- Kody

Answer: The likelihood the Jazz are set for next season is a lot greater than the likelihood that they'll make a major move like the one you've described. The Jazz have the NBA-maximum 15 players under contract after matching Oklahoma City's offer to C.J. Miles and are content bringing back 13 players from a team that went 54-28 last season.

Although Boozer can opt out and become a free agent next summer, I think the Jazz are willing to roll with things and see if Boozer, Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur and Co. can take the next step in becoming a legitimate championship contender. If not, there probably will be changes next year.

You are correct in concluding that Smith - at $10 million to $12 million a season - would be a more cost-effective player long-term than Boozer, especially if Boozer opts out next summer and demands a maximum-value contract, which could start at close to $18 million a season. Smith's also four years younger than Boozer at 22.

But I don't see Smith as a Jerry Sloan-type of player. After all, Smith was suspended by the Hawks for two games in April 2007 for what was described as an "expletive-filled tirade" directed at coach Mike Woodson in a loss to Philadelphia. Smith cursed at Woodson on the bench late in regulation and again in overtime before being sent to the locker room.

I also think the Hawks - remember they pushed the Celtics to seven games in the playoffs - pretty much have to find a way to keep Smith after watching Josh Childress leave for Greece this month. I'm interested to see whether Emeka Okafor's deal with Charlotte helps accelerate the pace for Smith to re-sign with Atlanta.

I'm also surprised by how many Jazz fans would be willing to sacrifice the chemistry that Boozer and Williams have established the last three seasons out of concern that he might leave next summer.

We've already gone over in the blog how the Jazz can offer Boozer more money for more years than any other team, how few franchises would have the salary-cap space to offer him a max contract and how much of a risk it would be leaving for Miami with a rookie head coach and no guarantee Dwyane Wade would stay past the 2009-10 season.