Miles will have surgery on his thumb in New York News Utah Jazz

LONDON ? After getting a second opinion from a doctor secured by his agent, Jazz swingman C.J. Miles will go undergo surgery today in New York to repair the left, shooting-hand thumb ligament that he ruptured during practice Monday in London. Miles ? Utah's starting small forward last season ?

will do his rehab work in Salt Lake City, general manager Kevin O'Connor said after the Jazz's preseason loss to Chicago on Tuesday at London's O2 Arena. "He was really down," said Jazz point guard Deron Williams, who spoke with Miles before he returned to the United States. "I'm down for him too. "It's like my little brother, and I know how hard he worked this offseason. You know, he came (to training camp) in the best shape of his life," Williams added. "He was more mentally ready than he's ever been. I think he had that confidence about him, and he was gonna have a big year. So I know he was disappointed. But what can you do? I mean, he's just got to have the surgery, rehab and try to get back as quickly as possible and regain his same shape." A timetable for Miles' anticipated return won't be known until after the surgery, O'Connor said. The 22-year-old is not, however, expected to ready in time for Utah's Oct. 28 regular-season opener vs. Denver. Others who did not play for the Jazz on Tuesday included Kyle Korver (inflamed knee) and Kyrylo Fesenko (sprained heel). Korver tested his knee on the court before the game, but decided against going. It's not known if either will be available when the Jazz face Spanish League power Real Madrid on Thursday in Spain. NO RADIO: Jazz president Randy Rigby said Tuesday that money is the main reason new radio play-by-play announcer David Locke did not make the trip overseas, and that games are not being broadcast on the radio back in Utah. "It was just a cost decision, and it was gonna be in the middle of the day," he said. Rigby, who is in Europe this week, did not disclose how much a radio transmission would have set the franchise back. The Jazz's preseason game against Real Madrid won't be called on the radio, either, but it will be shown in the United States on NBA TV. Rigby also said no determination has been yet as to whether or not games this regular season will be aired on KJZZ TV. SURVEY SAYS: Jazz coach Jerry Sloan ranked third with 18.5 percent, behind Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers (37 percent) and San Antonio's Gregg Popovic (33.3 percent), in NBA.com's eighth annual survey of general managers from throughout the NBA. Jazz center Mehmet Okur, according to the GMs, does "the most with the least" in the NBA. San Antonio's Matt Bonner finished second in that category. The Jazz also finished third in the poll behind Portland and Denver as favorites to win the Northwest Division, Williams (14.8 percent) finished second to New Orleans' Chris Paul (77.8 percent) as the NBA's best point guard, the Jazz's Phil Johnson finished second to Boston's Tom Thibodeau as the league's top assistant coach and Utah was second to Cleveland for best homecourt advantage. IN THE CROWD: Former Jazz center Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins, in town to help promote the game for the NBA and wearing perhaps the most outlandishly loud suits ? including a salmon-colored one Tuesday ? in London this week. e-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com