Looks like Boozer is going to the Lakers Link A crazy season of turmoil and upheaval in Los Angeles might be taking another turn. Fox Sports Net's Jack Haley is reporting the Lakers will trade Vlade Divac, Caron Butler and Devean George to the Utah Jazz in exchange for big man Carlos Boozer, pending league approval. Trade rumors swirled around the Lakers all through All-Star Weekend in Denver, particularly forward Lamar Odom. One report Sunday said Odom had been offered to the Kings for All-Star forward Peja Stojakovic. And another said that Odom was dangled to Utah in a Boozer trade. But the Los Angeles Times reported Monday that the Lakers said Odom had not been discussed in any trade talks. The NBA's trade deadline is Thursday. Butler and Odom, along with Brian Grant, were acquired by the Lakers last July from the Heat as part of the Shaquille O'Neal blockbuster. Divac came to the Lakers in an off-season attempt to help fill the void left by O'Neal's departure, but Divac has been injury-plagued and played only eight games all season. Boozer spurned the Cavaliers in the off-season to sign a six-year, $68 million contract with the Jazz. He came under fire from the Cavaliers when they claimed he bolted for Utah after reneging on a verbal agreement to work out a long-term deal to stay in Cleveland. And recently Boozer has also caught heat in Utah, with owner Larry Miller saying that he overpaid for Boozer "for what we expected."
The Jazz got raped. Is it that the Lakers are entitled to be on the receiving end of lopsided deals? There had to have been a better offer. The Celtics could certainly have offered more. Caron Butler is undersized, and he has been overrated his entire career. Vlade Divac and Devean George are worthless. So, they're getting rid of three players they don't want for Boozer - who, despite his flaws and contract, is a very good PF. Ugh.
Again Boozer and his wife did the right thing by ditching Cleveland and taking the $68 million. I just feel sorry for Utah because FA will think twice again about signing there unless Utah is willing to overpay again. Now how do you move Okur? Juwan + Ward will definitely do
Amazing how the Laker are getting the better end of the deal. Kobe, Odom, and Boozer is a nice trio to compete with in the Western Division. The Jazz are going back to being a mediocre laughable franchise.
Sorry to point it out, but the last time the Jazz was a laughable franchise was before Stockton was drafted...
Ah yeah..and your point is? Maybe they had a nice run for the last 20 years...my point exactly, they are going back to being a joke. Sloan will resign soon and they will be in the lottery for the next 5 years. Its OK, I always disliked the Jazz.
Even if Boozer never improves, he's still a very solid young PF. Slightly overpaid maybe, but effective nevertheless. I think that the Lakers made a good move here. Miller is an ass for an owner, or so I heard.
Oh well, you hate them, and that's enough. Here I'll help you out. The Jazz will go bankrupt and be forced to move to Iraq. Tim Floyd's b*stard child will be their coach. And they will package AK47 along with their 25 future first round picks for MoT + Spoon + Matt Bullard + JVG's shampoon. They will sign Diop for $20,000 millions for 30 years this offseason. Utah will have an earthquake... Take your pick or add your own, so you can feel better.
Well, this makes the Yao + trash for Odom + Butler + Milm like a steal for the Rockets. It really is. Unless Boozer made a move to sleep with Sloan and Miller's wives in turn, the Jazzholes got gang banged to say the least.
You know, I will offer Ward + Mo + Spoon + Gaines for AK47 + filler + 2 future 1st round picks. There is a great chance that Jazz will take the offer and run.
Will the fact the Lakers have Boozer, Odom, and Kobe signed to long term and relatively big contracts impact the Lakers chances of signing Yao? I sure hope so. At least so the Lakers fans can stop talking about it
Sloan's wife just passed away this summer due to cancer... so watch what you are saying... I don't think this deal will go through. On local radio, the Jazz's owner, GM, PR guy and assistant coach all came out and denied it. Their words left no room for wiggling. Of course, this could simply be front-office talking to the media. However, I think they are risking too much of their credibility by making such strong denials if they are in fact trading Boozer. Plus, this trade makes no sense for Utah whatsoever... You don't give up a 23 years old who's averaging nearly a 20/10 for garbage! I don't think it will go through. If it does... screw the Jazz anyway!
