Jazz Have One of Those Good Kind of Problems

Utah’s yet to really find its rhythm this season. They’re currently sitting at eighth in the West, and while younger wings like C.J. Miles have come around, it took a minute for super-stud PG Deron William to fully return from injury.↵
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↵But what they do have is too beastly power forwards, a position any team in the league would trade their left shooting guard for. Carlos Boozer is an All-Star, an Olympian, and is just a hair shy of elite. However, he’s been out, so brawny, energetic reserve Paul Millsap has gotten his minutes -- and responded with Boozer-like numbers. What’s more, Millsap never hears whispers that he’s soft, hits the floor like he likes it, and is more of a havoc-wreaker on defense.↵
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↵There were already insinuations that Boozer might opt out this summer, perhaps eying Miami or patching things up with Cleveland. And that was before Millsap’s emergence, which further complicates the situation. Boozer announced yesterday that he’ll opt out of his contract, in effect leaving $12.6 million on the table. Then again, Millsap, who will make around $750,000 this season, is himself a restricted free agent this summer. As of now, it’s not clear who has the leverage.↵
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Utah only needs one power forward, but could conceivably end up with neither if Millsap becomes a hot commodity. Boozer, following the example of Elton Brand and Baron Davis, is leaving money on the table, either in hopes of a raise from Utah (unlikely now) or finding a better situation. Millsap would like to hit the market, but teams are hording cap space. And that’s why, as usual, everything is LeBron James’ fault. I could imagine a world where Boozer can’t find any ideal takers, Millsap can’t get that huge a raise and the Jazz match willingly, and the front office sits around doing doodles of James, or Wade, in their new unis. Because you can’t sign someone in 2010 and not redo your look.↵
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↵The smart money has to be on Utah going with Millsap long-term. But Millsap doesn’t have the longest track record as a starter to go on, and in today’s economy, that’s a minus. When Boozer returns? Maybe Sloan will play the two together, which I think he has in the past, and all hell would break loose. I’d watch that.↵
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↵Such are the pitfalls of drafting smart, I guess.↵