Hooped Up

Paul Millsap has left the Utah Jazz’s game at Miami after getting hurt trying to defend Heat center Joel Anthony.

The Jazz said Millsap needed 10 stitches in his upper lip and mouth. The forward also was diagnosed with a mild concussion after he departed with 5:49 left in the third quarter Wednesday night.

Millsap left with four points in 14 minutes. There was no immediate word on his availability for Utah’s next game, Saturday at home against Philadelphia.

Press Release

Another van glorious season of NBA basketball is about to begin and Hooped Up does a quick and dirty preview of all 30 clubs.

If I had a pint for every Carlos Boozer trade rumor I heard this summer, I’d be a Boozer.

Read More »

The Utah Jazz are going to hang on to Paul Millsap and will probably be saying goodbye to Carlos Boozer as soon as the right deal comes along.

The Jazz posted on their Web site Thursday evening that they plan to match Portland’s offer to Millsap, a restricted free agent. A formal announcement was scheduled for Friday, the last day Utah can match the US$32 million deal that includes US$10.3 million up front.

Millsap averaged 13.5 points and 8.6 rebounds last season, playing mostly as a reserve. He stepped in when starter Carlos Boozer missed 41 games with a knee injury and had a string of 19 straight double-doubles.

Millsap has potential up the ying-yang and with more minutes in a sans Boozer environment, he’ll have a real shot at being the Most Improved Player of the Year.

I’m really gonna miss all the Boozer jokes in a dry state.

Via Press Release

This off season has been a great one for over paid free agents and the Portland Trail Blazers are ready to supposedly pay Paul Millsap deserved money  the Utah Jazz won’t match according to reports.

After a series of trades fell through this week, the Trail Blazers have settled on their next target: Utah power forward Paul Millsap. Although Millsap is a restricted free agent, meaning the Jazz can match any offer, the Blazers are preparing what one source called a “toxic” offer designed to exterminate interest from other teams.

Somebody needs to pay this dude! Paul Millsap has been coming off the bench for most of his career in Utah and has somehow managed to have a career stat line of nearly 10 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1 stl and 1 blk shooting 52.3% from the field in just 22.8 minutes per game. Plus he’s only 24 years old.

Like I said, somebody pay the dude!

Via The Oregonian

Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Kyle Korver can all opt out of the final year of their contracts and have until the end of the month to do so.

”I’m not too worried about it. I’m sure it will work itself out,” Williams said during a conference call from Madrid, where the Jazz will play Real Madrid in an exhibition game Oct. 8.

The Jazz are awaiting decisions from all three players — who would cost the team almost $27 million if they return next season — and it could be a few more weeks before the team knows. Read More »

Get use to Paul Millsap in Utah because it looks like Carlos Boozer will be on the shelf for a bit longer.

“The Jazz expect All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer to be out for at least another month because of a decision to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his injured left knee. Los Angeles area-based orthopedic specialist Dr. Richard Ferkel will perform the operation, which the team said may not be performed until Jan. 9. The procedure is being postponed until then, according to a statement from the team, because of an unhealed skin laceration that occurred during rehab and is located “very near the scope site.” 

Deseret News