Utah Jazz: Carlos Boozer sign-and-trade agreement reached with Bulls

MAITLAND, Fla. — The Jazz completed their Carlos Boozer business Thursday, reaching a sign-and-trade agreement with the Chicago Bulls that nets Utah a valuable traded player exception.

Now Boozerless, where in the world do they go from here?

It's a question weighing heavily on Jazz minds, especially that belonging to Kevin O'Connor.

The answer:

"It's free agency," the Jazz general manager said, "and we have to bang around and see what we can come up with that."

O'Connor was actively seeking possibilities Thursday, one day after free agent power forward Boozer agreed to a five-year deal now believed to be worth closer to $75 million than the $80 million ESPN originally reported.

But one suspected by some, David Lee, can be scratched because he reportedly agreed to go from New York to Golden State via a sign-and-trade.

Ditto for another, ex-Minnesota Timberwolves forward Ryan Gomes, who Thursday agreed Thursday to a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Who's that leave?

Namely Paul Millsap, for starters.

"Paul has waited, and waited patiently. And good things come to those who wait," said DeAngelo Millsap, Millsap's agent and uncle. "He was his backup for three years, and he learned a lot of from Boozer, and now he has a chance to pave his own way right now."

Millsap was home watching a summer-league game on TV when he heard the Boozer news.

"My initial response was I was happy for Booz, and glad to see him collect the money. I'm happy for him and his family," Millsap said. "And then it was, 'It's about time.'

"It was kind of a sigh of relief, knowing I get a chance to do what I want to do, and that's start," he added. "I'm ready to take my game to another level."

The Jazz also undoubtedly will consider playing small forward Andrei Kirilenko more at power forward.

"You know," O'Connor said, "Andrei made the All-Star team (in 2004) playing 4 at lot of time."

Perhaps signing recent Phoenix Suns and ex-Jazz forward Louis Amundson as a reasonable-cost alternative is an option, too.