Nice to have a four-wheel drive like Millsap when needed

I look at the Jazz keeping Paul Millsap the same way I look at four-wheel drive: pricier than it should be but not impossibly so.

And when you need it, you're really glad you have it.

Word leaked out Thursday the Jazz will match Portland's four-year, $32 million offer sheet, thus ending a week of stress for everyone involved. Earlier this year, the Jazz hinted they'd re-sign their off-road, all-purpose forward, at almost any cost. And they did. Granted, the deal averages out to a million or two more than they hoped, but you won't hear anybody complaining.

Durability and reliability have value.

Besides, once they get past the $10.3 million that is due by the end of this month — think of it like an insurance deductible — the rest of it will be fairly manageable.

So they retained Millsap the same way you buy a car at a Larry H. Miller dealership. The market sets the price.

On the way home you're saying to yourself, "This better be good."

For Millsap, this is a new era. It's one thing to be making $800,000 and impressing people with your hustle. But now that he's going to be paid among the good players in the league — rather than the happy-to-be-heres — he won't get by on a Super Saver pass.

Millsap made a name for himself as a relentless player, especially this year when he logged double-doubles in 19 straight games. All he needs now is to add another 63 double-doubles per season and he'll be just where they want him.

For a few weeks, it seemed the Jazz might retain their forward for less money than anticipated. The free agent market wasn't exactly soaring.

But along came the Blazers and their deep-pockets owner, who delivered what was vividly described as a "toxic" contract offer. Who knew Oregon could be so ... polluted? The deal was front-loaded to make it difficult for the Jazz to match.

The Trail Blazers could have been meaner, but only if they'd unloaded a truck full of Bigfoot droppings on the ESA steps.

The Jazz didn't flinch.

Now they must figure out how to cut corners somewhere else. It's no secret they plan to begin with Carlos Boozer.

Then they can move on to the halftime shows and such.

Fact is, Millsap isn't a superstar; he's a fine player to have on anyone's team but not one to carry it. Was it a bad deal to pay him an average of $8 million? No, it was the going price, and not outrageously expensive, when you consider the Jazz are paying Andrei Kirilenko twice that.

Like a lot of cars, Millsap is reliable and should provide years of service.