Boozer back with Jazz
September 26th, 2009 Posted in NBA basketball newsCarlos Boozer says hes a little surprised to still be a member of the Utah Jazz.
Hes not alone.
After a tumultuous summer of speculation – some by Boozer himself – that the Jazz were going to trade the two-time All-Star and his hefty contract, Boozer reported with the rest of the team Friday for photos and interviews during Utahs media day.
Management brought me back so Im here in town, Boozer said. Im ready and looking forward to playing.
Actually, it wasnt managements decision. Boozer could have become a free agent by opting out of the final year of his contract, but with a weak economy he wasnt getting better offers than the $12.7 million he was guaranteed from Utah.
So Boozer opted in, then said a few weeks later in interviews with media in Chicago and Miami that the Jazz had told him he wasnt part of their future plans and that he expected to be traded soon.
Boozer also claimed there was a mutual agreement between him and the team to work out a trade that benefited both sides. The Jazz declined to comment throughout the summer, saying only that as long as Boozer was under contract he was expected here once training camp begins.
Boozer didnt say anything publicly after the interviews in July until Friday, when he was swarmed by reporters at the Jazz practice facility. Boozer said he was only answering the questions he was asked about potential trades during the interviews, but acknowledged he may have said too much.
Sometimes you put your foot in your mouth, he said.
A trade could still happen between now and the deadline in February if Utah wants to unload Boozers salary, but for now the Jazz have a power forward who can average 20 points and 10 rebounds a night – and his next contract will depend largely on what he does this season.
Boozers teammates didnt seem bothered by Boozers offseason comments and the rumors that followed. They were, however, happy to see him in the gym to field the questions some of them have been asked for months.
I told him to have fun today, swingman Kyle Korver said with a mischievous grin. I dont have a problem at all with all this stuff. The comments he made were after he thought he was being traded.
Coach Jerry Sloan has said all along that he would love to keep Boozer, who has averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds in five seasons with the Jazz but has played in only 276 of a possible 410 games because of injuries.
Sloan, who is entering his 22nd season coaching the Jazz, noted that Karl Malone also had summer spats with the team over contracts and trade demands, but he was always welcomed back. And both Malone and the Jazz did just fine during his 18 seasons with the team.
Carlos is a good player and we need good players to win, Sloan said. You can read about teams that have played and been successful, somewhere along the line they had a disagreement.
Sloan said hes happy to have nearly everybody return from last years team, which struggled through injuries but still made the playoffs for the third straight season.
If healthy, Sloan feels the Jazz have enough talent to make a run in the playoffs – if he gets them to play better defense, something he said Friday that the team will work on during camp.
Boozer, center Mehmet Okur and Korver all had contract options and all three declined to test free agency during the recession.
Okur, who later got a two-year extension, is scheduled to make $9 million this season and Korvers salary comes in at $5.2 million. The Jazz also paid big to keep restricted free agent Paul Millsap, who has been Boozers backup, by matching a huge offer from the Portland Trail Blazers.
It was a very expensive summer for the Jazz, whose choices are to pay up and see how far this lineup can go or try to unload some salary in a trade or two.
By keeping Boozer around, the Jazz indicated they arent in a rush to just dump the contract without getting something in return.
Were happy to have everybody back. Thats what weve always believed in. You get a team and you try to keep them together, Sloan said. Im not looking to trade him. If its a good business decision for our team, we have to make those decisions.
