Simmons also mentioned a recent deal for Philadelphia power forward Elton Brand as being comparable to what he feels Millsap deserves. Brand last summer signed a five-year, $79.8 million contract that started at more than $13 million.

"He's a big time ballplayer who can help the team a lot," Simmons said of his nephew. "What's the next level for Paul? Probably All-Star. He has that capability."

Though they can't negotiate an extension with him because he'll be a restricted free agent, O'Connor said the Jazz would be "aggressive" in trying to re-sign Millsap when the market opens.

"I think we'd like to show our loyalty back to him," the Jazz GM said Friday. "We'll try to make a deal with him, and if it doesn't work then we'd ask him to set a market for himself."

Whether or not Millsap — who made $791,581 last season — actually can attract the sort of offers Simmons suggests remains unknown, at least for now.

The Jazz, though, have vowed previously to match any offer sheet he signs with another team — even if Boozer, Okur and Korver all opt-in and it makes them an NBA luxury-tax paying team.

And on Friday, as expected, they tendered a qualifying offer to Millsap that allows the team to retain its match rights. The qualifying offer, essentially a formality procedure in this instance, is for one year and $1.03 million — just as Millsap's camp expected.

Okur, meanwhile, is a one-time All-Star.

He's offered previously, via his personal Web site, to give the Jazz a home-team discount of $3 million to $5 million on a deal's total value in order to stay in Utah.

And he's made it clear his preference is to get a long-term extension from the Jazz.

Whether that happens by Tuesday, however, also remains to be seen. If it doesn't, the Jazz would risk losing Okur — but wouldn't be precluded from re-signing him after he tests his value in the open market. "We certainly would not rule out Utah," Fleisher said, "but we would look at other opportunities as well."

E-MAIL: tbuckley@desnews.com