Randy Rigby hints at Boozer...

[d@!!0n0rcutt]

Randy Rigby was on 1320 KFAN and hinted at something I thought was very interesting, and maybe I am reading to far into it. Mr. Rigby stated that this offseason right after locker room clean out, he invited CARLOS BOOZER and Deron Williams to see the new jerseys for next season and asked Carlos and Deron to be thinking of things they would like to incorporate into the introductions or different things that go on during the games that they would like to see the Jazz use for future games.

This was my thinking and not the radio hosts, but did he just give away something indirectly without actually coming out bluntly and spelling it out for us, that the Utah Jazz have already worked something out with Carlos Boozer contractually for the future, to want to hear Boozer's input on future dealings with the franchise.

Which this makes me ultra excited because then the FO is actually trying to build a championship team around Deron and Carlos, and really are willing to spend some extra money in doing so, because honestly Boozer is the biggest free agent we can sign this offseason and that will keep us competitive.


ps. I will try to find a link when it comes up available to the Randy Rigby's interview today at 5.

 

[Siro]

The only thing we can conclude from this "information" is that Boozer will sign a 6 year deal. I don't see any other possibilities.

 

[InGameStrategy]

The problem with trying to build a championship team around Carlos Boozer is that you have to have an all-world center alongside him to compensate for his pathetic defense. Despite my promotion of Fesenko, he's a long way from fully compensating for Boozer's weaknesses. Also, CB has proven repeatedly that he can't play convincingly against the Lakers. Millsap's impact in the Faker series was similar to Boozer's. During the playoffs, Millsap scored, stole, and blocked at a higher rate; his TOs were lower.

I'm not ready to say that Millsap is ready to to replace Boozer, and Utah would be better than both of them--at least offensively--but a fundamental flaw in this team has been underestimating the major liability that it is to have Boozer on the floor alongside Millsap or Okur, especially against playoff-caliber teams.

In other words, Boozer, don't let the door hit you in the backside. Regardless.

 

[d@!!0n0rcutt]

if we are doing a sign and trade might as well keep Boozer instead of the garbage you would get back with equal amount of contracts.

 

[infection]

It's good to hear that we're committed to getting player input on the most important decisions the franchise will make -- stuff like logos and player intros.

 

[d@!!0n0rcutt]

not the most important but hell if you weren't going to bring a guy back don't you think you wouldn't even invite him to see the new jerseys or the other things because if he(Boozer) isn't going to be here why would his opinion matter?

 

[Stifle Tower]

This was my thinking and not the radio hosts, but did he just give away something indirectly without actually coming out bluntly and spelling it out for us, that the Utah Jazz have already worked something out with Carlos Boozer contractually for the future, to want to hear Boozer's input on future dealings with the franchise.

I think he was keeping the team's options open. But seriously, if something had already been secretly worked out, would Carlos be pimpin' himself so hard down in Miami, talking about his frienship w/ DWade, hangin' with the son of the owner, etc.?

One could argue just the opposite: that Greg Miller's comments about how well Millsap has played when given the chance - and Deron talking about how he thinks Millsap CAN be a good starter and how difficult it is to have Carlos and Paul play at the same time - those might be indicators Boozer WON'T be back.

Boozer is a great offensive talent. He's a better OFFENSIVE player than Millsap. But he didn't give Cleveland a home-town discount so you can probably assume he WON'T re-sign w/ Utah for less than market rate. I'll bet he gets about $15M, whether that comes from Miami, Chicago, New York or Utah. So give Boozer $15M and that automatically means AK's salary has to be dumped. Jazz will have $23M tied up in 2 players who can ONLY play PF (sorry, Boozer is NOT an effective 5). And Greg would not want to take back any of AK's $17M contract in return, as that puts him squarely into the luxury tax for a 3rd straight season.

Question is, does a core rotation of Deron, Boozer, Okur, Matthews, CJ, Millsap, Fesenko and Aldrich (or Udoh or Babbitt) contend for a title? I don't see it.

Jazz just can't afford to pay $15M to a 1-dimensional player. Instead, I think they need to let Boozer walk, or if possible, they could take back a cheap PF back up to give Boozer his extra year. I don't see that as a real possibility, though. Boozer is not enough of a prize to a Miami or Chicago that they'd give up a quality big. Instead, they'll just tell Boozer to sign the 5-yr. deal or they'll move on to Plan B.

If Boozer doesn't return and if the Jazz cut ties with Korver, then they have maximum flexibility with AK's expiring. Jazz could take back the full $17M in salaries and still be close to the tax threshold. I think they get a better deal this way. There's no pressure to dump salaries to save on tax penalties (like happened w/ Maynor, Harpring and Brewer). Jazz may not get the kind of deal Houston did from New York, but there WILL be some values out there. There are always teams wanting to dump salaries. If there's not a very good veteran, KOC could demand a high draft pick instead for taking on some back-up types.

 

[Revolution 9]

The problem with trying to build a championship team around Carlos Boozer is that you have to have an all-world center alongside him to compensate for his pathetic defense.

Exactly. Boozer is a good offensive player, and would be a nice piece next to a good defensive center.
Right now we don't have that. Fes looked good in the Denver series at times, and had good moments in limited time during the regular season.
He was never the defensive guy I hoped for though, and that was exposed in the Laker series.

If we commit to Deron AND Carlos as the core of our team we are really putting ourself in a tough situation to get over
the hump in the West. Boozer's defense, and health are huge risks to commit to as he ages.

 

[The Thriller]

I wouldn't read too much into this.

I think Boozer is out.

 

[d@!!0n0rcutt]

Which is why we trade Millsap for a big like Gortat or Przybilla, a team that would want Millsap's services and we can rely on AK to back up Booze or if you trade Millsap to Orlando maybe through in Koufos or something else and grab Bass. Then trade AK to soften the blow of the luxury tax.

 

[NUMBERICA]

No one is trading a C worth wanting for Paul Millsap. Absolutely no one.

 

[btrain34]

Smart move to try and get Booze's input on minor details so that the door is open for him to come back.

 

[vj_74]

Barring a major trade and/or a FA signing, I dont see us contending for the next year or even beyond that. Keep your expectations low, expect a second round exit and you'll probably enjoy the little good moments that come along the way. When I look at this Celtilcs-Lakers series and the level of competition, I feel we are'nt even in the same stratosphere as those teams. They have a guy like Rasheed Wallace come off the bench to trouble Gasol. On top, of 3 or possibly 4 future hall of famers in the starting five. AND possibly the best team defense. And still they can barely handle the Lakers.

And so, you are wrong if you think just getting a defensive center next to Booz makes us a contender. We have many more needs than that. We need better wings, better backup PG, more athleticism and such. I dont think they can fix all that this offseason. Heck, I'll be surprised if they even improve on last season's team, considering that we stand a decent chance to lose Boozer. You loze Boozer, you instantly become worse even if you get Demented Cousins in the draft.

 

[Hopper]

did he just give away something indirectly without actually coming out bluntly and spelling it out for us, that the Utah Jazz have already worked something out with Carlos Boozer contractually for the future

Anybody who has a "secret deal" with Boozer aint got no kinda nuthin.

Just ax Cleveland, know what I'm sayin?

 

[GVC]

if we are doing a sign and trade might as well keep Boozer instead of the garbage you would get back with equal amount of contracts.

As has been pointed out to you several times before, the Jazz wouldn't necessarily have to take back much salary in a Boozer S&T. Why you continue to pretend you have any clue about the NBA CBA, I don't know.

 

[InGameStrategy]

Exactly. Boozer is a good offensive player, and would be a nice piece next to a good defensive center.
Right now we don't have that. Fes looked good in the Denver series at times, and had good moments in limited time during the regular season.
He was never the defensive guy I hoped for though, and that was exposed in the Laker series.

If we commit to Deron AND Carlos as the core of our team we are really putting ourself in a tough situation to get over
the hump in the West. Boozer's defense, and health are huge risks to commit to as he ages.

I agree with you that Deron and Carlos would make a tough foundation to build on, especially with Boozer's defense or lack thereof. (His health is less of a concern IMHO because his injuries have been major but infrequent. Recovery seems to be slow for him, and if he doesn't play defense, the risk of injury is lower anyway :|.)

Fes hasn't the the defensive guy that I hope for, either (yet), but what was exposed in the Laker series is that Fes should've gotten more playing time earlier in the season, because the Jazz was better with Fes on the court than with any other combination at the 4/5. Unfortunately it wasn't enough, because Fes's offense is still limited, and he contained but not dominated on D. Nevertheless, KF was the superior choice, and if Sloan had played more of Fesenko in the first three games, maybe they could've at least picked up a W or two. Fesenko was the only player with a positive or neutral +/- in each of the four games, and Fes's impact was especially prominent in Game IV, when the Lakers outscored Utah by 24 points in the 18 minutes that Fesenko was not on the floor.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

As has been pointed out to you several times before, the Jazz wouldn't necessarily have to take back much salary in a Boozer S&T. Why you continue to pretend you have any clue about the NBA CBA, I don't know.

She pointed to her boobies!

She did, she did.

 

[Duck Rodgers]

I think Rigby just knows that Boozer has an intricate understanding of the fashion industry, being a resident of the city of Miami and all. Typical Jazz just trying to save a buck on Fashion consultants, squeezing Boozer for all he is worth before he heads back to Miami.

 

[Hopper]

I think Rigby just knows that Boozer has an intricate understanding of the fashion industry, being a resident of the city of Miami and all.

Ever since Meech left the league, I think Kobe has been the reigning "fashion" expert, ya know?: