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Brad Rock: Boozer's return to Utah Jazz not as good as news might sound

The best news all day. | 8:35 a.m. July 1, 2009

Now we can go get a real PF in 2010 and not waste our money on an overrated player like millsap.

Steve McQueen | 8:42 a.m. July 1, 2009

Yeah...Boozer should have just gone, leaving the Jazz with nothing in return. That's what's best for this team, to lose one of the top offensive PFs in the game for nothing just because fans don't like some of the things he said.

I, for one, would hope that most Jazz fans care more about winning more than they care about whether a player said something stupid one time. Sorry, folks, but if the options are: A) give up Boozer for nothing and keep Milsap or B) keep Boozer and hope he stays healthy or that he can be traded for some value and lose Milsap, I go with B. Boozer's a monster on offense and, while Milsap is a slightly better defender (dude is 6'8" on a good day, he's not big-time defender in the post), he doesn't command a double-team in the post and he can't run the pick and roll.

But, on the other hand, Milsap didn't hurt anyone's feelings. Apparently, that's what Rock thinks is important.

By the averages... | 8:44 a.m. July 1, 2009

We can expect about 60 or fewer good games from him. He is a Loozer.

Comments continue below

reaper_brutus | 8:51 a.m. July 1, 2009

Look Boozer is an All-Star and a great power foward in the league. Millsap is a good back up but he is in no way as good as Boozer, and if everyone thinks Boozer is complaining about money so is Millsap, sure he deserves more money but not more than Okur and not a couple mill less than Booze who starts over him. Its a waste. The REAL PROBLEM is that Russian guy AK. His rediculous contract is the cause of all of this. No one can say the would be willing to play happily with there contract when you have a guy making millions more a year and doesn't produce nearly in the same realm as Booze, Okur, Williams, and even Brewer, Millsap, Korver. If we didn't have AK's contract then we would have everyone including Millsap and possibly another player on the market who could help me than AK. Does everyone forget who wanted to leave Utah because we didn't like that Booze,Okur, and DWill were the go to guys. And Sloan wouldn't let him do what he wanted. We need to dump AK keep our other All Stars.

Jeanboy | 8:52 a.m. July 1, 2009

Man oh man, well i say we bench the fool, and get some of our rookies in the game

Realist | 8:57 a.m. July 1, 2009

Not a boozer fan but give me a break. The jazz are the ones that agreed to the terms of the contract. Boozer can do as he wishes within those terms and not be a crook. He's ours now, hopefully he stays on the floor

Milsap is | 9:01 a.m. July 1, 2009

a great worker and when he is in the offense isn't ran through him and ball is moved more. That's why they had more success when booze was hurt and on the bench. Bottom line is no matter how much every body slam booze (he brought it on himself) he is tons better scorer. He needs step it up on the defense end, and you don't have to believe me ,but he can be animal under the rim defensively. He needs to be held accountable for that.

Damaged goods | 9:28 a.m. July 1, 2009

Boozer had no choice but to opt in. He is damaged goods and he did it to himself. Nobody wants to pay the kind of money he wants for someone who doesn't come to play every night (when he does come to play). As a result, he is of no value to the Jazz because in order to trade him, they will have to accept a player(s) who also under performs or have a poor history and costs a lot of money.
On the positive side, it is in Boozers best interest to be at his best this year for the big contract next year.

Nostradamus | 9:40 a.m. July 1, 2009

I predict that the jazz will still sign milsap, go into the luxury tax for a year and not resign boozer next year. That or a trading deadline deal that ships out Booze.

Real Problems | 9:42 a.m. July 1, 2009

Many fans on this thread have nailed it.

1. Millsap is loved and respected and the phototype of hard work and making it. But he is not the PF that the Jazz can build the franchise around. Neither is Boozer.

2. Blaming Boozer or the other players is not fair. The Blame is with management. Just like GM they have overpaid almost all of their players for years. They finally seem to understand that and are adjusting.

3. The Jazz are in a position to get the franchise PF they need unless the do some dumb management like insist on playing Millsap for the next 5 years. Millsap is not quick enough, can't defend tall quick opponents any better than Boozer and does not have Boozer's shooting.

4. The next 2 years is the perfect time to create the team for the next decade. Get the right players even if you keep Sloan and his mediocre system.

low blow | 9:49 a.m. July 1, 2009

Was the comment about his mother really necessary?

Dave | 9:52 a.m. July 1, 2009

What it really comes down to is that Boozer is not reliable on the floor with the game on the line....his man will score at will, as will anyone who penetrates. Instead of stepping up and taking a charge Boozer routinely fakes a step at the player driving to the hoop and then positions himself for the rebound just in case the guy misses a wide open layup. There is nothing more frustrating as a fan than watching 4 guys play hard and then Boozer just mail it in. I will not watch them play this year, it's too frustrating and there are easier more productive things to do than cheer for a player with no heart or guts.

Rock is right (and wrong) | 10:02 a.m. July 1, 2009

It is odd that we fans are so mad at a guy because he said he'd opt out, then even madder when he opted in! Rock is right that it's the mercenary way that Boozer has gone about it all that drives fans crazy. We're paying luxury tax for a guy who may not be healthy next year, and who has no future with the team.

However--I'm not a Boozer fan anymore, but I'm appalled that Brad Rock and Gordon Monson think they can claim or suggest, without evidence, that Boozer was sitting out but wasn't really hurt. That's the lowest accusation you can make in sports, and it's outrageous to make it with no evidence other than the fact that a guy has been out a lot. Some guys probably do it, but that's no reason to tar every fragile player with that shameful brush.

What goes around...Comes around | 10:20 a.m. July 1, 2009

Maybe the Cavaliers are thinking that and thanking their lucky stars that Boozer left. Then again maybe he would have been the "missiing piece" that put them in the finals this year!

The situation with his signing has always been questioned. He left a team "high and dry" to sign with the Jazz.

You all love to make comments about the Fisher deal but not until you want Boozer to leave do you write about his "disloyalty", etc. in signing with Utah.

Boozer--Blessing & a Curse | 10:43 a.m. July 1, 2009

Blessing:

He is an offensive beast and an allstar for his offensive results.

Curse:

He is an absolute PR disaster. The guy could not sit down and come up with worse things to say if he tried not to mention have worse timing when he does it.

I have repeatedly heard from sportswriters that Boozer sits in front of the mic and says whatever you want to hear on the record and then clearly has a different perspective off the record. He is EXTREMELY disingenuous!!

Basically, he is a selfish liar who can not be trusted.

He is injury prone and a slow healer to boot.

He is a defensive liability and too short.

All things said though the goal of this team is to have the best talent on the floor to win games and Boozer is offensively the best talent at the PF position.

Millsap is by far a better person, team mate, effort-guy, yada yad BUT Millsap is not the best offensive talent at PF. Millsap is too short and does not demand a double team.

The Lakers basically won because they have more matchups that require double-teams.

Game. Set. Match.

SoCal Andy | 10:50 a.m. July 1, 2009

I would try to make a huge back-end deal with PM. If the Jazz can sign him this year for say, 5M and then raise it to 10M and 15M in years 2 and three, PM has his 10M average salary (which I doubt he will get on the free agent market) and allows the Jazz to decide next year what to do with free agents Okur, Boozer and Korver. If the latter three are still with the Jazz at season's end -- something I would be very surprised to see.

Jazz Cop | 10:52 a.m. July 1, 2009

I could care less about what boozer says, this or that, whether he opts in or out, whether he likes utah or not, who freaking cares? As far as his injury, it's suspicious, and it's probably the number one reason everyones backing off from signing him, comeon, he had to get three independent mris before he found a freaking bone chip, legitimate or not, it's not my call, am I suspicious, for sure!
If I were writing about the things boozer says, the issue would be he talks all this smack about winning a championship, but he plays like he expects his teammates to pick up the defensive slack he leaves behind. It appears that he isn't such a bad defender as much as he isn't interested in playing defense. At the 15 mil a year he wants you'd think he'd have an all around game. Same goes for okur, and especially okur, who is one of the worst defenders in the league, hands down. The jazz would have to get lucky to win a champoinship with okur and boozer, their defense isn't consistent enough for the claims to be easily believed.

louisiana jazz man | 11:11 a.m. July 1, 2009

you say that milsap is not even a starter?thatis the problem he should have been starting.boz was starting but milsap would be in when it counted at the end boz said he was a starter period...there was a reason why milsap was in at the end. if boz is worth 13 mil milsap worth way more than 13. only asking 10.

An Olympian?? | 1:28 p.m. July 1, 2009

Oh yeah, with an asterisk by his name --

*DNP, coach's (his college coach, by the way) decision.

A gold medal dud, more accurately stated.

todd "rock for senator" | 2:50 p.m. July 1, 2009

Rock gets greater (if that is possible) each and every new story he blesses us with. Salt Lake does not appreciate the greatness of what should be a Jim Murray or Murray Chass writer aka hall of fame.

Rock is right (as usual) he had the guts many people here do not have such as the 'sloanaholics"

The truth

I agree with him 150 percent...

@low blow | 4:15 p.m. July 1, 2009

yes... yes it was necessary

Horrible Article | 4:44 p.m. July 1, 2009

We wonder why so many people question Boozer everyday... How about lets write some positive articles about him for a change. Surely we all havn't forgotten that dunk at the end of game 3 in the playoffs already.

30 seconds left in the game, the score is tied and we hvae the ball. Would you rather see Millsap and D-will run a pick and roll or Boozer and D-will run theirs?

speedy | 5:33 p.m. July 1, 2009

We should trade ak-47 and Okur for tracy mcgrady. Houston is scrambling to replace yao and this would be a way to dump so salary and get an awesome.

All wrong | 5:42 p.m. July 1, 2009

The Jazz will have an excellent chance to go to the finals this next year. D-Will, Boozer, Okur, Brewer and Kirilenko, what a fabulous 5 and with Korver, Koufos, Price(If he stays) and Millsap (Hopefully) backing them they will compete very well. Maynor and Suton I believe will also add a great deal though that is to be seen.

I think this will be an exciting year. I am a little concerned that the Jazz do not have a dominant big man but that may come as well.

GO JAZZ!!!

Anonymous | 6:16 p.m. July 1, 2009

it's unfortunate we became a victim of Boozer's game,and also a victim of AK by taking too much risk of signing him with a big contract, this is a lesson to our GM and this should not happen again if we want to be a championship contender again

RE: Horrible Article | 6:55 p.m. July 1, 2009

Neither,

I would trather have a player that is a leader, creates his own offensive, can shoot the ball, and make things happen,

Get that player and put the ball in his hands with 30 seconds to go.

Getting player to fit sloans system doe NOT win chamionships.

and DO NOT BLAME AK FOR HIS SALARY!

BLAME THE MANAGEMENT who thought AK was worth paying that much,

a management that historically is always over valueing and over paying the players on the jazz.

An blame the rigid Sloan FORE NO CHAMPIONSHIPS, and his system and his decisions in deciding who plays, who doesn't, whothey get and who they get rid of, and his inablity to adapt, to make strategic changes, during a game, from team to tema, form playoff seriesto playoff series, his unwillingness to play and develop young payers.

TODD TO ALL WRONG | 6:58 p.m. July 1, 2009

you going to be able all of a sudden teach the players defense, heart and do what they are supposed to be taught to do by an "alleged" defensive expert?

Please answer that for me and all of us..

Maybe you can get a job with Sloan and staff

It's Funny To Me | 8:27 p.m. July 1, 2009

That John Stockton never was paid the max and now we pay A.K. just right after Stock is gone MAX-go figure. Malone got his and deserved every penney but Stockton? Boozers salary isn't hurting us near as much as the Russian is. Just make sure that in the future we don't sign any Russian color bearers to another max. As for Booze he will never play another minute here, just watch! Too bad I can't say the same for A.K., but I think were stuck with him.

Rock Off | 8:32 p.m. July 1, 2009

Bad article and the worst part about it is that nobody is blaming Jazz management. O'Conner is the one that need to go. Not only did he get us in this mess but also the mess with AK47. His only great draft picks who may give hope for the future and Milsap and Brewer who will be extremely great back-ups and could get 6th man of the year awards.

Name | 9:39 p.m. July 1, 2009

1. If AK is such a great team player and Booze is not, why is it that every year Boozer comes back in great shape, with an improved game and AK comes back like a guy returning from a vacation? He has done nothing to improve his game since he signed the big contract.

2. If Boozer is selfish for wanting a big contract, why is Millsap such a saint? He wants 10-13 million a year, like David Lee or Elton Brand, but has never even been a full time starter. I love Millsap, but how exactly is that less selfish than Boozer? I haven't heard any suggestion that he would take less for the good of the Jazz or even structure his contract in a cap-friendly way.

flyingpumkin | 1:01 p.m. July 2, 2009

Brad,
Why are you blaming the Jazz cap situation on Boozer? There are two other players on the team, making more money, and only one of them has made the All-Star team once, several years ago. Both Okur and Boozer were over paid by the Jazz who were desparate for anyone willing to come to Salt Lake after Stockton and Malone left. The fact is, there is not a single NBA superstar level player that wants to live in Utah. Retaining the teams only All-Star players should be good news, instead people complain Boozer is only looking out for himself. Please- who isn't? Okur and Korver both wanted more money, but did'nt find it, and Milsap is looking for the highest bidder too. Why is Boozer the only one labeled as greedy? It just doesn't make sense. Every NBA player is looking to make the most money they can before they can no longer do it. They are all paid too much money if you ask me. Nobody, especially teenagers and 20-somethings, should be paid hundreds of millions of dollars to play sports.

flyingpumkin | 1:11 p.m. July 2, 2009

Name,

You are right on the money.

Gahhh!! | 9:30 p.m. July 4, 2009

Boozer is going to come back and produce great numbers or he may not get resigned next year. But, I still won't respect him. No one really wants him for the price he has in mind, period. We are stuck with him unless someone finds his expiring contract appealing but it's not likely by the looks of things.
I love Millsap, I think he has more potential down the road than ol' Boozer, but if the Jazz are going to resign him for 8-10 million and bench him then please spare his talent and let OKC sign him.

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