Utah Jazz team report

July 30, 10:49 AMUtah Jazz ExaminerJeff Lockard

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This year will be difficult financially, but after the initial payout in Paul Millsap's deal the remainder of the contract is quite reasonable. At the six to seven million dollar per year range it allows Utah the flexibility to bring Millsap off the bench or use him as a starter dependent upon how his skills develop. Often when teams over pay for players they handcuff themselves into starting players who don't deserve to be start in an attempt to cover their own financial mistake. Also, the decision to bring back Ronnie Price makes a lot of sense. Eric Maynor struggled during the Orlando Summer League and it appears he will need time to develop. Price signed a two year contract and will see the bulk of the reserve minutes at point guard next season.

Will Carlos Boozer stay, will he go, and what is the timeline for a decision? Boozer's salary does not become a financial burden until February so right now the situation isn't urgent. However, what the other 29 teams know now, they will also know in February. Boozer wants out and Utah wants him out. The one thing to keep in mind is that even if the Jazz can move Boozer the deal will likely not bring significant luxury or salary cap relief back in return. Personnel moves made between teams that are over the salary cap must meet certain CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) regulations. Essentially if a deal gets done the Jazz would be forced to take back close to the 12.5 million owed to Boozer in return salary. The only way around this is if Utah can find a team that wants Boozer and is below the $57.7 million dollar salary cap, at this point that seems unlikely.

Don't expect the Jazz to make any significant noise in free agency next summer if Andrei Kirilenko is still in Utah. His 17 million dollar contract will all but eliminate any veteran acquisitions. Utah's key addition next summer will come through the NBA Draft, plus the possible exodus of Boozer, Kyle Korver and Matt Harpring following the season could make the Jazz one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Utah's long standing identity as a veteran team could be changing. The players currently under contract for the 2010-11 season equal 25.3 years of age, add two or three draft picks to the roster and the average age is likely to drop below 25. Will that swing from veteran to youth be enough to sway the mind of Jerry Sloan to call it quits? If that's a possibility why not take a gamble this season?

Time to venture into the blogosphere and enjoy the land of wonder and make-believe. Under normal circumstances the proposal of acquiring Tracy McGrady would never enter the equation, but this could be an all or nothing season so why not take the risk? McGrady should be properly motivated since he will be playing for his next contract, and if Kirilenko was moved to Houston in the deal it would free up 17 million dollars next summer. Unfortunately, the reasons worth acquiring McGrady are also the reasons that Houston would be hesitant to part with him or his contract. However, if the Rockets were on board, it seems like a risk the Jazz organization should be willing to take. A starting line-up of: Deron Williams, Ronnie Brewer, Tracy McGrady, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur would certainly make Utah a NBA Championship contender assuming that the starting five remains healthy and motivated throughout the season. If the team plays well and the players meet expectations then Jerry Sloan could go out on a high note, if the team derails then Utah can let Boozer and McGrady walk as unrestricted free agents and enjoy 35 million dollars in cap relief next summer.