Reader comments
Utah Jazz want Millsap at right price

Page:
1
2
Next >

Gazoink | 7:30 a.m. July 8, 2009

Need to trade Boozer & Kirilenko to Toronto and pick up Shawn Marion.

Picturesque | 8:09 a.m. July 8, 2009

Who chose that picture? Was it taken just after Paul realized we are in a recession? Surely there were better shots to choose from?

Re Gazoink | 8:10 a.m. July 8, 2009

You have to take back players with 3/4 of the salary of the player you traded and that won't get us out of the luxury tax issue, but it would help to get down to where your not paying as much. That A.K. thing is the killer. I can't imagine a sub getting 16-17mil a year. Who in the name of you know what decided on that? He's skinny and didn't play much better than he is today a couple years ago. He's a typical SOFT foreign player. When is this league and it's owners, GM's and others going to realize these people over there are like playing the lottery? Stay home and recruit good, tough minded decent people!

Comments continue below

sad days | 8:16 a.m. July 8, 2009

Paul,

We love you and hope you are able to negotiate a further stay in Jazzland. There are far worse things than coming off the bench to play behind a superstar.

Mr. Gazoink trading Boozer and Kirilenko for Marion does not make economic sense nor does it help our team. Marion does not make plays without the ball, is aging, and his scoring has deteriorated over the past 3 seasons. By giving up Boozer and AK that is approx 16 rebounds and 29 points per game we lose. Those are big shoes to fill for one player.

I vote we trade you to Denver for one of their fans.

DJ | 8:26 a.m. July 8, 2009

Paul Millsap is so greedy... He is not a franchise player and never will be. He wants 10 million a year, yet he hasn't proved that he can help carry this team. He was pretty much non-existent in the playoffs, yet he averaged 31 minutes a game in the playoffs.

The Jazz | 8:41 a.m. July 8, 2009

probably need to sign Millsap before they trade Boozer but they could make trade first and make Millsap irrelevant depending on the multiple players they trade for.

The Jazz just need to be patient. It is highly unlikely any team is going to offer Millsap anything unless it is to harass the Jazz. All the teams know the Utah can and will match a mle offer.

It may be uncomfortable in camp, but the Jazz need to be patient up to mid season before trading Boozer. It is crucial to get the right players back on that trade. This trade is not a salary cap move. It is the future of the franchise.

They will probably get a young promising PF as one of the trade pieces. They also should get a SG or maybe back up PG/SG.

The AK trade can wait another year. Dumping AK for junk makes no sense. It will work out fine and the Jazz will be stronger if they do it right.

Every body is focused on the luxury tax. Focus on creating the team of the future. The luxury tax is a very minor consideration.

die hard | 8:42 a.m. July 8, 2009

I read some of the crap you people put on here about players and the jazz and wonder just how high your basketball IQ's are.
You can't trade Boozer and AK for one player.
First no one wants Boozer for 12.8 mil to play 40 games.
Second as much as I like AK no one will want him unless the Jazz are willing to pay half his salary.
Third, The biggest problem of all is that Jerry can't coach the level of and the number of talented players he has on this team.
By the way no one can?
The Jazz have to figure out how to use the players that they have and really quick.
After next year it will be Williams AK and a whole bunch of no names and a new coach, Mark my words we have one year left and back to below average with no leadership from the Millers or the team, DONE
WELL DONE!

AK for Maggette | 8:47 a.m. July 8, 2009

and cash ... thoughts???

re;gazoink | 8:51 a.m. July 8, 2009

Holy Cow? your kidding right?
No one who knows basketball would say anything that dumb!

Dvg | 8:53 a.m. July 8, 2009

While I agree the Jazz should focus on the future. The luxury tax is not a "minor" consideration. It is easy for us to sit back and spend millions of their dollars, but they need to be responsible as a team and a business.

WE need Millsap | 8:55 a.m. July 8, 2009

but at 5-6 mil a year,move AK to the 3 spot,and give Koufos and Fes a real shot this year.Have been hearing about all the "POTENTIAL" that miles has....4 years I`ve been hearing it....hummmmmmmm,how many championships...or games for that matter has "POTENTIAL" won?????

Miles | 9:02 a.m. July 8, 2009

I am not focused on the luxury tax. Not my money that Kevin is spending. I am focusing on winning a championship and we need Boozer, Millsap, AK, Williams and Okur to do so. It's up to those 5 players to commit themselves to defend the basket if they want a ring. Don't give me the, "we are too short" theory. Those five are plenty capable of winning a championship with the role players around them. Tired of the excuses. Earn your money or go find a different profession.

Here's an idea.... | 9:06 a.m. July 8, 2009

...why not give Boozer's salary to Milsap and Booz can have Milsap's salary? As far as productivity and desire and heart, Milsap deserves that money WAY more than Booz.

Anonymous | 9:12 a.m. July 8, 2009

Boozer and Harpring to Detroit for Hamilton and Valenuava. Harpring will be bought out. We can then resign him for the vet minimum. The salaries match the 75% rule, and gets us under the cap to re-sign Milsap. Also, would make us a much better team. Finally have a gaurd that can shoot coming off screens like Hornaceck used to do.

Anonymous | 9:14 a.m. July 8, 2009

Just so everyone knows the value of AK - over the last 5 seasons combined the Jazz played 9635 minutes with AK on the Bench - during that time the Jazz were outscored by 382 points. So pretty much with AK on the bench we are the Clippers. When AK has been on the floor the Jazz have outscored their opponents by 833 points.

I know he does not put up the points and rebound numbers that everyone here loves, but he plays defense - When AK is on the court the opponents score 3.27 less points per 100 possession. While when Boozer is on the court the opponents score 4.39 more points per 100 possessions.

The Number say that AK has been the most valuable player over the last 5 years - not Memo or Booze.

Millsap needs to be resigned. The Jazz need to trade Boozer for what ever they can get as long as they only get about 75% of the value

Miles | 9:14 a.m. July 8, 2009

As this talk over a sub. Millsap does not demand the kind of money his agent is seeking. Kevin don't be dumb and give this guy a load of money. Millsap is NOT a team changer. He can not score and can't defend bigger PF's. He is a hustle player who can get lots of trash and is great to have on the team but if he leaves we will survive. Replacing Boozer is much more difficult due to our need for someone to be a post scorer.

THE Plan | 9:21 a.m. July 8, 2009

Utah needs to offer Millsap a 5 year $37 million contract ($6, $7, $8, $8, $8 - last year being player option). If he doesn't take it, then we just wait and see what he gets on the open market then match.

Utah needs to be very patient trading Boozer. The right deal is out there, but we can't just jump on a Rip for Boozer deal because that is a bad financial move for us. I'd rather trade him sooner than later, but we have to be patient.

Utah has to trade AK ASAP. He no longer fits on this team. He's a PF who will never be a PF in our system. At SF, he can't guard the athletic wings anymore. Millsap is our PF of the future. Trade AK now so we don't have to pay him $18 million next year. Let's start the future next year instead of paying the guy mad money. I would have taken the TMac for AK and Harpring deal. There are deals out there and we have the expirings to make something happen (Harp and Korver).

@diehard | 9:22 a.m. July 8, 2009

Actually I think the Jazz will continue to be a playoff team. They will get enough talent and stay just below the tax.

Sloan is a very experienced coach. I find some of his philosophies irritating but he is good enough to make the playoffs most of the time. I am not sure when he will retire.

The issue is not the Jazz imploding. It is the Jazz seizing the opportunity to challenge LA and SA for a title.

Can the Jazz embrace and manage change? The economic environment is shifting. That requires a different strategy. Continuity is not a good strategy. The game is changing and the skills required to win are changing.

The teams who have won lately have made very smart radical roster changes (BOS, LA, SA, CLE). The Jazz are going to have to make more roster changes more often. Sloan will have to adapt to that.

Nanuk | 9:27 a.m. July 8, 2009

As I said a couple weeks ago, Millsap needs a new agent. Two weeks ago, he was comparing his client to Elton Brand. Now, the only offer Paul has is the Jazz's $1M. Paul, I'd be happy to serve as your agent when you get sick of your greedy uncle.

We all love Paul, and would love to have him back with the Jazz, but he's no Elton Brand. He's worth the mid-level exception at this point. If his agent/uncle is so confident that he's worth more, then where are the offers?

This season will be a good one for the jazz, because Boozer, Korver, Brewer, and Harpring are all in contract years. Next summer will be good because we'll have the cap room to go after a solid free agent or two.

AK (unfortunately) is not going anywhere until at least 2010-2011 when we can dangle his expiring contract as trade bait. His contract is our albatross. Once we are free of his contract, we'll have a chance to be competitive again.

CJ3 | 10:03 a.m. July 8, 2009

"The Jazz's effort to trade Kirilenko and Boozer"

What a bunch of hooey, Buckley.

By all accounts it was Houston with the effort to trade McGrady, not the Jazz to move AK.

Sources, or speculation?

Clearly speculation.

What the Jazz HAVE said is that they are prepared to pay the luxury tax to the tune of 12-15 million, for one year.

Obviously, that is indicative of trying to make a run with the current group...something everyone wanted for last season.

The trade talk is being fueled by hater-fans and supplimented with silly statement like the one that opened this article.

John Wicks | 10:24 a.m. July 8, 2009

If on opening night C.J. is starting then that will be the last game I attend and I have season tickets. You don't pay someone 16 mil to bring him off the bench. Either start A.K. or trade him.

Aaron | 10:57 a.m. July 8, 2009

Hey John if you have already PAID for season tickets the Jazz don't really care if you don't use them. Throw em my way if you want after they start CJ I would love to go in your place for free of course.

Blauch | 11:15 a.m. July 8, 2009

The 1 million one year deal is only out there so the Jazz maintain Millsap as a restricted free agent.

The Jazz have verbally offered Millsap a contract (somewhere around 5 years 35 million starting at 6 million first year and ending at 8 million the 5th year) in the negation. The Agent said he wants 10 million - starting at 8 and ending at 12 million a year. The Jazz said go to the open market and see if you can do better. They also said publicly they will match any offer. OKC have talked to Millsap about offering between 5 and 9 million, but Millsap's camp is telling them that the Jazz will match that offer and unless they go to 10 million a year. After no offer comes in at 10 million a year Millsap agent will say if you don't go higher, we will take the 1 year deal - and Millsap will be a unrestricted free agent - you will lose him.

Hopefully if Millsap is not bluffing, the Jazz will come up to 5 years 40 to 45 million. This keeps for 5 years instead of letting him hit free agency next offseason

Houdini | 11:20 a.m. July 8, 2009

miles would not be a starter on any other team,maybe the Clippers..the numbers don`t lie...shooting %,rebounds and assists,miles 45.9,2.3,1.5,Korver 43.8,3.3,1.8 Brewer 50.9,3.7,2.2,Ronnie B has the best shooting % of any of our starters! and he`s such a terrible shot??? yes lots of his points are going right at the hoop...they all count the same! miles has the worst numbers,come-on miles...spin the numbers....again

ctjazz fan | 11:23 a.m. July 8, 2009

dont forget jazz fans we were the most injury prone team west of washington if we were healthy last year we would of won 55-60 games give this team a chance!

Anonymous | 11:28 a.m. July 8, 2009

Boozer for Rip Hamilton is good one. Rip will not play well along side with Ben Gordon. He is a lot like Iverson.

Hey John - | 11:30 a.m. July 8, 2009

I'll up Aaron's offer and give you 75% of the value of your tickets, just like the Jazz should be happy if they could get rid of Boozer for 75 cents on the dollar.

Answer | 11:45 a.m. July 8, 2009

If Millsap takes the qualifying offer the Jazz have all year to work on a contract and are also in a position to trade Boozer.

Millsap's worth at that point is determined by production, injuries and who the Jazz get for Boozer.

I think more than the mle is to much for Millsap at this point. He is not the PF of the Jazz future and should not be view as the future.

The Jazz need a better PF than Boozer and for less money. That will take time but is possible in this market.

AK is more important than his current stats suggest. There are several metrics that measure a players overall worth that indicate he may be the best player the Jazz have. I do not think he is worth 17 Mill. I do think what he does for the team can be replaced for less money but it will take changes at more than one position.

The AK and Boozer trades determine if the Jazz will get a championship in the next 5 years.

Millsap is a role player not a franchise player. If he goes he is replaceable for less.

Landry got 3 Mill.

Landry | 11:51 a.m. July 8, 2009

If the Jazz were to trade for Landry who makes 3 mill he would put up numbers similar to Millsap's in the Jazz system. The system makes Boozer and Millsap look better than they are. They will not play as well in most other systems.

Millsap is replaceable and maybe should be replaced by a taller, quicker, more athletic PF.

What position does Josh Duncan play?

The Truth | 12:18 p.m. July 8, 2009

is, that there are not enough of those 7 foot tall biological freaks to go around. If there were, every team would have one...........If any of you know of one available at a fire sale price, THEN GO GET HIM!!....Good luck......At 6'9" Boozer does better than most. TRADE HIM AWAY.......then show me what you've got left.

John Wicks | 12:29 p.m. July 8, 2009

Aaron you would love the tickets. They are 2 rows right behind the coach. He can be pretty amusing and vocal at times.

sign and trade | 12:37 p.m. July 8, 2009

Sign Millsap to 5 year 30 mil and trade him for a first round pick next year.

What do you think? I like Milsap's hustle and feel he can contribute to the team but this would keep the team from going over the salary cap "much" and also retain his value.

crf | 1:34 p.m. July 8, 2009

Houdini....A SHOOTING GUARD needs to be able to hit a 3 ball in this league. Brewer is a ROLE PLAYER not a starter for this reason. He should come in on special situations at 2 & 3.
Boozer for Hamilton trade needs to happen unless we can get Tayshaun Prince instead. AK & Harpring for T-mac needs to happen as well if the Jazz in being "patient" don't find a better deal. T-macs expiring contract & losing AK & Harp makes it more than worth it. Anything T-mac gives us for one year is a bonus. Sign Price for 1.2 million. Sign Millsap when no other team offers him anything to the 5 year 37 million deal that "The PLAN" came up with.
Our line up when T-mac can play would be:
1-Williams
2-Hamilton
3-McGrady
4-Millsap
5-Memo

This makes us have a better rounded team at the positions. Good starting line-up, a lot of mediocre back-ups that we would have to be willing to give playing time to mold. We free up 23.2 million next year w/T-Macs contract.

CJ Miles | 1:44 p.m. July 8, 2009

I have defended Miles on multiple accounts...because I for one actually like him and think he has tremendous upside. And though he doesn't rebound or assist too much, he is 2nd in FT% and 3rd in 3pt%...two things the jazz desperately need. And his defense isn't horrible, but he is a liability with athletic 3's such as Lebron, kobe, peirce or guys like that...but which defenders can stop them anyway. I wouldn't mind having Raja Bell back to defend them, but that won't happen. Also MIles averaged almost 10 points/game, which isn't bad since he's only a role player.

But I do agree AK should be starting...not only because he is better but we're paying him big money.

I'm not opposed to a Boozer - Hamilton swap, because I think Hamilton could bring some much needed leadership to our team. I'd also like to see a Harpring & Miles/AK trade for Raja bell and maybe diaw/okafor.

As long as Deron is on the team, the jazz will always contend. Put some guys who wanna win around him!

proposed trade | 1:59 p.m. July 8, 2009

AK & Boozer and future first round pick (not NY)

for

Richard Hamilton & Tayshaun Prince

starting lineup:

1-Williams
2-Hamilton
3-Prince
4-Milsap
5-Okur

Backups:
1-Maynor/Price
2-Brewer/Korver
3-Miles/Harpring
4-Koufos/Suton
5-Koufos/Fez

Not bad....except we would become extremely week inside...but that could be something we address through free agency (maybe Drew Gooden or Leon Powe or Zaza Puchila or Jamal Magloire or Channing Frye or Sean May or Shelden Williams for mid-level) or next years NY pick.

Also our Defense, Leadership would become extremely better. Just a thought.

Psuedohoax | 3:09 p.m. July 8, 2009

If Andrei just PLAYED - up to his potential and his pay grade, then it wouldn't matter which guy we had at the power forward!

And no, coach Sloan, you may not start CJ any more. It didn't work - at all. AK could be lined up to have a great year, if he wants to. Harpring's minutes are there for the taking. And the Jazz practice facility has a fantastic weight room, I'm certain. You should check it out some time Andrei.

Dallas | 3:38 p.m. July 8, 2009

DJ,

What Milsap has proved is he's better than Loozer. He plays defense hard and get points without even having plays called for him. If LOOZER had the amount of plays Milsap gets called he's get four points each game.

Milsap would score 20+ as the leader. So, 10M is a bargain compared to LOOZER, NO DEFENSE, NO HEART, and NO GAME.

There is a good reason no other team wanted LOOZER. There is a reason he sat the bench for the USA. There is a reason Cleveland didn't want him. There is a reason every basketball fan in UTAH knows he's a LOOZER, BUT 1320, BECAUSE THEY NEED RATINGS. LOCKE knows this is going to kill the JAZZ, but he can't publicly say that or he'll get fired.

Wakeup Jazz Fans | 3:59 p.m. July 8, 2009

I'm sick of hearing all this crap about how the JAZZ were so injured all year. The team was healthy in the playoffs and were soft, weak, and terrible. The same team will be soft, weak, and terrible this year. If Milsap doesn't sign they'll be weaker, softer, and a lottery team.

BOOZER =SELFISH and SOFT
BREWER =CAN'T SHOT
AK =WASHED UP AND PHYSICALLY WEAK
FEZ =SPAIN MAYBE
HARP = OLD
OKUR =NEEDS TO STAY INSIDE MORE AND WORK HARDER

TOTAL = LOTTERY

Re Dallas | 4:08 p.m. July 8, 2009

You must wear a size 2 hat if you think you speak for every basketball fan in UTAH!!

BigJazzFan | 5:58 p.m. July 8, 2009

Millsap is ROLE player,

do NOT give millsap STAR money!

The idiocy of the jazz management have done that far too many times,

hurting the team financially making hard for them to make moves or trades,

and sticking the team with overpaid, overvalued, long-term contracted mediocre players, and players with incomplete talent(that have only one or two skills, or are limited physically or talent-wise),

basically over paying for players that are NOT stars and can NOT help you win championships but perhaps only as role players or bench players.

The jazz hvae only one ligitmate star on the team, Deron wlliam, he is the only one that should be getting any sort of "STAR" like contract.

Okur, AK, brewer, millsap would be best of the role players or bench players,

boozer is just a complete waste of money.

which means to win championship the jazz stil need legimate stars in the 2 and/or 3 positions,

and legimate dominant big men.

Otherwise, it just more winning 45 or 50 games and losing again in playoffs, and no real shot at a championship, no matter how hard you wish an' hope.

todd to wakeup fans | 6:21 p.m. July 8, 2009

they are incapable of waking up, reminds me of longer sleep patters than Yogi uses every winter at jellystone...

That is fine. I will root for the players that play and the colors and as a "team guy" even to Sloan and his "sloanaholics"

remember this, when it all goes wrong, what I have said about Sloan and others will quadruple as will letters and calls to the front office

This year it is too late, if does not dramatically change next summer, expect rebuilding and attendance plummeting like Sacramento/. People have short memory. In early years here it was 8,10k a game

JazzSpazz | 6:49 p.m. July 8, 2009

Looks like the Spurs signed Antonio McDyess today. The bad news is that this strengthens the Spurs front court somewhat. Even though McDyess is definitely past his prime, he ought to be a solid backup for Duncan in limited minutes.

The good news is that the Pistons were trying to hold on to him. They have now lost two key components of their front court to free agency (Rasheed Wallace and now McDyess). Translation: they may be more interested in a trade for Boozer now. Got my fingers crossed!

CJ3 | 7:25 p.m. July 8, 2009

Man, JW, I sure hope your first comment wasn't a jab at me...my first 2 initials happen to be CJ. lol

Gotta give Miles a chance, he's very young still. If he does start it should be a switch with Brewer at the 2, not the 3-spot.

Rip is no leader, btw, the rest of you. He did nothing but complain when Detroit was in the dumps last season.

Shaybo | 8:22 p.m. July 8, 2009

Keep the team we have and we'll be in the drivers seat next year. Do not trade for Marrion, he's boring and not that good.

Ferrari | 8:28 p.m. July 8, 2009

I think we need to get a 2 guard that can shoot rip is not the solution I think we should try to trade ak for teshong. I also think we need a center who plays defense not shoots threes. I also think boozer will play better when he comes back next year and we shouldn't overpay paul. Hes a good player and I think he would be a good fifth man

POR targets Millsap | 10:04 p.m. July 8, 2009

The latest rumor is POR preparing a toxic offer for Millsap. Millsap would be a high paid back up at POR.

It may be time to rethink the PF position at Utah. Millsap is not the future of the Jazz and neither is Boozer. It might be time to go find and get the right young PF. Maybe 6' 10" + and athletic with an attitude.

KOC will earn his money on this one. He will also decide if the Jazz are contenders or losers for the next 5 years.

Koufos may be the back up | 10:11 p.m. July 8, 2009

PF if Millsap goes to POR. Who is going to be the back up C? Fez? Suton?

The Jazz need to find a young athletic promising PF and trade Harp for him.

The Jazz have got to do a better job of drafting. They need to be more aggressive. They also need to replace role players a lot more rapidly. They hang on too and over pay to many players.

Can the Jazz Euro's play back up PF or C?

Looks like. . . | 10:16 p.m. July 8, 2009

. . . it's going to be the same team, only it will cost about $30 million more for another first round exit. Oh well, don't say I didn't see this coming.

CJ3 | 10:24 p.m. July 8, 2009

The Jazz have a history of drafting very well, even while making the playoffs nearly every year. Stockton? Malone?

Draft picks.

Deron Williams, Paul Millsap, Ronnie Brewer (top ten in steals), although he is being utilized incorrectly, in my opinion. Kosta Koufos fell into our collective lap. He will be a solid player, with all those athletic gifts, court smarts, and a work ethic reportedly rivaled by only the best.

We're OK, Jazz fans. Don't get all worked up by sensationalized reports and opinions.

If POR get Millsap | 10:28 p.m. July 8, 2009

forget about trading Boozer to DET. The Jazz will have to trade Boozer for a PF. Or if they let Millsap go they could go after Odom in LA who is far from signing with LA. Then they can trade Boozer for an SG and relief.

That would destroy LA (along with adding Artest). It might improve the Jazz. Is Odom better than Boozer in the Jazz system?

Harp would be available to get cap relief and maybe a back up player.

Lets see if POR actually coughs up a big offer for Millsap to play back up.

The Jazz are then free to make some moves that may get the PF of the future.

Page:
1
2
Next >

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.