Boozer Update

Shapecity · Jan 15, 2010

Using Drew Gooden's partially guaranteed contract and the two players Dallas wound up trading to the New Jersey Nets days later -- Kris Humphries and Shawne Williams -- the Mavs could have assembled a package of contracts high enough to reach the salary range of Carlos Boozer's $12.3 million expiring contract to make the math work in a Boozer trade … but low enough to net an initial savings of $2.5 million for the Jazz.

Waiving Gooden by Jan. 6 -- which was the last day he could be released and still clear waivers -- would have then sliced another $2.6 million from Utah's payroll to essentially take the Jazz out of tax territory. It's believed that the Mavericks also would have been prepared to throw in some cash to help offset the $3.2 million due to Humphries next season.

The Jazz, though, have been telling teams for months that they won't give Boozer away. A recent slump that dragged their record to 19-17 before last Saturday's thumping win over the Mavs in Dallas apparently hasn't changed that stance.

As noted in this cyberspace when the Jazz dealt Eric Maynor and retirement-bound Matt Harpring to the Thunder in December -- which sliced Utah's luxury-tax bill this season from $12.6 million to a much more manageable $4.8 million -- Utah set itself up to be much choosier when such attempts to steal Boozer inevitably rolled in.

Since the summer we've heard repeatedly that the Jazz want at least one keeper in return (in addition to payroll relief) if they're going to consent to a Boozer deal. And that was when their luxury-tax bill was going to approach $13 million.

Now?

ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reported Monday night that Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is hoping any decision about Boozer's future is put off until free agency starts July 1.

Sloan's superiors might ultimately decide they want to move Boozer before the Feb. 18 trading deadline, but they certainly don't have to. Instead they might deem a tax payment in July in the $5 million range -- even though that's way more tax than the Jazz want to pay -- to be a one-season hit they can absorb to let the current group finish the season.
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Source: ESPN

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Boozer Update

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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Boozer Update

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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