Jazz's big offseason tipping off News Utah Jazz

The Jazz haven't held their annual organizational planning meeting yet. But with so much to decide this offseason, they already know holding just one might not be enough. Not with just six players under contract for next season, a franchise's future at stake and individual agendas trumping all else. Understandably, too. "Everybody," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor recently said, "makes decisions based on what's good for them."

And some ? namely starting power forward Carlos Boozer, starting center Mehmet Okur and backup shooting guard Kyle Korver ? truly get to make them. Until they do, the hands of Jazz brass largely are tied. As it stands, though, as many as nine members of the team's 15-man 2008-09 NBA season roster could be free agents this offseason. That number ? based mostly on what Boozer, Okur and Korver choose ? may soon dwindle. But for now ? with the Jazz's brief playoff run ending less than two weeks ago with a Game 5, first-round loss to the Los Angeles Lakers ? much is up in the air. That in mind, what follows is a glance at where things stand ? and what factors must be weighed, both by individuals and the team ? for the time being. It's broken up player-by-player, in order ? arguably ? of impact on the team: Carlos Boozer Boozer is, without question, the lead domino: How he falls impacts the direction of so many other decisions. The two-time All-Star has until 10 p.m. on June 30 to let the Jazz know if he'll exercise the sixth-year, $12,657,233 final-season player option on his current contract. He has said he unequivocally intends to opt out, but he also claimed on the club's recent locker-cleanout day that he considers himself a franchise cornerstone and very much wants to stay long-term. How sincere that declaration is remains to be seen. But by saying what he did so shortly after the season ended, Boozer put the proverbial ball in the Jazz's court ? and set the team up to take the blame if they decide against bringing him back. One school of thought suggests Boozer's injury-plagued season ? he missed more than half of it, and had arthroscopic knee surgery ? and sub-par performance might prompt him to change his mind about opting out. That would allow him to enter the 2010 free-agency market ? when teams unable to sign marquee talent like new NBA MVP LeBron James might be willing to overpay for second-tier types. It also would allow him to avoid this year's market, which is expected to be especially dry because ? partly due to the country's current economic crisis ? both team payroll salary cap and luxury-tax threshold likely will plummet. Another school of thought suggests it makes even more sense to opt out now ? because yet another injury-hampered season could devalue him way more than this one did. But that would mean entering a market that potentially has three or fewer teams with enough cap space to sign him ? including Detroit, whose supposed interest may be waning; Memphis, which isn't likely to be a big spender anyway; and Oklahoma City, a seemingly unlikely match. If Boozer decides against opting out, the Jazz must then decide whether they'll want him to stay one more year ? or if they'll want to explore what they can get on the trade front for him and his suddenly valuable expiring contract. If he does opt out, they must decide if they want to re-sign him to a second straight long-term contract, let him walk for nothing more that payroll flexibility in return or involve him in a sign-and-trade so they recoup something of value. The Jazz's other option is to sign him to a contract extension before July 1, which ? considering his injury history and uncertain market value ? appears to be the unlikeliest possibility of all. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said after the season that the franchise needs players who can help it win, and Boozer is one who can. What must be weighed, though, is just how far his 20-point, 10-rebound-type numbers can take the team ? and how much his deficient defense will hold it back. The defense issue also applies to ? Mehmet Okur Okur has until June 30 to decide if he'll exercise the early termination option for the final, sixth-year season ? worth $9 million ? on his contract. But the Jazz could sign the one-time All-Star to an extension before then ? and Okur hopes they do. The Jazz also could re-sign the big Turk after he enters the open market ? but that would mean risk losing him sans compensation. Okur's absence for Utah's first three playoff games because of a hamstring strain only amplified the value of his spread-the-floor shooting. Then again, whenever he's on the floor the Jazz don't have a bona fide defensive-minded center ? and the team must decide if it would be willing to sacrifice his shooting in exchange for toughness down low. That, though, would also mean having to find legit outside shooting from an alternate position. But it also could make room for ? Paul Millsap The underpaid backup power forward will be a restricted free agent, but the Jazz have vowed to match any offer he receives. Such a declaration is made both because they truly want him back, and because they want to dissuade competitors from pursuing him. If Boozer, Okur and Korver all decide against testing the market, though, the Jazz must decide if they can really afford to bring Millsap back. Doing so under that scenario means being over the luxury-tax threshold even before paying Millsap ? and they've already suggested they won't be taxpayers next season. Figuring out how to have Boozer, Okur and Millsap all return would take some creative decisionmaking indeed ? and, likely, significant roster movement elsewhere. With the Jazz retaining the right to match, Millsap has no say ? though it remains to be seen if he'd voice potential unhappiness about again taking a back seat to Boozer. Kyle Korver Korver has until June 30 to decide if he'll exercise the early termination option for the final, fourth-year season ? worth $5,163,636 ? on his contract. After this season, he suggested that when he was initially traded to the Jazz he figured he'd definitely opt out ? and that since then, having come to truly enjoy his time in Utah, his thinking now isn't nearly so certain. Also at issue: Korver's true value. He must decide if it's worth risking $5 million-plus guaranteed for a chance at a multiyear deal that may add money on the back end, even if it means possibly starting at a lower number. And the Jazz must decide not only if it makes financial sense to pay that much for a backup shooting guard who struggled with his shot this season and who at times is a defensive liability, but also if his shot woes stemmed from an early season wrist injury or simply declining consistency. Ronnie Price Price started the season as the Jazz's injury-replacement starter at point guard and helped Utah open 5-0. But it wasn't long before the Utah Valley State product was relegated to No. 3 point, and he went long stretches without being heard from. Price, however, reminded everyone of his toughness and work ethic by giving the Jazz an off-the-bench boost in their final playoff game. Sloan admitted afterward that not using the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent more was a mistake. Whether that's enough for the Jazz to decide to re-sign the combo guard remains unknown, but if they do it probably means they won't bring back ? Brevin Knight Knight backed up Deron Williams because Sloan wanted a pure point as his No. 2, and the veteran is much more of that than combo guard Price. The soon-to-be unrestricted free agent also comes cheap. But the diminutive point struggled with his limited playing time, and didn't always get the Jazz into their offense. Even if the Jazz don't re-sign Price, they may decide to pass on Knight. Kyrylo Fesenko The Jazz have until June 15 to decide if they'll exercise their third-year, $870,000 team option on the reserve center's contract. Sloan suggested during the season that physical, 7-foot-2 centers don't fall off trees and always are in demand. But he also said after the season that the Jazz need players who are willing to work, and the large Ukrainian's ethic in that regard is a concern. He's inexpensive, but if the Jazz don't carry 15 next season Fesenko could be a casualty. If the Jazz do surprisingly have him back, they probably won't re-sign ? Jarron Collins The veteran big man was thanked after the season for his professionalism and readiness. Sloan also likes how the soon-to-be restricted free agent runs the system and can be plugged in at power forward or center. But after eight seasons, the Jazz must decide if that justifies bringing back Collins for another or if it's time to upgrade. MORRIS ALMOND This is the Jazz's easiest decision of all. They already opted before the season against picking up in the third-year option on the reserve shooting guard's rookie contract, and the 2007 first-round draft choice from Rice isn't in the franchise's plans. ?E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com