Utah Jazz: Millsap's contract causing concern

It's been described as hefty, substantial, explosive and even toxic.

Whether the offer sheet restricted free agent Paul Millsap signed with the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night — for four years and roughly $32 million, including a whopping $10.3 million or so payable within a week — is noxious enough to keep the Jazz from matching it, however, remains to be seen.

"The indication I got is that they're not going to do it," said Millsap's representative and uncle, DeAngelo Simmons.

Yet even while somewhat mixed signals seemed to be coming from the franchise's front office Saturday, general manager Kevin O'Connor did have this to say regarding Jazz ownership: "I don't think the Miller family likes to be bullied."

But bullies the Blazers are trying to be.

The offer sheet signed by Millsap, Utah's backup power forward, calls for him to make approximately $6.3 million next season, $6.2 million in 2010-11, $6.7 million in 2011-12 and $7.2 million in 2012-2013 — plus a $5.6 million signing bonus.

Moreover, both the signing bonus and approximately $4.7 million of first-season salary must be paid within seven days after the NBA formally approves the contract — the structure of which already has received the league's OK.

That's right: $10.3 million and change payable up front.

Simmons on Saturday called contract both "unique" and "complex."

Complicated, as well, seem to be Millsap's feelings.

"He was excited about the situation," Jazz small forward C.J. Miles said Saturday. "Talking to him, like, he wants to be back here. And we talked with him (Friday night), the last couple days. I mean, he wants to be back here. Hopefully we can bring him back. But it's out of his hands."

Yet another of Millsap's representatives, Ara Vartanian, suggested Friday that the client would rather be a Blazer.

"I honestly think Portland is a great fit for Paul — a young team, a great chance to win a championship," he said. "And the Jazz might be a little uncertain for him."

That's cause for the Jazz to perhaps reassess their much-ballyhooed vow to match any offer that Millsap — a 2006 second-round draft choice who averaged 13.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last season — might sign with another team.

"We're going to have seven days to take a hard look at the decision we're going to make," Jazz president Randy Rigby said Saturday in Lehi, where he was playing in a charity golf tournament hosted by Deron Williams — a tourney for which Millsap, incidentally, did not show up as previously planned.

"I think it's going to take time for us to analyze it and really make sure we're making the right decision," Rigby added. "We've got to look at the financial well-being of the situation.