Boozer transcript
Here's a transcript of Carlos Boozer's interview Tuesday with Tom Waddle and Marc Silverman on ESPN 1000 in Chicago.
Q: Do you think you'll be traded from the Jazz?
CB: Yeah, I do. I had a talk with the Jazz and the Jazz told me they wanted to go in a different direction and I respected their decision and we mutually agreed to work out a trade that was beneficial for them as well [as] beneficial for me and my family. That being said, I'm assuming to be traded here relatively soon or in good time.
Q: Do you believe you'll be traded to the Bulls?
CB: I've definitely heard a lot of rumblings about it. I don't know if it'll go down or not. That's kind of between the Jazz and Chicago. But obviously if I did get traded to Chicago, I'd love to be a part of the Bulls.
Q: What's the general feeling about Bulls organization with Derrick Rose?
CB: A great organization. Top notch from top to bottom. They do things very professionally there. At the same time, they have a very good group of talent there, and obviously Derrick Rose being the helm of that, being the Rookie of the Year last year, and having some very good talent around him. They're a good team, and if I was able to come there, I'd add a lot, especially in the low post and being a leader as well. We'll see what happens.
Q: Are you open to signing an extension or dead set on being a free agent?
CB: Oh, no, not at all. I'd definitely be open to signing an extension and being locked into a team. Obviously, one that wanted me to be there in the future, and two, one that I thought we had a chance to succeed. That'd be something that me and my agent would explore right away.
Q: You play with a great point guard in Deron Williams. Do you see similar aspects in Derrick Rose's game?
CB: Oh, absolutely. They're both big-body point guards. They have incredible speed and quickness. And Derrick Rose is probably one of the most athletic guards I've seen in a very, very long time. Especially at the point guard position. Maybe the most athletic guard I've seen at the point guard position. Grew up a lot during the course of the season. Had a monster playoff series, that series we all remember with Boston. But very good. A bright future. Very talented, very humble. I love his demeanor. You never see him shaken, you never see him too excited. He always has the same, kind of that Tim Duncan look, where you never know if you're up by 20 or down by 20. But very explosive player, and I see a lot of similarities in him and Deron. Very good passer, very explosive player, and he's fun to watch."
Q: A lot of people have said Derrick needs to exert himself and be more of a leader?
CB: Well, I haven't got the chance to play with Derrick Rose yet I think when you're as talented as he is, I think when he sees something out there he needs to let his teammates know and be a leader. I would encourage him to assert himself more as a leader because the point guard of a team is like the quarterback for our sport. As more comfortable as he becomes being the leader and point guard of the Chicago Bulls, he'll assert himself more in the leadership role.
Q: Not only would you be an asset to the Bulls, but you might be able to recruit Dwyane Wade in 2010.
CB: Well, me and D-Wade are very, very close. We talk quite a bit. but that's a decision he has to make with himself. And obviously if I did come to the Bulls, of course I'd want to get a D-Wade on our team and I would love to have D-Wade play with us. But at the same time D-Wade is like me, he wants to win a championship bad. If I was able to go to the Bulls and get D-Wade to come, we'd be right there at the top of the list.
Q: Is that why the Bulls are your No. 1 team, you could recruit a guy like Wade?
CB: I would definitely recruit. Absolutely. I would recruit D-Wade. He'd be the first call I would make.
Q: You're a 22-12 guy when on, but can we count on Carlos Boozer to play 82 games plus the playoffs?
CB: Absolutely. I've had a couple of spells from injuries that I can't control. But my body's feeling 100 percent and I'm feeling healthy, I'm doing really well. I'm looking forward so much to next season, I have so much to prove to everybody. To play through a whole season at the same time and to dominate again, so I'm looking forward to it.
Q: Would you say the Bulls are your No. 1 destination?
CB: We'll see what happens. I would love to be a part of the Chicago Bulls, but a lot of that lays in the Utah Jazz's hands. But we're working with them to see what they want to do. And hopefully, obviously, they want to do what's best for me as well. If it happens, I'd be very happy."
Boozer went on to promote a basketball camp he's hosting in his hometown of Juneau, Alaska, in August.
--Ross Siler
Q: Do you think you'll be traded from the Jazz?
CB: Yeah, I do. I had a talk with the Jazz and the Jazz told me they wanted to go in a different direction and I respected their decision and we mutually agreed to work out a trade that was beneficial for them as well [as] beneficial for me and my family. That being said, I'm assuming to be traded here relatively soon or in good time.
Q: Do you believe you'll be traded to the Bulls?
CB: I've definitely heard a lot of rumblings about it. I don't know if it'll go down or not. That's kind of between the Jazz and Chicago. But obviously if I did get traded to Chicago, I'd love to be a part of the Bulls.
Q: What's the general feeling about Bulls organization with Derrick Rose?
CB: A great organization. Top notch from top to bottom. They do things very professionally there. At the same time, they have a very good group of talent there, and obviously Derrick Rose being the helm of that, being the Rookie of the Year last year, and having some very good talent around him. They're a good team, and if I was able to come there, I'd add a lot, especially in the low post and being a leader as well. We'll see what happens.
Q: Are you open to signing an extension or dead set on being a free agent?
CB: Oh, no, not at all. I'd definitely be open to signing an extension and being locked into a team. Obviously, one that wanted me to be there in the future, and two, one that I thought we had a chance to succeed. That'd be something that me and my agent would explore right away.
Q: You play with a great point guard in Deron Williams. Do you see similar aspects in Derrick Rose's game?
CB: Oh, absolutely. They're both big-body point guards. They have incredible speed and quickness. And Derrick Rose is probably one of the most athletic guards I've seen in a very, very long time. Especially at the point guard position. Maybe the most athletic guard I've seen at the point guard position. Grew up a lot during the course of the season. Had a monster playoff series, that series we all remember with Boston. But very good. A bright future. Very talented, very humble. I love his demeanor. You never see him shaken, you never see him too excited. He always has the same, kind of that Tim Duncan look, where you never know if you're up by 20 or down by 20. But very explosive player, and I see a lot of similarities in him and Deron. Very good passer, very explosive player, and he's fun to watch."
Q: A lot of people have said Derrick needs to exert himself and be more of a leader?
CB: Well, I haven't got the chance to play with Derrick Rose yet I think when you're as talented as he is, I think when he sees something out there he needs to let his teammates know and be a leader. I would encourage him to assert himself more as a leader because the point guard of a team is like the quarterback for our sport. As more comfortable as he becomes being the leader and point guard of the Chicago Bulls, he'll assert himself more in the leadership role.
Q: Not only would you be an asset to the Bulls, but you might be able to recruit Dwyane Wade in 2010.
CB: Well, me and D-Wade are very, very close. We talk quite a bit. but that's a decision he has to make with himself. And obviously if I did come to the Bulls, of course I'd want to get a D-Wade on our team and I would love to have D-Wade play with us. But at the same time D-Wade is like me, he wants to win a championship bad. If I was able to go to the Bulls and get D-Wade to come, we'd be right there at the top of the list.
Q: Is that why the Bulls are your No. 1 team, you could recruit a guy like Wade?
CB: I would definitely recruit. Absolutely. I would recruit D-Wade. He'd be the first call I would make.
Q: You're a 22-12 guy when on, but can we count on Carlos Boozer to play 82 games plus the playoffs?
CB: Absolutely. I've had a couple of spells from injuries that I can't control. But my body's feeling 100 percent and I'm feeling healthy, I'm doing really well. I'm looking forward so much to next season, I have so much to prove to everybody. To play through a whole season at the same time and to dominate again, so I'm looking forward to it.
Q: Would you say the Bulls are your No. 1 destination?
CB: We'll see what happens. I would love to be a part of the Chicago Bulls, but a lot of that lays in the Utah Jazz's hands. But we're working with them to see what they want to do. And hopefully, obviously, they want to do what's best for me as well. If it happens, I'd be very happy."
Boozer went on to promote a basketball camp he's hosting in his hometown of Juneau, Alaska, in August.
--Ross Siler
2:27 PM
| 
2 Comments:
At least he was smart enough not to dis the Jazz.
And let's hope his talk about D-Wade and being willing to sign an extension before the trade raises his trade value.
I am not one of those folks who reads into things and tries to draw blood from a stone in respect to starting rumors, but did he slight Williams when talking about Rose?
Post a Comment
<< Home