The Jazz are shopping for a power forward, and Martin is a dandy. But there are no guarantees Utah will even offer max money.

The Jazz did readily make a six-year, $50 million proposal to Okur, and the good news there for them would seem to be what the Detroit News reported Wednesday: "The Pistons are not expected to match that offer, even if (Rasheed) Wallace opts to sign elsewhere."

As for Florida International University product Arroyo, who will serve as Puerto Rico's flag bearer for opening ceremonies in Athens, his agreement may have been hurried along by developments elsewhere.

When Miami's Rafer Alston on Tuesday agreed to accept an offer from Toronto — reportedly $29 million over six seasons, though much of that could be incentive-based — one more pure point was off the market, along with Phoenix-bound former Dallas Maverick Steve Nash.

That may have warmed the Heat's pursuit of Arroyo — Milwaukee, Minnesota, Atlanta and the Los Angeles Lakers also were said to have interest — and driven up his price at least a pinch.

Before costs soared, Utah agreed to sign Arroyo, who turns 25 years old later this month.

The implications are plentiful for the Jazz, whose uncommitted players now include two restricted free agents (Jarron Collins and Mo Williams) and all four unrestricted free agents (Greg Ostertag, who continues to draw serious interest from both Utah and Phoenix, along with Mikki Moore, Michael Ruffin and Tom Gugliotta).

One is Utah won't have to worry now about deciding if it would match another club's offer to Arroyo. Another is that the Jazz's top two points from last season — backup Raul Lopez is the other — will be back.

Then there is this fact: Arroyo made good on a vow he made when last season ended.

"I always wanted the opportunity to be given to me," he said then, "and the Jazz . . . opened the door, and they said, 'Look, here's the ball.'

"I have to make the best decision," Arroyo added, "for Carlos Arroyo . . . But you still have got to think of who gave you the opportunities to be who you are right now, and the Jazz gave me that opportunity."

---

E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com