Deseret News | Jazz brass debate Millsap match

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Jazz brass debate Millsap match

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adonis r. alf. | 4:52 a.m. July 11, 2009

we need to change sloan to J. Hornacek,let C.Boozer go, dont let millsap go, and especially don't over looked Ak, he does anything that no other player in NBA can do! I mean his defensive skill?

Mark in Virginia | 5:09 a.m. July 11, 2009

Jazz need to get rid of Sloan -- we need a dynamic coach who can relate to today's players. No knock on Jerry -- we just need a new vision and approach.

Eye Dee Ten Tee | 5:10 a.m. July 11, 2009

Congratulations to Mr. Milsap. His hard work is paying off. If more NBA players earned their success instead of whining for it the game would be a lot more fun to watch. Best of luck in Portland. Tell Greg Oden's knees hello for us.

Comments continue below

K-Dog | 5:42 a.m. July 11, 2009

Please do not sign Milsap. He's a great backup. But that kind of money for a guy who can't shoot out sid of 5 feet is ridiculous especially for a 6'6" post player who stuggled against the taller lakers. Get Odom. He's taller and can shoot. Without Okur against the Lakers the Jazz had no one who could shoot.

MK | 5:44 a.m. July 11, 2009

This is the business aspect of the game...

Testing the market. Jazz were right to see what someone would pay for Millsap. Jazz have the right to match any offer.

Utah offers 7 per...then Portland offers 9 per and we have to match the 9 per.

Portland offers 8 and we match it. I don't think you want to get in a bidding war with Portland.

I think this is all junk to leverage trade pressure with Boozer.

NBA Expert | 5:53 a.m. July 11, 2009

Is an NBA player really "worth" $8 million a year? Millsap is a good player, but come on. His agents act as if he is God's gift to the basketball world. I hope the Jazz are able to match the offer, and dump Boozer. However, the words of Millsap's agents also makes me question his loyalty to the organization that gave him a chance. It amazes me that players can hardly show loyalty in the NBA. Too bad there aren't more guys like John Stockton, who played the game because he loved it, and had a great deal of loyalty to the team that made him a millionaire.

O co chodzi? | 5:58 a.m. July 11, 2009

Hey Know Your Enemy, you wanna get REALLY technical? Then start spelling Joel's name, "Przybyła" with the Polish "ł", because that's how it should be spelled before it was Americanized. "Jazz Fans" can spell it however they want, cool?

lagirl | 6:22 a.m. July 11, 2009

I am a huge Jazz fan,only because of paul millsap,williams,and okur.If they let millsap get away,what will they have? NOTHING! So wise up Utah and match the offer! Get rid of Boozer, get rid of the whole team, but don't let millsap get away!

C | 6:29 a.m. July 11, 2009

Why the antagonism from Millsap's agent? He knows the situation the Jazz are in with Booz and Memo staying. The Jazz are obviously very keen to keep Millsap, otherwise they wouldn't be working so hard to move Boozer. Why muddy the waters by making things personal? Seems a little unprofessional to me.

Beaver Bob | 6:48 a.m. July 11, 2009

this whole mess is the Jazz's own stupidity. It started back when they gave AK $16 mill. What the hey were they thinking. The Jazz really stil doesn't get it. We need a true center and nothing else. Next year will be a great free agent year but we have to dump Boozer and AK. We need to go shopping period the end. We signed CJ to a multi year so you better play him KOC. Where you gonna play him though. How about in AK's spot. duh.

CJ3 Re: Undestanding | 7:12 a.m. July 11, 2009

Actually, the Jazz offense was 8th last season, not 4th, down from 1st a year ago, and 3rd the year before.

Even while Wiliams, Okur, Brewer, and Millsap all had their best season's offensively, that's a pretty big drop-off, from elite offense to middle-of-the-playoff-pack.

Jason | 7:19 a.m. July 11, 2009

Let Millsap take the money, and put Portland in a bad spot trying to sign all their youngster over then next few years. Millsap is great, but he is similar to Malek Rose from a few years ago, who was an undersized PF that played with hustle and heart and everybody in San Antonio loved him. But his body only lasted about 4-5 yrs playing like that, and the same will happen to Paul, he already has 2 hard years of wear.

Utah can pick up LaMarcus Aldridge in a year or two as Portland struggles with the cap and the Jazz will end up with the better end of this exchange.

Everybody know Korilenko is over paid and can not be traded, but he puts up much better numbers at PF then he does at SF, so trade Boozer for an above average wing player and play Korilendo at PF. If the Jazz do this they will do just fine this year plus be in better position in future years to do something.

louisiana jazz man | 7:20 a.m. July 11, 2009

boz 12 mil okur 10 mil klinko 16 mil harpering 5 mil korver 4 or 5 caint remember. but millsap not worth 8? only player other than millie on the team, is williams. 8 mil is huge bargin. without him next year jazz will be hearing a lot of boooooooos not for boz either. think there will be a trade from portland to jazz. boz end up in portland for 1 year. jazz get millie and player making about 4 mil.

GoodGuyGary | 7:51 a.m. July 11, 2009

Millsap should not worth 9M and witht he front loaded bonus, I think Jazz may let him go.

AK can start as PF and he can get 18 pts, 8 board, 3 blk, 3 stl, and 4 ast a game. He is locked for the payroll, why not?

Then we can trade Boozer for Tyrus Thomas and a SG. This can be done.

AK, time for you to shine!

KC | 8:04 a.m. July 11, 2009

Boozer has done nothing for the Jazz other than be the highest paid player in its history per game played. There's a reason he changed his mind and didn't opt out, and it's not because he wants to play here. The Jazz have got to find a way to get rid of him. The offer to Millsap is really high for a Portland bench player, but I think in the long run the Jazz will be much better off doing what they can to keep him. A nucleus of Williams, Millsap, and hmmm Rip Hamilton would be sweet! Then the next big task will be to somehow trade AK. Sorry AK, but you're too injury prone and you don't have the fire in your belly anymore.

Craig | 8:09 a.m. July 11, 2009

Let him go, the money is to high and he does not want to be here. Brandon Bass, a comparable player just signed a contract for much less money.

BuckeyUt | 8:11 a.m. July 11, 2009

So Milsap is getting the money that he deserves. Bass just signed with the Magic and he is going to probably go from a bench role to a starting role. Averaged 8 pts and 5 rebounds for 19 minutes a game about 50% of Milsap's numbers when he was starting. So putting that in a starters role, their stats are about even.

Bass signed for $4 million a year and will probably start. Milsap is getting twice that amount and will be getting bench minutes backing up Aldredge. This is an offer that a Paul Allen team can only offer.

Milsap's uncle says the Jazz didn't value Paul like other teams did. Who are these 'other' teams...OKC? Never really a consideration so it sounds to me it was only Portland that had an interest. I hope Greg and KOC decided this from the head and not the heart. AK all over again and look what that has gotten the Jazz into...prison.

ed in az | 8:17 a.m. July 11, 2009

Does anybody really know how good (or not so good) Koufos is? Basketball guys like O'connor and Sloan do. Seems to me that Kosta is a natural NBA PF and can at the very least be 85% of the defensive player that Paul is and is a slighty better offensive threat. So assuming we have to say goodbye to 'Sap, all is not lost.. We'll still be 3rd or 4th best team in the West. Dallas got worse and Houston fell off the table.. Remember, the Jazz economics are based on the car business. Who's bought a car lately?

Nevada fan | 8:18 a.m. July 11, 2009

Don't sign him! Get a tough center to defend the rim. Move Okur to pf and sign Thomas for defense, and go after Rip. Paul is not worth the contract, the Jazz can get a better player or players. They should have learned a lesson with AK

Anonymous | 8:26 a.m. July 11, 2009

The "toxic" Portland offer seems to me to just create tax nightmares for Milsap.. That huge chunk of front end cash spends about thirty minutes in his account and then is sent on to the tax man. Makes his agent rich not him.

ignore small | 8:28 a.m. July 11, 2009

Please talk about buying Odom now.

Grover | 8:29 a.m. July 11, 2009

Face it. The problem is not Milsap, it's Boozer. It is karma for doing the same trick to get Boozer from Cleveland to begin with. Give Boozer away for anything...he go next year anyway. The fans will not put up with him for a last hurrah anyway. Package him with O'Connor for a new coach.

AK is the problem | 8:29 a.m. July 11, 2009

AK is the reason we are in this mess. If we had made that Marion for AK trade a few years ago, we'd be fine. If we would have done the TMac for AK trade, we'd feel a lot better about this year and next.

If we trade Boozer, we have to include AK. If we do that, we can probably take back less and save up to $6 million.

I agree | 8:29 a.m. July 11, 2009

BUY ODOM NOW!!!!

Jazzyfanny | 8:38 a.m. July 11, 2009

Utah does not undervalue Milsap. What a load of rubbish! It is not a matter of undervaluing, but, rather, a matter of overextending.

In short, Milsap is not undervalued, Utah is overextended.

Seriously? | 8:42 a.m. July 11, 2009

That clown Vartanian should go buy himself a 3 Musketeers bar and think about what idiotic statement he can make to top his idiotic statements to date. The Jazz have made re-signing Millsap their obvious priority for a full year now and are trying to move heaven and earth to match Portland's offer and give him a feature role as a starter on their team. As bad as the scumbag high-profile agents are, these gravy-training uncle/agent types are no better.

I hate it | 8:55 a.m. July 11, 2009

KOC...You have been JOBBED.......Pritchard has bent you over backwards and Portland wins however it plays out. We loose an All-Star PF we keep a 6'6" player thats not going to prove out to be what you think he is. The albatross contract of Kirilenko is still hanging around your neck and Portland gets better while we get worse!

Don't go over | 9:03 a.m. July 11, 2009

If keeping Milsap means paying the luxery tax than I'd say don't do it. If they can make some room for him under the cap. The Jazz have to do what makes since financially. Period. If the Jazz go over the cap than the Jazz would by far have the highest paying NBA roster and no possibility at an NBA championship.

Miles | 9:09 a.m. July 11, 2009

Millsap will be an average player in Portland. Roy runs that team and the ball goes through him not the PF like in Utah. Within a year, the Blazers will be trying to move Paul. He just wrote himself off into basketball junkyard. You won't hear his name in the future. LaMarcus will get the bulk of the minutes. All Paul had to do is stay in Utah and wait for Boozer to be traded and he would have made a name for himself.

Matt | 9:21 a.m. July 11, 2009

See ya Paul. It's not even a debate that we have to let him go at that price. Bottom line is he is a role player and Portland just paid more than the market was willing to pay. That was a bad move on the blazers part and we can find somebody that does what Paul Milsap does for a 1/3 of the money.

If we match, I will be disappointed.

Gus | 9:23 a.m. July 11, 2009

Even though his defense is sub-par, I really think the Jazz and Jazz fans are going to miss Boozer if he leaves. If you've ever played on a b-ball team, you know that having a guy who can consistently score 20-30 points/night in invaluable. The Jazz are not ready to let Boozer go and Millsap might not be the real deal.

Michael | 9:26 a.m. July 11, 2009

It was fun while it lasted. See ya twice a year.

REMEMBER WHEN | 9:37 a.m. July 11, 2009

IN 2003 the Jazz drafted a point guard Named Mo Willaims he was a heck of a player for being the 48th pick. But the Jazz failed to match an offer to him. In 2005 the Jazz got the Real WILLIAMS yeah D-will. Next year we got Draft picks to pick up a better PF.
Nah NAh Nah Nah goodbye milsap. Hey Milsap the Jazz gave you a chance Jerry put his trust in you and gave you a chance, Thanks for screwing us.

My Feathers Are Ruffled | 9:41 a.m. July 11, 2009

You so-called fans with your trade and pay scenario's are ridiculous! Don't you think this management knows who's available and where they are financially? I would bet that 90% of the commentors on this web site never invest one dime in this team through tickets or junk team items. Some of you tech freaks must not have any kind of a life other than this stupid internet junk. Do any of you do anything other than sit behind your computer? It amazes me how technology has brought us so many intellects. Get a life besides living on a computer because all of your ranting and crying won't change a thing. Why not spend some time with your kids, parents or friends? And by the way how is your house? Is it in order?

CJ3 | 9:42 a.m. July 11, 2009

What's buggin' me most right this minute is the way Pritchard is dictating the Jazz's future at the 4 spot.

Seems like he desperately wants to break up Utah's one-two punch of Boozer and Millsap, one of two matchups where the Jazz have an advantage on Portland, PG being the other.

Milsap is great. | 9:45 a.m. July 11, 2009

Don't match, don't match, don't match. I can't believe that Portland wants to pay a backup 9 million a year. Well, let them have him, when they are paying max contracts to Aldridge, Roy, Oden and close to it for others, then we can laugh because they are paying $9 mil in luxury tax for 'Sap.

let him go | 9:49 a.m. July 11, 2009

Great player, but not worth the price yet. If he'd rather back up Aldridge than start for us, let him do it.

whatever | 10:03 a.m. July 11, 2009

If Boozer had stayed healthy this year how much trash would Millsap's uncle be talking? He would take the $5m and be grateful. Millsap owes Boozer big time for showing that is pretty good.

Boozer is cancer. Seriously, trade him ASAP and let Millsap go too. Hopefully Millsap will enjoy his reduced playing time behind someone healthy.

Jazz, don't pull the triger. Make smart moves not ones where players get good on contract years.

DEAR MR MILLSAP, | 10:04 a.m. July 11, 2009

Don't pack your rain gear just yet; Portland doesn't really want you.

They know darn well they are overpaying for a positon they are already overloaded at, and have no intention of actually having to.

The real intention is to force Boozer out of the division, while at the same time dooming the Jazz to mediocrity and a barely-above-.500 record for the next couple years as their young core grows together.

As an added bonus Kevin Pritchard gets to use the offer to Millsap as a vague reminder to his young stars that no one is above him.

Pritchard has played the uneducated fan and Jazz brass alike, like a drum.

Anonymous | 10:04 a.m. July 11, 2009

I love hearing he's agent talk about how they feel disrespected bla bla bla. Of course the Jazz aren't going to make the first move. They are going to match. His agents don't have experience and take stuff personal, and that is hard to believe. It's a business. We are going to deal boozer, maybe not before the match, but sometime. I expect Millsap to be here next season, and for Booz to be gone. I just hope he doesn't take stuff personal, because come one the market price has to be set.

Just Me | 10:06 a.m. July 11, 2009

Dang it! I own a Paul jersey, now I guess ill use it to mow my lawn in or wash my car with it. Im glad its only a replica.

Jordanres | 10:10 a.m. July 11, 2009

Miles...Roy and Millsap wouldn't even be on the floor together very much. Roy's in the starting rotation. Millsap would backup LaMarcus. There will be some overlap, but not much.

The reason Portland wanted Millsap so much was that they don't really have a inside presence in their second unit. Oden will be much better this year and will probably start, so they don't have anyone on the inside to use as a scoring threat on their second unit. They have Rudy Fernandez, Travis Outlaw, Batum and maybe Bayless as slashers and shooters, but no low presence. Millsap changes that. It makes a lot of sense for them.

I'm good with letting Millsap go IF we can move Boozer AND get another low post presence. We still have a good core around Williams and there are still some pretty good SFs out there. If we move Boozer, we should go after Odom, who's a lot more versatile than Millsap anyway.

Woopie | 10:11 a.m. July 11, 2009

The first thing Greg Miller needs to do is fire most of Jazz Management for losing Millsap when they could ha renegotiated his contract last year but they go greedy and dumb. Then look hard at the sign and trade of Boozer for Lee at around $10 mil per year for 4 years. They might have to throw in the Knicks 1st round draft choice for next year.

CJ3 | 10:12 a.m. July 11, 2009

If all the talk about moving Boozer is serious, then yes, Paul made a mistake. If the Jazz really covet him as much as they say Millsap would've gotten about 2-4 million more by being patient.

The greed for the "now" has cost him in the long run.

A little judo philosophy... | 10:20 a.m. July 11, 2009

When your opponent is overly aggressive let them pay for it. Hate to state the obvious, but Portland just created a big problem for themselves down the road with this contract. Now if you think Paul Allen has all the money in the world and luxury tax has no meaning to him...then let's just see if they are still saying that a year or two down the road.

The jazz do have other options, even if boozer is traded and Millsap is not on the team. I am sorry there may be some characteristics that are similar to Barkley, but trying to equate Millsap to Barkley (as undersized PF's) is just plain silly. Look at the numbers, they don't lie...Millsap was very effective as a starter the first time around, but as scouting was able to narrow his tendancies down his effectiveness went way down and he wore out. Move forward, look at the team needs and try something different. We were undersized and unathletic last year...boozer and Millsap are not the answer in the state of the art NBA. For a front loaded $12 mill there has to be better options than Millsap.

Wassup | 10:27 a.m. July 11, 2009

What's this BS about the Jazz not valuing Paul as much as the Blazers? The problem is that it costs the Jazz double to keep Paul than what it would cost Portland. Duh!

Are his agents that dumb?

Miles | 10:30 a.m. July 11, 2009

Mo Williams is not that great. He plays in the weak Eastern conference with the best player in the world. I can make an open 3 if I played with LeBron.

page | 10:35 a.m. July 11, 2009

i agree with miles the Jazz style of play makes a average 4 look like a superstar. Look with our system an average pf. is going to look great, i will bet you that loser will never have the same success somewhere else. i will say the same about paul m.If i was a pf i would love to play for the Jazz it would be like playing QB for the Y back in the day. let him walk and in 2 years he will wish he never left. But i can't blame him he is sit for life.

CBT | 10:36 a.m. July 11, 2009

For that coin, let Sap go. As Portland is a division rival, we should stick them with Sap's contract so they have cap and other issues down the line. Flexibility is the name of the game these days unless you know you can win it today. Even with Sap, the Jazz can't win it, so let him walk and put that anchor around our division rival, Portland. It isn't that Portland is not good, it is that giving them less flexibility in the future and the Jazz more is a great thing. Let Sap walk, trade Booze, then see what happens next summer.

wow | 10:42 a.m. July 11, 2009

Jazz fans are stupid. Let's think logically here. Trade Boozer AK Miles and Price? Ok yeah that is about 35 million in cap space. To who? Golden State? Please. They were terrible last year. But I know! Let's trade our key players for their team! Good thinkin. Dumbass.

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