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The WAC will hold their Football Media Days here in Salt Lake this week.  I will try to check out some of the sessions and I’m sure we’ll have Utah State Football Coach Gary Andersen on this week to discuss as well.  In the meantime here is my predictions for the upcoming WAC season:

1.  BOISE STATE:  No brainer pick.  Best offense. Best defense.  BCS busting favorite.
2.  NEVADA:  Great offense but can the defense stop anyone after yielding an average of 32.2ppg a year ago.
3.  LOUISIANA TECH:  Coming off a 2nd place finish and a bowl win, Bulldogs have enough offense to stay in upper pack of WAC.
4.  FRESNO STATE:  Always competitive but an unproven QB and a questionable run defense puts the Bulldogs in this spot.
5.  UTAH STATE:  Maybe a little high but that’s how much faith I have in Gary Andersen to turn this thing around.  Offensively they should be good.  Defense will be an issue.
6.  SAN JOSE STATE:  Must fill some holes at RB and in the secondary.
7.  HAWAII:  Wasn’t it just a couple of years ago the Warriors were in the BCS?  Program seems to be on the decline.
8.  NEW MEXICO STATE:  DeWayne Walker has credentials to be a good head coach but with bunch he has his hands full. 
9.  IDAHO:  Will fight with NM State to stay out of this spot.  Pretty much all they can hope for.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Kellen Moore-QB-Boise State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Kevin Basped-DE-Nevada

Looks to me like Bron rotated over late and the guy dunked over him but not a true being “dunked on” Ronnie Price over Boozer moment. The hype was worse because Nike took the tape. Had it just been released it wouldn’t have made the waves.

Check out former Jazzman Jarron Collins partying at the Playboy Mansion…He’s even called an NBA star in this piece….He is so not coming back to the team now…

The only thing Carlos Boozer did by going on a Chicago Radio station and telling the world that the Jazz will trade him is lose the team some leverage. While the team has until the trade deadline to deal him, the reality is they must do so before the season starts and all the other NBA teams know this. This hurts the Jazz but they can still make a solid deal.

Let’s first start by declaring who is NOT looking to trade for Boozer:

Atlanta (Josh Smith), Boston (Garnett), Dallas (Dirk, Marion), Denver (In division, Martin contract), Indiana (Not ready to win, smaller market, Hansbrough), Clippers (Griffin), Lakers (Gasol), Memphis (Randolph), Milwaukee (money issues), Minnesota (Jefferson Love, division), New Orleans (money, West), New York (wants Lee back), OKC (division), Orlando (no matching salaries, no money left), Philly (Brand), Portland (division, Aldredge), Phoenix (money), Sacramento (money), San Antonio (Duncan), Toronto Bosh), Washington (Jamison).

That leaves: Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, Miami and New Jersey. New Jersey has no viable trade options for the Jazz and would need a third team. Detroit would need a third team as they have offered the Hamilton or Prince deals and the Jazz have said no. Houston is desperate to replace Yao’s inside scoring , Golden State has said they are not interested but that may be a lie.

Here are some deals that make sense for various reasons and the parameters in which a deal will be made:

1. THE DEAL IS MORE THAN ABOUT GETTING FAIR VALUE: The Jazz are a small market team and need to take into consideration the long-term salaries of the players they get back for Boozer. Talent is always important but this deal will be about saving money as well especially for next season when the luxury tax number goes down further. This means no Rip Hamilton from Detroit and the remaining nearly $50M on his deal.
2. THE JAZZ SHOULD THINK LONG TERM: Utah isn’t winning the NBA title anytime soon so they need to think long term with this deal. Acquire assets like draft picks and young inexpensive players with potential. This way the team grows together and salaries stay low. AK, Deron, Millsap and Okur are taking most of the cap space and more importantly luxury tax space for the next two seasons. The team needs rookie contracts to balance things out. By the time these players are ready for new deals, AK will be off the books and open some things up at the same time the Lakers may be out of a title window.
3. THEY WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE TO TAKE A BAD ONE-YEAR DEAL IN RETURN: Most teams who will do a deal have a bad contract on the books for this next season. The Jazz likely will have to take a player back who they may not want but it will match the salries and when the 2010-2011 season rolls around that deal will be off the books. Udonis Haslam for example makes $7.1M next season and if you make a deal with Miami you take that one-year deal for him to back up MIllsap. The Heat throw in some assets for the future as in young players and picks and you have a deal.
4. THE LIKELY DEAL: Vet who makes some money but his deal expires after one year, young player on rookie deal with potential, a pick and some cash. Likely the deal will be with muliple teams and will may include a re-visit with Portland and Chicago or Detroit and Portland. The fact that Boozer would like to play in Miami is largely irrelevant unless the Heat want to take CJ Miles as well for a salary dump. Miles could be dumped in deals with Portland in a three way or Miami. Miles may be a key the Jazz taking a perceived bad deal to get rid of his contract as well to save more money.

WITH THOSE DETAILS IN MIND, HERE ARE 5 REALISTIC TRADES THAT MAKE SENSE

1.

JAZZ-BLAZERS-PISTONS:

Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard needs to make a deal to use his $7.7M cap space tne the Jazz are going to match on Millsap. Detroit needs a scorer in the post, the Jazz need some tax relief and some young players to build for the future. The Pistons get Boozer, the Blazers get Rip Hamilton and his big contract the Jazz get Martell Webster and a first round pick. The deal gets sweeter if Utah can pwn CJ MIles off on Detroit as well, which they could. if you include Miles in on the deal, the Jazz deal Boozer’s $12.7M for 2009 and Miles $3.7M and take back the 22 year-old Webster who makes $4.3, $4.8 and $5.2 the next 3 seasons. The initial savings is $16.4M this season and the Jazz get a first round pick and a potential outside threat who was the 6th overall pick in 2005 and is just 22. Webster has been hurt but is worth the gamble. The Jazz want Bayless from the Blazers but they won’t move him.

2.

JAZZ-BLAZERS-BULLS:

Other than Miami, this may be Boozers prefered home. The Blazers would like this deal better as well, because league sources say that Portland really wants Hinrich at the end of the day. The Jazz get Tyrus Thomas (4th overall pick of 2006 draft, $4.7M 2009), who has a $6.2 M option for 2010-2011 and is a good defender with potential and a first round pick from the Bulls. Chicago gets Boozer and back-up PG Steve Blake from the Blazers, Portland gets it’s PG in Kirk Hinrich and takes CJ Miles contract from the Jazz. The Blazers tarde exception from Ike Diogu is needed to make the numbers work. Jazz shed nearly $17M in payroll and take back about $5M for a net savings this season of $12M and get Thomas and a #1 pick.

3.

JAZZ-BOBCATS

Larry Brown and Michael Jordan are running out of patience and feel they are close to makeing the playoffs. A Duke guy going to North Carolina to bail out two former Tar Heels. The Jazz get former Jazzman and fan favorite Raja Bell who has one year and $5.2M on his contract and big man DeSagana Diop with two seaosn left on his deal at around $6M per. Bobcats also throw in a #1 which could be a lottery pick in 2010 for more cheap help. Diop is the interior defender the Jazz need but he does nothing else. He’s young enough to be a future piece though. Bell is in to make the numbers work and the pick is key. Charlotte gets Boozer to add to Okafor, Wallace Diaw and Augustin to make a good nucleus for the Charlotte future. Jazz get future assets, Charlotte tries to win now.

4.

JAZZ-ROCKETS

The Rockets just might be desperate enough to do this right now if the Jazz strike quickly and run. Utah gets Shane Battier and Luis Scola for Boozer. Battier makes $6.8 and $7.3 the next 2 seasons, Scola has one year left at $3.4. The money works and the Jazz get better in the short term, they don’t get assets for the future. If Housotn will do it, I might take Carl Landry and his $3M salary over 2 seasons and ty to keep him long term. He’s younger and might complement Millsap better. Whoever I can keep long term of those two PF’s I want. Houston replaces Yao’s inside scoring.

5.

JAZZ-WARRIORS:

Carlos is a Don Nelson guy, all offense, no defense. Boozer is the low post scorer they need. The Jazz get Speedy Claxton’s one-year $5.2M deal, which they buy out becuase they don’t need a 4th PG but his money is needed to make a deal work. Utah gets Anthony Randolph, the 14th overall pick of the 2008 draft and his 2009 salary of $1.8M with option years of $1.9 and $2.9. He has potential and is cheap. The Jazz also get Rony Turiaf who is a tough in terior defender and 2 years at $4.1M and $4M.

Other deals could include Cleveland for an Illgauskas-Hickson and a pick combo or Miami if they’ll part with Beasley and take Miles, but they won’t. 

Just filled out my MWC Preseason Football Media Poll and Preseason All-Conference Football Team Ballot before heading to Detroit to see family and catch the Kid Rock/Lynyrd Skynyrd concert (Might tweet some pics from there…if you haven’t joined yet go to http://www.twitter.com/kgraham1280 ) 

Make sure you listen all next week as we broadcast from Vegas for the Annual MWC Football Media Days.  This will be my 5th year doing so and it’s always fun as we sit down with all the coaches and players on hand getting great insight (usually because their loose and relaxed since the stress of the season hasn’t hit yet!) into the upcoming season. 

2009 MWC PRESEASON FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL:
Went through the entire composite MWC schedule predicting every game and here is how it turned out:
1.  TCU (8-0) (12-0): Clemson & BYU on road will be toughest games but both winnable particularly with Tigers featuring a new Head Coach. 
2.  BYU (6-2) (8-4):  Give Coug’s credit for tougher schedule but will have tough time vs. more athletic teams again.
3.  UTAH (5-3) (8-4): Biggest question mark is at QB but defense should keep them in every game.
4.  UNLV (5-3) (8-4): Could be a big year for Mike Sanford’s Rebels led by QB Omar Clayton.
5.  AF (4-4) (6-6): Would not be surprised if Falcons finish better than this.  That’s due to the respect for Troy Calhoun.
6.  CSU (3-5) (6-6): Sorry Ross Siler.  Your Uncle Steve is worried about QB play and doesn’t have Gartrell Johnson anymore to carry the load.
7.  WYO (2-6) (4-8): If new coach Dave Christensen could get the Cowboys just to hang onto the ball
8.  NM (2-6) (4-8): New coach Mike Locksley needs a healthy Donovan Porterie (knee) if he wants to have a solid first year.
9.  SDSU (1-7) (4-8): I like the hiring of Brady Hoke (of course he comes from the MAC, home of my Central Michigan Chippewas) but it’s going to take some time to shed the losing attitude.

2009 MWC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TEAM BALLOT (Consulted with Hans Olsen on the O-Lineman):
OFFENSE:
WR: Ryan Wolfe-UNLV
WR: Vincent Brown-SDSU
OL:  Matt Reynolds-BYU
OL:  Zane Beadles-UTAH
OL:  Nick Charles-AF
OL:  Tim Walter-CSU
OL:  Shelley Smith-CSU
TE:  Dennis Pitta-BYU
QB:  Andy Dalton-TCU
RB:  Harvey Unga-BYU
RB:  Matt Asiata-UTAH

DEFENSE:
DL:  Jan Jorgensen-BYU
DL:  Koa Misi-UTAH
DL:  Jerry Hughes-TCU
DL:  John Fletcher-WYO
LB:  Stevenson Sylvester-UTAH
LB:  Daryl Washington-TCU
LB:  Jason Beauchamp-UNLV
DB:  Rafael Priest-TCU
DB:  Nick Sanders-TCU
DB:  Robert Johnson-UTAH
DB:  Joe Dale-UTAH

SPECIAL TEAMS:
P:  Anson Kelton-TCU
PK:  Mitch Payne-BYU
Ret:  Jeremy Kerley-TCU

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Andy Dalton-TCU
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Jerry Hughes-TCU
FRESHMAN OF THEY YEAR:  Ed Wesley-TCU
SPECIAL TEAMS OF THE YEAR:  Jeremy Kerley-TCU