Jazz Power Forwards-Feast or Famine

The last two or three seasons Utah Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan has had a bit of a predicament on his hands, dividing fair playing time between his two power forwards Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap.  The Jazz had arguably the best one two punch at the position and Jerry laughed off what could have been a controversial position by saying things like “it’s a good problem to have.  You can never have too many good players.”  Well now it’s July 12, 2009 and the Trailblazers have offered Millsap a “toxic” offer and have reportedly told Carlos that “he isn’t in their long-term plans, and all of the sudden the Jazz are technically without a starting power forward.  Until they match Paul Millsap, he isn’t theirs and if Boozer has really been told that he isn’t in the future plans, I don’t think you can count on him to be excited about being here, which is exactly what the Jazz would need from him.  It’s the definition of a lame duck season.  And I don’t want to hear about the fact that it is Carlos Boozer’s contract year and that he is going to play spectacularly well and lead the Jazz to a great record and such.  I have always had the inclination that Boozer would rather have the Jazz lose and get 25 and 15, then have the Jazz win while only getting 12 points and 8 rebounds.  And that inclination was affirmed in my mind when Carlos told Jim Rome earlier this summer, that the Jazz “played really great against the Lakers.”  No, they didn’t Carlos.  What you mean to say is that you played really great.  You can look like a fantastic player and not really help your team to win.

So in my mind, the Jazz need to match Millsap’s offer.  Other than this first $10.3 million that the team will have to pay, the contract is very reasonable.  It is essentially half the salary of a max contract player and only 3/4 the value of Boozer’s contract.   And if the Jazz can move Carlos Boozer and get some cap relief, the Jazz can save at least $3 million this season and create a starting spot for Millsap.  And judging from the rumors that have been flying around, the Jazz are trying just that.  Rumors have listed Detroit, Miami, Chicago, and New York as possible destinations, but I have some other ideas.  Here are some of the options for trading Boozer along with an evaluation of how that trade would work.

Trade Partner #1- The Detroit Pistons

I have never understood why everyone keeps mentioning Detroit as a great fit for Carlos Boozer, other than the fact that they have cap space.  It is true that the Pistons don’t have Rasheed Wallace or Antonio McDyess anymore and need some frontcourt help, but they need some help from the center position.  Boozer can’t give the Pistons significant help at the center position.  They already have Charlie Villanueva and Jason Maxiell at the power forward.  And add the fact that the Pistons don’t want to give up Tayshaun Prince for Boozer and it seems that the only way the Jazz can trade Boozer to Detroit, is for peanuts in return.

Good-fit-o-meter:  3.4 out of 10, just because the Pistons have cap space.

Trade Partner #2- The Miami Heat

Udonis Haslem

WIth reports out that Dwyane Wade is pushing for a Carlos Boozer deal, the Miami Heat just became much better trade partners with the Jazz.  At least the Jazz will know that they have a dance partner, rather than piddling out onto the floor, hoping someone will join in.  But since the Heat are over the salary cap, they can’t offer much cap relief to the Jazz and would have to send back at least $9.4 million in salaries.  The caveat is if the Jazz and Heat found a third dance partner.  Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace’s phone must be ringing off the hook.  He’s such a nice guy to facilitate everyone’s trades while getting little in return.  But if the Heat and Jazz swapped just with themselves, they could send back a package of Udonis Haslem and Dorrell Wright or Michael Beasley and James Jones for Boozer.  Beasley is attractive because he has more upside, but Haslem is a much better defender and is also an expiring contract.

Good fit-o-meter:  6.7 out of 10, for little cap relief, even though the Jazz could get some nice players back.

Trade Partner #3- The Chicago Bulls

Tyrus Thomas

Supposedly, the Bulls didn’t want to give up to much of their backcourt after losing Ben Gordon to free agency and their potential deal with the Blazers and Jazz fell through.  Now that they have signed Jannero Pargo, I wonder if they feel differently.  My guess is that the 3-team deal that would have brought Tyrus Thomas and cap relief to the Jazz won’t be happening at all.  I get the feeling that the Jazz and Blazers are through with helping each other out.  So again, unless the Bulls and Jazz find a third team to facilitate the deal, the Bulls can’t offer tons of cap relief.  But I am guessing that the Jazz could get back either Tyrus Thomas or Kirk Hinrich for Boozer. 

Good fit-o-meter:  6.5 out of 10, for being similar to, but slightly less attractive than the Miami deals.

Trade Partner #4- Atlanta Hawks

Marvin Gaye Williams

I am confused about the Atlanta Hawks financial situation because some websites have them listed as well beneath the salary cap and others have them well over it.  I am not s$7 ure where the truth lies.  But by my estimation, the Hawks have $10 million wrapped up in new deals to Zaza Pachulia and Mike Bibby, putting them still $7 million or so below the salary cap.  So if that is the case, the Hawks would make a great trade partner, since they can offer cap relief and whether they know it or not, they need a low post presence.  They started Al Horford at center for most of the season.  If I had my druthers, the Hawks could sign Marvin Williams to 4 years at the MLE and trade him to the Jazz for Carlos Boozer straight up.  A package could also be made centered around Horford or Josh Smith.

Good fit-o-meter:  9.2 out of 10, if the Hawks really have $7 million in cap space.  4.9, if they don’t.

Trade Partner #5- The Golden State Warriors

Corey Maggette

Similarly to other mentioned teams, the Warriors can’t offer the Jazz capspace, but they have some talent.  Players like Branden Wright, Marco Bellinelli, and Corey Maggette could be available for Boozer.  Maybe even Ronny Turiaf would be available.  Most Jazz fans would cringe at acquiring Corey Maggette, but he would actually fit perfectly in the Jazz system with his physical style of play, good free shooting, and ability to be a little selfish and be a go-to scorer down the stretch or off the bench.  And we know that the Warriors would be interested in having the first good power forward of the franchise since Chris Webber’s rookie season.

Good fit-o-meter:  6.7 out of 10.  Similar to the Bulls type of fit.  Good pieces from the Warriors, but little financial relief.

Trade Partner #6- Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are apparently not interested in helping out their division rival and you can’t really blame them.  So my guess is that the Thunder are only interested in getting Boozer if they have to give up nothing or very little.  But the Thunder could really use a power forward of Boozer’s caliber and have tons of cap space.  If the Thunder were an Eastern Conference team, then the fit o-meter would probably be off the charts.  But since they are not…

Good fit o-meter:  2.3 out of 10

Trade Partner #7- New York Knicks

No cap space, and hardly any players that the Jazz would really want other than David Lee.  I don’t know exactly why the Knicks have been mentioned so often as a good fit for Boozer.  The Knicks would love to have Boozer because his huge contract expires in time to participate in the 2010 free agent sweepstakes, but the Knicks are going to want to give up players like Jared Jeffries or Eddy Curry to make this deal.  I don’t know why they would want to add approximately $10 million to their already astronomical luxury tax-ridden salary.  Plus, the Jazz want the Knicks to be as bad as possible this next season.  I just don’t see this happening.  Feel free to fill me in on what I am missing here.

Good fit o-meter: 1 out of 10

Trade Partner #8- Memphis Grizzlies

Hakim Warrick

Before the Grizzlies traded for Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies probably would have been the best fit for Carlos Boozer.  I wonder if the Grizzlies would have preferred to take on Boozer rather than ZBo.  But they are the Grizzlies and crazier things have happened.  They could certainly give the Jazz the cap relief they need.  If Memphis felt that Boozer could play along Randolph, or else wanted to acquire Boozer as a trade asset, then maybe they would be good trade partners.  The Jazz would do well to only take back Hakim Warrick’s $3 million contract.  And if the Grizzlies were silly enough to include Rudy Gay in that deal, then all the better.

Good fit o-meter:  5 out of 10