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Utah Jazz: Interest in Millsap may be dwindling

to offer big bucks for Millsap.

They have all year to work deals for some of the better players in the league near the trade deadline when teams are dumping players. There will be a lot of good deals and they will get exactly what they want for cheap.

Since OKC is under the cap they can do one sided salary trades. There minimum salary filler players can be traded for some great deals. The other team will get salary relief.

The second problem is that Millsap really tanked after Boozer came back. He played like he was worth back up money and that is not mle money.

There are questions about injury and the ability to play 82 games 30+ minutes at high intensity.

Some team may offer the mle but Utah would probably match that so most teams will not bother.

I think the Jazz should give Millsap a long-term contract no matter what. The guy has played his tail off and could probably be an all-star with Loozer out of the picture. $1 million a year is pittance compared to what some of the other Jazz players are making and not producing nearly as much.

If Millsap signs the $1 million dollar offer to become unrestricted next season, I think the Jazz could not have imagined this off-season going any better. On top of the Knicks pick in 2010, the Jazz would also have a ton of money to play with. They could either go after a couple big names like Chris Bosh or Joe Johnson, or if that doesn't happen, they really would have their pick of their own players that they would want to keep. Millsap, Okur, and even Boozer (as much as Jazz fans don't believe so) would still much rather get the longer contracts at more money from the Jazz, if they are willing to pay it. Plus, Kirilenko would be much more tradeable with only one year left on his deal. Or, he could shock everyone and opt out if he feels he needs a fresh start, or a bigger role on another team, or even wants to go play in Russia. How lucky would the Jazz be then??!!

Looks like a win-win situation for the Jazz, if they can sign for 6 million a year he will be an incredible bargain for years to come. Its hard to imagine Millsap or his Uncle/Agent would turn down a long term contact at six million a year and risk playing one year at a million and incurring a major injury. Best of all for the Jazz if he takes the one year qualifying offer it relieves the Jazz of the luxury tax and clears up major money for 2010 with Millsap, Boozer, Okur, Korver, and Harpring coming off the books with Kirilenko a year after that. The Jazz need to start over as their current makeup will only get them to the second round in a best case scenerio.

If the Oklahoma City "Chunder" are able to land Millsap without overpaying, they would indeed be getting a solid player. And I think a secondary reason they might make an offer is to make sure the Jazz will have to pay more than otherwise to keep PM. I remember last year when they made that offer for Miles, it seemed like they were mainly trying to raise the Jazz' cost for him... and the Jazz did not call their bluff. Along with many others, I was scratching my head wondering why the Jazz matched, having Brewer and Korver, and could bring Almond from the Flash if needed. And in a bind, could play Price at the 2 since he had experience at college playing that position. Anyway, after last year's Miles offer, and if they make an offer for Millsap, the "Chunder" are really starting to cheese me off. Ya, they're a division foe, so you expect extra competition from them, but it appears OKC owner/management have an ulterior motive with a low-class approach. I think many of their former fans in Seattle would agree after they moved their beloved Sonics(Thunder) under bitter circumstances.

This could turn into a great situation for the jazz. It would be another year with boozer and millsap, and another chance to evaluate them and make a good long-term decision. Who knows, the jazz might also be able to draft a talented big man with the knick's pick next summer!

Oh please Jazzman72, the thunder made a bit for CJ Miles because he is probably worth about 3-4 million (which isn't even mid level exception money) and fit well into their system. It wasn't some underhanded play to increase Utahs payroll. Sheesh. They genuinely thought they were going to land him, just like when the Jazz signed Corey Maggette all that money and watched the Clippers match.
The Jazz honestly thought they were going to have him on their team, and were disappointed not to have him. There's no way they're going to risk over paying for a player that doesn't fit their system. The Jazz have already said that 10 million is on the border of where they won't match, and like I said, the Thunder don't want to spend 10 mil. on a player who doesn't fit their system when next summer is going to be such a big free agent bonanza.
Stop with the conspiracy theories. lol. And don't forget that it doesn't matter who offers Millsap mid level. The Jazz will match. So let Boston or San antonio match. All the better for us.

$10 mil is too much, but $6 to 7 Mil is good. The Jazz should tie him up now for a long term deal.

Whoa your self, buddy!

IT is the Jazz mangement's penchant for giving big longs term contracts to their mediocre talent,

and over valuing and over paying their players,

that has gotten the JAzz in this money predicament in the first place.

Millsap's agent should be able to get him a 1 or 2 year deal better than the paltry qualifying offer. The Jazz should give him a fair deal if they want to keep him, and trade Boozer

are you serious???? miles isn`t half the player Millsap is,in fact I`m sure if the Jazz could go back they would have let Oak City have him,worst resign by far,he`s worthless

How can anyone say signing Millsap at 1 million dollar offer for one year is a good thing. Look what Chicago did with Gordon and now they lost him for nothing. The Jazz need to step up to the plate and offer a 5 year deal starting at the Mid Level exception. They then need to trade Boozer now. Because if next off season both Boozer and Millsap are unrestricted free agents - Boozer should not be signed because his asking price is too (12 to 15 million a year) high for a player at 29 years old and Millsap should be signed because his asking price (9 to 12 million a year) and he is 25 years - but the Jazz would be better off with Millsap at 6 million a year

Millsap would be your one mid level exception guy worth it - and it would allow the Jazz to sign 3 top dollar players and role with a full team.

Jazz should try to trade Boozer/Korver/and future first round draft pick for Josh Howard or Jason Terry and Stackhouse. Stackhouse contract has only 2 million guaranteed, the Jazz get something in return.