I’ve spent some time the last couple of days trying to figure out how the Jazz can trade Boozer for anyone or anything of substantial value, and I have to admit I’m stymied. Unless OKC decides to help facilitate a trade (which seems unlikely considering neither team is willing to part with anything OKC wants), it’s hard to imagine Utah doing a deal that works. I’m going to list off all the possible deals I see and finish with the deal I think makes the most sense – Lee and Mobley for Boozer and Harpring.

1. Utah and Miami – Boozer would love a deal that would send him to Miami, and Wade would likely hook-up on an extension right away if Boozer came to town. It’s hard to imagine who Miami would send back to Utah, however. If they were willing to part with some young guards (whom Utah has no need for), Udonis Haslem, a draft pick, and $3 million in cash, they could string a deal together. It’s possible on paper, but it looks like a bad deal for Utah. Miami might consider trading Beasley for Boozer, but that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me - Beasley has more upside and Utah doesn’t need him.

2. Utah and Chicago – This is the deal that gets everyone excited, but honestly I don’t get it. Trading Boozer for Tyrus Thomas and Salmons sounds like a decent deal for Utah, but I think it makes Chicago worse. Trading Tyrus Thomas and an expiring deal sounds better for Chicago, but that’s a pittance for Utah. Ultimately, I doubt that Utah is that interested in Tyrus Thomas. He’s not a Sloan-type player, and the whole point of trading Boozer is to clear the way for Milsap while also getting some value. Thomas is going to want minutes, so adding him just creates more problems.

3. Utah and Detroit – I doubt it. Detroit had their chance to make a run at Boozer in the days heading up to free agency and they never expressed interest. If they had, Utah wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place.

4. Utah and Charlotte – This one isn’t getting a lot of press, but it seems possible. Charlotte could send Gerald Wallace and a small contract to Utah for Boozer, and both teams would likely get better. The problem is that I doubt Charlotte wants to pay Boozer big dollars next summer, so they would likely be losing Gerald Wallace to rent Boozer for a season – probably not going to happen.

5. Utah and the Knicks – I’m about to layout a crazy trade scenario, but honestly it makes as much sense as anything else I can think of. The Knicks could sign and trade David Lee and Cuttino Mobely to Utah for Boozer and Harpring.

If Utah traded for David Lee, they could either a) have an excuse to let Milsap go to Portland or b) have one of the best front lines in the Western Conference with Lee, Milsap, and Okur.

NYC would get the rights to re-sign Boozer next summer along with another big-time free agent, so it’s a win for them.

The way I’ve laid out this trade, Utah could afford to pay Milsap AND Lee next year and then let some people go next summer. Here’s how it would work.

• The Knicks sign Lee to a front-loaded contract with his first year at about 11.6 million.

• The Knicks then trade Lee and Cat Mobley to Utah for Boozer and Harpring. Lee is a base year compensation (BYC) player, so the league only counts 1/2 of his new salary towards the trade on New York’s side of the equation.

• i.e., NY sends out 9.5 million for Mobley and 5.8 million for Lee (because of the BYC rule), or 15.3 million as far as the trade rules are concerned.

• Utah sends out 12.7 for Boozer plus 6.5 for Harpring – 19.2 million total. This is barely within the allowable range for NY.

• Utah takes back more salary than they sent out – 21.1 million. Adding this extra 1.9 million to the salary also adds another 1.9 million in luxury taxes, so Utah’s costs will go up 3.8 million.

• However, since insurance covers 7.6 million of Mobley’s contract Utah is actually UP 3.8 million after you account for the extra salary and tax due to Lee.

• NYC sends Utah $3 million in cash to make the deal, so Utah ends up with $6.8 million in savings that they can use to pay for Milsap.

• Utah could likely get one of NY’s first round draft picks as well.

In Utah, Lee can step in and produce immediately. Utah might also have a first round pick to look forward to, and Mobley’s expiring contract next summer takes them out of the tax. Best of all, they would get to keep their guy Milsap.

Lee, Milsap, and Okur would be a great front line to match-up against Portland, Denver, L.A., and San Antonio, and their line will only get better as the years go by. It’s not necessarily the cheapest way to go for Utah, but it’s a nice deal for sure.

Best of all, Portland’s front office comes off looking like a bunch of dummies.

Thoughts?