The 13 former Jazzmen who are free agents this offseason


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SALT LAKE CITY — Overall, there are 13 free agents in this year's class who have worn a Jazz uniform at some point during their NBA careers. Here's a full breakdown of where they stand, and how much to expect them to be paid in their new contracts.

1. Paul Millsap

Paul Millsap has undeniably impressed in his two years since leaving Utah, displaying much more of a solid 3-point jump shot in Atlanta, as well as adding even more steals and assists to his game than ever before. The result has been two All-Star appearances in Atlanta as a star for the Eastern Conference's best regular-season team.

With Millsap at a legitimate All-Star level, bidding will be fierce. No player is more adaptable to different squads around him. There will be 13-15 teams who are capable of carving out maximum salary space this summer, and even at that gaudy income, Millsap could be a bargain as the salary cap balloons to $90 million in 2016 and $108 million in 2017. Millsap, though, is 30, and will be coming off of shoulder surgery.

Ultimately, though, Millsap loves Atlanta, and I suspect the Hawks convince him to stay at a small hometown discount under the max.

Prediction: 4 years, $64 million

2. Enes Kanter

Enes Kanter made clear his love for Oklahoma City multiple times last season after being traded from the Jazz, most notably in his return to Utah. But what he makes this offseason will be predicated on whether or not he can find a second team who is willing to offer him big money as well.

I suspect he will.

While his hijinks and really poor interior defense make him untouchable to some franchises, others will look past that and instead examine his incredible offensive performance in the last two months of last season, when he put up a 24.9 PER on nearly 19 points and 11 rebounds per game. They'll look at his age, just 23 years old, and figure there's no better investment than a good young player who's likely to continue growing. How good could Kanter be if he can figure out his maturity and defensive issues?

In the end, Bleacher Report suspects Kanter gets a $14 million per year offer, either from the Thunder or another team. Again, while that seems like a lot for the big man now, with a rising cap, that's the equivalent of a $10 million or so offer in today's environment.

Prediction: $4 years, $56 million

3. DeMarre Carroll

DeMarre Carroll wildly impressed this season, taking even larger leaps than he had in previous seasons. He displayed a really good 3-point shot, solid defense, and the incredible hustle that he was known for in Utah. All in all, he's a valuable starter any team can use, and 3-and-D players are only becoming more important in today's NBA. If he were a couple of years younger, he'd be getting huge offers. The 28-year-old, though, still figures to get paid, and there are plenty of teams who would love to add his skills.

New York's Phil Jackson is reportedly interested in Carroll, who shares an agent with Jazz swingman Gordon Hayward. Mark Bartelstein is reportedly seeking an average of $12 million per season, and it wouldn't be shocking if he approached that figure.

Prediction: 4 years, $44 million

4. Kosta Koufos

Memphis' backup big man has impressed since leaving Utah, making himself into a bona fide valuable backup center. I think most agree he's not a starter, but he can be an important piece of a team's rotation.

Sacramento is rumored to be interested, and Memphis will be very interested in keeping him as well. Ultimately, he'll be paid pretty well.

Prediction: 4 years, $30 million

5. Wesley Matthews

Wesley Matthews, taken from Utah five years ago when the Jazz chose not to max Portland's full MLE offer, was on pace to get a maximum contract from somebody before tearing his Achilles in March. That injury devastated Portland's playoff chances and showed what an important player Matthews is to its roster.

Some injuries don't worry NBA teams long term, but Achilles tears are awful. This post on CBS Sports' site details how players recover from ruptured Achilles, and it's not pretty: Seven of the 18 players who suffered the injury in the years from 1992 to 2012 never returned to the NBA at all. For those who did, there are some successes (Dominique Wilkins) and some failures (Mehmet Okur).

In the end, I have no idea what Matthews does. I suspect some team takes a chance offers him long-term security at the expense of average annual salary, but he could easily sign a shorter deal.

Prediction: 4 years, $28 million

6. Mo Williams

The player affectionately known in Utah as MOLO is a free agent once again this offseason. After being traded at the deadline, Williams' 27 games with Charlotte were rather impressive: He used nearly 30 percent of Charlotte's offensive possessions and did a halfway-decent job of distributing the ball. He's still probably best used as a sixth-man type, but still has value in that role.

Williams is old enough teams won't be excited to give him a long-term deal. Something in the 2-3 year range makes a lot of sense for him.

Prediction: 2 years, $10 million

7. Carlos Boozer

Everyone's favorite former Jazzman is a free agent at the end of his huge deal signed with Chicago after leaving Utah five years ago. Even Boozer's $3.25 million amnesty salary was criticized for being too large.

That being said, Boozer should land somewhere. He's still an NBA player on the back of semi-efficient midrange offense, left-hand finishing and rebounding. A role as an offense-providing bench big doesn't sound out of place.

Prediction: 2 years, $5 million

Lightning round:

Richard Jefferson persists. He somehow started two playoff games in 2015. He's also just not very good at anything beyond 3-point shooting, which he probably doesn't shoot enough of. Still, that one skill will keep him in the league next season.

Prediction: One year at the veteran's minimum.

Ronnie Price had a weirdly long stretch of games as the Lakers' starting point guard last season before going down with an elbow injury. I suspect coach Byron Scott brings him back on a non-guaranteed deal. Scott loves Price for reasons that clearly don't have to do with his basketball ability.

John Lucas III signed two 10-day deals, then one for the rest of the season with the Pistons. There, he did his John Lucas III things of shooting and being a nice person. He'll make his way onto a roster for next season, though probably not with a guaranteed contract.

Andrei Kirilenko had the choice to play in the NBA this season, but didn't due to family issues. He moved back to Russia to play for CSKA Moscow. His retirement was reported Monday, though that report was disputed Tuesday. I'd be shocked if he signed an NBA deal this offseason.

Toure' Murry played one minute for the Jazz last season, after the Jazz signed him to a two-year deal in the offseason. Knicks fans seemed to like him quite a bit, and there was enough interest in signing him last offseason that he'll definitely get a training camp invite. I'm guessing he doesn't make an opening-day roster, though.

Ian Clark was waived by the Jazz in March after never quite delivering on the promise he showed as a stellar shooter in summer league. Denver picked him up and liked him quite a bit. I'd bet he goes to its summer league roster and tries to get an invite from there.

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Andy Larsen

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