PhxGametime
Formerly Bball_31
By Phil Miller
The Salt Lake Tribune
A longtime friend of Andre Miller's said earlier this month that it would take "something strange, something out of the blue" to prevent the point guard from playing for the Utah Jazz next season.
Apparently the Denver Nuggets found something strange enough.
Miller has chosen the Nuggets over Utah, giving up a chance to play in his college hometown, according today's Denver Post. The newspaper, citing unidentified NBA sources, said the former University of Utah All-American has accepted a six-year, $55 million contract offer from the Nuggets.
Miller and his agent, Lon Babby, did not return calls from The Tribune seeking comment.
Contracts cannot be signed until Wednesday. Because Miller is a restricted free agent, his current team, the Los Angeles Clippers, will have 15 days to match the offer and keep him.
Miller's commitment to Denver removes a prominent name from the Jazz's list of free-agent targets, and it could increase their interest, already strong, in Warriors point guard Gilbert Arenas. The Jazz also have talked to Clippers guard Corey Maggette, who visited early last week, Clippers forward Elton Brand, and Pacers center Brad Miller, among others.
But Andre Miller long had been considered headed to Utah by most NBA observers, and several of his college friends believed he would end up in Salt Lake City. One told The Tribune shortly after Miller became a free agent July 1 that "Andre likes the idea of playing for the Jazz. It would take something strange, something out of the blue, for him to go somewhere else."
It's possible that the price the Nuggets were willing to pay for the fourth-year guard changed those plans. Miller's starting salary will be nearly $7.5 million next year, and the contract will be worth an average of more than $9 million per season -- possibly more than the Jazz, despite being nearly $20 million under the salary cap, were willing to pay.
With Miller off the market, the Jazz could redouble their efforts to attract Arenas, a more potent scorer who is six years younger than Miller, but who also could be more expensive. Several other guards are available as well, including Jason Terry of the Hawks, Speedy Claxton of the Spurs, and Tyronn Lue of the Wizards.
The Salt Lake Tribune
A longtime friend of Andre Miller's said earlier this month that it would take "something strange, something out of the blue" to prevent the point guard from playing for the Utah Jazz next season.
Apparently the Denver Nuggets found something strange enough.
Miller has chosen the Nuggets over Utah, giving up a chance to play in his college hometown, according today's Denver Post. The newspaper, citing unidentified NBA sources, said the former University of Utah All-American has accepted a six-year, $55 million contract offer from the Nuggets.
Miller and his agent, Lon Babby, did not return calls from The Tribune seeking comment.
Contracts cannot be signed until Wednesday. Because Miller is a restricted free agent, his current team, the Los Angeles Clippers, will have 15 days to match the offer and keep him.
Miller's commitment to Denver removes a prominent name from the Jazz's list of free-agent targets, and it could increase their interest, already strong, in Warriors point guard Gilbert Arenas. The Jazz also have talked to Clippers guard Corey Maggette, who visited early last week, Clippers forward Elton Brand, and Pacers center Brad Miller, among others.
But Andre Miller long had been considered headed to Utah by most NBA observers, and several of his college friends believed he would end up in Salt Lake City. One told The Tribune shortly after Miller became a free agent July 1 that "Andre likes the idea of playing for the Jazz. It would take something strange, something out of the blue, for him to go somewhere else."
It's possible that the price the Nuggets were willing to pay for the fourth-year guard changed those plans. Miller's starting salary will be nearly $7.5 million next year, and the contract will be worth an average of more than $9 million per season -- possibly more than the Jazz, despite being nearly $20 million under the salary cap, were willing to pay.
With Miller off the market, the Jazz could redouble their efforts to attract Arenas, a more potent scorer who is six years younger than Miller, but who also could be more expensive. Several other guards are available as well, including Jason Terry of the Hawks, Speedy Claxton of the Spurs, and Tyronn Lue of the Wizards.
