Yet the Jazz appear set to do just that with Kyle Korver, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur each deciding this week against opting for free agency in favor of a return to Utah for the final year of their contracts.

The Jazz seem inclined to bring back the core players from their 2007 Western Conference finals team for one more season together, even after their first-round playoff exit and the disappointment that punctuated last season.

As much as injuries ruined a season of high expectations, the Jazz went just 15-11 after Boozer's return from knee surgery in February and collapsed in home losses to Minnesota and Golden State that left them with the conference's No. 8 playoff seed.

With the Lakers looking to repeat as NBA champions, Denver coming off a run to the conference finals and Portland also on the rise, the Jazz will face tough competition not only within the West but the Northwest Division as well.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan welcomed the return of Boozer and Okur even while preparing for the start of summer-league play in Orlando, Fla.

"Obviously, we're excited about having them back," Sloan said. "I think it gives us a chance to be pretty competitive. The thought of not having them back was not much fun."

Sloan expressed his belief after the season that the Jazz should give their current group one more chance. "I think you've got to do everything you can to try to win," Sloan said, adding that he recognized it had to make financial sense.

The Jazz won't start training camp until late September, but Sloan was asked how a pairing of Boozer and Paul Millsap could work for another season. Millsap is a restricted free agent, but the Jazz have pledged to re-sign him.

"I think all of that will take care of itself when we start playing and start practicing," Sloan said, adding, "Somebody has to have the ability to play off the bench."

Sloan said Millsap "especially should be rewarded for having improved" in three years with the Jazz and that he'd like for Millsap to come back even stronger this season.

After starting while Boozer was out, Millsap resumed coming off the bench after his return. Sloan acknowledged the difficulty of changing roles, saying, "You don't know how players are going to be affected by that sort of thing."

He noted that the Lakers brought one of their best players in Lamar Odom off the bench as part of their championship team. "All those things you have to weigh to go forward," Sloan said. "Hopefully, you give yourself a chance to play and a chance to win."

O'Connor didn't return messages Wednesday, the start of free agency around the league, so it remains unknown whether the Jazz will look to sign Boozer, Okur or Korver to a long-term extension.

All three face the prospect of free agency next summer. For his part, Okur was quoted on his Web site (memo13.com) Wednesday as saying his family loves Utah and "there was no reason to opt out " of his contract.

"My goal since my arrival here has not changed," Okur said, "in that I will do my best to be a part of a championship team, finish my career here and hopefully have my number retired as one of the all-time Jazz player[s]."

rsiler@sltrib.com