Utah Jazz: Is Paul Millsap ready for his potential new role?

SALT LAKE CITY — Jerry Sloan is one, because he seems to think keeping Carlos Boozer is the best way to ensure that the Jazz continue their winning ways.

Deron Williams is another, based, if nothing else, on how many assists he delivers to him.

But the person perhaps most impacted by Boozer's pending free agency may be Paul Millsap, Utah's primary backup power forward the past four seasons and the man who stands to start should Boozer bolt.

"Who knows?" Millsap said when asked earlier this week, the morning after the Jazz were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Los Angeles Lakers for a third straight postseason, if he expects the franchise will make significant changes this offseason.

"It's not my decision, not my job to decide that," he added. "It's my job to ... continue to try to grow as a basketball player."

Millsap, though, has been doing just that — and more — ever since the Jazz selected him out of Louisiana Tech in the second round of 2006 NBA Draft.

And if Boozer, an unrestricted free agent as of 10 p.m. on June 30, should decide to stay in Utah for a seventh season or more, it remains to be seen just how much longer Millsap will silently stomach a backup role that some might argue stunts that very growth.

To date, he's been nothing but loyal and quiet.

But when asked the morning after the Laker loss if he'd request an opportunity to play somewhere else if Boozer returned — ask for a trade, to phrase it more bluntly — Millsap didn't shut the door on the possibility.

"I don't know what I would do," he said. "I would have to wait and see."

DeAngelo Simmons — Millsap's agent and uncle — doesn't see things coming to that, though. And it's not necessarily because he sees Boozer leaving.

"We haven't even thought that far," he said.

"But ... I think (the Jazz) have been pretty fair with (Millsap) overall as far as playing time, and if the playing time is there, I don't see it really being a problem.

"If Boozer comes back, or if he goes, either which way, it should be fine, based on history," Simmons added. "Trade talk or get-me-out-of-here talk — I don't think that's something that's really even in (Millsap's) head at all."

Millsap obviously yearns to start and make good on the four-year, $32 million contract he landed last offseason.