On Boozer, trades, and loyalty

by Shums on Jun 26, 2008 3:31 AM MDT

Carlos Boozer is a beast.

He's a two-time All-Star, a beautiful high- and low-post scorer and rebounder who, since returning from injury, has given nothing but his best effort. I really think that's true. I seriously can't believe all the anti-Boozer invective flying around these days (and given my position with a certain member of the mainstream media, I see a lot of it). Some Jazz fans are acting like they're SURPRISED Carlos can't defend. If you're one of those fans, well, welcome to 2008, Mr. or Mrs. Coma Patient. Please discard your pagers and cancel your dial-up internet service on your way out.

Anyway, I still like this Jazz team a whole lot, Carlos included. But I also don't want Boozer to pull a Cleveland on us. A friend of mine, an rabid Cavaliers fan, will never forgive him for stabbing blind owner Gordon Gund in the back, leaving LeBron in the lurch, and taking the fat stack of green to wear Jazz blue. Such a history is hard to ignore. Couple that with Carlos' decidedly un-clutch performance in this year's playoffs, and the Utah faithful are working overtime on ESPN's Trade Machine. But will Kevin O'Connor pull the trigger? Should he? And if so, when?

The Jazz's position on trades (at least publicly) has always been "We'll listen to anything at any time." The problem with that is it doesn't jive with the franchise's dedication to loyalty, longevity and solidarity. I think that sometimes fewer deals go down in SLC-town because of this apparent contradiction. I just hope the front office realizes that, as much as I like Carlos (and I do), he's got his own bottom line at heart, maybe even more so than a shot at a ring.

Then again, the dude lives in Miami in the offseason. There's a lot to be said for wanting to work where your family lives. I think that, more than anything, was behind Derek Fisher's departure. NBA players are regular people, too, especially when they have solid families. Why wouldn't you want to be able to see your family, and extended family, in a familiar environment, any time you're not on the road? Sometimes we as fans lose sight of the fact that OUR priorities (the greater good of the Utah Jazz) are not always 100% the same as our players' priorities. We'd like them to be, but it's just not gonna happen sometimes, any more than you or I would be willing to make huge sacrifices on behalf of the companies we work for.

The counterargument there is that ten million dollars a year should darn well demand a player's loyalty. But that's really no different from saying your salary, or mine, should demand my loyalty. We've all signed contracts to do the work for which we are paid. Does that mean the company owns us, body and soul, desire and spirit? Is my loyalty contained in my paycheck? It's the same thing, just on a much larger scale. Boozer's work just happens to be, let's say, much more specialized than yours or mine.

I guess I'm not trying to defend Carlos for wanting to take the benjamins, if that is what he wants. I sincerely hope he doesn't, because I still believe we have a championship roster here when everyone is clicking. But I can see how, if you're just treating basketball as a job -- just punching the clock, day in and day out -- you would do all you can to get the cushiest, best-paid, most comfortable gig possible. You'd want the job that would let you spend the greatest amount of time with your family and friends, in the place you want to live. And I guess I can't hate on anyone for that, because I'd do the same.

But if you want a title -- if that's really the thing, above all else, that you're living for -- then it's not just a job. It's a lot more. And it takes a team to get there. And that takes loyalty to something greater than your own best interests.

And that makes me wonder where the loyalties of Carlos Boozer lie. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.

1 recs | Comment 8 comments

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Thanks Shums.

This is a great post. I appreciate you taking the time to write it up. What’s crazier is that you were up at the same time as me last night writing about Boozer.

by Basketball John on Jun 26, 2008 8:17 AM MDT 0 recs

I also edited it (not any content) so that the first paragraph would show on the main page. The intro portion of Fan Posts will show up on the main page and the body portion is what’s shown when you click on the Read More link. Thanks again. Good stuff.

by Basketball John on Jun 26, 2008 8:20 AM MDT up 0 recs

thanks

I work night shifts these days, so that’s how I roll. And to be fair, I read your post first, started adding a comment, got about four paragraphs in and realized I should just make it my own post. Thanks for the first paragraph thing, too—I knew that was an option but wasn’t sure how to use it. Cheers, mate.

I'll make it.

by Shums on Jun 26, 2008 12:51 PM MDT up 0 recs

I think trading Booze

would be stupid. Unless you know for a fact that he’s not coming back after the year. Then you trade him… if you get a solid offer. Otherwise you let him leave.
It is what it is.

Trading him now (even with the lack of D… which is highly frustrating) just to not lose him and get nothing in return would be stupid. And while KOC has made his share of “WTF?” moves, I don’t think he’s that stupid.

The Utah Jazz. The Jazz... duh.
The best NBA team in Utah... no doubts about it!
Playing For Pride. Pirates, Utes, Panthers, and more...
Because, in the end, only one team can "win it all".

by UtesFan89 on Jun 26, 2008 12:59 PM MDT 0 recs

Exactly.

No way you trade him without knowing for sure that he’s skipping out.

by Basketball John on Jun 26, 2008 1:09 PM MDT up 0 recs

Totally agree.

I thought you made a good point about this being a job when it boils down to it. Jazz fans are some of the most loyal and rabid fans anywhere and sometimes we probably lose perspective that what is best for us as fans, isn’t always what is best for the players. I also think that if Boozer opts out next summer and doesn’t sign with the Jazz (the worst case scenario) isn’t awful. It will clear up some cap room at worst.

by clarkpojo on Jul 3, 2008 5:52 PM MDT 0 recs

I think

we should trade Boozer to the Warriors for the expiring contract of Al Harrington so that we have cap space in the coming years when all those big name free agents are available.

by boomdizzleness on Jul 7, 2008 7:43 PM MDT 0 recs

Trading Booze

Makes some pretty good sense right now. Its looking more and more like he’s not going to resign, making this his last year in a Jazz uni. They don’t necessarily need to trade him now, but if you don’t then you’re looking at a possible mid-season move. Given his history, his earning potential (which is probably more like 15-16 mil a year in a bigger market), and the fact his wife hates Salt Lake, I think keeping him with the hopes of him not opting out and becoming a free agent is foolish. Jazz need to recognize his value for what it is – a 26-year-old who averages 20 and 10. Strike while the iron’s hot!

by Is it really that complicated? on Jul 16, 2008 6:33 PM MDT 0 recs