A BOOZER DESTINATION NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT

If the reports from ESPN are true that the Memphis Grizzlies had the option of taking Carlos Boozer off the Jazz’s hands, then we have learned two things: 1) The Grizzlies management is delusional.  We already knew that, but they keep making all time low moves.  The fact they took on Zach Randolph’s $33 million contract when no one else wanted him, is somewhat justified when you look at the team’s desperate need for a low post presence.  But when you learn that they could have had Carlos Boozer, perhaps while giving up very little, you just have to ask yourself, “What is Memphis thinking?”  2) But the other thing we learned from that report is that the Jazz are first and foremost looking for salary cap relief.  At least they were at the start of the Boozer opt-in.  I don’t know what the Jazz were asking in return for Boozer, but my instinct tells me that it wasn’t too much.  The best case scenario for the Jazz in a Boozer trade would be to receive a young and productive player while dealing with a team under the cap, so that the Jazz can also get financial relief this season.  I think I have found a match to fit this criteria.

Quiz:  Who is this guy?

a. Keith Bogans      b. Marvin Williams      c. Solomon Jones

Catch your answer on the flipflop.

If you read most reports, the Jazz are down to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis if they want to find a team that has cap space.  But by my calculations, the Atlanta Hawks have about $47 million committed to 10 players, putting them well below the cap.  And as we speak, the Hawks are negotiating with their restricted free agent Marvin Williams on a reported 5 year deal in the $36-40 million range.  The Jazz should swoop in and offer the Hawks Carlos Boozer for Williams before Atlanta decides Marvin is part of the future in Atlanta.

Williams was the #2 overall pick in the 2005 draft ahead of players like Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Danny Granger.  While he hasn’t enjoyed the superstar success of some of his fellow draftmates, Williams is anything but a bust.  He is also younger than his fellow classmates, having just turned 23 a month ago.  Williams has improved every season of his career and he would be a fantastic fit for the Jazz in the short and long term.  Here’s why.

Williams is a small forward

Let’s be honest.  You could make a case that the Jazz don’t have one true small forward on the roster.  They have just been using shooting guards and Andrei Kirilenko at the small forward position for the past 4 years or so.  Williams fits the perfect mold of a small forward, unless you like those quick, power-forward body types like Lebron James.  Williams is quick, can get to the basket, and also has a very servicable jump shot.  He often guards the opposing teams best wing player, because he is quick enough OR long enough to.  He would act as the perfect long-term replacement for Andrei Kirilenko and could play big minutes this season.

Williams’ offensive game

As mentioned, Williams is a good offensive player with some versatility.  Since his rookie season, Williams has been one of the best midrange shooters in the NBA and certainly the most underrated.  Just last season, Williams shot 45% from shots between 15 and 22 feet.  That is a good overall shooting percentage for a wing player and fantastic for jumpshots.  But Williams has also improved his 3 point shooting every season and last year, he shot a respectable 35% from beyond the arc.  But the thing that I love is his offensive versatility and shot selection.  Williams shot 41% of his shots from within 5 feet, 26% of his shots from three point land and 33% of his shots from midrange.  His balanced offensive attack means that you have to guard Williams all over the court.  Give him room and he will stick a jumper in your face.  Play him close or bite on his pump fake and he will go by you and get to the rim.   His 58% shooting percentage from within five feet shows that he can finish at the basket.  He also shoots an above average number of free throws for his position.

In Williams’ Defense

Williams is long and quick, which means that he can guard most any opposing wing player in the league.  His only problem is that he isn’t very big.  He would need help against the Lebron Jameses and Carmelo Anthonies of the world, but most people do.  Williams does have 15-20 pounds on both Kirilenko and CJ Miles, so even if Miles and AK bulk up this summer, Williams will still be bigger.  It is hard to measure players’ defensive impacts, but Williams is a fantastic rebounder for his position, almost exactly similar to Kirilenko in that regard.  Williams also had a positive +/- statistic for the season, although it is hard to put much measurability of a players ability in that statistic. 

It’s all about the Benjamins

Okay, it’s not really ALL about the Benjamins, but if the Hawks agreed to this trade, then it would save the Jazz $5-6 million in salary and $10-12 million in actual cash.  Would the Hawks make this trade?  I don’t know.  But they have the long-term cap space to make Boozer an offer if he pans out.  And they start Josh Smith and Al Horford at the Power Forward and Center positions, so you can’t say that they couldn’t use another low post presence.  And if the Hawks felt they were too thin at small forward, perhaps the Jazz could throw CJ Miles in the deal and cut their salary down to $75 million.  It’s got to be tempting, and in my mind, Kevin O’Connor should call the Hawks, if he hasn’t already.  And you can’t tell me that there wouldn’t be tons of great Williams to Williams catchphrases in the very least.

And for your listening pleasure, I am going to start adding songs that I am digging, to give you some looks into new music.  For starters, here’s Kings of Leon’s “Crawl.”  You probably already know them, but this song really rocks.  Enjoy.

“Crawl” – Kings of Leon