 Utah Jazz WiretapJazz LinksNews Archive
NBA News
Battle For Starting Job Shocks Boozer
Sloan is still deciding between incumbent Boozer and Paul Millsap. "I feel like I'm the starter," Boozer told the Deseret News on Sunday. "I think I've earned that. That's the only role I've been in my whole career." The two-time All-Star has started each game he's played in four of his five seasons in Utah. "I think it's great to have competition," he added. "You know, I think Paul is very good. I guess if we are competing, then we're competing for it. But I feel like I am the starter." Boozer, who opted into the final year of his contract this summer before appearing to angle for a trade, said that last season's injury shouldn't be held against him. "Obviously me being hurt, that hurt us a little bit. I think if I was healthy we'd have a higher seed (than eighth in the Western Conference) in the playoffs," he said. "But, at the same time, maybe it does (have an impact on his status). "You know, I can't control having knee surgery. I had to have it. I tried to avoid it, but I had to have it," added Boozer, who first sustained a quadriceps injury and later underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. "So if it affects me from that respect then that's (Sloan's) decision." Boozer added that while he wants to start, he'd yield some minutes to Millsap if it meant the Jazz would win more games. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Boozer Surprised He's Still With Jazz
Boozer opted into the final year of his contract, but said in multiple interviews this summer that he expected Utah to trade him. "Management brought me back so I'm here in town," Boozer told the Associated Press on Friday. "I'm ready and looking forward to playing." At one point, Boozer claimed there was a mutual agreement between him and the team to work out a trade that benefited both sides. A trade could still happen between now and the NBA's trade deadline in February, but the forward admitted that he shouldn't have been talking about potential trades this offseason. "Sometimes you put your foot in your mouth," Boozer said. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Harpring Becomes Valuable Trade Chip
The Jazz should be able to recover the majority of Harpring's salary from insurance if he misses at least half the season. By keeping him on the roster, Harpring gives the Jazz a 13th player under contract as the NBA requires. He also could prove an attractive trade chip with an expiring contract. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Jazz Sep 2009 Archive
|
Jazz forward Carlos Boozer was surprised by news that coach Jerry Sloan had yet to decide who would be the team's starting power forward.
Matt Harpring's $6.5 million salary is fully guaranteed for this season and the Jazz would see no salary cap/luxury tax relief were he unable to play, as the NBA requires a one-year waiting period following retirement in such cases.