Players such as Shandon Anderson and David Benoit fit in well with the Jazz, but never did much once they left the franchise. Chris Morris, a No. 4 draft pick with loads of talent, joined the team for a couple of years, but didn't fit in well. I never felt like Greg Ostertag fit into the mix well, either, and perhaps if the Jazz had found a center who blended better with the others, the Jazz might have won an NBA title or two.

Because I don't cover the Jazz on a regular basis, I can't say which players get along with whom. But I watched a few games late in the year and know when a more-talented Jazz team can lose to the likes of Golden State and Minnesota on their own home floor with a higher playoff seed on the line, something is missing.

Like chemistry.

If a certain player — let's call him CB — doesn't get along real well with the rest of his teammates, then perhaps he isn't that valuable. If another player — let's call him AK — only gets real motivated when he's starting and involved more in the offense, how important is he to the club?

Look at Jazz rival Denver, which went all the way to the conference finals, despite moves that on paper made them weaker. The Nuggets unloaded Marcus Camby and his big contract for a second-round draft choice in the offseason, then added Chauncey Billips in a trade for all-star Allen Iverson. They picked up a couple of others, such as Chris Andersen, and suddenly they're among the league's final four.

Perhaps the Jazz might be better off letting one of their high-priced players opt out without trying to re-sign them, or sign and try to pick up an energetic young player, who is willing to work hard and be part of the team. Someone like Paul Millsap.

The problem is, there's no way to predict how certain players are going to play together, although some are obviously more team-oriented than others.

But in looking at next year's roster, Jazz officials should be more concerned about trying to put the right team on the floor, rather than the best collection of players.

E-mail: sor@desnews.com