Things in Utah this season are going to be a little awkward. To say the least.
Carlos Boozer doesn’t want to be there, the team doesn’t really want him either (only they can’t find a reasonable trade league-wide), and their young stud Paul Millsap is stuck in no-man’s land. Oh, and Jerry Sloan must find a way to somehow keep everyone happy, on the court anyway.
Sloan kicked training camp off this weekend by saying he wasn’t sure who his starting power forward was going to be in 2009-’10, something that made Boozer raise an eyebrow.
The Deseret News caught up with Boozer for his reaction:
“I feel like I’m the starter,” the two-time NBA All-Star said Sunday, before the Jazz open their second day of two-a-days. “I think I’ve earned that. That’s the only role I’ve been in my whole career.”
“I think it’s great to have competition,” said Boozer, who during the offseason expressed eagerness to be traded to either Chicago or Miami. “You know, I think Paul is very good. I guess if we are competing, then we’re competing for it. But I feel like I am the starter.”
Boozer added that he’d be willing to concede some of his precious playing time to Millsap (who inked a four-year, $32 mil deal this summer). Of course, this added up to a grand total of TWO less minutes per night, something Carlos considers a “sacrifice for the betterment of the group.”
Best of luck this year, Jerry Sloan. You’re going to need it.
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