
DRAFT PICKS:
Eric Maynor, G, 6-3, Virginia Commonwealth (first round) -- As always, the Jazz plan to carry three point guards on their roster, but will Maynor be able to find minutes playing behind Deron Williams and possibly Ronnie Price? Goran Suton, C, 6-10, Michigan State (second round) -- The Jazz coaches were impressed by Suton's workout, but he will have to compete to make the team with young centers Kyrylo Fesenko and Kosta Koufos already on the roster.
FREE AGENT FOCUS: The Jazz could be in for their most eventful offseason since 2004, with as many as nine players who could become free agents. Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Kyle Korver could all opt out of their contracts before June 30. Should all three not opt out, the Jazz would face luxury-tax concerns, with more than $71 million committed to nine players for 2009-10.
The Jazz's top priority will be re-signing restricted free agent F Paul Millsap, who will be in line for a significant raise from the $797,581 he made this season. The Jazz also could re-sign G Ronnie Brewer to a contract extension, much as they did last summer with G Deron Williams, beginning July 1.
F/C Jarron Collins, G Brevin Knight, G Ronnie Price and G Morris Almond all will be unrestricted free agents. Collins plans on playing basketball somewhere next season, even if his eight-season run in Utah is over.
PLAYER NEWS:
--G Kyle Korver was a surprise as one of the 25 players invited to take part in a USA Basketball minicamp in July in Las Vegas. Korver will be joined by two of his Jazz teammates in Ronnie Brewer and Paul Millsap. But Korver is the oldest and most experienced player -- a sixth-year pro at age 28 -- among what is largely a group of youngsters. Korver is getting a look because his shooting could be helpful against zone defenses.
--G Ronnie Price will be a free agent when the market opens July 1, but Jazz coach Jerry Sloan strongly suggested that the team will re-sign Price. Although Price is a scoring guard, Sloan said he appreciated that the mistakes Price made at point guard were "hustle mistakes," of which he said the Jazz need more. Price endeared himself to Sloan by almost single-handedly leading the Jazz back in the fourth quarter of their Game 5 playoff loss to the Lakers.
--F Carlos Boozer's opt-out decision continues to be much awaited. Boozer has until June 30 to decide about becoming a free agent. Although he is expected to do so, many questions remain about whether Detroit has both the salary-cap space and interest to sign Boozer to a mega-money contract. Boozer has played in barely two-thirds of the Jazz's games the last five seasons as a result of injuries.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G Kyle Korver (wrist surgery) is expected to be fully healed by the time he reports to USA Basketball minicamp at the end of July.
--F Carlos Boozer (knee surgery) is reported to be at 100 percent after undergoing surgery in January and is working out at home in Miami this summer.
--C Mehmet Okur (hamstring strain) is back to working out after resting the hamstring that he injured in the Jazz's second-to-last game of the regular season.