BREAKING NEWS: Carlos Boozer Staying In Utah
Carlos Boozer, Dime #35
Leading up to this summer’s free agency, we’d heard two conflicting rumors. (1) Carlos Boozer was going to Detroit or Miami. (2) The piss poor economy would cause some top-tier players to opt-in on the final year of their contracts instead of exploring the open market.
With Boozer, the economy won out.
Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer announced on Tuesday that he is exercising his player option for 2009-10. Boozer will make $12.657 million this season and join the famed 2010 class a free agent next summer.
“We are excited that Carlos has decided to remain with the Jazz,” said Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor. “We are hopeful he can continue to play at an All-Star level and will have an injury-free season.”
O’Connor couldn’t be a bigger liar right now. He’s probably so pissed. By opting in, Boozer really hurts the Jazz’s ability to match the astronomical offers reportedly coming Paul Millsap’s way. Would they match the 5-year, $65 million offer the Thunder are considering for Millsap to be a backup this year? Probably not…
But they might have to do exactly that, and get killed by the luxury tax because Boozer could easily pack his bags and head to Miami in a more competitive free agent market after the ‘09-10 season concludes.
Either way, Boozer is going to be supremely motivated to play some of the best ball of his career during this contract year. If he’s on the All-Star track, watch some contenders try to make a play for him in a mid-season trade. That might be Utah’s best bet.
Hypothetically the Heat and the Pistons are drooling over the possibility of adding him to their roster by the middle of next year. Instead of gambling that he signs with another team during free agency, the Heat offer up Michael Beasley, Daequan Cook, and something else for Boozer, while the Pistons propose Tayshaun Prince, Arron Afflalo and a pick.
Utah has to make the most of this situation. They could dig deep into their pockets to hold onto Millsap, or they could cross their fingers and hope everything works out in the trade market next year.
Source: Real GM
June 30th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Tha kidd says:
haha first time bein first!
June 30th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
No way they’re matching some of the offers Millsap is going to hear.
Millsap is out, they gave Bynum a $70M extension, Millsap should get exactly that or around that and there’s no way Utah can afford that, so basically Boozer screwed another NBA franchise.
I’m happy that Millsap is gonna get paid, he should be looking at squads like Detroit where he’s garanteed PT and $
June 30th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Yoooo says:
Milsap is NOT 7Ft smart guy. Aint nobody giving PAUL MILSAP 70 m’s… You’re drunk.
Beasley for Boozer? how old is Boozer now? IDK if thats a good look for Miami, ESPECIALLy considering u guys mentioned Cook w/ that trade
June 30th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Kobeef says:
Why any team wants Boozer is beyond me.
He is a classic case of putting up stats without impacting his team. The Jazz - and especially Boozer - have been killed in the playoffs for the last two years.
The Jazz were as good if not better without him this year…and oh yeah, he’s a dick.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
SpoonMan says:
Can anyone else see B-Easy playing for Jerry Sloan? Not likely.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Smart man no way he was getting paid this year especially after missing so many games. But let me just say if the heat could roll out this starting 5:
Chalmers
Wade
Beasley (with a year at the 3 under his belt)
Boozer (healthy)
J. O’neal
and Haslem off the bench
They’d be pretty scary.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Also no way the heat give up Wade and Cook to get Boozer early NO WAY
June 30th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Kobeef says:
This line is classic lying through your teeth: “We are hopeful he can continue to play at an All-Star level and will have an injury-free season.”
Translation? “He better eff’in play out of his mind and stay on the court, cause he just eff’d our long term plan. “
June 30th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
*Beasley not Wade obciously they don’t give up Wade oops
June 30th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Kobeef says:
MORE IMPORTANT BREAKING NEWS: Kobe won’t opt out.
THis is HUGE for the Lakers. Kobe could have negotiated a big pay raise if he opted out. Basically, he left millions of dollars on the table so the Lakeshow can re-sign Ariza and Odom.
That is what you call the ultimate team player.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
JRav says:
MORE IMPORTANT BREAKING NEWS: Kobe won’t opt out.
THis is HUGE for the Lakers. Kobe could have negotiated a big raise if he opted out. Basically, he left millions of dollars on the table so the Lakeshow can re-sign Ariza and Odom.
That is what you call the ultimate team player.
————————————-
Not being a hater but wouldnt a team player opt out and sign for a smaller contract?
June 30th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Jazz Suck!
June 30th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Same old coach, same ol players, same old system and same old results. No ring.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Chrsz says:
U Think Booz did this to get rid of Millsap and up his value for next year?
June 30th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Arrogant says:
I would just trade em….. Boozer is wanted by a lot of teams and he is an expiring contract….
June 30th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Kobeef says:
@JRav
By not opting out Bryant left $12 Million on the table. I think that is significant.
No, I don’t think Kobe should opt out and re-sign for less than the $23 Million he is getting. He is arguably the best basketball player in the world.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
BR says:
@ 10
haha, good point.
After seeing Kobe not help Gasol up in the finals, I’ll never consider him the “ultimate team player”.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Borgs says:
Going way back to preseason 2008, congrats to everyone whom has written the story forecasting Boozer’s departure in 2009. Well done on some top journalism.
What Utah need now is Okur to opt out, as his agent has indicated is likely. Utah can win it all with a Williams-Boozer combination, but they can’t with shit defenders manning both frontcourt positions. I like a Kirilenko-Boozer 4-5 pairing (with Brewer and Korver/Miles at the wings) much more than the lineup they’ve been trotting out (when healthy) the past couple of seasons.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Sanpitch says:
LMAO at kobe being a team player.
explain how kobe making $23,034,375 next year frees up money for anyone!!??
June 30th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Borgs says:
Why do I get the feeling Kobeef has Bryant’s likeness tattooed on one of his appendiges? Man, getting the jersey number redone must’ve hurt.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Drink the Haterade says:
@ 18– explain how kobe making $23,034,375 next year frees up money for anyone!!??
they were going to give him 135M for like 5 years that’s a total of 20M or one season.
Anyways, I wish I had that dough
June 30th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Kobeef says:
@Sanpitch/Drink
Kobe was eligible for a 5 year, $150 Million extension if he opted out of his current deal ($25 Million a year vs his current $23)
Sure Kobe is getting paid like a king, but I am going to go out on a limb and call you a liar for suggesting you wouldn’t take $12 Million if it was yours to take. $12 Million.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Kobeef says:
^sorry - tha was 6 year $150 Million, not 5 year.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Kobeef says:
@Borgs
Yeah - the likness on my apendage hurt but it’s worth the pain when you can bring out “the black mamba”!
June 30th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
BiG ShoT BoB says:
There is no way I’d trade Be Easy and two other players just to add Boozer to Miami. Even with him they’re in the same spot in the playoffs and exit just ass fast.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
the cynic says:
well good thing Boozer announced in the middle of the season that he was definitely opting out of his contract; its not like it was a distraction or anything. I guess I’m not surprised knowing Boozer’s history. Boozer continuely finds new ways to be a douche bag
July 1st, 2009 at 9:04 am
doc says:
Has nothing to do with the economy.He just aint worth what he want.i bet the recession dont mean shit for Wade and Bron when its time to opt out.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:08 am
QQ says:
@Kobeef: Please get off Kobe’s nuts. I get it, you’re a lakers fan, and I agree, Kobe is an all-time great. But get off the dudes nuts. You starting to sound stupider than my impostor.
July 1st, 2009 at 12:15 pm
JH says:
Can’t say for certain…but I’d bet my lunch money that I’m one of the few people who lives in Utah and posts comments.
Boozer has his problems and is hated on even more than Ostertag once was…but no way can anyone compare Millsap’s skill level to Boozer’s.
Millsap is a warrior and is gonna get paid…but he isn’t worth 12-13 Mill. a year. His game is hustle predicated…a darker version of David Lee if you will. Do I want Millsap re-signed? Hell yeah, but not @ that salary. That’d be some Bynum like crippling to the Jazz for years to come. Only real salary problem for the Jazz right now is the AK47 “the russian gun”…but maybe he shows up in 2010. Nobody wants a Jerome James situation here in SLC.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Dave says:
yo Pappa Gee….the Jazz suck just a little less than the Rockets who can’t seem to beat them when it counts. How’s the foot, er, nevermind….it be BROKEN!
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Carlos LOOZER says:
Boozer has some great offensive skills……….but when you factor in all of the games he’s missed, his HORRID defense, and his selfishness, he is just not worth it. It is definitely a love/hate relationship with boozer. You keep believing he is gonna be worth the $$ until he finally proves you wrong. I’m sure I speak for most Jazz fans when I say………GET BOOZER OUT OF UTAH. Sure, Millsap does not have quite the offensive skill level as Boozer, but he will hustle and do anything to help the team out. The thing about Millsap is that….you just can’t help but cheer him on. Boozer, on the other hand, you try to cheer him on, but he just keeps finding ways to make it impossible. The Jazz also need to trade AK-47. He’s making $16M, which is about $10M more than he is worth. The Jazz NEED to find some way to get rid of him.