Utah Jazz: Up next is free agent frenzy

One may be looking to get out. The other is looking to cash in.

Together, based largely on what their agents had to say Friday, starting center Mehmet Okur and backup power forward Paul Millsap could make next week even crazier for the Jazz than already anticipated.

While waiting to hear if starting power forward Carlos Boozer and backup shooting guard Kyle Korver will opt of the final season of their current contracts, the Jazz — who according to general manager Kevin O'Connor will offer Millsap a multi-year contract as soon as the NBA's summer free-agency market opens at 10 p.m. Tuesday — quietly have been negotiating a potential extension with Okur.

Like Boozer and Korver, the big Turk has an early termination option that gives him until Tuesday to escape the last season of his existing deal.

Indications from both sides Friday, however, seemed to suggest that the gap between them is wide enough that Okur — due to make $9 million next season if he doesn't opt out — will enter the summer shopping market. "We're gonna wait right up until the end," Okur's agent, Marc Fleisher, said when asked if his client's plans had been finalized yet.

"I think he's, right now, leaning toward opting out," Fleisher added. "But we'll make that decision at the last possible minute."

Asked Friday if it's possible any of the three — Okur, Boozer or Korver — reach extension agreements before Tuesday's opt-out deadline, O'Connor said, "I wouldn't take anything out of the equation."

Meanwhile, Millsap's representative has set the starting salary he will seek at equal to — if not more than — the sort of money New York Knicks soon-to-be restricted free agent David Lee's camp might attempt to command.

That, suggest both multiple agents and a New York Newsday report, would be a multi-year deal beginning at $10 million per season.

Millsap, rep DeAngelo Simmons suggested, compares statistically quite favorably to the Knicks' big man.

Lee, like Millsap a three-year pro, averaged 16.0 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 54.9 percent from the field last season.

Millsap averaged 13.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 53.4 percent — but, according to 82games.com, had a plus-266 net points plus-minus count that easily trumped Lee's minus-198.