Utah Jazz: Miami may not be involved with Boozer trade talks, other rumors

A mid-day Friday update with the some of the latest Carlos Boozer trade rumors from around the Web — including the suggestion that Miami, widely rumored to be a potential destination for the Jazz's two-time All-Star power forward, is not even involved in swap talks with Utah:

From the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel: "In a session limited to season-ticket holders and closed to the media, (Heat president Pat) Riley said he would not risk forfeiting next summer's cap space only to eventually lose out on the opportunity to pair a prime 2010 free agent alongside current Heat guard Dwyane Wade.

"What was made clear in Riley's private session was that the Heat's interest in re-acquiring forward Lamar Odom from the (Los Angeles) Lakers is legitimate, with numbers being discussed that would approach the current Lakers' free-agent offer that Odom has rejected, when accounting for Florida's lack of state income tax and other options regarding payments.

"Beyond that, the Heat has not entered talks about possibly acquiring forward Carlos Boozer from the Jazz, but is monitoring that situation, with no expectation of a quick resolution by the Jazz."

"In Thursday's speech, Riley said the team could acquire Odom, Boozer or both and still put itself in position to be a major player in 2010 free agency. . . . Riley told Thursday's private gathering that should Odom or Boozer be added this summer, the team still could add a top-tier free agent by 'shifting some stuff around.

"While it is a longshot, Odom could be fit into the Heat's mid-level exception and Udonis Haslem could be the linchpin of a Boozer deal.

Again, the odds are against either move, with the Lakers looking to keep Odom and the Jazz seeking to maximize their options in a Boozer deal."

From the Miami Herald: "The latest involves the somewhat — depending on who or what you read — possibility of Miami acquiring Boozer, a post-threat power forward from Utah, and Odom, a familiar and versatile forward who helped jump-start the latest era of Heat basketball in 2003-04.

"The easier portion of the proposal is to acquire Boozer from the Jazz. Boozer has said Jazz officials have informed him they plan on heading in a different direction, which includes trading him relatively soon. And given that the Jazz is desperate for financial flexibility in return instead of a specific type of player . . . it would take the expiring contracts of Haslem and Dorell Wright in exchange for Boozer.