Kevin O'Connor Has a Job to Do

Not nearly as hyped, but possibly just as likely, as Lebron's impending breakaway from the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010, is Carlos Boozer's departure from the Utah Jazz a season before.

The Desert News is reporting that Carlos Boozer won't talk contract extension with Kevin O'Connor and Utah until after the 2008-2009 season is complete.

There have been rumors and hints up to this point that Boozer would opt out of his current contract with Utah. A contract that would pay him $12.6 million in it's final year.

With teams like Memphis, Miami, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, and Minnesota primed to have the cap room to offer a hefty contract to Boozer next season, he and his agent seemingly feel it would be in Carlos's best interest to see what the market has to offer after this season.

There have been reports in the past of him bolting Utah. Most of those reports have Miami as his destination.

Minnesota already has their PF of the future in Al Jefferson so while they may have the money to offer, it's not likely that they would spend it on Carlos Boozer.

Atlanta I suppose could sign Boozer and move J Smoove to SF on a permanent basis, becoming something like the Utah Jazz of the East with Smoove playing the role of Andrei Kirilenko in Atlanta. But as with anything involving the Hawks the past few years, what they are likely to do is unpredictable.

Memphis though has the most immediate need for a player like Boozer. With Hakim Warrick as their starting PF they could use a more traditional frontcourt player in the starting role. Not a tweener (although Warrick is a very good player) that has a hard time holding his position on the block.

There were talks of them trying to acquire Zach Randolph in the summer, however they were only willing to deal for Randolph if they were permitted to unload some dead weight of their own in the form of Marko Jaric and Darko Milicic. And according to different reports, they wanted the Knicks to both pay some of Randolph's deferred money on his contract AND they also wanted a first round pick as compensation.

So it would seem that unless the Grizzlies are getting absolute maximum value in any deal they do these days, they may balk at signing him outright. Especially if it takes a max type deal to get him to commit.

Oklahoma City would like to move away from Chris Wilcox but I'm not sure if they would be in the market for a Carlos Boozer. Their team defense is already lacking. He doesn't do much to help that. Kevin Durant, while a very good offensive player, is not a good defender. Boozer isn't regarded as a good defender either. The Thunder still have no center to play next to Boozer. The key players on the team are young, they are in rebuild mode, and have just relocated to a new market. It's very unlikely that they would sign a significant free agent so soon given their circumstances.

These are things a free agent would consider in making a decision to sign with a team.

If you are the Thunder and the objective is to improve the overall level of talent on the team then Carlos Boozer would do that.

Clay Bennett is not shy with his spending. We know this much.

However, if you consider everything else I'm not sure if OKC or Boozer would think the other a good move going forward.

In the end, it will come down to the same thing that gets most free agents to sign with any team and what got Boozer to Utah in the first place. Money.

Whatever team extends the best offer to Boozer will most likely get his services for the next 4-6 years.

The Jazz do have the edge in that regard as they can offer him an extra year more than any other team on a new contract. But given their current cap situation and also facing a similar situtation with center Mehmet Okur (although on a lesser level) the Jazz almost certainly would need to move some contracts in order to be able to retain the two, with Boozer being the priority.

Andrei Kirilenko is the name bandied about most in potential trade scenarios to allow the Jazz to get the job done.

Kirilenko's contract limits the Jazz at this point as he is widely viewed as overpaid for what he brings to the team.

This will be a very restless time period for Utah GM Kevin O'Connor as how he handles these upcoming decisions will be crucial for a Utah Jazz organization that has elevated fan expectations after returning to eliteness rather quickly post the departure of their long-time Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton.