Regardless of what? - Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, and Kyle Korver opt in.

by Basketball John on Jun 30, 2009 8:45 PM MDT Comment 13 comments

"I'm opting out. No matter what, I'm going to get a raise regardless" - Carlos Boozer

So, what just happened?

Just as you were recovering slightly from the uppercut of Boozer not opting out next year, Memo drops the hammer with his news that he too is going to be staying. Add that to Korver opting in yesterday and the Jazz are one big happy family again.

Well, a financially strapped family for the next year at least. Hey, they're like almost every other family in the US right now. This family also has a little brother that's on the outside looking in right now in Paul Millsap.

It's as if your family had been saving up money for you for college the past 18 years. Then, when you're ready to head off to school (you know, after scholarship deadlines have passed), your parents tell you that there was a wedding for an older brother, another wanted to open a business, and another wanted to go backpacking across Europe to find themselves. They had to clean out your account because they put a claim in on it first. They could get the money for school for you, but they'd have to pay 100% interest on a loan to do so.

Your parents have promised to do whatever it takes to get you to school, but somewhere in the back of your mind, you wonder if it's really going to happen.

I don't have to tell you the awful financial situation the Jazz are in right now. Just Google "utah jazz salary cap screwed" and you should find what you need.

We were over the luxury cap as soon as Korver opted-in (assuming that everyone else opted in as well). Now that they have, keeping everyone together for one year could cost the Jazz between (raising pinky finger to corner of my lip) $30-35 million dollars

My first thought as soon as I heard that Memo was opting in was, "See you Millsap." According to Randy Rigby today on Locke's show, the Miller family is committed to paying what they need to to keep Millsap. They had to have hoped that at least one of the opters (that's what I'm calling them) would opt out so that they could have a little room to work with.

So, let's assume that the Jazz do come to terms with Millsap or match an offer by another team. We have pretty much exactly the same team as we do last year minus Collins and Knight and add in Maynor.

I think most Jazz fans had kind of come to terms with turning a lot of the team over and starting somewhat anew. Some fresh blood thrown into the mix and while it wouldn't be a contending team, it could have been an exciting team to watch. I for one was starting to look forward to the transition.

But for now we have the same team for a lot more money. You can't be disappointed with the team that we have. I feel like it's 2008 again, but this is the team that's suppose to contend for the WC crown and be a force in the West.

That said, we could get better. We're not going to be able to save much money if any this year, so once you get over that, the rest of the season starts to look a lot better. As long as the Miller family is fine with it and it's not going to lead to the collapse of the team, then what does it matter?

Once I came to grips with that, I got my hopes up, just a little. Locke stated on his show that the Jazz have a lot to work with now. They have the expiring deals of Harpring, Korver, Memo, and Carlos that would look good to some team trying to free up space for next year's FA frenzy. Maybe AK can be packaged with something (someone) to bring in a shooter. They have a ton of options now.

And should the Jazz just hold pat with what they have now, crazy I know, they have 4 huge deals coming off the books next summer. That's about $33 million in contracts with those four. I'm not a cap expert or even a noob really, so I don't know how much the Jazz will actually save, but that's a significant chunk.

What I would like to see, and what I've said before, is to swap Booze for a shooter, move Ronnie to the 3, Millsap starts at the 4, and bring AK/Korver/Koof off the bench. The Jazz can do pretty much what they want with the three opters now.

I have these words for Booze though. First, hire a PR firm now, yesterday. Do not speak a word in public without running it by them first. As long as you're in Utah, every free minute should be spent in the community trying to win fans back.

Second, you had better hope that the team can and do keep Millsap. If he's not back with the team, you will pray for road games. You will feel the wrath of 20,000 fans every home game. Misguided hate or not, you've seen what happens to other players that the fans felt have wronged them.

Finally, regardless (see, this is the proper use of that word) of whether Millsap is back or not, you better bring it every single night and every single minute you're on the floor. Every missed assignment, missed rotation, and missed layup will bring out the fury from Jazz fans. Everything you do will be magnified 100X. I hope you can handle the pressure.

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words to boozer well said

one other thing…depending on how things shake out and if trades do or don’t down, i really wanted more minutes for ak at the 4 to see if that would possibly rejuvenate him. so i’m bummed about that.

loved the caption and dr. evil reference.

by moni on Jun 30, 2009 9:10 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Good post...

But I think we are loosing Millsap guaranteed. Miller said what he was supposed to say. What would he say, “Nope can’t pay him. Make your offers. We can’t match squat.”?

So that being said, I would like the same thing you would, excepting moving Kirelenko to the 4… trade Boozer for a shooter.

Here are the most likely teams to trade with… Chicago and Detroit, or possibly the Rockets (though an inter-conference trade is unlikely). Those teams want to shed payroll by next year and be big payers in the FA market… but need to keep their teams competitive this year, or risk a large fan alienation.

Here are my best guesses: Boozer for Deng (if he could get Jazz’s medical clearance). Boozer for Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas. Boozer for Hamilton. Or in a crazy wheel and deal involving more players, Boozer for McGrady.

by Frank5 on Jun 30, 2009 9:11 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

NOT McGrady

I don’t want another breakable me-first player!

Until you win the big one, you are the Eternal Loser!

by EternalLoser on Jul 1, 2009 1:20 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

is your handle a tribute to tmac?

by moni on Jul 1, 2009 4:49 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

David Lee... Grizz or Thunder?

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/60223/20090630/source_lee_leaving_for_grizzlies_or_thunder/

Agent Mark Bartelstein will reportedly have Lee sign an offer sheet with the Grizzlies or Thunder that the Knicks will not be willing to match.

One less team to go after ’Sap, though the other team might try even harder then.

True Blue Jazz
Bucco Ball
I'm on Twitter
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09

by UtesFan89 on Jun 30, 2009 9:28 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

BBJ

Print this post, fold it, put it in an envelope, seal it with spit, and pay a mailman to hand deliver it to Boozer. If the mailman is The Mailman, also kindly ask him to stand there while Boozer reads it, and then to tell him in no uncertain terms that all comparisons of D-Will/Boozer to Stockton-2-Malone have been 50% off X100.

He better play big. He wants a raise but he hasn’t even earned what he’s got. He needs to make up lost time for wages already paid.

I'll make it coach.

by MTN on Jun 30, 2009 11:13 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

seriously. he should be giving the jazz a refund

rather than getting paid more.

the jazz should make boozer attend Mailman Summer Camp.

by moni on Jul 1, 2009 1:49 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can find my feelings on Boozer

Here

I, for one, want Booze to succeed here. Anyone that was at Game 3 against the Lakers should remember why?

In a way this will be a different team. We will see more of Kouf and Fes, and possibly that other big, European, white dude.. We will have an interesting battle for the back up point. We will have a healthy team.

I will be disappointed if Sap walks. But, then again, I’m a Jazz fan, not a Millsaps fan.

by prodigal punk on Jul 1, 2009 12:13 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

thank you

i agree with everything you just said…

we had a great run in the middle of the season (February) and if we stay healthy i see this team doing some very positive things next year

2009 Angels Season: Let's Do This For Nick

by trojanangelfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:41 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed on being a Jazz fan, not a Millsap fan

I just don’t think Booze can succeed here, which is why I’d prefer ’Sap.

First… the injuries. I don’t know what it is. The Jazz system needs a good PF 82 games a season, not just 41.
Second… I think it’ll get to him, knowing that the fans aren’t big on him. Even if he is “all about himself,” the boos and all will affect his play.
Third… it’s all about the next contract. He’s going to be playing for that and only that.
Fourth… I think Greg Miller questioning his defense and all, while true, wasn’t a good move. I don’t see Booze reacting well to that on the court either (like the fans).

We’ll see… I want this team to succeed. I don’t think Booze will help us there… at least enough to get us to the finals (though it’s questionable if ’Sap can do that this coming season either).

And if we do keep ‘Sap, we’re pretty much at a status quo from last year (though paying a lot more money). I don’t think that team was good enough to win it all, so there’s no reason to think this one will be. We still have no way to stop the Gasol/Bynum duo in LA (+ Odom if they keep him). And we’re not going to go out and out-shoot teams when we’re filled with guys (wings, mainly) that struggle with their jumpers (Brewer, CJ, AK, Harpring).

True Blue Jazz
Bucco Ball
I'm on Twitter
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09

by UtesFan89 on Jul 1, 2009 8:58 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh like we are to take "A Boozer" at his word?

He showed his colors with Cleavland, is there any reason we should expect different?

He sat on his overpaid ass his first season, and his second as well.

I figure that all NBA players should get a million bucks a season, then performance based bonuses for anything over such. Using such, Millsap would have far out earned Boozer last season! Something he actually earned instead of boozer sucking on a straw with zero accountability attached.

I’m working this wonderful job, at the end of my contract with this employer I can get a houseboat for an entire week. If I finish my committment. Key words there are “FINISH MY COMMITMENT”, I’ve not guarntee such will happen, due to my effort or lack thereof, accident, injury or whatever might befall me. I finish I get the prize, I don’t, zero prize!

FARK the Agents, they too can wait for a payday. So far all I’ve really seen of Boozer is that he does indeed take care of Boozer First time every time! For a long time as well. Then returns some good games followed by a disappearance during the playoffs! WTF is with that?

Booze go work for tips for once, find out how the real world operates, they reward performance not potential performance. O’conner really blew it with this guy, anybody that would crap out on a commitment to one team, for sure can bring nothing but the same toward your team. Such statement does not factor in those that really are getting a raw deal from whee they are at, all of us live with such too often. But such was not Boozers role.

He told the team and the fans he would not leave, then all but flipped them off on his way out of town.

How about we finish off his career by benching him? Starbury him. Headline Millsap, the only real player of position with heart and dedication and even some loyalty to the brand?

BTW; Howdy to all, Bullfrog is fine though comms connections are not. Spent too much to correct and so far seems a waste. Employer is ZERO help. But hey, it might happen it might not. Still a most wonderful place to wake up to each day!! :):)

by RRR on Jul 1, 2009 12:21 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs