It starts with a simple procedure. The subsequent effects are as dramatic as they are extensive. Carlos Boozer, who's already missed 21 games this season due to injury, will miss an additional month of action due to arthroscopic knee surgery, according to the Salt Lake City Tribune.
Now, the Jazz have suffered with injuries all over their roster this season. Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko, most of the roster has missed some time. Boozer's time away has been tempered, somewhat, by the emergence of Paul Millsap. Unfortunately, this simple surgery affects that as well.
In the immediate, this makes the Jazz' trek to retain their Northwest title and top four seed that much more difficult, a prospect that's already daunting considering the Blazers' inevitable emergence and Denver's resurgence. It means that the odds are significantly impacted that they will be able to enjoy the friendly confines of their home come April and May, Considering the vast advantage they enjoy in Salt Lake, that's a pretty big hit. But the long term effects are also notable.
As the Tom-Ziller-debating SLCDunk points out, the injury means that Boozer will likely activate his option for next season. Boozer won't risk less money in the open market coming off the injury. Jazz fans had already prepared for the likelihood of Boozer vanishing in a cloud of cash (it is Carlos Boozer, after all). But they had comforted themselves with the emergence of Paul Millsap. Unfortunately, Millsap cannot be resigned without the Jazz freeing up space via a Kirilenko trade.
So to recap: Championship dreams are tarnished if not destroyed, Boozer likely to spend another year gathering steam for an exit, replacement player unable to be resigned.
So, yeah, not a great day for them.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bogus. Millsap remains with the Jazz regardless. Brand's achilles sure did prevent teams from making a run at him ... not. At least the Jazz didn't lose to the Suns w/o Nash & Stoudemire tonight.