There is one thing I find odd about Carlos Boozer’s name being so prominent in a certain rumor with Memphis.  Who is Memphis trading in return?

Since the time that Boozer went down with an injury and remained down for quite some time, fans in Utah have been getting restless.  Rumors of the Utah Jazz trading Boozer swirled around the trade deadline, and they continue to swirl now.  With Okur developing into a very good power forward with a constant presense on the floor with no significant injuries, and with Boozer and Okur really being too short to play center, Boozer has become expendible for the Utah Jazz.

Add into the mix the fact that they just picked up Rafael Araujo, who is also a little too short to play center, and probably will never be more than a very good backup at the the forward and center positions, and you really start thinking that Boozer’s salary would be better spent on another position.

The big question that I have with all of the trade rumors that have Boozer going to Memphis is that none of them actually have any sort of trade.  Apparently they figure that the Utah Jazz will just ship Boozer off without anything in return.

I did find one guy mention a suggestion in a blog that they might ship him and Giricek off for Eddie Jones’ expiring contract.

I suppose that’s possible, but I think Boozer could do much more for the Jazz than a possible free agent a year from now, especially considering the fact that the Jazz have a terrible time attracting free agents.

I don’t imagine that Pau would be traded, so I don’t really think that Memphis offers much in the way of a trade EXCEPT for an expiring contract, which Utah would be a fool to take.

If I were the Jazz, I would be talking with the Chicago Bulls about working out some way of getting Ben Gordon for Boozer, if I was thinking of trading Boozer at all.  Obviously there are some serious cap problems involved with that trade which would have to be ironed out, but that kind of trade would benefit both sides.

Then again, if Boozer can remain healthy, you have the 14th pick in the draft, 2 second round picks, and Deron Williams and CJ Miles continued and promising development to look forward to.

Assuming they can financially manage it, they should just stick with what they have.

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