Reader comments
Utah Jazz: Trade rumors have Jazz discussing Boozer to Bulls

148 comments | Read story

STEVE-O | 7:37 p.m. July 9, 2009

I don't understand how 6'9" is "Undersized" but 6'10 or 6'11 is fine. Millsap beats out players that are a bit taller than him because he plays hard. An inch or two isn't that much of a difference in my book.

number1jazzfan | 7:45 p.m. July 9, 2009

koc must do this trade

Boozer's Scoring Wasn't Missed | 7:57 p.m. July 9, 2009

We didn't have a problem scoring when Boozer was out half the season we had a problem defending.

We need someone that can defend.

Comments continue below

Sesame Street | 7:58 p.m. July 9, 2009

O'Conner keeps his job and future decisions continue to give headaches to the fans. We might as well have Bert and Ernie on this one.

nick | 8:01 p.m. July 9, 2009

someone comment on my trade on page 1, its the best!!! I WANT TO KNOW YOUR OPINION

macnamara | 8:11 p.m. July 9, 2009

Sounds to me like Portland in trying to bend the Jazz over backwards. Making KOC take the lesser of evils. I'm not for getting pressured by anybody. Let em take their best shot and we'll deal with it!

REALLY??? | 8:17 p.m. July 9, 2009

ANYONE SEE THAT OKUR GOT 2 YEAR EXTENSION? I DID!!!! GO TO ESPN!

Nevada fan | 8:18 p.m. July 9, 2009

What is all the noise about Milsap. He was beat down against the Lakers and thats the team we have to beat. Don't get me wrong he is a hard and strong off the bench ,but thats all. So why give him a huge deal, and up like AK? MAKE THE TRADE,and dump AK get Kaman.

RE: nick | 8:21 p.m. July 9, 2009

that would never happen, the bulls won't trade all those players plus why would Portland give themselves Steve Blake

Miles | 8:32 p.m. July 9, 2009

News Update: Boozer hurts himself walking from car to restuarant. Can't pass physical and trade is voided. Out for season with broken toenail.

Miles | 8:38 p.m. July 9, 2009

Nick that was the worst idea I have ever seen posted on this site. Why would you give up CJ?

Dixie Dan | 8:47 p.m. July 9, 2009

Fools, keep Boozer. He is in his final salary year and will probably have his best year ever in his career so as to enhance his value next summer.

bill Dalew | 8:55 p.m. July 9, 2009

Thomas doesn't make sense. He's too similar to AK and Ronny Brewer in that he's an athletic guy that can't shoot. If the jazz are going to trade Boozer they better get a scorer. I would prefer somebody like John Salmons from Chicago in this deal. Unfortunately, after losing Ben Gordan I'm sure Chicago won't want to give him up. We don't want "upside". We have "upside" with CJ, and we've all seen how that's turning out. If your going to trade Boozer, get a proven player in return.

macnamara | 8:58 p.m. July 9, 2009

Sloan will tolerate Thomas about half way through the first practice and that'll be it!!

Prichard just said | 9:05 p.m. July 9, 2009

he is looking at all of his options including Millsap and is in no hurry. The extention for Okur is mixed in my book. Okur improved his inside game. However, in this economy he was replaceable. I think this signals that Boozer is going to be moved. I am not sure how soon or for what.

The Jazz are not worried about the lux tax or they would not have signed Okur. If the Jazz are to have any chance at all they have to have better defense at PF and that is not Millsap.

I was encouraged but now I am starting to doubt the wisdom and ability of this management to produce anything more than a 6th seed.

SA POR DAL are better. LA is about the same (Artest is a negative). DEN is about the same but they have the trade exemption for 9 mill and can get another great player. NO will fire sale before the end of this next season. HOU and PHO are in trouble.

The Jazz are delusional about continuity and doing little to get better or even under the luxury tax. However, they will probably be better than NO, HOU and PHO.

doc | 9:07 p.m. July 9, 2009

This 3 way trade all makes sense because the Jazz desperately want to keep Millsap, get rid of Boozer, acquire a defender and shot blocker, and acquire some cap relief.

The Bulls have been looking for that low post scorer for years, and the Blazers have long targeted Hinrich.

Now, there will have to be other players involved to satisfy league rules, but I could see Martell Webster coming to Utah because the Jazz liked him coming out of high school and the Blazers have a glut of players at the small forward/shooting guard position.

All in all, I like the basic proposed 3 way trade between the above teams. The Jazz get rid of someone who has worn thin on the organization and the fans; plus, they sign Millsap, and get some cap relief and acquire a defender, shot blocker, and a developing offensive talent.

Forget helping POR | 9:26 p.m. July 9, 2009

why not make a deal with NJ for Ryan Anderson and expiring contracts for Boozer. Maybe get an decent SG thrown in also as Anderson is cheap. They need a PF and have some young players who could really help the Jazz.

Or maybe work a deal with SAC for a big and releasable parts.

The Jazz will never be a contender until the get a top 5 defensive team and win on the road.

Resigning Okur and Millsap will not do that. Losing Boozer loses offense but also bad defense.

Go get some young good aggressive players who will play defense and score. Change the culture of this soft team. They never play defense except in the last 8 minutes.

Greg, KOC and Sloan have to put together a team that fixes those two problems. They also need more outside shooting and rebounding but defense and road attitude are the biggest problems.

Donald | 9:31 p.m. July 9, 2009

I like to read the post on here, but I think it is hilarious that some of you are proposing all these trade where we unload someone we do not want and the other team would give us a star like Bosh. Sweet dreams! What are you smoking there in Utah?

Anonymous | 9:54 p.m. July 9, 2009

I'm good with this trade if we can weasel Martell Webster or Rudy Fernandez out of Portland as part of it. That would make this a good trade. Otherwise, I fear we may be giving up too much and getting back too little. One of those two would help me feel better about this one...

jefe | 10:02 p.m. July 9, 2009

we'd still be too short to stop LA, Boston, San Antonio, Cleveland, Dallas, Orlando, etc. etc!!! We tried playing with two short centers and two short power forwards already -- it didn't work! why trade an incomplete player for another incomplete player? i don't understand the talk of dumping boozer for cap space. he's not the cap killer, it's AK!

jazzfizzle | 10:18 p.m. July 9, 2009

I say do it, what do you have to lose. If it doesn't work, we all know what eighth feel like. but if it does, then it will work out better for us. DO IT!

Okur | 10:27 p.m. July 9, 2009

has signed a 2 year extension. There is much that can be inferred.

1. The Jazz are not worried about the cap.

2. The do not seem to be worried about Millsap or they would have signed him first. Signing Okur first makes the Millsap negotiations more difficult.

3. They obviously felt Okur is the C for the next 3 years. That may get him to a better economy. He will be past his prime.

4. They do not think much of Koufos. The C was the one position they had bigs who could cover if Okur left.

5. Sloan plans on coaching for 3 more years. Okur is Sloan's hand picked C and Koufos and Suton have similar characteristics. The Jazz are committed to unconventional Cs and the Sloan system.

6. The Jazz will never get serious about defense. It will always just be talk and "fun and exciting".

7. The Jazz are not serious about making the team better. They plan to dump Boozer for cap relief and keep doing what they have been doing.

8. I am getting weary of this soap opera. The Jazz never change. They will never be a contender.

Anonymous | 10:33 p.m. July 9, 2009

I think the Jazz, or more properly the Larry H. Miller Group, are going into survival mode for the rest of the recession. Signing reasonably good players to relatively cheap contracts so that they will be a good enough team to compete for the playoffs. Going for a championship requires great players, not merely good cheap ones. Millsap and Okur fit that profile. Sad, but maybe this is what it takes to keep the Jazz in Utah.

If Boozer's gone! | 10:35 p.m. July 9, 2009

I can hardly wait to hear the crying and whining when fans in Jazzland finally realise just what they've lost!!

Jack | 10:37 p.m. July 9, 2009

Tyrus Thomas is AWESOME! I'll drop Booz for 2 blocks a game any day. I can't get rid of him fast enough. Mixed on the Okur situation, it is nice to have a big man that can step out and knock down a shot, but we would still need some bigger tougher defense down low. I think we need to do this trade, resign Milsap, and then pull Dikembe Mutombo out of retirement!

CJ3 | 10:41 p.m. July 9, 2009

Re Okur:

Disagree with #s 3,4,5,7 and 8.

Don't underestimate our guys. The ones on and off the court. ;-)

Tyrus Thomas | 11:26 p.m. July 9, 2009

You thought AK was a lightweight? Thomas is the same height and even lighter.

I guess if you are trading to get rid of salary that will work but other than that Thomas is a MASSIVE DOWNGRADE OF TALENT!!

We will go from a pretty good team to very average in a hurry without boozer on the offensive end.

The ultimate solution would have been to replace memo with a big interior defender who could cover for boozers defenive ineptness. Then you can defend enough and still have boozers offense. best of both worlds.

tyrus thomas--get ready to lose.....ALOT!!!

Blauch | 11:49 p.m. July 9, 2009

If Boozer plays this season in a Jazz uniform the Jazz cannot resign Millsap. Millsap is right now playing better basketball than Boozer.

The whole point of this move is to give get cap space and some value in with boozer. We don't want to take equal salaries. This allows the Jazz to resign Millsap, 7 million a year and we are a much better defensive team. Next move is trading Miles.

The radio, the fans just don't get it. Boozer and the Jazz never met to talk contract extentions. The Jazz did not play Boozer the last 4th quarter in the game against LA. Boozer is gone.

RickyBobby | 11:51 p.m. July 9, 2009

It is just talk but since it was brought up: IF we can get Prizbilla & Fernandez from POR and Thomas from CHI, POR gets Hinrich, CHI gets Boozer. Then get it in writting ASAP. OKUR IS NOT A CENTER, put him at PF and play him like DAL uses Dirk. (Try it on the ESPN trade machine; it works. Those 3 match boozers $ exactly) Make this happen then work a deal with GS that sends AK for Turiaf & Maggette or send him to NO for Chandler. GS has wanted AK for a while. Either one of these and we instantly are in the top 5 defensive area.

And for those worried about Thomas for Boozer; Boozer may average 20/10(when he plays), but he gave up that to whoever he was guarding. He is a true null player. I would take a guy that goes 11/7 with 2 steals and 2 blocks any day. Thomas will make people question going to the paint, something we havent had since AK lost his mind to those martians in Space Jam.
HAHA Shawn Bradley, Barkley & Ewing in the same group.

Thomas | 11:54 p.m. July 9, 2009

Tyrus Thomas is in the last year of his contract too so what is the point for trading him for Boozer. You are going to have an expiring contract at the end of the season no matter what.

Anonymous | 12:02 a.m. July 10, 2009

Ricky Bobby - THE JAZZ DO NOT WANT TO TAKE BACK EQUAL SALARIES. They want to resign Millsap. People need to stop looking at offensive stats. Millsap is the better player - he plays better defenese.

Time will tell | 12:07 a.m. July 10, 2009

Blazers get the unbalanced trade they seek while not signing Millsap away from them. Jazz have to want PM much more than Booz because of chemistry issues and the fact PM is much younger. I could see the Blazers trying to force a trade with either Chicago for Hinrich or Prince from Detroit.

If Portland gives an offer sheet to PM in the next 48 hours, no trade is happening and the Blazers are truly after Paul. If no offer sheet is extended... look for news of a multi team trade involving Portland, Utah and another team/teams.

jbra80 | 12:07 a.m. July 10, 2009

People just don't get it do they? Boozer needs to be traded. I don't care what type of season he has next year. He is a cancer to this team. Remember how high everyone was on the Jazz last year right up until Booz came back? And what happened after that? Boozer can have a great year next year and the jazz still aren't good enough to compete with the top teams, so get rid of this me-first/no defense playing/constantly screaming for no apparent reason/injury prone while we can. If he leaves after next year we get nothing in return but the same bad taste in our mouths that Cleveland fans have. This trade would essentially be a trade for Millsap, Thomas, and possibly a young wing from portland. I'll take that for Boozer any day. Don't forget that we still have other players we can move before deadline to complete team, Harpring's contract, Korver, and possibly still AK.

And Nick: That was a really awful trade proposal on the first page.

Utah's in no position to bargain | 12:16 a.m. July 10, 2009

Like it or not, the Jazz are in no position to bargain with Portland in keeping Paul Millsap. Portland can pay him, and force the Jazz to pay an additional near 9 million in tax. The Jazz are already over the cap by 3 mil, so KOC and company would be around 12 mil tax payers next year.

That's something they want no part of no matter how much you wish it were different.

The AK47 trade really hurt the Jazz cap. Booz will leave next year, and there will be many teams under the cap. In that scenario, Utah gets no compensation. In the Por/Chi deal they get roughly 8 mil in cap space and Tyrus Thomas. They also get to keep Millsap. If you're thinking the Jazz will get Pryzbilla, Rudy, Outlaw or anyone else, you're dreaming. Those players are too valuable, and Portland doesn't have to give them up to make Utah's life miserable. This is a power play by Portland. Either get involved in a sign and trade with us getting the player we want, or lose the player you want, and Boozer next season for no compensation.

Lets See the Benefits! | 12:33 a.m. July 10, 2009

Jazz want Millsap fairly cheap ($6 Mil) without bidding up against Portland. CHECK
Millsap wants to start, not back up Boozer. CHECK
Boozer wants out of Utah and the fans and organization want Boozer out of Utah. CHECK
Thomas will be a very solid back up to Millsap and provide some good defense in certain match ups. Being a 3rd year player, also has a LOT of Upside potential. CHECK
MOST IMPORTANTLY, This gets the Jazz down from the LUXURY TAX! Seems like a Genius trade when nobody predicted that was possible!
Go Jazz! P.S. Jazz fans love Ronnie Price and the energy he brings, start playing him more Sloan!

Roman | 1:33 a.m. July 10, 2009

We need Boozer big time (Bulls) it's gonna be much stronger and smarter team like never before, specially with Rose , i hope we get him. Go Bulls

THEeyepatch | 1:52 a.m. July 10, 2009

Without Booz, the Jazz don't make the 8th seed at best. Worst case, lottery pick.

Anonymous | 3:43 a.m. July 10, 2009

I think the best trade would have been AK for Tmac, AK's defense is fine and helps but the shots he throws up that rarely go in really hurt us offensively. Tmac's defense wouldn't be as great as AK's, but I think his scoring ability would more then make up for it, as long as he could share the ball.

CJ3 Re: Boozer's offense | 7:43 a.m. July 10, 2009

Boozer's offense wasn't missed?

Then maybe you can explain why the Jazz dropped to the 8th rated offense in the NBA, down from 1st and 3rd over the last 2 years when Boozer was healthy, even as Williams, Okur, Brewer, and Millsap all had their best offensive seasons yet.

THE SCORE | 8:41 a.m. July 10, 2009

0f the 89 post 88 want LOOZER gone. With those results we have 1 fooooool and LOCKE and his 1320 sheep who LOVE LOOZER. Those 1320 guys are so smart and EVERYONE else, so stupid.

LOOZER can score, when a smaller guy is guarding him. But one block, one charge, one defensive stop, one defensive try would be nice. LOOZER plays defense like he has 4 fouls. Not to memtion he's over paid.

Boozers Gone-Period! | 8:43 a.m. July 10, 2009

This poor excuse of a man, a malcontent that is nothing more than me, me, me has worn a Jazz uniform for the last time, thank god. Any trade that removes cancer from a team is a GOOD trade. As for A.K. if Houston has interest in him I would seriously consider anything they want even if they are in our same division. Don't forget to throw Miles in on one of these deals either. I'm getting stoked about a new look team. Go Jazz.

hey oo | 8:49 a.m. July 10, 2009

Shallow fans hold off the noise on Boozer. You know who you are. Jerry wants him back and Jerry is the coach. you are white noise

KOC calls people to save face and nothing more.

Trade Boozer or Okur to LA for Odom and make this season meaningful.

fortydam | 8:56 a.m. July 10, 2009

Getting Boozer off the books is the main goal here. It not only eliminates his salary, it takes money off the luxury tax! We made it to the playoffs without Boozer. He is a great scorer, but gives up 30 points a night in the paint. With the defensive stiff Okur extending his contract, we really can't afford both of these guys defending the basket. Millsap average 17 points and 17 rebounds before seriously hurting his knee. He continued to play through it, giving us a better well rounded option at the four. AK as bad as he has been was an all star at the four for us. Much better than a three. So keeping Okur tells me we really need interior help.

Dump Boozer for cap space, and or anything cheap to plug up the middle. Fez stinks, Almond stinks, Dump Matt he is way too old, sign Price, should have played him more last season. Collins yuck, but cheap! Play Kosta, Sign Millsap to 8-9 M five years.
And get ready to be bounced by all of the big teams, because this small market team, has been left behind again. Any big shot blockers?

The GLADiator | 9:10 a.m. July 10, 2009

Does anyone remember how good we are with a healthy Boozer? O.K. so he said he was going to opt out. He didn't! He's been injured. How is that a crime? He' not Karl Malone. Nobody is. Karl get a pass for all the stupid comments he made, so why is Carlos a pariah?. Is Thomas better than Boozer? We'll be sorry!!!

Chadders | 9:18 a.m. July 10, 2009

This is hilarious, so many of the same people that talk about defense is what is needed for a ring are the same ones that suggest we keep Boozer and get rid of Okur and AK. So let me get this straight instead of getting rid of the laziest defender, we drop the best backside defender in the league and and average defending Center? That will help us get better on Defense how? We could have a GREAT defensive team. Dwill is ok, Brewer is very good, AK can be great, Thomas is great, and Okur is ok when he isn't with Booz. Good luck scoring on that group.

Comments | 9:20 a.m. July 10, 2009

1. If you want Thomas you can get him for Harp's contract.

2. Boozer is worth a lot more and there is no hurry.

3. Millsap's defense is not good enough and his offense is no where near Boozer's. Both are a defensive liability. Millsap can't handle the tall athletic PFs any better than Boozer. He just gets more fouls trying.

4. The Jazz are in a great position to bargain. POR is not going to over pay Millsap. If they do it will hurt them.

5. The Jazz just sent a clear signal they are not worried about the salary cap by giving Okur a raise. They also sent a clear signal that they are not that worried about resigning Millsap or they would not have done the Okur signing at this time.

6. It will take more than 2 years to work out of this mess. Boozer has to be traded for real worth not just a dump.

7. There was no right FA out there to replace Boozer. A good trade is necessary. That takes time.

8. The Jazz keep talking about everyone back. I suspect Boozer would like to leave.

nick | 9:35 a.m. July 10, 2009

who do you think the jazz get then, they wont do the deal just for thomas. i see portland throwing in fernandez, batum, blake or prizbilla.its reported on radio stations chicago might include salmons and that would be huge for us if we got him and got rid of boozer and signed milsap

Apollo Sun | 9:38 a.m. July 10, 2009

Can someone explain to me one thing?!?

Where do the Jazz plan on playing Tyrus Thomas?

I like the guy. He is the defensive presence we need, can block, rebound... and, as people have pointed out, he has upside. BUT HE PLAYS AT POWER FORWARD!!!!
The whole point of the trade seems to be to move Boozer (a PF), to make salary space for Millsap (another PF). Considering Okur is more of a PF (in size and style) than he is a natural C. That would mean we have Millsap, Thomas and Okur all playing PF. Now those assuming that Millsap will start at PF, are grossly overvaluing him. He has been a good backup to Boozer, cos he has what Booz clearly doesn't... heart. BUT he is no all-star! He has limited offensive skill, is quite slow and is undersized (compared to say Gasol)

Apollo Sun | 9:39 a.m. July 10, 2009

My next question is CAN TYRUS THOMAS PLAY AT SF?

If people who have watched him more than me, can tell me that he would be able to, then this trade makes sense. If not, then we have a logjam of DECENT PF's, no real C, and no scoring threat other than DWill!

James | 9:53 a.m. July 10, 2009

Jazz get Thomas and Fernandez or Outlaw from portland. I'd prefer Rudy because he can score and would fit perfect in the Jazz system. Chicago gets Boozer who cares!!!!!! Jazz retain Milsap! Then do the Tmac for Ak trade by throwing in Harps contract because he might retire anyways. If jazz make some moves to better themselves like i know they will then the Utah Jazz will be the 1 team in the west that can take out lakers if they work hard. Denvers season was a 1 year fluke! Jazz will be back and healthy! Dwill makes players better so watch out HERE COMES THE JAZZ!!!!!!

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.