Boozer and Miami; Williams and numbers
OAKLAND, Calif. – Here’s one item from the Sunday rumor mill that, in line with earlier reports out of Miami, suggests two-time Jazz All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer – despite the fact he has a home in the city, and despite the fact he is cozy with the franchise’s owner – may not, as previously expected, have a suitor in the Heat when the NBA’s free-agency shopping market opens this summer ?
According to the Boston Globe, which cited “an NBA source” that was unidentified, “the Heat might not be as interested as some thought in Boozer because of his injury woes and the allure of the 2010 free agent market. ? By passing on Boozer, Miami would not only be able to re-sign Dwyane Wade next year but could try to pair him with (a 2010 signee). ? Wade, plus heralded rookie forward Michael Beasley and a marquee 2010 free agent (i.e. LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire, Yao Ming) could make the Heat title contenders again.”
Boozer – who can opt out of his $68 million contract after this season, or remain under contract in Utah after one – missed his 40th straight game when the Jazz fell Sunday at Golden State.
X X X
A few other numbers and notes from Sunday night’s game, all related to Jazz point guard Deron Williams, and none having to do with his six turnovers ?
• Williams’ 31 points in the loss marked not only his fourth straight game with more than 30, but also his sixth this season
• Williams also had 10 assists, marking his 22nd double-double of the season; and
• Williams had four assists in his previous game Friday night at Sacramento, 12 assists the night before that against Dallas on Thursday night, and five assists in his last game before that, a loss at Portland. Heading into Sunday’s/Sunday night’s games, only two players in the NBA this season had recorded back-to-back games with 30-plus points and 10-plus assists – and Williams was not one of them. The only two who have: Chris Paul of New Orleans and, go figure, Golden State’s Stephen Jackson.
-30-