Not long ago, soon-to-be NBA free agent Chris Bosh sent out a Tweet -- a cyber message on the social networking website Twitter, for you uninitiated few -- asking for help in determining his next move.
Bosh, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound power forward, jumped on his Twitter account and asked his fans to help him determine where he should play next season.
I believe the actual words were, "Where should I go next season? And Why?"
Well, since he asked, I'm here to help.
Without a doubt, Bosh should come to Utah next season.
Yes, Utah.
Bosh, long and lanky and adorned with some pretty sweet dreadlocks, would look great in one of those green, old-school Utah Jazz uniforms.
He'd look absolutely fabulous running the floor ahead of former USA Basketball teammate (and fellow Dallas guy) Deron Williams, wouldn't he?
He'd be a sight to behold going toe-to-toe with Pau Gasol or Lamar Odom or Andrew Bynum as the Jazz beat those detestable L.A. Lakers in the 2011 NBA playoffs.
Just thinking about it, I can actually hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing "The Hallelujah Chorus" in my head.
Goodbye, Carlos Boozer.
Hello, Chris Bosh.
This is not as far-fetched as it might seem. See, both players are going to become unrestricted free agents this summer.
Although he is without a doubt an All-Star caliber player, Boozer's time in Utah has come to an end.
There already has been talk about the Jazz resigning him to a new long-term contract, and in the coming weeks and months there is sure to be more of the same. It's true, Boozer did a nice job for the Jazz this season, even after a rather dicey offseason in which he essentially mounted a get-me-out-of-here campaign.
In the right situation (and against the right opponent) Booz is a dominant big man and a lethal offensive weapon.
But the Jazz need something more ... something different.
They need Chris Bosh.
Bosh was in the stands at Staples Center the other night as the Lakers beat the Jazz in Game 2 of their Western Conference playoff series. Rumor is he was in L.A. to get fitted for a new Lakers jersey for next season.
Speculation is, he's definitely leaving the Toronto Raptors and that the Lakers are his next stop.
Maybe so. But the Jazz shouldn't let this opportunity pass without putting up a fight.
Rather than attempting to resign Boozer, they need to let him go to the Heat or the Bulls or the Nets or whoever will give him the big-money deal he's looking for.
The Boozer Experiment is over in Utah. It wasn't terrible, but it certainly wasn't a success, either.
Soon enough, the Jazz will find themselves being ousted by the Lakers for the third consecutive season. Clearly, if they still have hopes of once again advancing to the NBA finals, they need to find a way to beat L.A.
In order to do that, they need a new power forward, one better built to handle the likes of Gasol, Odom and Bynum.
For the past week, we've all heard the experts talking about how the Jazz always seem to struggle with the Lakers' frontcourt size. And over the years we've seen that Boozer has the strength but not the length to compete for points and rebounds.
The best thing for the Jazz would be to let Boozer walk, then let Williams talk to his buddy Bosh.
Both guys (as well as Jazz swingman C.J. Miles) are from the Dallas area; they've known each other for a while.
Utah doesn't have a great reputation among NBA players and has never been a must-see stop on the free agent tour. But Williams' rising star might just change that.
Close your eyes, Jazz fans, and just imagine Bosh in a Jazz uniform.
All together now ... Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Jim Burton is the Standard-Examiner's sports columnist. He also covers the Utah Jazz and the NBA. He can be reached at (801) 625-4265 or at jburton@standard.net. He Tweets at http://twitter.com/jmb247
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