Cavs counterattack

The Cleveland Cavaliers have unleashed a counterattack in The Battle of Boozer.

Taking an already wacky story to an even-higher plane of bizarre, the Cavs on Monday made what SI.com first reported to be a one-year, $5 million offer to Carlos Boozer, their restricted free agent power forward.

And if that's not enough to make you wonder how the tale can get crazier, ESPN.com reported agent Rob Pelinka has resigned as Boozer's representative.

Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor — who has secured an oral agreement from Boozer to sign a six-year, $68 million offer sheet from Utah on Wednesday - had no comment on Monday's developments.

But it's believed the Jazz feel neither the Cavs' one-year offer nor Pelinka's resignation will influence Boozer to renege on his promise to Utah.

Meanwhile, an NBA representative said it is okay for the Cavs to continue pursuing Boozer even though he has an oral, albeit non-binding, commitment to the Jazz — even if doing so would violate what is understood to be an unwritten rule among some of the league's higher-road general managers.

"This is a negotiating period," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said of the two weeks from July 1 through Wednesday. "Anybody can still make offers."

The sordid tale took root when Boozer and Pelinka approached the Cavs.

After a June 30 meeting involving those two, Boozer's wife, Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund and general manager Jim Paxson, the Cavs decided not to exercise next season's $695,000 option on Boozer's contract.

Precisely what was said at the meeting is not known.

It's been reported Boozer suggested to Gund that if the Cavs owner just trusted him and let him out of contract, Boozer would return the loyalty and sign a six-year, $41 million deal with Cleveland.

Both sides would benefit: It's a cut rate for the Cavs compared to what Boozer might cost next season, but it's also a deal with more immediate salary and long-term security than Boozer would have otherwise.

However, that's a potential violation of the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and its players association that could result in fines of up to $3.5 million, forfeiture of draft picks and suspension of certain involved parties — since the formal negotiating period had not yet opened.