Interested in Boozer? Be careful

He should wear an expiration date on his jersey: Best if used by (fill in the date). He's about as reliable as Wall Street, and he's got more baggage than Paris Hilton on holiday.

And now he thinks he deserves a raise and a long-term deal. You can't say this guy doesn't have nerve.

Well, if you were expecting loyalty to the Jazz, you should call the Cleveland Cavaliers. Boozer has been here, done this. Five years ago, he was the property of the Cavaliers, with one year left on his contract. With the option of allowing Boozer to become a restricted free agent after the final season of his contract or keeping him under contract for one more year for just $695,000, they claim to have made a verbal agreement to waive the final year of his contract and sign him for six years and $39 million. But after the Cavs cut him, instead of re-signing with his old team, Boozer fled to the Jazz for a 6-year, $70 million deal. He denies any backroom deal was made, but as the Cavs said at the time, why would they cut him loose when they could have had him for another year and for a bargain price.

"In the final analysis, I decided to trust Carlos and show him the respect he asked for," said Cleveland's owner at the time, Gordon Gund. "He did not show that trust and respect in return."

Now Boozer finds himself in a similar situation with the Jazz, except this time he has the option either to play out the final year of his contract at $12.7 million or sign with another team now.

Buyer beware.

E-MAIL: drob@desnews.com