Utah Jazz owner Greg Miller returns fire
by Basketball John on May 19, 2009 3:45 PM MDT
18 comments
The image at the top might be overstating things a bit, but Jazz players and Jazz owners haven't wasted any time in getting out their respective message about what they want in the off-season.
Carlos Boozer got an early jump on things when back in December he stated,
I'm opting out. No matter what, I'm going to get a raise regardless. I am going to opt out, I don't see why I wouldn't, I think it's a very good business decision for me and my family, but I'd also like to see what happens with the Jazz and stay here.
This statement came after a rare Jazz road win and a 20-point comeback at that. The timing of his statement couldn't have been worse. He's made numerous PR bloopers like this. I just watched this Seinfeld last night and it applies to Booze. Just replace psychiatrist with PR team (and some other mods):
What were you thinking? What was going on in your mind? Opting out? Where, where did you come up with that? ... You know you really need some help. A regular PR guy couldn't even help you. You need to go to like Los Angeles or something. You know what I mean? You need to get involved at the national level. Not just a one-time job either. No. You need a team. A team of PR reps working round the clock thinking about you, having conferences, observing you, like the way they did with Ron Artest. That's what I'm talking about because that's the only way you're going to get better.
Seriously, who's handling him? He needs someone around him whenever the press talks to him, someone where he can tell the person what he is going to say, and then that person tells him whether or not to say it - or he just translates for him. Something.
No one else said anything about their contracts until the season was over with.
Memo was the first to break the silence on his website:
Salt Lake City is our second home. However NBA is a business. I know this and my family has learned this. In the end some of the decisions made will be business decisions first. As Mehmet Okur I am ready to make some sacrifices to stay here. I will not be changing teams if there is a difference of $ 3-5 million in the total worth of the new contract. I belive my managers and I have let our feelings be known by the Jazz management. Whatever is in the best interest of the Jazz and my family and I let that happen.
There's no doubt that he's one of the top 10 centers in the NBA. A lot of the centers that get paid more than him got theirs while the gettin was good. Memo should be be making more than them, but he'll probably have to settle on a smaller increase in pay and maybe a little longer contract. He's stated time and time again that he wants to be here, including this bit from his website when asked about playing for the Jazz:
I want to play there. It is my first choice. When I signed with the Jazz I said that I want to play there and be productive enough to have jersey hung from the rafters. I still feel the same.
Memo will be back either with an extension or play out the rest of his current deal.
Korver, not wanting to be left out of the opting-out talk, spoke with an Iowa radio station and dropped these statements:
"I'm not trying to leave Utah because I don't like it."
"There's a few teams that would probably be a good fit for me."
"The next summer... there's going to be a lot of moves... it would be fun to be a compliment player to some of those teams."
"Coach Sloan... He's very old school..."
"Utah has done a very good job at getting guys that fix that system."
His statements could be interpreted a million different ways and has been. To me, he's saying, if I opt out, it's not going to be because I don't like the Jazz, Utah, etc. It's going to be because he thinks he has a better chance at a title with another team. If there's a chance that he could play with a big-time player, he wants that chance. He stated that he doesn't need the money anymore, but I think he's going to have to weigh what he's going to be able to get if he opts out vs. what he could possibly get next summer as a FA and that market vs. playing with a big name.
Jazz owner Greg Miller was quick to get some airtime with KSL and with Talkin' Sports over the weekend. Here's the KSL video:
Video Courtesy of KSL.com
The biggest statement to me was this one that he dropped on Boozer:
We'd love to have Carlos here. Carlos is a very talented player. I think he would be one who would be considered a marquee player. But I do have concerns about Carlos' defense and I have some concerns about his ability to lead the team.
A Jazz owner calling out their starting PF is nothing new. I think his statement though had a different intent than when LHM and Malone would go at it through the media. It was as if he were trying to play Jedi mind tricks with him and persuade him to opt out so that the Jazz wouldn't have his contract. Why else would he go on two different sports shows other than to make sure his message got out?
He's pretty much daring Boozer to follow through on his December promise to opt out. Carlos would make more money be it with the Jazz or some other team if he does. It sounded like GM was goading Booze into doing it.
He had nothing but praise for Millsap and also stated his fondness for Memo. It doesn't take much to read between the lines there.
He has valid points. Everyone has questioned his defense. I don't see him stepping up his D. It's something that at this point in his career, if he doesn't have it, he's not likely going to get it.
The leadership always bothered me as well because it was a self-proclaimed leadership on his part. To me, leadership is earned on the court. What you do there is what inspires other players to follow you. I think he desperately wants to be the leader, and he has the tools to be, but just play the game. If I were playing along side him, I would get tired of some of his antics on the floor. What if I wanted to yell "AND-1!!!" ? Stop saying that this is your team and that you're the leader and just do it.
The other big statement from that interview is that the Jazz would be willing to pay the luxury tax if it meant keeping the core guys together. What I take from that though was if Korver, Memo, and Boozer all stay, we'd be willing to go over the cap to keep Millsap. But if one or more opts out, then they're not going to do it.
The biggest reason why they could do this would be that Kirilenko's deal becomes an expiring contract next summer and could be moved a lot easier if needed. They also have to pay Brewer next season. A quick side note, if AK ends up retiring with the team, does his jersey get retired? I say yes.
With the 3 opt-outs having weighed in, the only person we haven't heard from yet is Paul Millsap. The speculator inside of me says the reason why is because Paul has already been told he's going to be back with the team regardless of what happens. Based on Miller's comments about him, about the luxury tax, and some alleged mid-season locker room conflicts, Millsap doesn't have to say anything at all. It's also a little against his nature to come out with something like that as well.
So here's what I hope happens in regards to the opt-outs and Millsap: Memo is re-signed. Millsap is re-signed. Korver goes. Boozer goes. The Jazz sign/trade a gunner at the 2 that can fill in for the scoring lost from Booze. This also take pressure off of Millsap to be a go-to guy. Move Ronnie B to the 3. Sign/trade a defensive big man to come off the bench.
You'd have:
Deron
Aforementioned Gunner
Ronnie B
Millsap
Memo
Off the bench:
AK
Defensive big man.
The KOOF
I would be happy going into next season with that. If it doesn't play out like that, I'll be having my own press conference and release.
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Dear God I hope this means Millsap is back next year.
Your off-season plan is a good one. I wonder what gunners are available?
by Patrick517 on May 19, 2009 4:23 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
great piece
I think that sap is going to be here no matter what next season, he’s priority number 1 it seems. being a RFA (once the jazz actually tender him the min, allowing them the chance to match) makes him almost ours as other teams will only offer so much as it’s not the 2010 sweepstakes yet.
memo should be back as well.
of course, you’ll hear more about all of this when I finish posting my piece.
by AllThatJazzBasketball on May 19, 2009 5:21 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
as the leader and cornerstone of slc dunk
you definitely need to get your comments out in your own press conference.
by moni on May 19, 2009 5:21 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll just start each of my posts with
“For immediate release:”
by Basketball John on May 20, 2009 3:02 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't forget in your bench listings Ronnie Price
After that last playoff game Jerry Sloan repeatedly made it sound like he really f*ed up and learned his lesson not playing Price. I say this just because you didn’t list any guards in your bench list, and Deron’s gotta get some rest sometime.
I’d like to keep Korver but meh, either way. YES — I like the idea of moving Ronnie B (whose strength is not his shooting) out of the Shooting Guard position!
by Dyl on May 19, 2009 7:42 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I didn't forget him
But even if he stays, he’ll be a small part of the bench. I was just looking at the main rotation. But I like Price.
by Basketball John on May 20, 2009 6:39 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
moving him to the 3 won't make much difference
For another team, yeah it would, but they 2 and 3 positions are pretty much interchangable for the Jazz. he still needs to improve his shooting.
The thing about Brewer is that if he shot 10 or 20% better than what he does, he would probably be one of the up and coming superstars of the league. Makes you wonder how good he could have been if he didn’t break his arm when he was a kid. Having said that, if he hadn’t, maybe he doesn’t last to 14 in the draft… :)
by sherbs on May 20, 2009 7:20 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am right with you BBJ. I like your offseason ideas.
Here’s my deal with people who want Boozer to stay: If you re-sign him you HAVE to believe that he can be the second best player on a championship team. If you think that keeping Boozer over Millsap will make us more competitive next season, then that is not enough.
Having Okur and Millsap gives us some more money, because I don’t think the Jazz will pay Okur more than 12 million a year and Millsap more than 8 million. I don’t imagine that a team will offer him more than 8 a year.
The problem is that there really aren’t any proven gunners available in free agency that would be worthy of the shooting guard spot. We may need to do what we can with Brewer, Miles and AK splitting time at the 2 and 3 and just address that need the next season, when we have more money and more free agents. The Jazz need to think in terms of a 2 year plan right now. We will still be competitive next season, but we can’t reach for the gold if it will cost us for the future.
Also, we need to draft the best point guard available and let him be the primary backup to Deron.
And I like that you left CJ off the bench list. Make him earn it.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
by clarkpojo on May 19, 2009 9:36 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
…we need to draft the best point guard available and let him be the primary backup to Deron.
Clark – I thought you were more for drafting the best player available – be what position they may:
…basically teams look at their needs and draft a lesser player because they need a power forward when the shooting guard they could get is more likely to be a stud, but they pass on him cuz they need a power forward. Down the road it is almost always smarter to draft the best player.
by MelMan2002 on May 20, 2009 8:02 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are absolutely right.
I should have clarified. For one, in this draft, picks 10-20 are all about the same talent wise, so I don’t think that there will be a clear cut better player when the Jazz pick. Second, this draft is loaded at the point guard position, so there is a 95% chance that the best player available for the Jazz will be a point guard. That is why I am sold on the Jazz drafting a backup point guard at 20. But you are right. If Dejaun Blair, or Steph Curry, or Earl Clark fall to the Jazz, then yes they should draft him.
Good memory, by the way.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
by clarkpojo on May 20, 2009 9:16 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blair
isn’t he the 6’6 PF?
BPA maybe, but do we really need someone with that type of build?
True Blue Jazz
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RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
by UtesFan89 on May 25, 2009 3:12 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree. I didn't praise the post as much as I should have in my comment.
The eyes thing and just the look of the post, plus your insight, was just spot on. I am getting stoked to see what happens with this team.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
by clarkpojo on May 19, 2009 10:41 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
What gunner?
I’d like peoples thoughts on what gunners are available at the wing. One of Gordon, Hinrich, or Deng could can be had from the Bulls as they will be looking to loose one. But are any worth the money? I think the Wizards would be jump on trading Agent Zero because his contract is a train wreck, but it would be for the Jazz too. Any thoughts? I like the idea alot, but actually don’t think it can work with Sloan… the wings are the 4th and 5th options in this offense.
by Frank5 on May 20, 2009 1:34 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I think our best move at a gunner is to pray very hard that Miles improves his toughness, or that Brewer improves his shooting.
There are no gunners available in free agency that would be worthy to start for the Jazz and I can’t picture getting anyone else without giving up way too much. In 2010, however, when we have almost every other position solidified, we can use our extra cash or number one pick (Knicks pick) to get us a scorer at the wing.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
by clarkpojo on May 20, 2009 9:20 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
3 easy (and cheap) steps to shore up interior defense
1) let boozer walk
2) sign the birdman. i just hope his stock doesn’t go up too much after how awesome he has been in these playoffs.
3) draft taj gibson. pac-10 defensive player of the year. underrated offensive player and rebounder. projected to be on the board at pick #20. ’nuff said.
*as a side note…please please please do not draft tyler hansbrough. another good pick would be patty mills as a back-up pg…great value at #20.
by bigdog'sshades on May 20, 2009 7:54 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
But Gibson's like 30
(Okay, that’s not really true – but he does turn 24 the day before the draft. He’s less than a year younger than Deron.)
by jaffa on May 20, 2009 5:37 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
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