Boozer fully expects to be back next year

Carlos Boozer says he fully expects to be back in a Utah Jazz uniform next season. Jazz owner Larry H. Miller said Wednesday that there was a "99 percent chance" Boozer would return.

Kevin O'Connor, the team's vice president of basketball operations, wasn't quite as definitive about Boozer's future in Utah. Still, there was no indication on Thursday — the first day of the offseason — that the Jazz would actively try to deal their injury-prone power forward, despite rumors to the contrary.

"Once you step into the NBA," Boozer said. "You're going to be subject to trade rumors. There are going to be rumors about your personal life — everything. That's just something that comes with the territory."

Boozer missed the first 49 games of the 2005-06 season with a nagging hamstring injury. That was on the heels of missing the final 31 games of the previous campaign. During his extended time off from game action, many wondered if Boozer even wanted to play for the Jazz and there were rumors his agent was trying to engineer a trade, perhaps to the Lakers.

Boozer says those things simply aren't true.

"We had a great time last year (in Utah) and we had a great time this year," said Boozer.

Instead, the 6-foot-9 forward says he will work hard in the offseason — especially to improve his defense — while trying to stay healthy. He says he's looking forward to training camp with the Jazz next fall.

"I'm going to do the best I can to get massages every week so I stay healthy and don't pull any muscles," Boozer said of his offseason workouts.

Boozer averaged 16.3 points and 8.6 rebounds — both second best on the team behind Mehmet Okur — after his return for the final 33 games of the year.

"I just wish we would have had (Boozer) all year," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "He knows how to execute. He knows how to play. He's got some things that can really help you win."

Miller, in an interview with KFAN radio on Wednesday, said there was a "99 percent chance" Boozer would be back in a Jazz uniform next season.

"We do (expect Boozer back)," said O'Connor on Thursday. "But that doesn't mean he will be back. . . . The biggest thing that we have always said is that this is a business and we will look to improve our team."

So unless the Jazz get a trade offer they simply can't refuse, Boozer will return to Utah next season. He says he's looking forward to it, too.

"We have a bright future," said Boozer. "We have some good pieces here and if we can all get better over the summer, we should be pretty good. Hopefully we won't be fighting for the eighth (playoff spot from the Western Conference). We'll be in the mix somewhere and somebody else will be fighting for the eighth."

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E-mail: lojo@desnews.com