The Utah Jazz are a curious bunch, who may, in fact, be allergic to the concept of star-power.
Remember when the Jazz shipped Deron Williams off to the then New Jersey Nets, more than a year before he was eligible to become a free agent? Of course you do, because it was a trade that shook the basketball world. How could Utah relinquish a top 5 point guard without even making a true effort to convince him to stay?
Your guess is as good as mine, because the Jazz are reportedly at it again. According to Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah and power forward Paul Millsap have begun contract talks, which isn’t a good thing.
The sturdy six-year veteran was offered a three-year extension worth about $25 million, The Salt Lake Tribune has learned, which is the maximum extension Millsap can receive under the new collective bargaining agreement. The proposed deal features an annual 7.5 percent raise, would kick in after Millsap’s current contract expires June 2013, and could keep the career Jazzman in a Utah uniform through June 2016.
Initial indications are Millsap won’t agree to the extension, though, preferring to enter free agency in 2013 with plans to cash in on an inflated 2012 market that saw mid-tier forwards such as Gerald Wallace, Andrei Kirilenko, Nicolas Batum and Ryan Anderson recently receive lucrative multiyear contracts.
No one’s denying that NBA players make a lot of money, but are the Jazz actively attempting to push one of their cornerstones away?
Three-years and $25 million is a joke; it’s slightly less than what Jeremy Lin got for 25 games of captivation, and it’s considerably less than what Nicolas Batum received as well.
Millsap averaged 16.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game last season, posting a PER of 21.85. He’s only 27, an asset on both ends of the floor and one of the NBA’s premiere workhorses. And yet, Utah sees it fitting to offer him a contract that’s easily insulting and sure to be rejected, and no one knows why for sure.
Could the Jazz be on a mission to prove they will pony up the dollars and cents for no one, whether it be Williams or Millsap? Is Utah simply adverse to the concept of rewarding star-caliber production? Or perhaps, the Jazz’s front-office simply lost the ability to gauge a players value?
While the answer to the Jazz’s tactics remains a mystery, there next move might as well be written in stone.
Once Millsap rejects the offer—and he will reject it—Utah will find him a new home, just like they did for Williams and just like they seem resigned to do until a superstar agrees to play in Salt Lake City for less than he’s worth.
In other words, the Jazz are seemingly ready—and willing—to perpetuate a legacy laden with mediocrity.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
