Deseret News | Utah Jazz: Okur agrees on 2-year contract extension

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Utah Jazz: Okur agrees on 2-year contract extension

Miles | 8:39 p.m. July 9, 2009

This extension should help the Jazz defensively....(rolling eyes)

Cowboy Joe | 8:40 p.m. July 9, 2009

Now we no the Jazz don't want to be contenders. They are content with making the playoffs and losing in the first round. While the rest of the west is getting stronger the Jazz are staying the same or getting weaker.

benji | 8:42 p.m. July 9, 2009

that has got to be one of the dumbest moves i have ever heard. who is going to sign okur for 10+ mil next season? didn't he say that he would take a pay cut to make the jazz more competitive?

Comments continue below

anonymous | 8:46 p.m. July 9, 2009

Poor decision. Find me one team in the last 30 year to win an NBA championship with a starting center that is perimeter oriented, and is soft in the paint on both offense and defense. You can't. Plain and simple.

Anonymous | 8:52 p.m. July 9, 2009

They should have waited until next year to see if it was possible to get a major player in the 2010 class. We will always be good, but never great!

Donald | 8:53 p.m. July 9, 2009

This is great. Do not underestimate Okur's value. If he was not hurting in the playoff we would have done better.

CJ3 | 8:58 p.m. July 9, 2009

I am also concerned about the Jazz interior D (sorry, Millsap is far from sufficient for that vs the giants), but I like Memo and he brings a wide open floor to the game with him.

There goes any of your hopes for a shooter at the 2, btw. Okur more than suffices in that category.

Memo's running floater really improved last season. Some additional effort chasing loose balls, and better utilization of his size on defensive rotations would be nice to see, though.

Change for the sake of change is foolish. I'm reminded of several "core Jazz player" convos earlier this year, and the main pieces are Williams, Boozer, and Okur.

Get used to the idea that experience matters, Jazz fans.

It does, and with everyone else gettin all willy nilly this offseason the Jazz have a legit shot to shock.

CJ3 | 9:05 p.m. July 9, 2009

Memo didn't say he'd take "a pay cut." He said he'd offer a hometown discount.

At little more than 10 a year for his services both he and the Jazz management did VERY well, all things considered!

Memo has a unique skill set that resembles Nowitski's. Could we see him play a little at the 4 in the future?

That would certainly quiet Jazzsmack...;-)

Dave | 9:12 p.m. July 9, 2009

You semi-pro naysayers are nuts! This is great news. Okur gives the Jazz amazing flexibility, he's an outstanding, clutch 3-point threat, an excellent free-throw shooter for a big guy, and he has a winners attitude. And his shooting, defense, and rebounding are improving.

Look at how well we did when Boozer wasn't playing, and how bad we looked without Okur in the playoffs. That wasn't all because we were playing the Lakers.

Sloan is pretty good about putting the right players in for the situation, and Okur is right for most situations because of what he does for offensively. What defensive center wants to leave the lane, and yet who wants to give a 40%+ 3-point threat an uncontested shot, either And how about the defense he played on Yao Ming in the playoffs last year?

I love Okur. Wake up, you guys - Okur and Williams are the most important players on our team - they give us a huge competitive advantage. $10 million IS the home-team discounted price for the big guy. What's not to love about Memo?

Ohio Jazz fan | 9:12 p.m. July 9, 2009

Stop whining! Okur has been a huge part of who we are, and has hit so several 3s that sent each of you jumping and cheering at one point or another. He is not the one to eliminate, and can pull out defending big men from the key due to his range. With a few more resources around him and Williams, the Jazz can still be a great team. AK47s contract will free up the cash for a great player to assist them and get it done.

YEAH! | 9:15 p.m. July 9, 2009

Okur is top 5 center in the league and he deserves this extension. THere are a lot of bad centers out there getting 10 million or more. Heck even Brad Miller is making 12 million...Okur is way better than him

WHY IS THIS | 9:21 p.m. July 9, 2009

BREAKING NEWS?

Super! | 9:23 p.m. July 9, 2009

Memo brings offense outside and inside. You haters of him playing outside must remember that he drags the "Big" guarding him out also. He did start a penetration drive and a floater off from that last year that was very effective. He guards big slower centers just fine but does have problems with quicker players as all do. I like him because he is a model citizen and a team player first. Nice Jazz nice. Now get Miles and Booze out of here, for 2 dead flies and one penney if need be.

Belgie | 9:30 p.m. July 9, 2009

I think this is a great deal for the Jazz. Okur may not be a defensive juggernaut, but he's a solid center, and $10M a year is a fair price. He's definitely a notch above Ostertag.

jazzfizzle | 9:37 p.m. July 9, 2009

Yeah Okur's good, but then again the jazz never had a problem scoring. It's poor defending that smacks em up. Now tell me that it wouldn't have been possible and even better, to find a center that can defend and average 17. All this says is that the jazz don't want a championship enough to risk everything. Which is why we'll never have one.

European Basketball | 9:40 p.m. July 9, 2009

Okur can't play under the basket-- if you watch European Basketball they all play perimeter basketball.... their game is outside-- let Okur go home and play with the National Team in Turkey and perhaps Boozer would want to go with him if he doesn't get hurt getting on the plane......

MC | 9:41 p.m. July 9, 2009

good move by the Jazz. He's a quality player and person. He spreads the floor offensively and at least he plays with some heart.

Great move | 10:43 p.m. July 9, 2009

Keep in mind what the Jazz paid Okur - a guy who didn't hit 10 points per game during his career in Detroit - just a little bit under what his contract extension is - after hitting 17 pts and 7.7 rebs. Okur brings as much to the table as he does in his skill set as he does in the intangible asset of stretching the floor with his excellent range. This is a great move, and a good value. Without Okur, the Jazz are not a playoff team. Period.

Anonymous | 11:41 p.m. July 9, 2009

This is good move because the contract is only for 2 years. He turns 31 and the deal is done. Along with the Boozer trade - this makes the Jazz a lot better

Anonymous | 8:00 a.m. July 10, 2009

i like okur. and he is a model citizen for the jazz. if boozer goes, okur should be the one doing the pick and roll with deron. hopefully the jazz can swing a deal to trade boozer for an athletic, shot-blocking big man. and i hope the jazz get rid of miles, too.

DH | 8:09 a.m. July 10, 2009

I much prefer Okur to stay than go. He has been the most effective outside scorer they have had and they need this to stretch out the other teams defense.

Thanks for staying in town Okur.

dumb | 9:06 a.m. July 10, 2009

yay, by the time we sign everyone next year we will be about 20 million over the luxury cap

Okur | 9:50 a.m. July 10, 2009

Did you say name one team that would pay for his services? Well considering the Cavs just gave Varejo 50 million for six seasons I think this isn't that bad. I'm glad to have him back for longer.

Great News! | 10:08 a.m. July 10, 2009

Okur has been great. True he's not consistent on D but the way he spreads the floor makes a Boozer more effective (it clears the double teaming D). If we lose Milsap this year and Boozer next, they could maybe even shift Okur to the 4 spot and see about finding a true shot blocking Defensive center... wait is there such a thing anymore?

Anyway, I like Memo. He has saved the Jazz so many times with his amazing clutch 3's.

Plus, so far he's come back improved in some element of his game every season. Maybe this year it will be his D.

Nice move Jazz.

Good Move | 10:13 a.m. July 10, 2009

That is a great price tag for a PF/C with the tools that Okur offers. He isn't a dominant defensive player, but he is serviceable and his offensive versatility is an enormous asset. If the Jazz can replace Boozer with a strong defensive PF or Center who has at least slightly above average post skills, the Jazz take a strong step forward.

I agree that Okur makes up a key component of a winning core for the Jazz; now we just need to pair him and D-Will with the right pieces.

Jim Naisium | 11:15 a.m. July 10, 2009

So the Jazz decided to keep their offensive minded center who doesn't play defense or block shots. Once in a while he grabs a rebound, big deal. Okur's main selling point is he's a big who can shoot the three ball. Jazz don't need a center like that, leave the three pointers to the guards and small forwards. Jazz need a defensive presence in the middle, they should have offered Okur to the Hornets for Tyson Chandler. What bonehead move will the Jazz make next, trade Boozer for Tyrus Thomas? They will probably end up losing Millsap as well. And rumor is they are shopping AK around too. Utah is on track to be a lottery team next summer.

mao vancouver wa | 11:18 a.m. July 10, 2009

at least Okur wants to stay and help the jazz get better thats what its all about. all of us jazz fans have cheered MONEY when he hit a 3 pointer at the end of a game to put us in a lead so dont forget you know you love the MONEY man...

Smart Move! Next:Milsap | 11:33 a.m. July 10, 2009

Okur is a 3 point shooting threat and his stats are impressive. He works hard on defense and this is a smart move that allows us to have money available when D'Will's contract is up. Now we need to get Milsap to have a chance to contend next year. His price tag is going to be 7 to 8 million which is worth it.

ok if Boozer is traded | 11:47 a.m. July 10, 2009

I'm okay with Okur staying as long as Boozer is gone. Its the combo of the two that is horrible. When you have a PF and C who don't play defense you aren't going to win in the playoffs!!!

If we get someone athletic who can block shots in return for Boozer and we are able to resign Millsap I will be excited.

Donald | 12:39 p.m. July 10, 2009

Okur is great. He played great one-on-one defence on Yao Ming. He can improve his defence. He added more to his offensive game this last season. Unforetunately, he was hurt but he is not palying for Turkey this summer, so he can be in better health for the season. He wants to be in Utah, wants to improve, and is not being unreasonable on salary. What else can the Jazz ask for?
Let's see that Boozer trade go through today.

todd from santa ana | 12:43 p.m. July 10, 2009

at work, no time to read the posts now. IF Snoozer leaves maybe with someone like Tyrus Thomas and another big to play with Mehmout maybe it can work.

todd from santa ana | 12:47 p.m. July 10, 2009

he is HORRIBLE ON DEFENSE. HE IS CAPABLE OF BETTER AS 2 AND 3 YEARS AGO, FOOT SPEED A PROBLEM BUT HE JUST LETS PEOPLE GO RIGHT BY HIM., ANYONE THINKS HE IS IMPROVING IS JUST DREAMING...

todd from santa ana | 1:53 p.m. July 10, 2009

I give the Jazz kudos for a decent summer league experience. goran did a good job, I am wondering if people who have watched Brown or Duncan if they can play in this league or be kept on the jazz taxi squad of the 15 man roster?

Justin | 1:57 p.m. July 10, 2009

I agree with anonymous that the length of the extension is great. He should be worth the money for the next three years. I was worried they would give him a longer extension and the end of the contract would be really bad. I think it is a good move.

Anonymous | 2:18 p.m. July 10, 2009

okur s great... bye boozer bye.. oleyy

center | 2:20 p.m. July 10, 2009

oleyyy.. bye boozer bye...

Angel, Macedonia | 3:48 p.m. July 10, 2009

Okur is just fine, he needs to improve his D just a little bit more. I still hope that we can trade Boozer, and I also hope that AK47 will get some chance at PF, that's his natural position for his length. With DWill, Brew, CJ, AK47 and Memo, we should have a decent starting lineup. I still feel that letting Almond go is a bad move, but the time will show if I am correct or no. Also, I hope that we can see Fes and Koufos this year a bit more. Go Jazz...

Good Value | 6:22 p.m. July 10, 2009

Okur at 10 million a year is a good value. The cavs had to give Verajo 50 million over 6 years and he is no were the player Okur is. The NBA is full of big stiffs getting paid 10 mil. Atlease ours shoots 45% from down town! I really like the proposed Heinrick, Thomas Boozer deal. Thomas is a big time defender and has the talent and agressiveness to be a good offensive player. If we are goint to move Boozer we need to get a young talented big. Thomas could also be a nice compliment to slow footed Okur on Defense.

die hard | 10:31 p.m. July 10, 2009

LOYAL, COACHABLE, 6'11", AT LEAST PUT SOME EFFORT INTO DEFENSE, ABILITY TO HIT HUGH SHOTS! NOT INJURED HALF THE TIME!
GREAT DECISION JERRY AND KEVIN

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Utah Jazz: Okur agrees on 2-year contract extension

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Reader comments Utah Jazz: Okur agrees on 2-year contract extension

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Utah Jazz: Okur agrees on 2-year contract extension