Talk of unloading Boozer is silly after playoff loss

By Mike Sorensen
Deseret News
Published: Monday, May 19, 2008 12:04 a.m. MDT
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Just like that, the season's over for the Utah Jazz. But by losing Friday night, the Jazz just moved up the inevitable a few days. Did anyone really believe they had a chance of winning a seventh game in L.A. tonight? With a "normal" Carlos Boozer, the Jazz might have had a chance to knock off the Lakers, but with the Jazz forward being just a shadow of his regular-season self, they couldn't quite do it ...

Talk of unloading Boozer is silly, but what moves should the Jazz make? I can only think of one — get rid of reserve point guard Jason Hart, who was basically useless this year. But he still has another year on his contract ...

With everyone likely coming back, the Jazz should contend late in the playoffs again next year. But the Lakers will also have everyone back, plus Andre Bynum and the New Orleans Hornets are an up-and-coming team, so it won't be easy for the Jazz to advance to the NBA Finals, like some fans expect ...

Fans certainly have a right to boo, but I think the EnergySolutions crowd goes a bit overboard in booing nearly every call that goes against their team. If I were a ref, I would become oblivious to the incessant booing, but if the crowd saved its boos for the really bad calls, then I might notice. However, I hope the officials call the game as they see it, regardless of the crowd's reaction ...

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I was happy when BYU's Trent Plaisted announced the other day that he had hired an agent and was pursuing a professional career. Not because I'm happy that he's leaving college. I think except in rare cases, most players should finish their college careers and play all four years. But when he first announced he was putting his name in for the NBA Draft, I wrongly assumed Plaisted was just doing it to put his name out there so he could get more attention for himself for next season and the next NBA Draft ...

As for Plaisted's chances of going to the NBA, I don't think they're very high. He'll have to play forward in the pros, and if he gets drafted, it would probably be in the second round, and only a handful of second-rounders ever make the NBA. He could probably make some decent money playing in Europe or very little money playing the NBA D-league ...

So what can be done about the top prospects like O.J. Mayo taking money in college, getting their schools in trouble and then leaving their schools behind to make millions in the NBA? ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski has a good idea. Make players and their agents forfeit the player's first year's NBA salary if they're caught taking money illegally. That could clean things up, but like Wojciechowski said, "it has absolutely no chance of becoming reality" ...

It was interesting that two of the top women athletes in the world announced their retirements on back-to-back days last week. Annika Sorenstam, the best women's golfer over the past decade, and Justine Henin, the top women's tennis player over the past few years, both said they were giving up the sports they've dominated. Sorenstam will play out the remainder of the season, while Henin's retirement is effective immediately. It's a shame for women's sports to lose a couple of top stars, who seemingly have a few years left, but it's nice when an athlete can go out on her own terms ...

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Recent comments

Getting rid of Jason Hart is the only move you can think of for this...

Hart Fan | May 20, 2008 at 11:15 a.m.

Everyone knows for the jazz to win championship

boozer...

Jazzsmack | May 19, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.

I agree 100% with Shybo. Do NOT let Miles go. He has too much upside...

I agree with Shybo | May 19, 2008 at 5:20 p.m.