Utah Jazz should target Trevor Booker after Sixers buyout
By Ryan Aston
Former Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker may be on the verge of a buyout with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Jazz would be wise to seek out his services.
‘Tis the season for contract buyouts in the NBA. As such, contending teams in both conferences will get a post-trade deadline shot at beefing up for the stretch run. For their part, the Utah Jazz probably weren’t expected to be major players on the buyout market. However, at least one player that may interest them could become available.
Namely, former Jazzman turned Philadelphia 76ers forward Trevor Booker.
Per reports, Philly is close to inking free agent big man Ersan Ilyasova, himself a recipient of a buyout with the Atlanta Hawks. To make room for Ilyasova, though, the 76ers must release someone to clear a roster spot. Booker may ultimately be the guy the fall on the sword.
At Sixers shootaround on Tuesday, Booker told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he’s well aware his days in Philly may be numbered. That said, he seems to be taking the whole thing in stride.
Said Booker —
"“First and foremost, you understand that it’s a business; it won’t get to you as much. It is what it is. I understand that. I’m fine with it. If I do get waived or bought out, whatever it is, I have a lot of teams interested in me.”"
Booker wouldn’t say which teams had shown interest, but I’m of the opinion that the Jazz should be one of them. In his two years in Utah, the 30-year-old was a spark plug on the floor and a vocal leader in the huddle. It’s the kind of presence the Jazz could really benefit from as they look to climb back into the West’s playoff picture.
Before he went down with a season-ending injury, Thabo Sefolosha had filled a similar role with the team this year. When Sefolosha went down, the team applied for and received a disabled player exception worth over $2.6 million. A prorated veteran minimum deal with Booker for the rest of the season sounds like a nice use for that money.
If for no other reason than the fact that he once pulled this off —
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In all seriousness, Booker’s game would be an asset to most of the squads jockeying for playoff position right now. His intensity on both ends of the floor was made for playoff races. So, when he says there are “a lot of teams interested,” he’s probably not blowing smoke. After eight years in the league, he may be looking for his best shot to contend right now, too.
Nevertheless, the Jazz have something good brewing in Salt Lake City. And, just as he did from 2014 to 2016, Booker could contribute to the cause in a substantial way. On the floor, as well as off.
It remains to be seen whether or not Booker actually gets bought out. We’ll probably know by Wednesday when Ilyasova officially clears waivers, freeing him to join Philadelphia. If he does, though, Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey would be wise to give him a call.