Comments about ‘Utah Jazz: Okur back working out before likely opt-out’

'"Everybody that I spoke with who has had experience with a severe hamstring injury said that it is an injury that takes time to heal properly,"'

No doubt in my mind, that "everybody" must be Memo's buddy, Carlos.

Memo will be back and we should be happy for that. When Memo is healthy and has his head on straight, he is a force to reckon with. His attitude in this article is what we need to hear.

I see Booze is trying to mend fences after finding out his stock in the league is less than stellar. If we keep him, then he should play back-up to Milsap who has proven the desire and ability to be a starter anywhere in the league. Deal Boozer if he can't learn to play defense better than Almond!

If the Jazz want to contend this year, the team simply has to learn to play defense.

Better defender than Boozer, longer reach, greater range, can put the ball on the floor.

Anyone notice how many injuries were to Olympic players?

Eugene,

You want to Start Milsap? Boozer rates as a superstar in the league. Milsap rates as a great backup. Even if Milsap were able to go a full season the way he plays is by taking full body hits and when that happens the body has to give. After starting for Boozer last year for 25 games he was give out.
Boozer offers no defense but he does offer 20 and 10 each game. He also offers a one two punch with Deron which Paul does not.
Boozer puts up better numbers than Yao, gets paid 50% less than Kirlenko and yet because he has been injured (acording to Jerry and the team doctors) we want to lynch him.
Sad to say that by having Okur on the floor it weakens our game and provides no help to Boozers game. Gortat would provide the interior defense and would assist Boozer in the paint. Without Boozer we would have no interior presence. Okur is a nice guy but not strong in the paint.
PAckage Okur and Brewer together for a Bosch or use them to get a Magette or unload Kirlenko. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater

RE: go getter

First off Milsap does deserve the starting job over Boozer...and if given the minutes, he would average at least 17 and 10. Also Milsap is a great one two punch with Deron...don't you remember why we were winning 13 straight games last season (with out carlos)? It was because Deron plays well with Paul, and was in the middle of his 19 straight double-doubles...something carlos has never done.

Also Memo helps out Boozer more than you think. He spreads the floor, and provides boozer to have the interior pretty much one-on-one. Without Okur, the interior would be crammed. Also Okur is a better defender than both Boozer and Bosch, so I don't know why you would trade Okur and Brewer (brewer is our best defender anyway, despite his shot). If you want bosch, you're gonna have to give up Boozer...we don't need two PF's comanding the ball!

Also Okur and Milsap and Brewer and the rest of the team plays better without Boozer. The game is much faster and efficent. Give Paul the starting job, and give Boozer the boot.

Having said that he is about an average C in the League. Some above him are over paid. I don't blame him for wanting more money but in this economy teams are dumping salary not adding.

The Jazz need more talent to compete for a championship. When you adjust for position Boozer (when healthy and functioning) is a very good PF. Okur is an average C. AK is an above average SF. Brewer was an above average SG but not last year. DWill is a very good PG. Millsap is above average. The rest of the team is below average.

If Boozer does not opt, even if Harp is dumped at mid season, the Jazz are deep into the Lux tax. There is not enough money to sign Millsap, replace Knight and Price, and sign a new draftee (assume a minimum man roster). Further, If Korver opts it will be for the mid level exemption. The Jazz will probably match or have to replace him (outside shooting is a weakness). They will not save much on replacing Korver.

The overall talent level of the Jazz with or without Boozer is not good enough to win a championship.

Millsap would have to dramatically improve their games next year for the Jazz to have any chance of competing.

If Boozer opts there is no free agent replacement who can be had for a reasonable price, who is anywhere close to Boozer. Most trades would be worse or at best a wash even if the new player was a better defender. Gooden might be a possible pick up if Boozer just leaves but Koufos should be just as good as Gooden at back up PF.

Harp when healthy is better than last years CJ. For that matter CJ, Korver and Brewer were all less than average overall at the 2/3.

The Jazz need to work on the 2/3 spot. Especially if AK is going to be playing some PF. It might be cheaper and smarter to retool the SG/SF positions than the PF. That also would make the Jazz harder to defend (especially for LA).

With the current team all LA has to do is stop Boozer. That is not hard for them.

The Jazz have to rethink their approach if they want to win.

RE: I like Okur

I agree with you on a few things, but I disagree on your rating system. I think Okur is easily top 5 centers in the league, and in my book is at least a B...especially without Boozer. I don't know what it is, but he produces well when Boozer's gone. Him and Milsap do, and that's why I'm not afraid of losing Boozer. I agree boozer is a very good power foreward, but he is very good on one side and very poor on the other side.

I think Milsap is a b-, Brewer is a c+ (last year he had a great year, his defense was awesome and he averaged about 13 points/game) I think Milsap is like David West, a queit under the radar player, who'll probably be in a few All-stars.

And you mentioned why the jazz need to let go of Boozer (and AK...somehow) because the jazz are already in the luxury tax. WIthout Boozer and AK, the jazz are still a very good team.

I don't know about Okur being a top 5 center in the league, but he is NOT an average center that is for sure. I would say with the money he makes and what he produces he could be a top 5 center cost/production wise, but if you don't mind having overpaid centers (and there are plenty of those around)I would say a top 10 center. However he is probably the best shooting center in the league, and when he doesn't have nagging injuries and is focused a sure fire double-double man. That is a nice combintaion to have. And yes he is a better defender then Boozer.

Okus is amazing. In February he shot 67% from behind the arc. NO ONE HAS EVER DONE THAT BEFORE. Not Kyle Korver, not Ray Allen, not Reggie Miller.

He is an average defender, but he opens the Jazz offense up. You cannot lose Okur.

There is no way Millsap should start over Boozer. Millsap does not run the pick and roll and doesn't have the ability Boozer does to go to the paint. How many people in the league will take the ball in and dunk it on Gasol in the final seconds of a playoff game? Boozer is an all-star. Millsap is a stud... All-star's start over studs.

Boozer is an average defender. Not terrible not great.

The Jazz won in February because Okur and Brewer were amazing. Does that have anything to do with Millsap starting? Good question, but I seriously doubt it.

Go Getter

As a starter Millsap at 24 years old playing 34.4 minutes a game averaged 16.0 points (shooting 54.4% from the field) and 10.3 rebounds a games in 38 games.

As a starter when Boozer was 24 years old (the same age a Millsap) playing 31.1 minutes he averaged 16.3 points (shooting 54.9% and 8.6 rebounds a game in the 33 games he played.

OR take his 3rd season (Boozer was 23 years old) when he started 51 games playing 34.7 minutes a game averaging 17.8 points (shooting 52%) and 9 rebounds.

The Numbers were about the same

Yes Millsap starter numbers dropped in February, but so did his minutes. He was also injured and his number were probably effected by that also. Look for you to say that Millsap is only a back up is wrong.

It's nice that people are actually writing sensible things about Boozer. Boozer is a liability on the defensive end of the court, but is a 20/10 guy which places him within the top 7 PF in the league.

However, Millsap has a greater potential to improve because he is younger and has improved every year that he has been with the Jazz. Millsap also brings a defensive intensity and physical presence that Boozer does have. Although Millsap got injured last season, injuries happen throughout the league irregardless of the physicality of the players--e.g. Karl Malone was injured while playing for the Lakers despite the fact that he did not run people over like he did earlier in his career. A long story short, let Boozer go and retain the cheaper PF in Millsap.

I disagree with the assessment of Okur being a B-. Okur is certainly not the best center in the league, but is one of the best shooting centers in the league and plays reliable defense. Also the Jazz should not unload Brewer who is better than average swing player who has improved every year with the Jazz.

If the Jazz sign Boozer starting at 14 million (or trade Boozer for some of equal salaries (Say Bosh) then they are saying they are paying Boozer, Williams and Kirilenko 45 million next year - the big 3. That means to fill out a good team they cannot pay anyone over 6 million a year) If you pay 4 players max money - See Phoenix and New Orleans salary - your bench destroys you

That is the big 3 method. 2 years ago Boston paid their big 3 Garnett, Allen and Pierce max money and no one else under 5 million
This last year LA paid their big 3 players (Bryant, Odom and Gasol) max money and no one else over 5 million. This next year - Bynum is going to get 11 million so if they resign Odom as one of their big 4 and resign Ariza they will be paying close to 25 million in taxes

I love the big 3 method, but I don't think AK, Williams and Boozer are a good enough big 3 to win a championship. I believe that you will have a better chance to win paying 3 max than 6 mid level

Okur is too much emotional player like other Turkish players.Because they are accustomed to being flattered since the moment they became professional.Okur , average in paint and only think about shooting around.When he penetrates towards the hoop, awful. I think he seems like a Center but he's not and also not a PF. He's scared of playing physical and fighting in paint.He played much because boozer'S injured and played not much. Millsap did great job this year but he has some physical disadvantages.Nevertheless he's tough man.If it were possible to mix Okur and Millsap up , it would be good.After now, Okur can't change in his game.Jazz needs some toughness in paint.

production went up with Boozer out. However, Okur is weak on back to backs and does not match up well with about a 1/3 of the other Cs. He is a great 3 point shooter but can't rebound if he is out on the perimeter.

Millsap will improve his offensive skills and maintain his rebounding and defensive skills. Scola proved that you can beat LA while being 6'8" if you are aggressive.

Brewer needs an outside shot. The Jazz are weak at SG because of a lack of an outside threat.

AK is over paid but a good SF. CJ is erratic and if he does not improve should be traded.

Kover is consistently what he has been for the last 5 years. He has tried to improve his defense.

Koufos should get much better.

A healthy DWill can make a big difference. A good replacement at back up PG is essential (like Fisher or better).

That still does not provide enough talent to win a championship.

Better defense, outside shooting, more rebounding and a replacement of Boozer's offense is needed.

Fix 2 of the 4 and you might get to the Western Championship.

Jazz should sign and trade Boozer with the Magic for Turkoglu and Alston if the Magic can sign and trade Turk. That is what I would do it I were GM's at least the Jazz GM.

draft (Blair?), the Jazz may be able to trade for Yi Jainlain. That would fill the back up PF spot fairly well. I am not sure what they trade to get him. Maybe CJ?

In which case there would be need to pick up another SF. However, SFs are easier to get than PFs.

Hope Jazz management are working on a contract extension for Korver also! He is the best bet for the money!

Okur, Boozer and Millsap all need raises.

I think the best case scenario is that Okur and Millsap get raises and Boozer walks.

I love Booze, but the Jazz can't afford all three. The Jazz could bring in some crazy defensive big guy.

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Remember the 06-07 season when Okur hit a clutch shot like every single game?? I LOVE Okur. Hopefully he stays healthy this year.

TO go getter:

You want to keep Boozer and Dump Okur & Brewer.
So what you're telling me is that Boozer's offense is more important than Brewer's defense, or the fact that Memo is our best outside shooter? Boozer makes 50% less than AK (which isn't an accurate statement but we'll go with it), and he plays 50% less games than everybody else!
You need to re-evaluate your numbers. Boozer was the 3rd highest scorer on the team last year (behind Memo), so if it's offense you want he's not really producing like people think. I wouldn't call Boozer a "superstar" like you did. I would call him a decent offensive player and that's IT!