Utah Jazz: Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
His representative says he hasn't received a firm contract proposal from the Jazz, but Paul Millsap reportedly has one coming from another NBA team.
It's from the Portland Trail Blazers, and it apparently is a doozy.
The Oregonian newspaper reported on its Web site Wednesday night that the Trail Blazers "have settled on (Millsap as) their next target" and that they're "preparing what one source called a 'toxic' offer designed to exterminate interest from other teams."
Neither financial terms nor length of the offer were reported.
But the Blazers, according to the Oregonian, "are hoping Millsap provides some interior grit and toughness" and "figure to exhaust nearly all of their (team payroll salary) cap space to lock up Millsap."
Portland is $7.7 million under the cap, and can offer Millsap a multiyear deal that includes all of that as a first-year salary next season.
But the Blazers, the Oregonian also reported, can push that cap space to $8.9 million by renouncing their rights to two draft choices from Europe, Petteri Koponen and Joel Freeland.
Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor, reached late Wednesday night, was unaware of the development.
"I haven't heard of anything," he said.
Millsap is a restricted free agent, so the Jazz do have the right to match any offer sheet their backup power forward signs with another NBA team.
And they've vowed to do just that.
But with Portland's proposal purportedly designed to scare off a match, it's unknown — should Millsap indeed accept the offer — how Utah would respond.
Teams can discourage a match by frontloading a contract with salary or even offering a signing bonus.
Millsap's representative, DeAngelo Simmons, didn't return a call seeking comment on the report.
But earlier Wednesday night, Simmons did say that — late into the first full summer day in which NBA unrestricted free agents can sign contracts and restricted free agents can sign another team's offer sheet — no deal with Utah was in the works.
"The Jazz have not made a concrete offer," said Simmons, who is both Millsap's uncle and his rep in talks with Utah and other NBA teams.
"They haven't given us a number at all," Simmons added, "and they said they're waiting on other free agents, such as (Anderson) Varejao and Shawn Marion, to set the market."
ESPN.com reported late Wednesday night that Varejao, a forward center from Cleveland, reached agreement with the Cavaliers to return for $42.5 million over six years — with the final year only partially guaranteed and incentives potentialoly pushing the deal's total value to $50 million.
Recent comments
Millsap doesn't want to be here.
Even his fans can't spell
his...
It's no wonder | July 11, 2009 at 10:38 a.m.
Okur is signed for two more so glad the d news is up on there sh$$...
BRABBIT | July 10, 2009 at 2:37 a.m.
Jazz will resign Milsap. If they don't it will be ahuge mistake....
Come on Jazz fans | July 9, 2009 at 11:58 p.m.
- 4A: Timpview wins 4th in 4 years 4:30 a.m.
- 3A: Juan Diego 12, Hurricane 10 4:18 a.m.
- 3A: Juan Diego vs. Hurricane 4:17 a.m.
- TCU still has a chance 2:04 a.m.
- Unranked Orange move to 4-0 1:52 a.m.
- Cougars cruise to victory in Hawaii 1:38 a.m.
- 5A: Bingham vs Davis 1:32 a.m.
- 5A: Bingham 35, Davis 24 1:30 a.m.
- 5A: Darts impress in title loss 1:13 a.m.
- 5A: Miners' Cantwell makes name 1:11 a.m.
- Mailman's nomination delivered
- U. professor dies after fall from bus
- Jazz finally win in San Antonio
- 4A: Timpview wins 4th in 4 years
- Unga's status 'a game-time decision'
- 'New Moon' rising: Vamps vs. 'wolves
- Archuleta still calls Utah home
- Horrifying scenario described
- Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
- 'New Moon' doesn't rise to occasion
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
182 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
167 - BYU, Utah struck gold in coaches
123 - Lies shatter Utah family
122 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
107 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
97 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
96 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
95 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
92 - Huntsman pleased with Obama
84
With only a few facts prosecutors will only search and seek out and create...
I wouldn't say that Huntsman is from the other side of the isle. This guy is...
In the statistics section you show Bingham with a LOSS to Davis. Need to fix...
yes it was quite a game...considering the officials GAVE it to the...
I have known this family for a long time, they are good people. This is a...
I'm a woman of child-bearing age yet I reconise that if I had a child growing...
The real reason they ran with Sarah Palin is because they didn't really want...
Sarah Palin is the female George W. Bush. In case you don't know it-- that's...
Chris, you must watch too much of CNN.... May I suggest you to go viist China...
so proud of you H town boys. we cant ask for better. as for not being back...


