Utah Jazz notebook: Rumors have Boozer leaving Utah

If any of the recent rumors out of New York turn out to be correct, Carlos Boozer will indeed be returning to Utah next season. But he'll only do it once, and he'll be wearing the uniform of either the Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets or Detroit Pistons.

According to Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, it's not looking like Boozer will return for the final year of his contract with the Jazz.

Not only that, but the power forward who's spent two-thirds of the past five seasons playing for Utah (he was injured the other third of the time) "apparently ... is telling confidants" he plans on relocating to New Jersey or Detroit next season.

Boozer could join the Pistons, whom he's been linked to through various rumors, through free-agency this offseason after he opts out of the final year of his Jazz contract. Boozer is scheduled to make nearly $13 million next year but has said he will forego the last season of the deal in order to secure a long-term pact either in Utah or elsewhere.

To land in New Jersey, on the other hand, Boozer would have to be part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Jazz and Nets.

As for Toronto being his next destination, the New York Daily News speculated this weekend that "there's a chance" Boozer could be part of a deal involving Canada's only NBA team and big man Chris Bosh, whom the Raptors apparently don't want to potentially lose for nothing in 2010 when his contract is up.

Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor, who is in Oakland, Calif., to observe potential draft picks work out in front of several NBA executives, could not be reached for comment. Boozer and his agent, Rob Pelinka, were unavailable for comment.

SPANISH EXHIBITION: It hasn't been officially announced by the NBA or the Jazz, but it's looking like the second leg of Utah's European tour this fall will be in Spain. Two days after playing the Chicago Bulls in London at The 02 Arena on Oct. 6, the Jazz will apparently play a yet-to-be-named team in the Sports Palace of the Community of Madrid, according to a report on Spanish Web site Marca.com.

ENGLISH ENCOUNTER: The Jazz might have a new fan club start up in India. Likewise, Deron Williams might start following cricket now, too.

In England on Sunday for a youth basketball convention and to promote next October's NBA Europe Live game, Williams met young cricket stars Suresh Raina and Pragyan Ojha from India at Lord's Cricket Ground before their ICC World Twenty20 championship match against New Zealand.

"It was a pleasure to meet up with Deron, who is an immensely successful basketball player and a gold medalist at the Olympics," said Ojha, an Indian left-arm spinner, according to a The-SportsCampus.com report. "He came across as a nice bloke who was down to earth, which was brilliant."

The nice bloke wished his new fans well, too.

"I am excited to be at the home of cricket here at Lord's," Williams said, "and I wish the reigning world champions India and the other teams the very best."

E-mail: jody@desnews.com