Destination of Utah Jazz's star forward Carlos Boozer is of high interest in this state

SALT LAKE CITY — Kevin O'Connor knows well what the order of business will be when the NBA's summer free-agency market opens at 10 p.m. Wednesday.

"When the first big fish falls then everything else starts to go," the Jazz general manager said. "I don't have to tell you who that first big fish is."

No, he does not.

Chasing LeBron James, however, is the worry of other NBA teams — namely New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Miami, his own Cleveland Cavaliers and even the Los Angeles Clippers.

O'Connor's concern: keeping on hook a smaller fish from a smaller pond.

Retaining two-time NBA All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer is the Jazz's chief charge of the offseason, and it's no tiny task.

Widespread expectations around the league are that Boozer is in all likelihood out of here.

But O'Connor said keeping their leading scorer and rebounder from 2009-10 "absolutely" is top priority later this week.

"So it's gonna be a matter of waiting to see, and trying to fill out a roster and looking," he said. "We've said we wanted Carlos back in."

At what cost, though? The man who made $68 million over the last six years in Utah presumably is looking for a deal that will pay even more than the $12.66 million he made this past season.

"I think you evaluate, you try and keep yourself in a position to where you're looking at somebody and see what his price is, and you move on from there," O'Connor said Friday.

The Jazz can't offer Boozer more than $10 million or so next season without facing the NBA-imposed luxury tax on teams that engage in excess payroll spending.

But other NBA teams can, and one or more with oozing with salary-cap space — perhaps Miami if Toronto free agent power forward Chris Bosh doesn't go there, New Jersey, Chicago or New York — might.

When the Jazz's 2010 postseason ended with a second-round loss to the eventual NBA-champion Los Angeles Lakers, Boozer readily admitted he wasn't sure if the Jazz would be able to afford him.

"I'm sure they have some challenges ahead of them, and they probably have been preparing for it all season — whatever their plans may or may not be," said Boozer, who has spoken openly in the past about wanting to play in Miami and Chicago. "Some things might be a surprise for them. But they'll do a good job of whatever they're supposed to do for this franchise."

Whether keeping Boozer truly is in the franchise's best interest is open to debate.

The Jazz have made it past the second round of the playoffs only once with him, and have never beaten the Lakers in the postseason with him.

His defense frequently is more detrimental than helpful, and his presence means fewer minutes for backup Paul Millsap, who is heading into his second season on a four-year, $32 million contract.