--A finalist six previous times, Adrian Dantley was finally elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame this year. With his enshrinement taking place in early September, Dantley was credited with helping establish the Jazz in Utah during the seven seasons he played with the team.
"He carried us, he was the franchise," Mark Eaton said. The Jazz finished 24-58 their first season in Utah and struggled to draw 5,000 fans some nights. Dantley led the NBA in scoring as a member of the Jazz. His number 4 was officially retired by the team in April 2007. --Jazz owner Larry Miller made clear that the Jazz will not push their payroll beyond the NBA's luxury-tax threshold in future summers. He was asked specifically about doing so after he was released from the hospital last month.
"I do not intend us to be a luxury-tax payer," Miller said, "but only because we have to have an economically stable franchise regardless of anything else."
Miller, whose main business interests are the Jazz and one of the country's largest networks of car dealerships, acknowledged having to make some tough decisions next summer. The Jazz already have $74.4 million in payroll commitments for 2009-10, with the league's luxury-tax threshold this season set at $71.15 million.
--It may be taken for granted by fans of other teams, but the Jazz will televise every game this season for the first time. Every regular season game was broadcast last season as well, but this year the Jazz will televise all seven preseason games on their local affiliate.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He played such an important role in those early years of the Jazz. If not for him, maybe we aren't still here, in Salt Lake City." -- Former Jazz coach Frank Layden, on Adrian Dantley's role on the Jazz' first Utah teams.
