Why Boozer Should Not Opt Out

This year's free agent class is a small one for bidding teams and top of the line talent. Only the Detroit Pistons look to be major buyers and their options are small. Also who really is lining up to live in Detroit right now? Carlos Boozer is one of the top potential free agents. Back in December before his injury it was a foregone conclusion that we would opt out of his final year and test the free agency waters. Just seven months later that decision is left completely unclear. We will have the result soon enough but I'm telling you he should stay.

First off he's going to make more money in Utah next year than anywhere else. When you have that type of cash for one year it's hard to say no. Also Utah is going to be a good team next year. They still have Deron Williams and plenty of other talent. Just two years ago they were battling the Lakers tooth and nail in the playoffs. On the flip side if he goes to Detroit they are a team in turmoil. Stuckey failed to prove himself last year. Hamilton looks like he wants out and Prince does not seem to be the player he was just two years ago. Does adding Boozer make them a contender? I don't think so. While in the west there is more competition he will be in the middle of it.

Now let us look ahead at 2010 the big free agent year. All sorts of teams are saving there cap room for the year 2010. While the Boozer won't be the top free agents (that goes to Lebron, Wade and Stoudemire and Bosh) he will be in the second tier. Now let us say that two of the two mega free agents go to one team. Let us put Bosh and Wade in Miami with Lebron staying in Cleveland. Soudemire ends up in New York. Now all of the other teams looking to move forward with cap space like New Jersey are going to be scrambling. They will have to get someone to energize the fan base after promising big things in the summer of 2010. Boozer will be then the next best thing.

While playing out your last year of a contract is always risky he really doesn't have much of a choice. He can either be stuck in Detroit for the rest of his career or take the risk of being happy the next.