Utah Jazz notebook: Carlos Boozer doesn't expect Jazz to be making a trade

HOUSTON — If Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer's sense on the subject is spot-on, Jazz trade-talk watchers can pack up.

Go home.

Turn out the lights, the party's over.

"I would be surprised if we did anything," Boozer said Monday, three days before the NBA's annual in-season trade deadline. "I don't see us making a move. I see us staying put, holding pretty tight, seeing what we can do. If I had to make an educated guess, that would be my guess."

That in mind, Boozer — the subject of some trade chatter between the Jazz and other teams in recent weeks and months, but none of substance that managed to make its way to the public rumor mill during the just-completed NBA All-Star Weekend — isn't at all consumed by the possibilities of what may or may not be.

"I don't worry about the trade deadline," he said. The team visits with Houston tonight, New Orleans on Wednesday night, Golden State on Friday night and Portland on Sunday night as the Jazz embark on a four-game road trip.

"This week, you know, we've got to win games," Boozer added. "If something happens, something happens. You can't worry about it until something happens, so there's no reason worrying about it. I'm not worried about it at all."

So there's no need for him to shut off the TV, no need to power down the laptop.

Not that Boozer, who will be a free agent in the offseason, is one to jump from site to site anyway.

"Usually if I surf I'm gonna buy something," he said.

And there are no trade rumors on Overstock.com.

"Honestly, I don't listen to it, haven't heard a lot about me," Boozer said.

"I heard a lot about other guys," he added. "But if something's gonna happen, it will.

If it's not gonna happen, I'll be here."

OKUR'S BABY: Mehmet Okur reported as expected Monday night for the Jazz's first practice following All-Star Weekend, as did his 12 Jazz teammates.

But the starting center still plans on missing Sunday night's game at Portland so he can join wife Yeliz in Utah for Sunday morning's scheduled birth of the couple's second child.

"That's the plan," Okur said.

And if junior happens to come early?

"I hope not," he said. "I don't want to miss it.