Jazz get Okur's OK

Okur currently is at home in his native Turkey, where this week the 25-year-old will both carry the Olympic torch through the streets of Istanbul and get married to a Turkish model who formerly held the title of Miss Turkey.

Once here, assuming Detroit does not match, Okur can play either center or power forward — probably more at the 5 spot if the Jazz do not re-sign Ostertag, or more at the 4 if they retain Ostertag but do not land another power forward.

As for Giricek, he also must wait to sign — but his agent, Marc Fleisher, has assured the Jazz he will do just that.

"Gordan Giricek has agreed to a contract with us," O'Connor said Monday night, "and we will be signing him on the 14th."

Fleisher represents not only Giricek, but also Okur and Jazz All-Star forward Andrei Kirilenko — a fact that may have helped move talks along.

"I'm sure it probably did," O'Connor said. "But, as Marc said, each one (Okur and Giricek) was done separately."

Fleisher could not be reached Monday night. He was on a plane bound for Turkey, where he planned to attend Okur's wedding.

Financial terms of Giricek's deal were not disclosed, but the Jazz did make the 27-year-old Croatian a qualifying offer of $1,925,000 for next season to retain their right to match any outside offer made to him.

Rather than sign another team's offer sheet, Giricek agreed to terms with the Jazz — meaning they can have him back under contract as soon as the 14th.

Before the agreement with Giricek was made known, Jazz president Dennis Haslem said the club remained open to the notion of re-signing all four of its restricted free agents.

Starting point guard Arroyo has drawn interest from several other teams, but O'Connor said the Jazz are "still involved in negotiations with Carlos."

The Jazz also continue to remain in the running for San Antonio Spurs restricted free agent shooting guard Manu Ginobili. He visited with the Jazz on Saturday in Salt Lake City, but Haslem said "no offers were made" and "no demands were made."

O'Connor declined comment when asked if the Jazz intended to make Ginobili an offer sheet. San Antonio, Denver, Utah and Atlanta all are potential destinations for the 26-year-old from Argentina, though the Spurs still seem intent on matching any offer.

Ginobili hopes to make his decision before the end of the week, and it could influence subsequent moves by the Jazz and Nuggets.

"The dominoes," Haslem said, "will begin to fall (this) week."

Martin, supposedly seeking a maximum-money offer, also apparently intends to visit Denver this week.

Some speculate Martin — much like Ginobili, perhaps — merely is trying to secure an offer sheet while keeping fingers crossed that his own club will match.

The Jazz seem to be proceeding with some degree of caution, but Haslem suggested there have been "several conversations" and said "(Martin's) agent has demonstrated good faith in negotiating with us."

Brian Dyke, who represents Martin, declined to comment on the Jazz's dealings with his client Monday afternoon.

Even if they cannot lure the Nets All-Star, however, the Jazz will continue their search for help up front.

A search, that is, that hit a large part of its mark Monday.

"There is a plan," Haslem said, "and we're executing that plan."

"The priority," O'Connor added, "was to get two big men. We accomplished half that goal, and we're still looking."

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com