Paul Millsap Not Interested in Extension from Jazz, to Become a Free Agent?

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the Utah Jazz’s contract extension offer to forward Paul Millsap was turned down. Millsap reportedly is planning to enter free agency next summer: “The sturdy six-year veteran was offered a three-year extension worth about $25 million, which is the maximum extension Millsap can receive under the new collective bargaining agreement. The proposed deal features an annual 7.5 percent raise, would kick in after Millsap’s current contract expires June 2013, and could keep the career Jazzman in a Utah uniform through June 2016. Initial indications are Millsap won’t agree to the extension, though, preferring to enter free agency in 2013 with plans to cash in on an inflated 2012 market that saw mid-tier forwards such as Gerald Wallace, Andrei Kirilenko, Nicolas Batum and Ryan Anderson recently receive lucrative multiyear contracts. Millsap became eligible for an extension July 17, which marked the third anniversary of his ‘toxic’ 2009 deal — a four-year, $32-million frontloaded contract Portland created via a restricted free-agent offer sheet, which Utah matched. The Jazz’s decision was controversial at the time, and some believed Utah wildly overpaid to keep Millsap, the No. 47 overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft and a backup during his initial four seasons in the league. Three years later, the 6-foot-8, 253-pound forward has evolved into one of the premier pound-for-pound players in the NBA. He’s the lone holdover from Utah’s 2006-07 team that advanced to the Western Conference finals, and rivaled center Al Jefferson as the Jazz’s most valuable player the last two seasons. Millsap, 27, averaged career highs in points (17.3), assists (2.5) and minutes (34.3) during a chaotic 2010-11 season that saw All-Star guard Deron Williams traded and Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan resign. The former Louisiana Tech standout followed with an equally strong 2011-12 campaign, averaging 16.6 points and a career-high 8.8 rebounds while shooting 49.5 percent from the field in 64 games (62 starts).”