Jazz have no plans letting Millsap go

[layupdrill]

The World Famous Layup Drill RumorMill
1/29/09

As trade rumors have circulated throughout the league over the past few weeks, one team that has steered clear from any potential movement seems to be the Utah Jazz. With the return of Carlos Boozer just a few weeks away now, the Jazz are in a very enviable position. Not only does Utah have two all-star caliber power forwards now in Boozer and Paul Millsap, but they also have three players with expiring contracts, in Brevin Knight, Jarron Collins, and Morris Almond. While Millsap can become a restricted free agent in the offseason, he will almost certainly draw interest by many teams league wide. The Jazz have come out and have said they have full intention on retaining the younger, more cost effective Millsap, which of course began the Boozer rumor mill of possibly trading him. With Boozer being out till after the trade deadline though, that option is all but gone. Another young forward drawing interest by other teams is Mavericks forward Brandon Bass. The Forth Worth Star Telegram reports today that Bass, though having been linked to trade rumors, is a young player Dallas would prefer to keep. However, many feel that like Devin Harris, Dallas could use Bass along with Jerry Stackhouse and/or Josh Howard as part of a package to attract a big name player to play alongside their All-Star, Dirk Nowitzki.
The rosters for the Rookie Challenge was announced yesterday from the league offices. The rookie team includes Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, Michael Beasley, Russell Westbrook, Rudy Fernandez, Eric Gordon, Greg Oden, Brook Lopez, and Marc Gasol.
The sop re team includes Al Horford, Al Thornton, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Rodney Stuckey, Luis Scola, Thaddeus Young, and Wilson Chandler.
In case you missed it, check out the flagrant foul Andrew Bynum had on Gerald Wallace in the Lakers double overtime loss to the Bobcats from Tuesday night. The NBA league offices are reviewing the foul, as they always do on flagrants, and if there is any suspension/fines levied, Bynum will be notified later today.

[balli]

Yeah- The past few weeks I've been reading/listening to all these ESPN pundits talk about Millsap like he was going to sign somewhere else. Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh? Sorry to burst the bubble, but the Jazz have been on record for weeks now that Millsap isn't going anywhere. If that means a year of luxury tax, so be it, but Utah's not letting the future just walk out the door.