The problem? The Jazz would still need to sign two more players to reach the required 13-player mark, meaning their salary level would be at least a million or so into the dreaded luxury-tax zone where Miller said his team won't go. Teams that surpass that level must pay a per-dollar-over toll to the league. Likewise, those taxed teams do not receive a share of the luxury-tax bonus that is divvied up equally to franchises under the limit. The Jazz reportedly received a $4.2 million share for being frugal last year.

• Based on contracts and attached options — some owned by players, others by the team — it's possible that only five current members of the Jazz will be back in 2009-10. How's a starting lineup of Deron Williams, C.J. Miles, Matt Harpring, Andrei Kirilenko and Kosta Koufos sound? While that scenario might be a tad far-fetched, those are the only five players whose contracts extend through the next two years without strings attached.

• Dealing with six different players and their options could make next summer a frantic one for the Jazz.

That list includes one superstar (Boozer), a former All-Star (Mehmet Okur) and a player who helped engineer last season's strong second half while becoming a fan favorite for various reasons (Kyle Korver).

It also includes Ronnie Brewer, Morris Almond and Kyrylo Fesenko, whose 2009-10 destinies the Jazz control.

Thanks to clauses in their contracts, Boozer, Okur and Korver can each opt out of their Utah deals at the end of this season. That would give the Jazz plenty of financial flexibility, but losing all three would also leave a huge void in the current successful scheme.

Much of the opting-out talk has revolved around Boozer. He's been rumored to be headed to Miami, where he resides in the offseason. He is also good friends with Heat owner Micky Arison. Boozer even fueled some talk about leaving the NBA for Europe with a comment he made while in China. Williams tried his darnedest to convince Boozer to stay in Utah while they were teammates in Beijing this summer, but it's widely speculated that the power forward will test the free-agent waters next summer. The Jazz could still re-sign him, but he would be an unrestricted free agent, and the price tag would probably be higher than his current $11.6 million salary.

"Whether he opts out or not I don't know. Hopefully he stays," Williams said this summer. "He knows he's a big part of this team. He knows that we have that great chemistry together, and it will be hard to develop that same chemistry with another point guard. And maybe he goes to a team that doesn't have the caliber of point guard that he has here."

At their relatively young ages, Okur (29) and Korver (27) also could decide the iron is now hot enough to strike for potential jackpot long-term contracts. Neither has talked about their deals publicly, but they both have the options to see how much other teams think their worth is come next summer. Or not.