More enlightening stuff on Boozer

MIAMI – A story about Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer and his comments – or non-comments, as they were – about his potential free agency this summer was written today for Saturday’s paper.
In fact, it’s already been posted on-line, appearing on the main sports page at the Deseret News’ Web site.
What follows below is the somewhat-condensed version of a related, same-subject piece from SI.com that coincidentally was penned, or at least posted, today as well.
Though its primary quoted source goes unnamed, it’s quite insightful relative to what perhaps lies ahead this offseason for the Jazz – and it’s written by one of the best in the biz, Sports Illustrated’s Ian Thomsen, who unquestionably knows his stuff when it comes to all things NBA.
Much of it may be common knowledge to diehard Jazz fans already in the know, but some – including specific salary cap projections – may be extra enlightening.
And if this doesn’t spell out all the uncertainty as clearly as can be, perhaps nothing will. Again, it’s all from Thomsen and SI.com, and it can be read in full on the magazine’s Web site …
“The league has projected the salary cap will decline by $1.4 million to a total of $57.3 million this summer, which will cut into the nest egg developed by teams to spend on free agents. Of the eight franchises with cap space this summer – Atlanta, Detroit, Memphis, Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Portland, Sacramento and Toronto – only the Pistons, Trail Blazers and Thunder are expected to have enough space and ambition to be aggressive in taking on long-term commitments to improve their teams.
“Should Boozer walk away from a salary guaranteed at $12.7 million next season in order to become a free agent this summer? His answer is burdened by the injuries that have sidelined him for 45 games this season … and the fact Boozer is shooting just 42.5 percent and averaging 10.4 (points per game) in eight games since he returned last month.
“Boozer is clearly playing his way back into shape from the left knee injury that sidelined him in November, as well as a recently sprained right ankle. In the meantime the surging Jazz are contending for homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, giving Boozer the opportunity to prove his health over an extended playoff run.
“Say Boozer decides to remain with Utah through next season; say also that neither Mehmet Okur (owed $9 million next season) or Kyle Korver ($5.2 million) decline to opt out of their deals. Altogether that would put the Jazz into the luxury tax before they’ve paid their draft picks or – more important – Paul Millsap, a restricted free agent and most-improved player candidate who has averaged 16.0 points and 10.3 rebounds when starting in place of Boozer.
“Alternatively, the Jazz could inherit $10 million in cap space if Boozer, Okur and Korver opt out. Boozer’s decision is an example of the risk/reward facing players and teams in the declining NBA economy.
“With such unpredictability, the answer for Boozer is he should go free only if he is confident of negotiating a sign-and-trade or of cultivating an offer from the Pistons, Blazers (who already have LaMarcus Aldridge) or Thunder. His best hope may come from the Pistons. ‘I think if Boozer doesn’t opt out, Detroit will go after Millsap,’ predicts a rival personnel executive. ‘If he does opt out, they’ll go after Boozer. Either way they’ll try to get one of those guys.’
“Prevailing wisdom holds that Utah can’t afford to keep both Boozer and Millsap. But the Jazz may be able to retain both pending the decisions of Okur and Korver, or by making a trade to unload salary elsewhere. Maybe they would dare to enter the season as a short-term tax team with the capability of unloading salary at midseason if they aren’t in contention.
“Another complication for Boozer will be the mystery surrounding the market. While this isn’t a celebrated class of free agents – Allen Iverson will be the only current All-Star seeking a new deal this summer – the Pistons, Blazers and Thunder may be able to trade for stars on the cheap. If an ailing franchise needs to dump a big contract, they could simply trade it into the Pistons’ cap space – a salary dump for a player with three or four years on his deal, which Detroit may find more tempting than a new five-year deal for Boozer.”

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