Utah Jazz: Boozer ready to be replacement

SALT LAKE CITY — He had been figuring on flying to Miami to take in Sunday's Super Bowl with some Jazz teammates in tow.

Those plans, though, wound up getting squashed.

But Carlos Boozer will be taking another pretty cool road trip later this month.

To one place, or another.

Dallas, that is, or Mexico.

An explanation:

It remains to be seen if injured Denver teammates Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, each of whom sat out the Nuggets' visit to Utah on Saturday, are both able to play in the upcoming NBA All-Star Game.

Though Anthony hopes to return later this week from his sprained ankle, Billups has a fresh sprain of his own.

This much, though, is known for certain: Portland on Saturday night declared its All-Star, shooting guard Brandon Roy, out for the league's Feb. 14 showcase game at the Dallas Cowboys' new football stadium.

Boozer — already a two-time All-Star — is a ready-and-willing replacement candidate.

Should the phone ring.

"If I do get the call, I'm going," Boozer said Saturday. "If I don't, I'll be on vacation getting a tan. … I'm going to Cabo (San Lucas) to get some sunshine — a little pool action."

NBA commissioner David Stern will name the replacement for Roy, who remains sidelined by a strained hamstring.

Boozer is among several Roy replacement candidates. It's a list that includes Golden State guard Monta Ellis, Sacramento guard Tyreke Evans and Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman.

And if he's not tapped to fill in for the Trail Blazers guard, he'd be on the list should Billups — already named as the replacement for injured New Orleans point guard Chris Paul — or Anthony be unable to play.

"I'd be honored to make it to the All-Star team if somebody wasn't able to go," said Boozer, the Jazz's leading rebounder and scorer heading into Saturday's game. "Hopefully, those guys are healthy, but if they're not I'd love to be there."

e-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com