Boozer & Okur Returning to Jazz Next Season

Were you surprised that Carlos Boozer decided not to opt out of his contract to return for his sixth season with the Utah Jazz? If you were, you shouldn’t have been.

Think about it. Boozer is coming a season in which he only suited up for only 37 games. In those contests he averaged only 16.2 points. I placed the “only” tag on his point production because he’s proven to be a surefire 20/10 guy. Last season was also the first of his career in which he shot below 50 percent from the floor.

If this was any other year, I believe that Boozer would’ve tested the waters. But after the 76ers broke the piggy bank on Elton Brand last summer (after an injury plagued campaign) to only benefit from minimal production; you better believe that teams are wary about giving up elite level money to guys in the same situation.

So Boozer will return to the Jazz making a comfy $12.7 million next year. Boozer has missed so many games during his tenure in Utah, this move just feels right. That kind of bread is nothing to cry about.

Mehmet Okur is also returning to Utah for another season. Okur has carved out a solid niche in Jerry Sloan’s system and enjoyed the best shooting percentages of his career from the floor and 3-Point range (percentage wise).

Lang
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