Larry Miller still standing firm on luxury tax

According to this article from the Deseret News, if Larry Miller has any further say in the day-to-day operations of the Utah Jazz, they will NOT be breaking the luxury-tax barrier. Observe:

Miller added at his health-update press conference that he's "very worried" about the "big challenge" ahead for next offseason, during which three of the Jazz's top players — Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Kyle Korver — could become free agents along with Paul Millsap and three other bench players. If that happens, Utah would likely have to go above the luxury-tax level — and pay a dollar-for-dollar-fee — to keep its current core intact.

But don't bank on that happening, Miller forewarned.

"We're going to have to make some very, very tough decisions next year," he said. "I do not intend us to be a luxury-tax payer, but only because we have to have an economically stable franchise regardless of anything else." That decision will ultimately be on the shoulders of newly appointed Jazz CEO Greg Miller, his oldest son who was recently given boss duties general manager Kevin O'Connor and team president Randy Rigby. The elder Miller, who was released from the hospital after a two-month stay, said he doesn't intend to be as involved in the operations of his businesses as he has been in the past.

The article also goes on to state that Miller wasn't allowed to give input on the CJ Miles deal -- he thought the new contract was too large, but his opinion was disregarded:

"...As a matter of fact, I tried to give input and they told me to shut up."

So where does this leave the Jazz? With empty pockets, that's where. They simply can't pay Boozer, Okur, AND Korver, and keep Kirilenko at the same time. Something's gotta give, by next off-season at the very latest. We'll all just have to stay tuned.