Williams fine playing with Boozer News Utah Jazz

Things could change, of course, but it's sure sounding like the Utah Jazz and Carlos Boozer aren't about to part ways anytime soon. Sounds like key members of the Jazz are trying to put a positive spin on the sour situation as well. On Tuesday, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said he'll welcome the power forward back without holding a grudge for any offseason remarks regarding a desire to play elsewhere. The team's on-the-court leader echoed his coach's sentiments Wednesday afternoon to a national radio audience.

Deron Williams admitted he's heard plenty of rumors about Boozer being traded around the NBA, but he is as unsure as everybody not in-the-know about what will happen before the 2009-10 season starts up. "Right now he's a member of the Utah Jazz and, you know, that's how I'm looking at it," Williams said during an interview on "The Jim Rome Show." Williams added that he believes Boozer ? whom he admits was "a little frustrated early on" about not getting a new contract ? is approaching the situation the same way even if his teammate is disappointed things haven't turned out differently. And Williams expects the Jazz to get big production from the two-time All-Star and Olympic gold medal-winner as well. "I think it's a big year for him because it's a contract year, so I believe he'll come back and play hard and that's really all you can ask for because you know what you're going to get from him," Williams said. "The type of player he is on the offensive end is hard to match." Williams admitted that some behind-the-scenes things will need to be smoothed over if the Jazz and Boozer remain together, which didn't seem likely earlier this summer after the Duke product went public with a claim that Utah promised to trade him. That announcement came shortly after Boozer took a $12.7-million player option to stay with Utah for the final year of his contract. "He went on the radio and said he wanted to play elsewhere. If he feels that way, that's fine. But he opted in, so he's a member of this team," Williams said. "Regardless if you like somebody on or off the court, as far as I'm concerned I'm going to play with him regardless because I want to win. "So," he added, "when you step on that court, there's no bad blood at all." That's not to say, however, that some scorched bridges might not have to be reconstructed inside the locker room. "Chemistry is a big part of winning, so we'll have to establish that again, I think, once he comes back," Williams told Rome. "I don't know how hard that will be, but I look forward to doing it because I want to win. I think the rest of my teammates feel the same way, and I've known (Boozer) for four years now and I know he likes to win as well." That chemistry, however, appeared to be missing after Boozer finally returned from an injury and surgery last season. With Boozer back in the starting lineup instead of Paul Millsap, the Jazz limped into the playoffs and were quickly eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers. Add to that the fact that the Jazz re-upped Millsap for another four years and $32 million, and it could be a playing-time-splitting headache for Sloan. Unless, of course, Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor pulls a Boozer trade out from under his sleeve in the next few weeks. "It'll be interesting to see what happens," Williams said. "There's a lot of rumors going around, but you never know ... I'm looking forward to him coming back in a couple of weeks and getting this thing started." Boozer has not been heard from publicly since appearing on radio shows in Chicago and Miami in July. He was scheduled to participate in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders in South Africa this week, but a program spokesperson said he had to pull out at the last minute because of a family emergency. e-mail: jody@desnews.com