With C.J. Miles and Kyle Korver out to start the season, the Jazz need Matthews for the sake of numbers first and foremost. Matthews started Friday's game -- for the fourth time this preseason -- with the Jazz down to just nine players.

For his part, Matthews preferred to look at making the NBA as the beginning of the road rather than a destination reached.

"That's not just enough for me," Matthews said. "I want to stick around for a long, long, long time. But it's definitely a start and I'm definitely grateful and I appreciate it more than I could ever express."

After playing for the Jazz's summer-league team in Orlando, Fla., Matthews headed to Las Vegas with Sacramento's. He was not invited to training camp by the Kings, however, despite averaging 10.3 points in three games.

"We're happy for him," Sacramento coach Paul Westphal said. "You could tell he's a really versatile player and he's got an attitude that gives off the aura that he knows what he's doing."

Deron Williams , meanwhile, said Matthews impressed him in pickup games before the Jazz started camp.

"I was impressed with him, but you never know just playing pickup how it's got to transpire when real practices, real game situations arise," Williams said.

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Optional activity

The Jazz have until Oct. 31 to decide about exercising the $1.3 million third-year option in Kosta Koufos ' rookie contract, but O'Connor suggested the team was inclined to do so.

"When you get big young guys, you try and be patient with them," O'Connor said. The 20-year-old Koufos was the Jazz's 2008 first-round draft pick.

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Briefly

O'Connor said Ronnie Brewer had been treated for back spasms before Tuesday's game against Portland. Brewer was late to practice Thursday and did not travel with the Jazz to Sacramento with his back spasms continuing.

rsiler@sltrib.com