Utah Jazz fans have mixed reactions about Boozer

SALT LAKE CITY — If you don't want to be here, Carlos, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

That seemed to be the overriding sentiment of Utah Jazz fans — at least those interviewed prior to the Salt Lake Bees game at Spring Mobile Ballpark on Wednesday evening — after it had become public that Carlos Boozer had reached an agreement to sign with the Chicago Bulls.

"I will love it when the Bulls come here next season," said Chris Cook, a fan from Murray who was wearing a blue Deron Williams Jazz jersey at the Bees game. "I will boo (Boozer) harder than ever."

During Boozer's six-season stint with Utah — two of which saw him make the NBA All-Star team — Jazz fans had a love/hate relationship with the power forward. It was hard at times to know if the crowd at EnergySolutions Arena was shouting his nickname "Booz" or booing him during pre-game introductions.

Scott Garrard, one of the hosts on 1320 KFAN, the Jazz's flagship radio station, said Wednesday afternoon that Boozer is "the most polarizing sports figure in the history of the state of Utah — bar none."

Jazz fans almost seemed fine with losing Boozer. But there is a simple reason Chicago has agreed to sign Boozer for five years at a reported $75 million to $80 million. He is, after all, a guy who averaged 19.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game last season.

"(Boozer) just wanted out," Cook said. "I don't think he felt respected by the fans here, but he didn't work hard enough to earn our respect."

Jazz fans' biggest beef with Boozer seemed to be how many games he missed. While Boozer played in all but four games last season, he had missed large portions of three of his seasons in Utah while recovering from various injuries.

"The Jazz probably should have traded him at the trade deadline (last season)," said Chris Oviatt of Eagle Mountain. "He's a good player, but he missed a third of his games. That's kind of ridiculous. It hurts the Jazz because he's a 20 (points), 10 (rebounds) guy, but he went for the money."

Boozer spurned Cleveland — the team that drafted him and wanted to give him a healthy raise — in order to sign with the Jazz six years ago for even more money. Perhaps that's why few were surprised Boozer was willing to jump at the chance to get another bump in salary.