Presently, the Utah Jazz are one of the best teams in the League, and if they can keep their core group together, they have a chance to do some special things over the next few years. Well, turns out that the team (specifically, management) is facing a pretty big if when it comes to signing certain well-paid guys.
Next summer promises to be a rather stressful time for anyone with interest in the fortunes of the Utah Jazz.
From the Deseret News:
Though Miller officially handed over control of the franchise earlier this summer to his son, Greg Miller, the Jazz owner raised some eyes when he talked about next year’s offseason when — among many other things — the franchise will likely be challenged to keep Carlos Boozer in the fold.
“We’re going to have to make some very, very tough decisions next year,” the elder Miller said. “I do not intend us to be a luxury-tax payer, but only because we have to have an economically stable franchise regardless of anything else.”
Boozer, an elite player in the NBA any way you slice it, will obviously command top dollar. Mehmet Okur and Kyle Korver, two of Carlos’s teammates who can opt out of their current deals after the season, probably won’t be looking to take a pay cut either.
Next summer, the Jazz braintrust must determine how big of a financial bullet they’re willing to bite, in order to continue winning ballgames and making noise in the postseason for years to come.
