Collins to Portland News Utah Jazz

Barring any unforeseen or still-untold incidents, there will be no golf cart-related banter inside the Utah Jazz locker room this season. Also missing? A Stanford University presence. The Portland Trail Blazers confirmed Wednesday that longtime Jazz center Jarron Collins will participate in their upcoming training camp and has a shot at earning a spot on the roster of Utah's Northwest Division rivals.

"We wanted an experienced big, and (Collins) has great experience and a wealth of knowledge for the game," Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard told The Oregonian. "He will have a chance to make our team." Collins has spent his entire eight-year NBA career with the Jazz , who picked up the Stanford product in the second round of the 2001 draft. Collins has long been a favorite of coach Jerry Sloan's because of his on-and-off-the-court smarts and attitude. The center, who averaged 2.7 points and 3.3 rebounds with Utah, had a rough final season with the Jazz after getting injured when his golf cart crashed last summer. Collins nursed his right elbow injury for much of the season, appearing in only 26 games during the 2008-09 campaign. This summer, the Collins camp said the big man wanted to remain in Utah, but the unrestricted free agent did not get an opportunity to extend his NBA career with the Jazz . Now Collins will try to earn a guaranteed contract and become the 15th player on Portland's roster. He recently worked out for the Blazers along with former Jazz center Greg Ostertag, who is attempting to resurrect his NBA career. Collins' departure ? and Stanford alum Brevin Knight's exit after one season ? breaks somewhat of a tradition for Utah. It leaves the Jazz without a Cardinal on their team for the first time since the beginning of this millennium and only the second time since the 1993-94 season. Stanford standout Adam Keefe played in Utah from 1994 through 2000. Palo Alto product Curtis Borchardt was in Utah from 2002-05. Rich Kelley, Utah's original Stanford man, played for the franchise in seven NBA seasons between 1975-85. DEATH IN THE FAMILY: Karl Malone's stepfather, Ed Turner, passed away from natural causes on Tuesday, the family announced through the Jazz public relations department. Turner married Malone's mom, Shirley Malone, when The Mailman was 8 years old and the two men developed a strong relationship. Malone was so concerned about Turner's imminent passing that he missed the Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony for John Stockton and Jerry Sloan two weeks ago to spend time with his stepfather. Malone made a tough decision the following day by leaving Turner at his Louisiana home and surprising his former Jazz friends for a few hours during a Hall of Fame ring ceremony. Malone and his family expressed gratitude and wanted "to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time," a press release stated. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Turner's memory to either the Huntsman Cancer Institute or Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City. Jazz owner Greg Miller, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, offered condolences to the Malone family as well. "On behalf of the entire Utah Jazz family, our love goes out to Karl, Kay and the Malone family," Miller said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time." CAMP STARTING: Because the Jazz are heading overseas this preseason, they'll be able to start training camp a few days before most teams. Players and coaches will first report to the reporters today for the annual Media Day interview session to kick off training camp. The Jazz will then begin practicing on Saturday, when they hit the hardwood for three straight days of two-a-days. Utah is scheduled for one practice on both Tuesday and Wednesday, leading up to Thursday night's preseason-opening game against the Denver Nuggets at EnergySolutions Arena. All practices will be held at the Jazz's training facility and are closed to the public and media. This, by the way, is the first time since 2003 that Utah, which had been training in Boise for years, is holding its fall camp in Salt Lake City. e-mail: jody@desnews.com