Boozer will report late to Jazz camp

A former All-Star Utah Jazz forward will not be with the team at the start of training camp, but the no-show will be excused — and it is not Andrei Kirilenko.

Instead, Jazz forward Carlos Boozer has been granted permission to report late to the official start of the 2007-08 season due to family medical needs. Whether Boozer will be able to join the team at training camp in Boise, Idaho, is still uncertain.

"My son is recovering from a bone marrow transplant in Miami," said Boozer in a press release sent out by the Jazz Thursday morning. "Because of his procedure, my return to training camp in Boise, Idaho, is uncertain. As soon as my son is home from the hospital and stable, I will join my teammates. Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated by me and my family during this time."

Boozer went on to thank Jazz owner Larry H. Miller, vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor and coach Jerry Sloan and his teammates for their support.

Boozer led the Jazz in scoring (20.9 ppg) and rebounding (11.7 rpg) last season and was named for the first time to the All-Star team. The Jazz feel that even though he will be coming to camp late, he will be ready to play when he arrives.

"Carlos has been working out all summer in Miami and coordinating efforts with Gary Briggs, our team trainer, and Mark McKown, our strength and conditioning coach," O'Connor said in the release. "We are confident that when he rejoins the team he will be ready to compete. Carlos needs to be with his family right now, and we fully support his decision."

In order to respect Boozer's privacy, the Jazz and Boozer will have no further comment at this time.

Boozer and his wife Cindy have three sons, including twins born over the summer.

Boozer is the second Jazz player in the past year who has had to deal with major health issues of a child. Guard Derek Fisher's daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer during Utah's playoff run to the Western Conference finals. He asked and received permission to be let out of his contract following the season in order to live in a larger city where his daughter could get the medical help she needed. He later signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kirilenko, meanwhile, has made it known that he would like to be traded by the Jazz, in large part because he doesn't feel like he fits in with Sloan's system. He has even said the he would be willing to walk away from the remainder of his four-year contract — which is set to pay him $63 million. For now, though, the Jazz still own his rights, and they expect him to show up Monday for media day in Salt Lake City before training camp opens Tuesday in Boise. Camp will run through Oct. 6.

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E-mail: lojo@desnews.com