Should the Nets Go After Carlos Boozer?

There have been talks about Jazz forward Carlos Boozer opting out of the final year of his contract since December. Given the state of the economy, those talks have not been as loud, though it seems there are two teams that could make a serious run for him. The Jazz have both Boozer and reserve forward Paul Millsap to worry about this summer, and they have let it be known their intention to retain the younger, cheaper big man.

Tim Buckley of the Deseret News wrote about Millsap potentially being the prize in the eyes of many teams, but I honestly believe Utah will do what it takes to keep him. The Pistons are the team that have the most money to spend this summer and could land one of Utah’s forwards. Some reports had Detroit looking to possibly offer Millsap anywhere between $8 and 9 million a year, figures which, if matched by the Jazz, would all but end the Boozer era in Salt Lake.

If that scenario occurred, then the New Jersey Nets-Utah Jazz draft-day trade rumor would come into play. You may be asking yourself why Boozer would want to play in New Jersey?

For starters, Carlos owns a house in the state already, and his son receives medical treatment for his sickle cell there. Boozer also would be able to team up with a young point guard (Devin Harris) who could do some (if not all) of the things Derron Williams does.

The Nets have quite a bit they could offer Utah in a deal. One rumored package included the Nets sending:

F Ryan Anderson
F Bobby Simmons
2011 First-Round Pick (via Golden State)
2009 First-Round Pick

...and the Jazz compensating them with Boozer.

Such a swap could work for a number of reasons. The Jazz would receive salary cap relief (Simmons' $11 million comes off the cap next summer) along with a young player in Anderson and two first-round picks to build for the future. Meanwhile, the Nets would add a veteran post player who can give them 20 and 10 every night and help them compete for the playoffs right now.

If you were the Nets, would you make this deal?

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