ESPN: Chat with Chad Ford - SportsNation

Ryan, Provo, Utah: Was the latest Jazz-Hawks game an indicator of how good the Jazz will be with everyone healthy?

SportsNation Chad Ford: I still think that the Jazz, when healthy, are the Lakers biggest competition in the West.

Dave, SLC: What's going to happen with Boozer this summer?

SportsNation Chad Ford: Depends on how well he plays when he returns. If he's 100 percent and in All-Star form, I think he opts out. If he struggles, he'd be better off waiting a year to get back into top form. However, if I'm the Jazz, I'm hoping he opts out. It would give the Jazz enough cap flexibility to re-sign Millsap without incurring the luxury tax.

Travis (SLC): So, you're saying you would rather have a Paul Millsap at $8-9 mil per than an All-Star Carlos Boozer for $13-15 mill per? I just don't see that.

SportsNation Chad Ford: For sure. So would most teams in the league.

Brad (SLC): You hope Boozer opts out? Can Millsap really replace him?

SportsNation Chad Ford: If Boozer is staying, it will be tough for the Jazz to afford Millsap. One of the teams with cap space (Detroit and Memphis come to mind) would come at him hard. They can't afford to pay Boozer $13 million a year, Millsap $8 million to $9 million a year and Okur $9 million a year.