How Miami's Trade Affects Carlos Boozer

Hark, something moderately concrete amidst all the rumors (right now, the Blazers are aggressively pursuing every SF in the league): Jermaine O'Neal's arrival in Miami has major implications for this summer, at least. And one of the few players who could, for better or worse, hit the market in 2009 is oft-injured Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer. From the Deseret News:

So, what did Boozer think about his hometown team, Miami, dealing to get six-time All-Star big man Jermaine O'Neal last week in a trade that all but guarantees he won't be picked up by the Heat this offseason as rumored?

"They're trying to get better," said Boozer, who spent the All-Star break in the Florida hot spot. Boozer said he isn't worried if the Heat's move will put to bed all rumors regarding him ending up playing permanently near South Beach.

Boozer goes on to pronounce that the trade "doesn't affect me at all, actually," but only because he wants to stress that he's all about getting healthy and returning to action for the Utah Jazz. Since, O'Neal or no O'Neal, it might have still been in Boozer's best interest to take his player option and stick around SLC to sort things out with Paul Millsap. His market value has plummeted, and while he's threatened on the Jazz, at least it's guaranteed big bucks for another year.

I guess that means he then ends up part of the Class of 2010, right? Not sure if that's really a better option, but most teams were saving their dollars for 2010 anyway, or weren't going to have money free till then. Boozer may not be the fairest free agent of them all that summer, but there will be signings. Weirdly, in 2009 Miami would've been both his ideal option and one of the only teams in a position to spend. The NBA: Where fairy tales are no longer possible.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.