Jazz leave Pavlovic unprotected in draft

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Jarron Collins, don't worry. Mo Williams, be happy.

In a move surprising to many, it's been learned the Jazz have made 2003 first-round draft choice Sasha Pavlovic available to the Charlotte Bobcats for next week's NBA Expansion Draft.

And the Bobcats just may take him.

It had been widely expected Utah would leave unprotected center Curtis Borchardt, and either one of two restricted free agents, big man Collins or combo guard Williams.

Instead, the Charlotte Observer reported first — and it's since been confirmed — that the Jazz left both Borchardt and Pavlovic exposed.

The presence of Pavlovic on the unprotected list is somewhat perplexing, as many in the organization seemed quite high on the 20-year-old swingman who was taken 19th overall in the first round of the '03 draft.

"To me," ESPNInsider.com's Chad Ford wrote Monday, "Pavlovic is the most shocking name on the entire list.

"What gives?"

The Jazz and other NBA teams — under threat of a $1 million fine from the league — are not permitted to reveal or discuss whom they left unprotected.

But with sixth man Raja Bell returning and the Jazz seemingly quite intent on re-signing restricted free agent Gordan Giricek, minutes might be tough to come by for Pavlovic at the shooting guard position next season. The same is true at small forward, where the Jazz have both All-Star Andrei Kirilenko and captain Matt Harpring.

If Pavlovic is not taken by Charlotte, the Jazz will still have the luxury of continuing to develop him.

But if he is taken — Utah can lose up to, but no more than, one player to Charlotte — there is always the possibility the Jazz can land a young sharpshooter in the June 24 NBA Draft.

Utah is said to especially like Russian Sergey Monya, a 21-year-old small forward who has played since the 2002-03 season for Kirilenko's old Russian League team, CSKA Moscow.

The Jazz own the Nos. 14, 16 and 21 selections in the draft's opening round. But Utah is looking to move up, and it's possible Pavlovic's status is related to some sort of brewing trade with Charlotte, which owns the No. 4 pick in the first round.

It's also possible the Jazz could work a related or unrelated deal to have the Bobcats pick a player for them in the expansion draft, which will be held either Tuesday or (if the NBA Finals were to go a full seven games) June 23.