Jazz should have buying power next year, too

Date: 3 Jul 2003 08:28:03 -0700
Newsgroups: alt.sports.basketball.nba.la-lakers,alt.sports.basketball.nba.utah-jazz,rec.sport.basketball.pro,alt.sports.basketball.nba
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http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Jul/07032003/sports/sports.asp
Being one of only four teams with real money to spend on free agents
puts the Jazz in a great position this summer. And here's the best
part: They might get to do it again next year. The Jazz are as much as $20 million under next year's salary cap,
thanks to the expiration of Karl Malone and John Stockton's contracts.
That, and the fact that only the Clippers, Nuggets and Spurs are
similarly situated, gives them buying power in a market that includes
several young players. Even if they sign two or three of their top-priority targets --
forwards Elton Brand and Corey Maggette or guards Gilbert Arenas,
Andre Miller and Jason Terry -- this summer, the Jazz could be well
below the salary cap again next July. "No matter what happens, we could be a player in the market next
year," said Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's vice president of basketball
operations. "If you have young players, you have options. . . . This
isn't a one-time shot." That's because Greg Ostertag's six-year, $39 million contract
expires next June 30, clearing the $8.7 million the veteran center
will earn next season from the Jazz's payroll. It will also be DeShawn
Stevenson's last season at $1.6 million a year, though the Jazz can
make him a restricted free agent, just in time for the 2004 free-agent
period. That's a marketplace that likely will include -- what the heck, go
ahead and dream -- Kevin Garnett, Kenyon Martin, Rasheed Wallace, Mike
Miller and Ostertag. Perhaps none but the longtime Jazz center is
likely to consider signing with Utah, but there are always valuable
second-tier players available, too.