One of the most difficult decisions the Utah Jazz front office will face in the off-season is whether or not to go after Carlos Boozer, who plans to opt-out of his current contract. And with the future of over half of the current Jazz roster up in the air in the form of player options, team options, and free agency…it’s just one of many tough decisions to be made.
After a tumultuous season filled with injuries and inconsistency, the Jazz seemed to take a step backwards…struggling down the stretch when they finally seemed to be getting healthy. Instead of battling for the division and preparing for another playoff run, their lackluster performance earned them a #8 seed and a virtually impossible first-round match-up against the Lakers.
Complicating matters, Carlos Boozer has sent mixed signals about his intentions. Earlier in the year, his departure seemed inevitable. But after his team was dismantled in the LA series, he emphatically stated his desire to stay in Utah. And perhaps more importantly, long-time Jazz coach Jerry Sloan seems to want him back in a Jazz uniform next year as well.
What to do?
It’s the most difficult contract situation there is for an NBA franchise. And here’s how Boozer has made the choice even tougher for the Utah front office:
- On paper, Boozer looks like a player that Utah can ill afford to lose. He’s a legitimate 20 PPG-10 RPG threat with a versatile offensive repertoire, which has become a rarity in the NBA. At his best, Carlos has the most complete offensive arsenal of any power forward in the league. He has a solid mid-range jump shot, great skills with his back to the basket in the post, and the strength-quickness combo to score consistently in the paint.
- But on the other hand, Boozer has yet to live up to his potential. Even overlooking his injury history, there are significant flaws in his game and consistency. More often than not, somebody that grabs 10+ rebounds per game is also known for top-notch defense…but that isn’t the case with Carlos. While he can be a very physical defender at times, he doesn’t seem interested in doing so on a consistent basis. The very skills that make him unstoppable on the offensive end simply aren’t utilized on defense. Even though he’s never earned a negative reputation for it, he really has become a lazy defender. He doesn’t body up, he doesn’t step out to defend pick-and-roll screens, and he doesn’t seem to give maximum effort until blocking out for a rebound. And since Mehmet Okur is no defensive dynamo himself, it’s a deficiency that his team has never been able to make up for…especially in the post-season (see Lamar Odom’s recent 62% FG against Utah).
As hard as Boozer has worked to become an All-Star caliber player, I just don’t get the sense that he’s a winner. Which is odd, because he seemed to be just the opposite as a member of Duke’s 2001 championship team.
Carlos came into the league with a reputation as a solid defender, but I’ve watched his effort fade as his offensive production increased. When I watch his teammate, Deron Williams, I am constantly amazed at the amount of energy he plays with at all times…despite playing a massive amount of minutes. Williams pushes the ball off of every rebound, even if only to back up and set up the half-court offense. He works equally hard on defense, playing against some of the quickest guards in the league. Deron has a particular knack for knowing when to look for his own offense, and when to defer to his teammates…not completely unlike John Stockton.
But with Boozer, the effort isn’t always there. Hit or miss, he’ll take his shots. And even though he mixes it up pretty well, he can also be content to take outside jumpers. His defensive effort comes in spurts, but is never spectacular.
Maybe it’s unfair to be so critical of such a great player, but one of my pet peeves is watching a talented player that doesn’t utilize his skills on defense. Boozer doesn’t defend well against screens, even though he thrives offensively in a pick-and-roll based system. He is a strong, physical presence, yet has trouble keeping weaker players out of the post.
The general consensus is that Utah can afford to bring back either Carlos Boozer or Paul Millsap, but not both. I certainly wouldn’t want to make that decision, because it sure is a tough one. Millsap may never develop into an offensive force, as he still struggles in isolated post-up situations and his flat-footed jumper leaves something to be desired. But at least with Millsap, you don’t ever have to worry about effort.
I’d like to think that Carlos Boozer has the desire to acknowledge his weaknesses, and become the championship player I know he could be. But for that to happen, he’ll need to show us all something we haven’t seen from him before…relentless effort.
“Size doesn’t make any difference; heart is what makes a difference.” – Jerry Sloan
