It's good to hear Williams is taking ownership of this team. I really hope he takes a five year deal. He has to know that as long as Miller is the owner, he is not going to let Williams go. I mean that in a way like he kept Stock and Malone around.

The rumers about Boozer, I don't even fret about. I am confident that if he went to Miami, the Jazz will not have as hard a time getting good players to come because they want to play with Williams. You see, Williams is the key to it all. Besides, It will be AK or Boozer. They can't keep three max players. At least if they want good role players around like Harpring and Korver.

Wow! D-will is special.

I'm not that concerned with Boozer leaving since Millsap can move into the power forward position. Millsap is tougher than Booze in the paint. My main concern is getting more production from the shooting guard spot.

A lot was made about passing up CP3 to draft D-Will. I do not think that Jazz fans will ever regret this draft decision. D-Will is a classy point guard and person. Thanks Jazz management for scouting potential players so that only the best of the best get to put on a Jazz uniform.

The 2 guard position is solid what with Brewer, Korver, Miles, Almond, and A.K. if needed. Its that center position that we need to shore up. A.K. or Boozer needs to go because we can't keep 3 players with Max contracts, I don't know what we will get in return but a contributor or an expiring contract will be just right. We are up against it with the NBA salary cap, but I know management will work it out. The only other thing we need is FAIR refereeing.

Even ESPN's Stephan A. Smith is coming around. He loudly criticized the Jazz for taking D-Will over Chris Paul. He now says there isn't a lot of difference between the two referring to Chris Paul as number 1 and D-Will as number 1-A.

D-Will has always been overlooked and proves people wrong. I'm glad Jazz management didn't overlook him.

I agree "IdahoJazzFan." The argument re: who is better between CP3 and DWill may go on for years. But the Jazz certainly came out a winner in terms of getting a franchise player that is committed to the organization.

And Deron has such a competitive fire, I don't think we need to worry about him signing a big contract and then slacking off. Pretty impressive that he moved to UT and cares enough about the team to be interested in the draft.

Give him the keys to the Ferrari and enjoy the ride. I say sign him to a max deal (unless he'll agree to take a bit less to sign FA's - including our own), get him involved in the draft, and have him stop by the RMR each year to instill some work ethic in the rookies (well, he can't this year due to the Olympics).

Boozer has not really shown he's clutch, so let him leave if he wants to go to Miami. Doesn't matter, with Deron dishing to them, Okur, Millsap or AK will pick up a lot of the offensive slack.

At what point does all this Miami coveting of Boozer become tampering under NBA rules? Pat Riley commenting on players under contract saying he has plans to sign him??? I am trying to recall another team that repeatedly dropped information to the press this often regarding signing an opposing teams player??? I am still drawing a blank??? The Heat ought to be fined big time.

As far as D-Will is concerned it appears he has plans to be here which is very positive news. D-Will can make alot of players better--besides Boozer. What was Boozer before he came here? He sure was not a 20 and 10 player. What changed? D-Will and Sloans offense, thats what.

Booz is not worth a 136 mil contract--if we can get him for a reasonable price then fine but he has shown his colors as far as what we can expect on defense.

Booz is dreaming in technicolor if he thinks he would be the same player without D-Will feeding him the ball like he does.

Booz will play hard this year because of his contract which should make him worth ALOT if we wanted to trade him. Things will work themselves out.

At this point, I don't think you can say enough good things regarding Deron Williams. Regarding Boozer though, I think it's a mistake to assume IF he were to go elsewhere, we would be as good as we are now.

Does he need to pick his game up, especially on defense? Yes. But unless the Jazz, in the process of letting him go, have another big time FA waiting to sign on, Jazz fans are going to wish they still had him.

I agree with another poster. The Jazz need a center, and I hope they let the young centers get some playing time this season. The Jazz, in my opinion, have as good a shot as anybody to win it all for the next few years, and I hope they don't mess with things too much. They really are pretty close I think.

Williams is a stud he deserves the max... I would love if the Jazz traded Boozer or Andre for a big man that could play D... With Milsap and Okur able to play the 4 we will be alright there. We can't pay all 3 Max money and Boozer will go where the money is. Neither Andre or Boozer is worth max money. If we lose Boozer we need an upgrade at the 2... A 2 for 1 would be nice trading a combination of Brewer, Miles, Almond, Collins, or Hart the latter have more value because of expiring contracts. Go Jazz!!!!!!!!!!!

I dont think that boozer will leave just to go to miami. he probably wont go to miami if d wade leaves and utah is alot closer to a championship than miami.

Welcome home DWill.

Okay Boozer haters wake up! You are probably the same idiots who insisted that we get rid of Karl Malone back in the day. Boozer is a fantastic player as the other coaches (2 all-star selections and a spot on a 12 man roster olympic team) seem to already know. You haters are always the same. If a guy has a bad playoff you want him gone. Boozer and Williams carried us two years ago against Houston or we would never have gotten past that round. Remember his game 7 he had somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 and 15!

Last year it was get rid of AK. After the playoffs it was get rid of Okur. This year it is Boozer. Who cares he is one of the few people on the planet who averaged over 20 and 10. "Milsaps better", "trade him for a center who can play defense" (do you have anyone in mind or are you just stupid?).

A low post scorer is hard to find. There are 25+ teams in this league who would trade their starting Power forward straight across for ours. Wake up and hope the Jazz can add the missing piece.

I'm not a Boozer hater, but I certainly see his poor defense as a liability and think the Jazz would be better off with a forward (perhaps Boozer himself) who scored 15 to 18 points a game and who spent as much energy and skill on the defensive end of the court as on the offensive end. I didn't want to get rid of Malone, either, until after the Jazz reached the finals for the last time. Then he drained off so much money and was such a black hole that the Jazz were unable to get any other good players to come here. Too many people saw Malone as more valuable to the Jazz than Stockton. If I had been a Jazz manager back then, I would have let Malone go elsewhere, and then used his salary on journeymen players who knew how to play defense. I'm willing to bet the team would have done better.

Well if Boozer is going to ask for more money , let him prove how much he is worth this year. As everyone thinks, he is not worth more money because of his play in last finals. If he becomes great player in Finals, next season, may be Jazz has to sign him for more money. Let his play next season speak. Same for AK. I think Millsap is due big raise next season, no brainer.

I agree with Utah Jazz 1.
It is hard to be a devoted fan to a team, you expect that the players are as devoted to that team as well, but to them it is really about the money. Wouldn't you take a better offer at another company in your job?
It is just hard when you feel this bond with the team, and they leave for more money or glory. I don't know if Boozer will head to Miami, the Jazz are a pretty good team but we'll see what he does.
As for Wiliams, I love D. Williams, this article makes him seem like he has more of that team loyalty and pride we assume players have. He's a great guy.

I like Boozer and I would hate to see him leave, but if he goes I think the Jazz would be just fine with Milsap, he may never be an all star but he hustles, plays d, and can score. Dollar per dollar he may be the best player in the league.

DWILL is the best!!!! Give him the max, and do it soon!

@ Rich

you are crazy. first of all Malone was an excellent defender and second he averaged 27 points and 10 rebounds while shooting over 50% from the field while Utah was playing for championships.

RAM was exactly right, the same idiots that insist the Jazz trade one of their best players every year because they had a couple of bad games are now calling for Boozer to go.

That being said, it is looking more and more like this will be Boozers last season with the Jazz. As much as I love Millsap I am not sure if he is really a starting calliber player on a championship team, I don't think he is.

I agree with what others have said about needing to get a solid backup center, Maybe Kosta or Fes will address that need, maybe they won't. I personally would like to see the Jazz pick up a guy like Diop, but given the fact that they have two young centers that seems unlikely.

Next post, I will play GM....

I am so happy that unlike a lot of the Utah Jazz
players and coaches that Deron stays in SLC a lot
and supports our community. I think that is very
a very important issue the Jazz front office needs to ask their star player before signing him to this
big contract. Also I hope once he signs he doesnt
follow a lot of these other players footsteps to
leave Utah during the off season.Everyone always talks
about Sloan taking off for the farm every summer, I think back and I think Of FranK Layden, he was great
for our community, he still lives in Utah. Thats the
type of coach I want and thats the type of player I want
in a Utah uniform

Boozer is a good Power Forward. He has some weakness' but so do all NBA players. Its time to get rid of Collins and get the young Centers playing time. Thats what the Jazz need

I dont know why we didnt make a run at Ray Allen last summer. We could have traded Andre and a few draft picks. Im pretty sure we would have beat LA if we had Ray Allen starting at shooting guard for us. Oh well. It was fun watching the Celtics destroy LA in game game 6.

This kid is an absolute, A1, first class gem. I'd say he's a keeper.

How about the Jazz just get a new coach to get them over the top. Boozer has been good for Utah but we don't want another Stockton to Malone team of which was being formed by the old man with Boozer and Williams

When he retires, DWill be considered a better all-around player than Stockton. Book it.

@ Magnus

There are two reasons right now why the Jazz need to at least take a serious look at trading Boozer.
1. First year of is contract he did not play at all.
Second year he played less than half a season.
2. This year the last month of the season and the playoffs he never showed up and he is a huge defensive liability.

We have had one good complete season out of Boozer since he signed. One out of three season's is not that great for the money and next summer he is going to want max money.(not worth it)

Jazz Brass would be stupid to not at least shop him around to see if they could get something for him.
I agree with you that Milsap is not going to be a starting PF for this team.
I am not sure who is available next season for free agency that we could sign but I would rather throw max money at somebody who is proven. If they resign Booz for Max they need to structure it so that when someone scores on him he looses a thousand dollars. Maybe that will motivate him.

Ok, here's what I think will/could/should go down with the Jazz over the next year or so.

This summer the Jazz give Williams his 5 year max deal and possibly resign CJ, other than that they just sit tight.

The 2009 free agent market is going to be one of the biggest ever so teams and teams have already started to clear cap space for it. Jazz will have 18Mil in expiring contracts (Boozer, Collins, Hart, Price) that could be valuable in a trade with someone trying to clear space or, if they keep them, will provide the Jazz with needed cap space.

Here's the bad news, even if Boozer walks, unless the Jazz unload somebody else they will sill be over the cap so anything they want with free agents has to be a sign and trade.

So if I'm the Jazz GM here's what I'd do.

If the Jazz are not one of the top 4 teams in the league by the end of January, I accept the fact that Boozer will not win a championship in Utah and start shopping Boozer and the rest of my expiring contracts looking for the best deal I can find.

CP3 vs DWill. Had the Jazz picked CP3, DWill would have won the ROTY and be an all star at this point. CP3 would have spent his first year playing behing that guy from Colorado State (Milt Polacio sp?). I think DWill was the better pick and always have and in time I think we'll see that. CP3 is awesome but did not have to spent his rookie year on the bench and gets better press in the Big Easy. I think DWill will prove to be better over the long haul (maybe just his build allows avoidance of injury).

I was hoping for a Boozer for the #2 pick. I like Boozer OK but I think that he will turn out to be AD to Malone with the guy that the Jazz pick in the top 5 with the Knicks pick in 2010. Boozer is not a max money guy (nor is AK) but that is what he is trying for. Get something for him before Miami makes him their max money guy.

DWill is the max money guy in Utah and I love that he has moved here and taken ownership of the leadership that is his.

Jeez! I wish I was DWill! He's line up foe $90M and and he must be the most popular guy in the state. All I can say is he deserves it!

@ ID Jazz

As my previous post expalains, I mostly agree with you but I think the Jazz may as well wait until mid season and give this team one more run at it. Williams, Brewer, Millsap, CJ, Fes, and Kosta are all young and hopefully getting better every year. They all have the talent to step up their games and collectively put the Jazz over the proverbial hump.

Fortunately for the Jazz Boozer is not the foundation of this team, they can recover from losing him.

Here's my crazy idea of the day. If the Jazz can't get a good PF to replace Boozer they go out and get one of the numerous multi-talented, ultra-athletic, swing men that seem to be everywhere, like Childress or Deng or Pietrus and play AK at PF. Then if Fes and Kosta step up they would have a solid four man big rotation with Memo and Millsap. They would have the flexibility to play small or big and they could play a more uptempo game that would maximise the talents of AK and the Jazz young players. Just a thought.

You would have "let Malone go elsewhere, and then used his salary on journeymen players who knew how to play defense."

?!?! Are you joking?

Evidently you've forgotten that Malone was an OUTSTANDING defender. No, he couldn't jump and block shots, but he was very physical, always stayed in front of his man, pushed him out of the paint, and had super quick hands that stripped the ball from opponents several times per game. He was a three-time NBA All-Defensive 1st Team Selection! Malone was THE whole package and would have been on ANY team, with or without Stockton (who obviously made him even better).

I believe DWill is the future of the organization. Boozer is a good player made great by one of the best young points in the league. AK did well as the PF before Boozer arrived and plays better defense. Okur has also had several games where he plays as good or better than Boozer. Being a Jazz fan and not living in Utah I was very disappointed to see all the jump shots Boozer was taking. I thought he would be more of a back to the basket type player backing down the opposition but did not see much of that. When the jump shot was not working his game seemed to falter. I like Boozer and hope we keep him but if we don't I beleive between AK, Okur, and Milsapthe scoring and rebounding we lose if Boozer leaves would be made up. I agree though that we could use a center that can play some defense. Collins and Milsap are probably the best defensive big men we have and Collins offense is suffering. I expect him to be gone after his current contract and Fess or the new guy to step up. Their young, give em a shot.

I think it is great Deron is taking ownership of the Jazz. I think it is great he is making his home year round in Utah. It`s nice we could get a player of his caliber. John Stockton was my favorite player back in his day now it is DWill. I hope he gets signed to a five year deal. He gives you everything he`s got every time he takes the floor. Chris Paul is a great player but I wouldn`t trade him for DWill.

I dig D-Will and I'm glad that he's committing himself to Utah. He's classy and the Jazz should never regret picking up over C.Paul. If Boozer leaves then Millsap will take over pretty well...but I'd rather see Andre go than Boozer. He's peaked already and he's way too streaky. D-Will is the real deal though, a very classy guy who is the team leader.

@ Magnus

Not bad thoughts. I like it.

I wouldn't take any point gaurd in the league over Deron Williams. He is the heart and soul of the jazz and comes to play all 82 games of the season. What a class act.

I can't believe my tax money went to the Radiation Arena. It's been over 20 years since the Jazz came here and they still don't have a title. I think we can consider this experiment a bust. Time to move on Jazz and give me my money back!

I think it is great that Deron is committing himself to the Jazz. It sounds like he actually likes living in Utah. Now that is amazing for a NBA player. If Pat Riley wants him so much trade Boozer for Beasley

Deron Williams is the team he is the heart. He is a player that can win it all. Boozer is not the Jazz will never win it with Boozer, titles are won with team DEFENCE with out DEFENCE all you have is a high scoring game that you STILL loose.

D-Will is the man! Glad that he is sticking around and I salute him. The present and future of the Utah Jazz!

DWIll for Governor. Let's trade Huntsman!

Malone didn't deliver a championship.

Enough said.

Boozer won't either.

What more needs to be said?

The harsh reality is if you want to win chamionship you need build you team the right way.

Celtics traded for garnett and allen
detroit traded for wallace and wallace and billups, etc
chicago traded for pippen among others
lakers traded for kobe, shaq, kareem, magic, wilt, etc
houston got for drexler among others
sixers got Dr J, malone, etc

It you can't get the right players from the draft, like duncan or bird, you've got to get them elsewhere.

Boozer is not the right player, neither is brewer.

When the jazz actually care about winning a chamionship, rather than hopin and wishin, like they have for the last twenty years,

when They start to show courage and trade a karl malone or a boozer, or do what it takes to aquire what you need,

and build the team right,

They might win championship someday.

but right now (and for the last twenty years) it is about business, having a winning season and making the playoffs,, I.E. making a profit.

@ MOTO X

Apparently you haven't been following the NBA too closely if you haven't heard all the courting that Jay Z has been doing to Lebron James. They have been so open to courting Lebron that even the NBA Draft this past week was affected as they traded away Jefferson for virtually nothing in order to free up cap space to bring him over. If I ever feel bad about what's happening with the Jazz, I always make myself feel better by thinking about Cleveland.

Hilarious how KOC says Stockton took ownership of the Jazz, even though unlike DWill he never stayed here in the summers.

Also hilarious that LHM apparently is considering the non-experienced Stockton and Hornacek to replace Sloan, but not the well-experienced Corbin or vastly-experienced Dantley.

Hmmmm, hard to spot THAT pattern. Kinda like Thomas Monson.

As for Boozer, he's a good player, but like Mutombo said, he's not close to Malone. Check their stats, especially free-throw attempts and difference between regular & postseason.

Stockton & Malone's flaws were they didn't make their teammates better or appreciably raise their games in playoff crunch time. Not all their fault, they had some lousy teammates.

DWill's keeeping a sharp eye on CJ, Brewer & Millsap, and you can already see the results in the latter two. I blame Sloan & CJ's agent for his struggles, though he never should've come straight outta HS.

Boozer is gone to Miami. He has a sick child, and you think his wife likes SLC any more than Cleveland? Think Booz will be straight with the Jazz, like he was with the Cavs?

Trade him for cap reasons alone, never mind the Lakers disaster, which is reason enough.

You must be from the NOW generation. I agree that D-Will is a super talent but don't even compare him to Stockton yet. After all Stock is the all-time assist & steals leader ever by many. So many as a matter of fact that no one in my generation or yours will ever come close to beating him. I also am old enough to remember Bill Cousy with the Celtics years ago and he also was very exceptional. Then there was Oscar Robertson who may have been the best of the best. How about Magic Johnson? Ever heard of him? Today's players will have a hard time beating any of them for sure. So don't get to carried away with todays players and a couple years of play, lets rate them at the end of their careers.

I am so happy that we have Deron on our team. It is cool that he is staying in Utah year-round. He is the classiest point guard in the NBA! I'm happy we got him and not Chris Paul in the Draft.
P.S. Good luck in the Olympics!

Hummmmmn Slight Error Dude , It was Bob Cousy . Not Bill .
Aside , They where all great players And the new generation is well on the Way . Liking them or not.

Everyone loves the fact that DWill is making his home in utah year round, and I love that also. It shows that he is very interested in the jazz and I have no fear that he will be playing anywhere else anytime soon. I also like Boozer, except for his defense, but I admit that he isn't worth the money he will be asking for. The last couple of NBA champions proved is that defense win championships, we saw that with the celtics and the spurs the year b4, also with the pistons. I would be willing to lose some offense for better defense from our PF spot anyday cause I think we have a lot of offense anyways. As for Malone, he played defense, especially more than Boozer. But I think we should wait and see what happens b4 jumping too soon on any bandwagon.

Let's not trade, I'd hate to see huntsman try and handle the ball on the court!

ahhhhh slight error dude; the correct word is "were" not "where"!