Salt Lake City, UT (My Sportsbook) - Forward Carlos Boozer and center Mehmet Okur both announced they will remain with the Utah Jazz for the 2009-10 campaign.
Boozer announced he will exercise his player option and remain with the club, while Okur declined to exercise his early termination option on his contract. Boozer is scheduled to earn $12.65 million next season, while Okur will make $9 million.
Boozer missed a majority of the 2008-09 season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in January. The two-time All-Star missed 44 straight games but came back in late February and led the Jazz into the playoffs, where they were ousted in the first round by the eventual champion Lakers.
Despite the injury, Boozer, a 6-foot-9 forward, averaged a double-double for the third consecutive year with 16.2 points and 10.4 rebounds.
"We are excited that Carlos has decided to remain with the Jazz," said Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor. "We are hopeful he can continue to play at an All-Star level and will have an injury-free season."
Boozer signed with Utah as a free agent in 2004 after spending two seasons in Cleveland, which selected the Duke product in the second round of the 2002 Draft.
In 432 career games, the Alaska native has put up a robust 16.8 rebounds, 10.0 boards and 2.4 assists per game.
Okur, who came to Utah as a free agent in 2004, averaged 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 72 starts last season.
"We are looking forward to Memo's return," said Kevin O'Connor. "He has clearly been an integral part of our success since his arrival and we are hopeful that he will continue to perform at such a high level in the future."
Over seven NBA seasons, Okur has averaged 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds in 531 games (373 starts) with Utah and Detroit.