The Boozer fallout
Since I wasn't there for the conversation between Carlos Boozer and ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan on Wednesday night, I can't say what was and wasn't said. What I can report is that there are some in the Jazz organization who believe Boozer was, to borrow the description of one, "sideswiped" by the whole report.
That's not excusing anything Boozer said. But Boozer thought he was chatting with Sheridan, who covered the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing, and might have been talking through the various scenarios associated with opting out more than making any definitive statements about his future.
As the Jazz note, Boozer gains nothing by announcing he's opting out right now. Maybe it would have made sense to do so before the season. But right now, all Boozer's achieving is calling attention to himself when he's not playing and undergoing second MRI exams. In other words, he's hurting his value.
The Jazz also continue to believe the Boozer-to-Miami rumors are more media driven than grounded in fact. There are questions, first of all, about whether the Heat will even have $10 million of cap space to sign a free agent this summer. The Heat also have forwards Udonis Haslem and Michael Beasley, both similar to Boozer.
Boozer took part in a conference call this afternoon with the Deseret News' Tim Buckley and me. Here's the transcript of what he had to say:
"First of all, I just want to say when I was talking to Chris yesterday, obviously I was thinking it was more of a casual conversation, but he was asking about the future, for myself and also for Paul and for our team. Obviously, the thing that came out in the papers, or the Internet, whatever, what I was trying to say to him was obviously in my business, like in most people's businesses, you get a chance every now and then to sign a long-term contract and have stability.
"So the smart thing for me as an individual obviously would be to opt out and have a chance to have stability. Obviously, I wanted to stay here with the team. I wasn't trying to say I was going to leave or anything like that. Obviously, I'll look at my options, but the smart thing for me is to opt out and instead of having a one-year deal, the possibility of having a six-year deal. That makes sense for my business. That's what I was trying to tell him yesterday. I didn't know it was going to turn into this big rainfall type of thing.
"I just wanted to tell you guys that first, but also I'll answer your questions as well."
Q: "It kind of comes across as if you're looking ahead to what the summer will bring in the middle of this season."
A: "Yeah, that's not what I was doing. My focus is to get healthy. As you guys know, I've been getting treatment all the time and I try to find doctors and different people to talk to about knees and trying to figure out when I can get back on the court so I can help my teammates win and have a chance to get us back to the elite in the NBA. I was just having a regular conversation, the next thing I know it turned into a big media thing.
"But I'm not going to focus on that until this summer, like I told you guys in training camp and early on this season. I'm going to take care of all of that this summer with Kevin [O'Connor] and Larry [Miller] and Greg [Miller] and my agent, Rob Pelinka. I'm not focused on that in the slightest bit. I was obviously talking about the future in a casual conversation.
Q: "You've said a number of times that you didn't want to address any of it until the summer. Do you feel like you kind of got dragged into addressing it? Do you regret that you went into as much detail as you did?"
A: Honestly, I didn't want to talk about it, but obviously I talked about it already. All I really said is the same thing I'm telling you guys now. This summer I'll look at the situation, I'll make a decision then. Obviously, I have the opportunity to opt out and have a long-term deal as opposed to a one-year deal, and it's something I think it will be advantageous for any athlete, to have a longer-term contract than a shorter-term contract, and have some more stability.
"At the end of the day, I'm not going to roll over my feet and bite my tongue about what I said last night. I felt like I wanted to clarify that and that's the reason why I wanted to make sure I talked to you guys today even though I was getting an MRI on my knee. I didn't plan on talking about this obviously until this summer. It just kind of happened unexpectedly."
Q: "Do you fear how people might question your commitment to the team in light of what came out?"
A: "They shouldn't, they shouldn't. I'm a Jazzman. Obviously, I've been an integral part of getting this team back to the level that we are and hopefully leading us to a championship level. As you guys know, I can opt out this summer and sign a six-year deal to stay with my team, which would be a beautiful thing, especially if they're able the pieces around us and have the chance to win a championship. It had nothing to do with me wanting to leave Utah. It just has to do with stability."
Q: "The Jazz have said that in all their conversations with you and [agent] Rob [Pelinka], you've been pretty committed to staying. Is that accurate?"
A: "Absolutely. We've been having great conversation. We haven't talked a great deal - - I don't want you guys to think we've been talking or negotiating - - but in light of the conversations that we have had, it's been about me staying and them wanting me to stay here. I think we'll return to that at certain points in the season as well."
Q: "Are you worried at all about this becoming a distraction for the team?"
A: "No, I don't think so. We've got so much going on already, with guys trying to get healthy. Myself, obviously, and things going on with Jarron [Collins] and D-Will trying to get 100 percent. Obviously, we're trying to finish up this road trip before Christmas with hopefully all wins the rest of the way as opposed to that Boston game. We already have enough on our plate. I really hope not. I wasn't trying to. I definitely don't want to be a distraction for my team. I'm trying to get back healthy so I can help my team win."
Q: "You talked about getting a salary raise regardless?"
A: "No, no. He said, 'Booz, you're probably going to get a raise.' I said that's one of the reasons why I would consider being a free agent and opting of my contract so I can get a raise and come back. He basically put that in my mouth. Without saying it in so many words. He used that word [raise]. I didn't even use that word. I don't talk like that."
Q: "If the Jazz couldn't offer you a raise, but still wanted to sign you to a long-term deal, would you be willing to do something like that?"
A: "That's something we have to talk about if we have to cross that bridge. If that's something that they came at me with, that's something I would talk to them about. But I haven't had any indication ot that at all."
Q: "Have you been concerned at all that with all the focus on the opt out might put some pressure on the Jazz to consider trade possibilities to make sure they don't lose you for nothing?"
A: "In every conversation I have, that's not what they're going to do. Obviously, we've seen things happen in the past with other teams, other organizations. But I haven't gotten any indication at all that they want to trade me. I don't anticipate that at all."
There were a couple of questions about the MRI exam he underwent Thursday, but that's pretty much all that was said.
* * *
Jazz owner Larry Miller slammed Boozer in his weekly radio appearance on KFAN 1320, saying, "It's one of the top 10 stupidest things I've heard an NBA player do in 20 years."
Miller said Boozer's timing detracted from the Jazz's victory over New Jersey and came not only as he has missed 15 games with a strained left quadriceps tendon but after he missed 80 games early on after coming to the Jazz.
Those memories are hard to shake, with Miller saying, "a lot of people are still suspicious about that, a lot of fans and stuff, and we've covered for him and protected him, justifiably."
Miller made his comments from the hospital after a week in which he missed two Jazz games with continued health problems. He also said the Jazz a couple of years ago agreed to trade Boozer to find a team in a city with a better medical fit for his oldest son, Carmani.
At the time, Carmani was battling sickle cell disease, which was made more difficult by Salt Lake City's altitude. Boozer asked to be traded to four teams (presumably at sea level) and Miller said he agreed before Carmani underwent a bone marrow transplant that cured him of the disease.
* * *
The talk of opt-out clauses was good for a laugh or two. Williams cracked that he'd already decided to opt out of his new extension in 2012. Matt Harpring joked that Mehmet Okur was set to sign a 10-year, $200 million contract with a Turkish team this summer.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, however, was disappointed by Boozer's comments, which again brought up the subject of personal agendas this season. As many as nine Jazz players could be free agents after the season.
"If he had came and asked me and talked to me about it, I would give him what I think is common-sense advice," Sloan said. "But players have to be who they are. I can't legislate who they are and what they're about."
Sloan added that he wasn't about to question Boozer's commitment after watching him battle foot and hamstring injuries his first two seasons in Utah. "When he stepped on the floor, he never caused any problems," Sloan said.
Paul Millsap, who has recorded 13 consecutive double-doubles starting in place of Boozer, said of Boozer's comments, "I was surprised to hear it, but I've just got to play. I can't worry about that, I can't worry about nobody else or the future right now."
* * *
Just to end on something of a lighter note with all this Boozer stuff, Deron Williams did enjoy hurling his shoes at me before practice like that Iraqi television reporter and President George W. Bush. I just wish that Deron had yelled: "This is the farewell kiss, you dog!'' as he let those Nikes fly.
--Ross Siler
That's not excusing anything Boozer said. But Boozer thought he was chatting with Sheridan, who covered the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing, and might have been talking through the various scenarios associated with opting out more than making any definitive statements about his future.
As the Jazz note, Boozer gains nothing by announcing he's opting out right now. Maybe it would have made sense to do so before the season. But right now, all Boozer's achieving is calling attention to himself when he's not playing and undergoing second MRI exams. In other words, he's hurting his value.
The Jazz also continue to believe the Boozer-to-Miami rumors are more media driven than grounded in fact. There are questions, first of all, about whether the Heat will even have $10 million of cap space to sign a free agent this summer. The Heat also have forwards Udonis Haslem and Michael Beasley, both similar to Boozer.
Boozer took part in a conference call this afternoon with the Deseret News' Tim Buckley and me. Here's the transcript of what he had to say:
"First of all, I just want to say when I was talking to Chris yesterday, obviously I was thinking it was more of a casual conversation, but he was asking about the future, for myself and also for Paul and for our team. Obviously, the thing that came out in the papers, or the Internet, whatever, what I was trying to say to him was obviously in my business, like in most people's businesses, you get a chance every now and then to sign a long-term contract and have stability.
"So the smart thing for me as an individual obviously would be to opt out and have a chance to have stability. Obviously, I wanted to stay here with the team. I wasn't trying to say I was going to leave or anything like that. Obviously, I'll look at my options, but the smart thing for me is to opt out and instead of having a one-year deal, the possibility of having a six-year deal. That makes sense for my business. That's what I was trying to tell him yesterday. I didn't know it was going to turn into this big rainfall type of thing.
"I just wanted to tell you guys that first, but also I'll answer your questions as well."
Q: "It kind of comes across as if you're looking ahead to what the summer will bring in the middle of this season."
A: "Yeah, that's not what I was doing. My focus is to get healthy. As you guys know, I've been getting treatment all the time and I try to find doctors and different people to talk to about knees and trying to figure out when I can get back on the court so I can help my teammates win and have a chance to get us back to the elite in the NBA. I was just having a regular conversation, the next thing I know it turned into a big media thing.
"But I'm not going to focus on that until this summer, like I told you guys in training camp and early on this season. I'm going to take care of all of that this summer with Kevin [O'Connor] and Larry [Miller] and Greg [Miller] and my agent, Rob Pelinka. I'm not focused on that in the slightest bit. I was obviously talking about the future in a casual conversation.
Q: "You've said a number of times that you didn't want to address any of it until the summer. Do you feel like you kind of got dragged into addressing it? Do you regret that you went into as much detail as you did?"
A: Honestly, I didn't want to talk about it, but obviously I talked about it already. All I really said is the same thing I'm telling you guys now. This summer I'll look at the situation, I'll make a decision then. Obviously, I have the opportunity to opt out and have a long-term deal as opposed to a one-year deal, and it's something I think it will be advantageous for any athlete, to have a longer-term contract than a shorter-term contract, and have some more stability.
"At the end of the day, I'm not going to roll over my feet and bite my tongue about what I said last night. I felt like I wanted to clarify that and that's the reason why I wanted to make sure I talked to you guys today even though I was getting an MRI on my knee. I didn't plan on talking about this obviously until this summer. It just kind of happened unexpectedly."
Q: "Do you fear how people might question your commitment to the team in light of what came out?"
A: "They shouldn't, they shouldn't. I'm a Jazzman. Obviously, I've been an integral part of getting this team back to the level that we are and hopefully leading us to a championship level. As you guys know, I can opt out this summer and sign a six-year deal to stay with my team, which would be a beautiful thing, especially if they're able the pieces around us and have the chance to win a championship. It had nothing to do with me wanting to leave Utah. It just has to do with stability."
Q: "The Jazz have said that in all their conversations with you and [agent] Rob [Pelinka], you've been pretty committed to staying. Is that accurate?"
A: "Absolutely. We've been having great conversation. We haven't talked a great deal - - I don't want you guys to think we've been talking or negotiating - - but in light of the conversations that we have had, it's been about me staying and them wanting me to stay here. I think we'll return to that at certain points in the season as well."
Q: "Are you worried at all about this becoming a distraction for the team?"
A: "No, I don't think so. We've got so much going on already, with guys trying to get healthy. Myself, obviously, and things going on with Jarron [Collins] and D-Will trying to get 100 percent. Obviously, we're trying to finish up this road trip before Christmas with hopefully all wins the rest of the way as opposed to that Boston game. We already have enough on our plate. I really hope not. I wasn't trying to. I definitely don't want to be a distraction for my team. I'm trying to get back healthy so I can help my team win."
Q: "You talked about getting a salary raise regardless?"
A: "No, no. He said, 'Booz, you're probably going to get a raise.' I said that's one of the reasons why I would consider being a free agent and opting of my contract so I can get a raise and come back. He basically put that in my mouth. Without saying it in so many words. He used that word [raise]. I didn't even use that word. I don't talk like that."
Q: "If the Jazz couldn't offer you a raise, but still wanted to sign you to a long-term deal, would you be willing to do something like that?"
A: "That's something we have to talk about if we have to cross that bridge. If that's something that they came at me with, that's something I would talk to them about. But I haven't had any indication ot that at all."
Q: "Have you been concerned at all that with all the focus on the opt out might put some pressure on the Jazz to consider trade possibilities to make sure they don't lose you for nothing?"
A: "In every conversation I have, that's not what they're going to do. Obviously, we've seen things happen in the past with other teams, other organizations. But I haven't gotten any indication at all that they want to trade me. I don't anticipate that at all."
There were a couple of questions about the MRI exam he underwent Thursday, but that's pretty much all that was said.
* * *
Jazz owner Larry Miller slammed Boozer in his weekly radio appearance on KFAN 1320, saying, "It's one of the top 10 stupidest things I've heard an NBA player do in 20 years."
Miller said Boozer's timing detracted from the Jazz's victory over New Jersey and came not only as he has missed 15 games with a strained left quadriceps tendon but after he missed 80 games early on after coming to the Jazz.
Those memories are hard to shake, with Miller saying, "a lot of people are still suspicious about that, a lot of fans and stuff, and we've covered for him and protected him, justifiably."
Miller made his comments from the hospital after a week in which he missed two Jazz games with continued health problems. He also said the Jazz a couple of years ago agreed to trade Boozer to find a team in a city with a better medical fit for his oldest son, Carmani.
At the time, Carmani was battling sickle cell disease, which was made more difficult by Salt Lake City's altitude. Boozer asked to be traded to four teams (presumably at sea level) and Miller said he agreed before Carmani underwent a bone marrow transplant that cured him of the disease.
* * *
The talk of opt-out clauses was good for a laugh or two. Williams cracked that he'd already decided to opt out of his new extension in 2012. Matt Harpring joked that Mehmet Okur was set to sign a 10-year, $200 million contract with a Turkish team this summer.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, however, was disappointed by Boozer's comments, which again brought up the subject of personal agendas this season. As many as nine Jazz players could be free agents after the season.
"If he had came and asked me and talked to me about it, I would give him what I think is common-sense advice," Sloan said. "But players have to be who they are. I can't legislate who they are and what they're about."
Sloan added that he wasn't about to question Boozer's commitment after watching him battle foot and hamstring injuries his first two seasons in Utah. "When he stepped on the floor, he never caused any problems," Sloan said.
Paul Millsap, who has recorded 13 consecutive double-doubles starting in place of Boozer, said of Boozer's comments, "I was surprised to hear it, but I've just got to play. I can't worry about that, I can't worry about nobody else or the future right now."
* * *
Just to end on something of a lighter note with all this Boozer stuff, Deron Williams did enjoy hurling his shoes at me before practice like that Iraqi television reporter and President George W. Bush. I just wish that Deron had yelled: "This is the farewell kiss, you dog!'' as he let those Nikes fly.
--Ross Siler
11:52 PM
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3 Comments:
Q: "You've said a number of times that you didn't want to address any of it until the summer. Do you feel like you kind of got dragged into addressing it? Do you regret that you went into as much detail as you did?"
A: “Honestly, I didn't want to talk about it, but obviously I talked about it already. …”
Ken Sez: Nice leading, softball questions, guys. I’ll never be famous, but even I know there’s no such thing as “off the record” when talking to the media. What’d Sheridan do, Booz? Did he hit you with his notebook? Stab you with his pen? At 6’9” and 255, I never would’ve pegged you for a weakling, but if you say you couldn’t fend off Sheridan’s “assault” without getting diarrhea of the mouth … No wonder you don’t like playing hurt, fighting guys off of the block, otherwise playing defense, fighting too hard for rebounds, or [at least occasionally] slamming the ball into somebody’s grill! [“Look, Ma! Either hand! Don’t you think my finesse game is pretty?”] I’ve seen Deron Williams slam it into somebody’s grill more often than you have, Booz.
This explains a lot, Booz! (Why’re we giving you a raise, again? Oh, that’s right: you’ve got to “feed your family”, or some such bullsh** like that …Kurt Kragthorpe [see his column in 12/19’s Trib] is right: this isn’t gonna play well to the Jazz fan who just lost his job, had his house foreclosed on, and is REALLY wondering how he’s gonna feed his family! Not well at all!)
The bottom line is this: Members of the media want to get stories, and if the only way for them to do that is to renege on a[n alleged] “promise” that what a source says is “off the record,” many of them will do it—journalistic “ethics” be damned!
Q: "Are you worried at all about this becoming a distraction for the team?"
A: "No, I don't think so. We've got so much going on already, with guys trying to get healthy. …”
Ken Sez: Translation? We’ve got so many distractions already, what’s one more, right?
Q: "The Jazz have said that in all their conversations with you and [agent] Rob [Pelinka], you've been pretty committed to staying. Is that accurate?"
A: “… [I]n light of the conversations that we [Jazz officials, Booz’s agent, Rob Pelinka, and Booz] have had, it's been about me staying and them wanting me to stay here. I think we'll return to that at certain points in the season as well."
Ken Sez: Wanting you to stay? Don’t let the door hit you in the a** on the way out, Booz!
Q: "You talked about getting a salary raise regardless?"
A: “… Without saying it in so many words. He [Sheridan] used that word [raise]. I didn't even use that word. I don't talk like that. …"
Ken Sez: Okey-doke! With your penchant for protracted post-“injury” “rehab,” It’s an open question whether you’re worth what you’re getting now, let alone whether you’re worth a “raise,” but it’s good to hear that at least you won’t mind re-signing with the Jazz for the same money—worth it or not … [Booz: “Wait, wait! That’s not what I said!” OK, but you don’t like the word “raise,” remember? ;-D]
Q: "Have you been concerned at all that with all the focus on the opt out might put some pressure on the Jazz to consider trade possibilities to make sure they don't lose you for nothing?"
A: "In every conversation I have, that's not what they're going to do.”
Ken Sez: I don’t know why the he** not! Like I said, don’t let the door hit you in the a** on the way out, Booz.
It’s interesting to me that every time Boozer has allegedly said or done something that has resulted in a controversy, he’s been “misunderstood” or “taken out of context,” or something of that nature. It happened in Cleveland. Now it’s happening here in Utah. Boozer’s either the unluckiest SOB who’s ever walked the face of the planet, or …
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WTF, did Deron really throw his shoes at you? LOL.
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