From Deseret News archives:
Miller says he has no plans to trade Boozer
"I can't imagine anything coming along that would have us trade him," Miller told KSL-TV Ch. 5's Tom Kirkland during an appearance on "SportsBeat Sunday."
Miller was echoing comments he made last month regarding Boozer, the subject of a trade rumor involving the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the league's February deadline for dealing.
On Sunday, the Los Angeles Times reported that "it looks as though (the rumor) may have originated with the Boozer camp."
Boozer, who led Utah in scoring during his first season with the Jazz, did not play after hurting his foot Feb. 14 — just a few days after Miller publicly blasted his play. After meeting, the two sides later said amends had been made.
BE QUIET: Miller also told KSL-TV he recently received a personal phone call from NBA commissioner David Stern, scolding him for making public comments regarding University of Utah consensus national college Player of the Year and prospective No. 1 overall draft choice Andrew Bogut.
Miller questioned Bogut's NBA-readiness while speaking last month on sports-talk radio station KZN-AM 1280. NBA personnel are banned from discussing underclass draft prospects until later this month.
Miller said he was not fined for his remarks.
GETTING DEFENSIVE: Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko finished 10th Monday in balloting for the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award, which was won by Detroit's Ben Wallace.
Kirilenko received one first-place vote, five second-place votes and five third-place votes in media voting — despite missing half the season due to injuries.
SEARCHING HIGH AND FAR: The Jazz are among several NBA teams that have dispatched a scout to see Sun Ming Ming, a teenager from China who reportedly stands 7-foot-8 3/4 and weighs 350 pounds.
That's nearly five inches taller than Mark Eaton.
Sun, who has been working out in North Carolina, is said to be far from NBA-ready — and probably won't even enter this year's draft.
E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com
