to get enough minutes to be a recognizeable fantasy contributor.

A comparison to Mark Blount is laughable. Millsap is a noticeably better defender than Powe and has a much more polished all-around offensive game if he's not always the better offensive player. Millsap has better size than Powe and was one of the NCAA's best rebounders (historically) before he entered the league. None of this is a knock on Powe, all things considered a Millsap/Boozer debate is credible.

Boozer isn't the greatest defensive player. Really, overall, he's a very good player, but overrated, not the all around player that he gets compared too. That said he would make a very solid fit on the Cavs.

I am assuming that Boozer exercises his player option for next year and will not be a FA until the following offseason (pre '10-11). Thats when the Cavs become potentially scary, I don't necessarily see Lebron moving anywhere that season and even if they keep him they will still have a lot of cap room that offseason and some high profile guys to choose from.

[campybatman]

Interestingly, NBADraft.net compared both Millsap and Powe to Malik Rose. I wonder if Ainge would've selected Millsap instead had he still been there. Craig Smith was another undersized power forward selected much higher of the same second round.

[threrf23]

Interestingly, NBADraft.net compared both Millsap and Powe to Malik Rose. I wonder if Ainge would've selected Millsap instead had he still been there. Craig Smith was another undersized power forward selected much higher of the same second round.

I remember reading fairly recently how DA was trying to land a 2nd rounder when Millsap & Powe dropped, assuming one of the two would fall far enough

[billfromBoston]

Utah will be smart if they trade Boozer because there is no chance he stays there. Millsap is pulling his best Mark Blount impression IMO, nonetheless, find the best value for Boozer or lose him like the Cavs did (you reap what you sow).

Millsap has actually played really well since entering the league, and has shown consistent if not small scale improvement. He just plays for Jerry Sloan and behind Boozer and as a result it took an injury to Boozer for him to get enough minutes to be a recognizeable fantasy contributor.

A comparison to Mark Blount is laughable. Millsap is a noticeably better defender than Powe and has a much more polished all-around offensive game if he's not always the better offensive player. Millsap has better size than Powe and was one of the NCAA's best rebounders (historically) before he entered the league. None of this is a knock on Powe, all things considered a Millsap/Boozer debate is credible.

Boozer isn't the greatest defensive player. Really, overall, he's a very good player, but overrated, not the all around player that he gets compared too. That said he would make a very solid fit on the Cavs.

I am assuming that Boozer exercises his player option for next year and will not be a FA until the following offseason (pre '10-11). Thats when the Cavs become potentially scary, I don't necessarily see Lebron moving anywhere that season and even if they keep him they will still have a lot of cap room that offseason and some high profile guys to choose from.

I agree that Millsap is more polished overall - which is a direct result of the amount of usage he gets relative to Powe - both have been highly productive when given larger offensive roles...but the two of them both measured in a 6'6 1/4 without shoes, so they are almost exactly the same height when they lace them up...

[campybatman]

I would think it imperative that both Boston and Utah sign Powe and Millsap to contract extensions. That goes without saying... But, Millsap is earning himself more money the longer Boozer's sidelined. I think Powe could increase his value in an alike way with consistent minutes if not for Davis. Still, it's what you do in the minutes you do receive that matters and usually leads to more minutes. The Celtics bench is inconsistent.