Varejao's deal, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, is guaranteed at $42.5 million if he plays five years or $48 million if he goes six, which tough-to-attain incentives that could push total value to $50 million.

That's average salary, in other words, close to what Millsap wound up getting.

But the Jazz, meanwhile, weren't about to be swayed by even those numbers.

Late last week they did supposedly offer a multiyear deal in the range of $7 million per season, with the possibility of going to $7.5 million over three years — but only after catching wind that Portland was preparing a generous offer.

When the Blazers proposed an average of $8 million over four years with so much money up front, then, Millsap reached for the closest pen.

So now the Jazz are left to check under couch cushions, pass the hat and search for a taker for Boozer via trade as they try to figure out how in the world they can scrape up $10.3 million in the next two weeks.

And for that Simmons makes no apologies.

"This was something we were told to do," he said, "so it's not our fault that we got an offer sheet."

That brings everything back to where Millsap would rather play, and how upset he'd be if the Jazz indeed matched.

"It should never have gotten to that. That's how I feel," Simmons said. "But I don't think anything will change with Paul, no matter what happens, because Paul loves the game. He'll give all he's got no matter where he is. He loves the game that much."

Still, Millsap's reps have made it clear their client never would have signed the offer sheet if he weren't ready and more than willing to play for Portland.

"It's a great fit for the kid," said Ara Vartanian, who also represents Millsap.

But is it really?

"That was obviously the discussion we had," Vartanian said, "and Paul feels comfortable that there's a fair chance for him to earn minutes there."

Yet power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and center Greg Oden — the NBA's No. 2 overall draft choice in 2006 and No. 1 overall in 2007, respectively — seem entrenched in Portland.

So if the Jazz don't match, the scrappy Millsap might be looking at playing several more seasons as a reserve — something that this past season the 2006 second-rounder suggested he's ready to move beyond.

Which is why the fact Portland would even be tempted to tender such a lucrative offer sheet to Millsap baffles Jazz GM O'Connor.

"What I can't imagine is if they're gonna pay what's reported out there to the backup, what are they gonna pay to their starter?" he said with reference to Aldridge, who has been negotiating a contract extension of his own. "Probably a maximum contact."

No need to worry, though, Vartanian suggests.