Jazz to sign a point guard today

The Jazz today will re-sign free agent Carlos Arroyo, their No. 3 point guard this past season.

The signing, however, does not signal an end to Utah's ongoing search for help at the point.

"We're still looking," said Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's senior vice president of basketball operations.

"But," O'Connor added Wednesday, "we're not going to be looking to get somebody with experience just for the sake of getting somebody. He's got to be able to play. Skill is more important than experience."

In another development, it is believed the Jazz will bring San Antonio free agent shooting guard Stephen Jackson to Salt Lake for an interview on Friday. Jackson became expendible when the Spurs acquired Sacramento's Hedo Turkoglu and Indiana's Ron Mercer in a trade earlier this month.

Arroyo, O'Connor suggested, will return with no preconceived notions regarding his role for the 2003-2004 season.

In other words, he will not be penciled into the starting lineup even though previous starter John Stockton has retired, former backup Mark Jackson is a free agent who will not be back and the Jazz have no other point guards with NBA experience on their current roster.

"I think there's going to be an opportunity for people to play," O'Connor said.

But, the Jazz exec added, "There's no pecking order right now. It's going to be whoever earns minutes."

That potentially includes 2001 first-round draft choice Raul Lopez, who has had two reconstructive knee surgeries since being selected by the Jazz, and 2003 second-round choice Mo Williams, who is unsigned but impressed many in the organization during the recent Rocky Mountain Revue summer league.

Whether it also includes Atlanta restricted free agent Jason Terry remains to be seen.

O'Connor, who on Tuesday refuted reports that the Jazz have extended Terry an offer sheet, said Wednesday that there is "no news" regarding the Hawks combo guard.

The Jazz, it is believed, have discussed a loose framework on a potential offer sheet. But, it is further believed, the two sides remain far apart on terms of a possible deal.

Moreover, the Hawks would have 15 days to match any sheet tendered to and signed by Terry — something Atlanta is expected to do should it not be able to first sign him to its own offer.