Utah Jazz: Paul Millsap not worried about Jefferson's arrival

DRAPER — When Carlos Boozer left Utah for Chicago via free agency earlier this month, Paul Millsap was thrilled by the opportunity evidently ahead of him.

A chance for more playing time.

A chance, finally, to be the Jazz's full-time starter at power forward.

A chance to be the man.

So just what does Millsap think now that Al Jefferson, the big fella from Minnesota acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Timberwolves, has hit town? At $13 million next season and $42 million over the next three, after all, Jefferson is higher-paid. He's arguably higher-profile, at least around the NBA. And, as someone who can contribute at both power forward and center, he's certainly buoyed by the idea of helping point guard Deron Williams take the Jazz to lofty lands.

Moreover, things could get interesting when head coach Jerry Sloan looks down next season at the names of Millsap, Jefferson and incumbent starting center Mehmet Okur and realizes he must pick just two among the three to start and, perhaps as well, finish games.

"I think it's great," said Millsap, who on Friday was making a charitable appearance for the Ronald McDonald House at the Boondocks Fun Center here.

"Al is a great pickup for us," added Millsap, who willingly took the high road at a time some players around the league might have been tempted to head in another direction. "He's a big body and very talented offensively. He's going to help us on the defensive end, getting rebounds. They (Jazz brass) did a great job of getting him."

Jefferson, for his part, seems anxious about the notion of playing alongside Millsap and Okur in the Jazz frontcourt.

He likes Okur as a long distance-shooting big.

"That's why I had to guard Boozer when I was with the Timberwolves — because I couldn't contest Okur 3s," Jefferson said. "Because, you know, he's a guy that you can't take your eyes off. Because he'll let it go."

And he most certainly likes what Millsap does.

"That guy, it's amazing to play against him," Jefferson said. "I remember playing against him last year, and he hit me with a step-back jumper. I said, 'You aren't gonna make that.' And he nailed it, like he'd been doing it all his life. He said, 'Oh, yeah, I been working.' That's what he said. ... I said, 'Respect.'

"So," added Jefferson, his hands in the air in a demonstrative show of admiration, "I'm a big fan of his game."

Millsap knows the trash chat and good-natured banter well.

"Yeah, you know, me and Al have talked to each other out on the court," he said with a wide smile. "There's a lot of things he don't think I can do that I get out there and show him.

"Hopefully, we'll work good as a team, as a tandem."

As for starters, that's for Sloan to sort out.