Millsap is the Man! | 12:51 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Millsap is not going anywhere! I can't wait to see his developments next season.
GoodGuyGary | 1:48 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
I agree Millsap is the man, can't let him go.
Knowitall | 6:51 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
I say get rid of Kirilenko (if you can) and try your hardest to keep Millsap. Fess will be gone after this year as will Collins. Harpring won't be around much longer due to knee problems. So all in all the Jazz will have some open spots on their roster. Unfortunately, they are the inexpensive role player spots. Unless of course Boozer opts out as I'm sure he will. My question is this, how hard do you go after Boozer? With Millsap on the team, do you go way over the luxury tax to keep Boozer? Or do you pick a 4 in the draft next year and promote Millsap? So many questions...
Comments continue below
Answer | 7:13 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
You let Boozer walk if he thinks hes going to hold you up. He will play hard this year trying to impress suitors for his services, but Milsap is the one you do not want to get away. Also A.K. might want to again go home to play. Let him go also. Keep Memo if possible at his present salary, and add another front court player via trades or the draft. Koufus will contribute faster than most think I believe. As I see it we are just fine with what we have minus a couple.
trade boozer | 7:37 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
for okafor and the problems just slip away, and the rings will be sized. Geter done
Larry Larry Larry | 8:04 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
I hope you have learned your lesson by the mistake you made in giving AK a championship contract when he couldn't even lead us into the playoffs. I hope that his son will actually wait until a team reaches the playoffs before giving players that don't deserve it, these ungodly contracts.
tank | 8:14 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Trade Boozer?....You must be daft!
cougar fan | 8:28 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
AK is THE lead weight of the franchise. His contract is going to keep the Jazz out of serious championship contention. They have done well to contend as much as they have. But they need much more production per salary dollar from AK, and he just does not give it. Imagine what the Jazz could do with his salary amount available in the free agent market next year!!
Sad to say, AK is the lead weight that will sink the franchise until he is gone.
2010 | 8:28 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
In:
Williams
Price
Knight
Millsap
Okur
Korver
Brewer
Almond
Koufus
"Real Power Forward"
"New"
"New"
Out:
Boozer
Kirilenko
KO AK | 8:32 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
The Jazz must do their very best to move Andrei and his huge contract after the season. Before last season, he wanted to be traded, and the Jazz should have done it. The Jazz must do their best to keep Boozer because of the chemistry he has with Williams. AK also has had a rocky relationship with Coach Sloan, which does not help the situation. By moving Kirilenko, the Jazz give themselves some options. They can sign Millsap and make a huge play on Boozer if he decides to opt out of his contract. Boozer is a 20/10 guy who still has not hit his prime yet. You just do not let 20/10 guys walk if you can help it. Williams and Boozer are the core of this team. Other players on the Jazz roster are complimentary players. Williams and Boozer are superstars.
Trade | 8:33 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
He has some worth still to get something. He will be gone. There is a reason he did not play much for the Olympic squad
Re: tank | 8:39 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Better to trade Boozer than overpay him for his skilled offensive but lacking defensive game. Now THAT would be daft.

Boozer is going to leave, and probably sign with Miami for way too much money, well over $100 million. There is no way he is worth a dime more than what Williams will earn (to which he is worth, in terms of inflated NBA contracts).

Plug Milsap into the starting 4 position, and the Jazz will win more games. We don't need a scoring 4, we need a defensive 4. We have enough scorers (Okur, Korver, Williams, Brewer, the list goes on), but we need someone to step in and not let everyone prance into the lane for easy layups, and not for a $100 million price tag.

Pick your poision: let Boozer walk or trade him away, if we get the right pieces in return that are not overpaid, slouches of athletes. The Jazz will be better for it. We have depth and young talent that is ready to come out and succeed on the roster.
Oh please | 9:06 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Larry Miller owns half of Utah. Money problems with the Jazz. Come on. He has more money than Midas. Move a little of it into the Jazz account.
JUst checkk out what he is making on his race track.
Milsap | 9:37 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Although I love the idea of Milsap filling in at the starting power forward, my biggest concern is whether or not he can keep himself out of foul trouble. If we could get a good back up 4 in the draft that can play decent minutes when Milsap gets in foul trouble, I say go for it. The biggest thing that the Jazz need to change is their defensive mind set.
Justin | 10:49 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Harpring's contract isn't guaranteed after this year. So its possible they could move him or just cut him if he has more surgeries. I also don't think this team will be the same without Boozer. As much as i hate that he doesn't play Defense I think we need him.
Fool you once, fool you twice | 10:47 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Larry did it once with Oter-slug, and then with Kirilenko - he handed out huge contracts before they really proved themselves. The team then as now has had to wait until their contracts expired to use that money where it should be. Hopefully Miller Jr has grasped this problem. Larry's mistake squandered what could have been the Jazz's greatest moment, and here we are again in the same situation.
Dapper2k | 11:02 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
This is the Year!

Big problems. No one would give up Okafor for Boozer straight up and AK's contract makes him unatractive to other GMs and almost untradable.

I agree Boozer's lack of defense is a big problem but he is also the only guy on our current roster that is a low post presense. As much as I like Milsap he hasn't proven he can score in the post or demand the double like boozer has. Even in Utah 20/10 guys are hard to come by and very valuable.

I'm not sure what the answer is but with the contracts coming up next summer the Jazz really need to get it done this year.

This is the year! Go Jazz!
not so fast | 11:07 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
The problem is that if we keep Boozer, we have to keep A.K. because A.K. is about the only person in the N.B.A. who can cover Boozer's defensive inefficiencies. His weak side help is monumental to the Jazz chances. They both will require huge salaries.
Boozer-Overrated | 11:06 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
How about this scenario! Trade Boozer because he doesn't know what the word DEFENSE means! I could care less if Paul Millsap gets into foul trouble, he's actually making an effort on the defensive side of the ball. Jazz fans, who made Luis Scola look like an all-star and made Lamar Odom look like a superstar in the playoffs last season? Yes, Mr. Boozer did! Who came into Game 6 in the 4th quarter and kept us in the game when a certain "SUPERSTAR" was in foul trouble and couldn't make a basket? Thank You! We can sign or draft a back-up power forward! That will be no problem! Mehmet can also slide over and play 4 as he has done in the past. Millsap deserves to start and I think he will be a workhorse just as Karl Malone was! Peace out Boozer!
No "I" in Team | 11:10 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Any chance one of these guys (Boozer, Okur, Milsap) would sign for less than they're "worth" or that Kirilenko could rework his contract to make less in order to keep a good team together? Not just because they have a better change at winning a championship, but I would think they are all worth more individually in terms of outside income (endorsements, motivational speaking, etc.) if the team you play for actually wins a championship. If you haven't already....you may all begin laughing now.
magnus | 11:10 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Some good ideas here, given how things stand now here's my take.

I love Milsap but I am not sure he is a 30 minutes per-game double-double player. Hopefully he can improve enough to be that guy but it doesn't seem likely.

Boozer will be a free agent, and I say let him walk.

I think Memo would rather extend than opt out so hopfully that gets done.

Korver isn't going anywhere, at least not for more than 5 Mil a year, same story for AK.

Keep Price. Loose Fes, I don't think he is going to get it done. Look to trade Almond, the kid can't play D.

I think Harp has one more year and then he is done, his body can't take much more.

So we have

PG: Williams Price
SG: Brewer Korver Miles Almond??
SF: Kirilenko
PF: Millsap
C: Okur Koufos

Cont...
Duh | 11:15 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
This is why the Jazz will never win a championship. Come close, sure but they will never get over the hump becuase Larry is too afraid to spend a couple extra million to make it happen. Everyone want something for nothing, in this league? When is the last time we saw a franchise, under the luxury cap, win a championship. Someone, please tell me. And people wonder why I won't buy Jazz tickets, to do what, see a team fail in the end. Tired of that.
Cougarkeith | 11:31 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
I am not a big NBA guy, but Milsapp is a guy we need, probaby won't cost a lot, and he is good!
who cares? | 11:33 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
It's football season.

Besides, Didn't Larry promise to change the inappropriate & ill suited name once John and what's his name retired?
Endicott | 11:43 a.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Joel Przybilla
Salary: $6,310,150 Years Remaining: 3
Rudy Fernandez
Salary: $1,084,080 Years Remaining: 2
LaMarcus Aldridge
Salary: $4,631,400 Years Remaining: 1
Sergio Rodriguez
Salary: $874,000 Years Remaining: 1

to Jazz for Incoming Players

Carlos Boozer
Salary: $11,593,817 Years Remaining: 1
Matt Harpring
Salary: $6,000,000 Years Remaining: 2
Jarron Collins
Salary: $2,074,302 Years Remaining: 1
Ronnie Price
Salary: $1,188,000 Years Remaining: 1
Anonymous | 12:02 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Can someone pleeez help me understand why you all are in love w/ Millsap. Yeah, his rookie year was outstanding & even more surprising but after his rookie year when all the shock was gone, personally I didn't see anything outstanding w/ his play last year... Does anyone have any factual statiscics to Millsaps play to get me on the Millsap band wagon
CCTrackstar | 12:03 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Hehe, the Jazz drafted a power forward in this years draft, he's just staying overseas for a bit. (don't know how long). Anyway, my naive mind hopes that Boozer will decide to play that last year of his contract hoping to raise his value, but by all accounts that won't happen. I like Millsap, but like many, I don't think he has as high a ceiling as we need. I would take Booz with an extension of his current contract (similar numbers) but I don't think he's worth what he might think he is.
Anonymous | 12:09 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Good centers are too hard to come by, we NEED to keep Okur.

Get rid of Boozer and Kirilenko, they've ALWAYS underperformed their contracts.
small market franchise | 12:15 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
considering that the jazz are a small market franchise, those fans that say miller should spend his money to retain everyone is not looking at the big picture. i hope you understand that means going to jazz games will be more expensive, and for that clown who said thats why he doesnt go to jazz games, all i have to say is this, why are you commenting? if this isnt your team then why dont you walk away? why invest even the smallest amounts of time to write stuff like that. you dont go to jazz games? booo hoo. no one cares if you dont, the ones that do go though, even through the post stockton mailman rebuilding years, those are the real fans. what you say or may think is irrelevant, especially if you arent a real fan.
PurplePeopleEater | 12:41 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Dump Boozer. Nice, guy. Has offense, BUT NO DEFENSE. Why do you think he was the Olympics team's bench warmer, even with his old coach at the helm? No defense. Defense wins games. The Jazz have plenty of firepower without Boozer.

Keep AK because he'll at least play defense and his offense is just fine when he's happy.

D-Will will adjust to whoever's out there, even though he likes to feed Boozer like Stockton did Malone, but D-Will's a winner, so he'll adjust and find someone else to go to.

Korver's injury affected his play at year's end and during playoffs. He'll be back to his old TREY self this year. We're lucky to have him, like we were with Horny.

Dump Collins and keep Fez. They're both bench warmers for now, anyway, and Fez's upside is much greater than Collins'.

Price is definitely the backup for D-Will. He'll improve every year. Quickness can't be taught.
Kirilenko is staying | 12:46 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Why are there so many fans who know nothing about basketball? They're the ones who want to dump AK47. Andrei offered to walk away from his contract last year but the Jazz wouldn't let him go. They know what a valuable and integral part of the team he is. The Suns offered to trade Marion for Kirilenko, the Jazz turned the offer down. A few fans with heads in the sand think the Jazz are stuck with AK. But it's been proved that they are not, they highly value him and are going to keep him. The Jazz would trade any player if it benefited the team but they won't do something to hurt the team.
STEVE-O | 12:56 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
DUH @ 11:15 AM

You don't buy Jazz tickets because clearly you're not a Jazz fan!

I do enjoy the trade that Endicott suggested, but I don't think it's reasonable. Rudy Fernandez is a STUD, and LaMarcus Aldridge is a GREAT player. Boozer is overpaid already, Harpring's knee is a wreck, and Jaron Collins is basically a big block of cement! If you could pull off that trade the Jazz need to hire you as their new GM.

May I suggest letting Boozer go... and Signing Aldridge with his money. We'd have Memo, Aldridge, to play Center/PF. Or we could play AK at the Power Forward. We've seen how AK performs in that spot for his Russian National team and I think he can do it. Plus he can defend anybody in the league with his quick hands and Blocking ability. Responses?
jwr | 12:54 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
How about getting rid of SLOAN and a few other top weights then go after the players. You pay cheap, you get cheap
Miles | 1:02 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
The worst mistake the Jazz made this offseason was that of signing C.J Miles. They would be able to manuver a lot better financially if C.J was off the books. They are paying him way too much money to have him sit at the end of the bench, but that is what he is going to be doing all season. Just like he has done the past 2 years. I agree with the previous comments, let Boozer go to Miami. He will sign for way too much money and he will play with a Point Guard who can't get him the ball. Milsap showed he can play defense and score and he and D-Will get along just fine.
Can't trade AK? | 1:36 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Except for certain Sloan-haters, Jazz fans (especially on this and the Trib's site) are the most knowledgeable, astute, passionate fans in the league.

Not one -- NOT ONE -- of these fans believes Boozer is worth busting the tax to re-sign. Not one -- NOT ONE -- of these fans believes Killy is worth keeping.

BUT ... all is not lost.

There is Millsap.

There is also this fact: Other NBA teams are owned/presided-over/managed/coached by idiots.

How many consecutive seasons have there been guys with "untrade-able" contracts who got traded? Why is Marbury a Knick? How is Jason Richardson a Hornet? How does Theo Ratliff keep getting signed?

There are answers to these questions. The Millers just need to know what they are.
Money-G | 1:42 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
I'm of the school that, "He who has the gold rules." Since Miller wants to be frugal, then he may want to look in his own backyard to make contributions to his program. For example, take Luke Nevile in the upcoming draft this year and Carlon Brown the following year and late those guys develope under Sloan.
Re: Duh | 2:14 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
The Spurs, Detriot Pistons...shall I go on?
AK can play the 4 | 2:15 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
As I recall, Kirilenko played at the 4 the majority of his All-star season. His true position is the 4. Trade Boozer for a cheap, athletic 4/5 guy. And have Okur, AK, and the new guy rotate the 4/5 positions.
Re: CCtrackstar | 2:21 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
The PF they drafted will never see the NBA light of day ever.

You're thinking of Ante Tomic, who is a raw 7'1" C who isnt going to be doing anything major for awhile.
ReRe: CCtrackstar. | 3:22 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
That because you don't know the upside to this PF that they drafted. H ecould replace boozer easily if he panned out. He is an offensive juggernaut and perfect at the free throw line. They should trade ante tomic but no this guy.
We got what we need | 3:25 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
This article is paranoid. It makes it sound like we're likely to lose all of em! Booz, Memo, Ak, Korver, Brewer, Price, and Millsap. Not happening.
We'll lose two at the most. I think one all-star (Booz, Memo, Ak) is gone for sure. Only the big market teams can afford to keep four all-stars on the roster. We'll keep Price, we'll keep Millsap, we'll keep Brewer. Those guys aren't going anywhere, and so long as we have Williams, we're a competitor.
That said, I hope we don't lose boozer.
I say make a trade, and send AK, Fess, Collins, and Almond somewhere for one quality player, preferably a center. Unless Koufos turns out to be a steal.
Anonymous | 3:27 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
they could've avoided this if they would've made the trade for marion last summer
Lo Porto | 3:46 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
AK needs to go. He cannot play the 4 the way we need it played. Sure he was an all star calibur player at one point, but our team was losing. Trade him and keep the rest...
Dapper2k??? | 4:04 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
"No one would give up Okafor for Boozer straight up" Huh, what heck are you talking about? Boozers is a better player then okafor and he currently makes less money then okafor. okafor stats 13.8pts10.7rb
boozers stats 21.1pg10.4rb
Okafor for boozer trade is stupid! The jazz need to free cap space to retain boozer and Ocur, its that simple.Plan A) Trade AK at the trade deadline.Plan B)If ya can't trade AK YOU have to attempt to resign boozer,Ocur first. Plan C) if ya can't keep both boozer and ocur then lobby hard for at least one of them, THEN lock up milsap.
therawns | 4:34 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
The jazz will be fine if they can dump AK for say a 2nd round pick just to get him off the books like the nuggets did with camby. Here is how I see the jazz in the 09-10 season with their projected salaries

dwill-15 mil
miles- 3.7 mil
brewer- 2.7 mil
booz- 15 mil
okur- 10 mil
korver- 5.1 mil
millsap- 5 mil
price or knight- 2 mil
collins 1.5 mil
harp- 6.5 mil
koufus- 1.2 mil
almond- 1.1 mil
this is 12 players combined around 68.8 mil and this will be below the luxary. the jazz have 2 players overseas if they wish to bring them over for less than 1 mil becouse they are 2nd round picks in a rookie contract. sloan likes korver as the 6th man so miles would prob start but not end games like brewer did last year. the jazz are set up fine. this is a paranoid article that simply will not happen
Top 5! | 4:38 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
What are everyone's top 5 realistic trades for Boozer if he is dying to get out of Utah this next summer?
Stuff | 4:38 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Boozer puts up stellar numbers because he plays for the Jazz, he'll probably still get points and boards on other teams but Sloan's system really anchors around the 4. At this point, I think Boozer would be happy with a similar contract closer to home (Miami). I consider him gone next year.

Millsap averaged about 8 points and 5 rebounds per 20 minutes, but has a higher blocking stats than Boozer. Millsap imo has better footwork and quickness than Boozer, although he is a little undersized and hasn't found solidified a place in the post.

I was one of those last season that was screaming for AK to be traded, and after last season I have to say he is too essential for the Jazz to trade away. He is has some of the best hands and athletic ability in the league-you can't find another defender who can help contain superstars at nearly every position.
Sean | 5:19 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
As much as I love Millsap and the hustle and heart he plays with he will NOT put up the numbers that Boozer puts up consistently (20 pts. 10 rebs)and the Jazz will not get anyone as good as Boozer for cheaper than what he'll want. So what if Boozer's numbers dropped a bit in the playoffs. The Jazz would not have been in the playoff picture without Boozer's consistent contributions all season long. My conlusion: Try your hardest to keep Boozer and Williams working together for the next 3 or 4 years and finally bring that chamipionship to Jerry, who is the most deserving coach in the league, and the state of Utah.
jazzrule | 5:41 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Lo Porto, check out the roster AK was playing with his all-star year and tell me Boozer could have gotten that team into the play-offs. laugh at loud Ak lacked one game of getting that team into the playoffs. All the so called experts predicted that team would win between 15 and 25 games. Our team was not a losing team either, they finished with 42 wins against 40 loses. That my friend is not a losing team. The year AK had the 2 injuries and missed about half the season look it up and see how the Boozer led Jazz did. Last place in the division and no playoffs. You say AK can not play the 4 the way we need it played. I guess the way we need it played is with the "Matador" Boozer playing defense. Again the Jazz offense is made to make the power forward position the main scorer ala Malone. You have other coaches saying they have to plan for AK's defense and other players saying they have to look for AK's defense when shooting around the basket. Do these coaches and players know less than you do? I think not.
TrueBlue JazzFan | 7:21 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
Cannon fodder. That's what Jazz fans(or any in the league for that matter) pretending that spending money for other than the half-dozen players in the league who will have an oppportunity to take their franchises to the NBA finals. Outside of Shaq, Tim Duncan and Jordan, who has been worth the contract they were rewarded, assuming "winning" is the criteria for success? The Jazz have been slogging away for more than 25 years and made the finals twice. They puts in the

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Paul Millsap is one player the Jazz will have to either re-sign or let go after the season.

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