Lopez left to watch, rest his sore knee

ST. GEORGE — The Jazz opened training camp Tuesday on a somewhat ominous note, with backup point guard Raul Lopez watching from the sideline while resting and rehabbing his twice surgically repaired right knee.

Jazz trainer Gary Briggs said Lopez "sprained the joint capsule" during pickup play sometime prior to the team's Monday media-day session in Salt Lake City.

"All the MRI showed (is) some swelling in that spot," Briggs said.

Lopez has had to undergo reconstructive surgery on the same knee twice since being drafted by the Jazz in 2001, though he did play all 82 games as an NBA rookie last season.

The 24-year-old from Spain spent much of Tuesday morning's camp-opening practice on an exercise bike and did not take part with teammates in any on-the-floor activities.

He also sat the evening session of two-a-day workouts, primarily for precautionary reasons. It is not yet known when Lopez will take part in practice, but Briggs said the Jazz will not rush him.

"I feel OK," Lopez said, "but I think I want to be careful."

Meanwhile, Jazz forward Matt Harpring — under doctor's orders to practice only once a day during training camp, according to Briggs — worked out Tuesday morning but not Tuesday night.

Harpring is recovering from January surgery on his right knee, and Briggs said the Jazz will wait to "see how he responds" early in camp before pushing him harder.

BIG BEN SIDELINED: The Jazz were quite interested in bringing big man Ben Handlogten to training camp, but the free agent remains sidelined by the reconstructive surgery required after he blew out a knee while playing for Utah last December.

"He is a couple of weeks away from playing 5-on-5, and he wants to wait until he feels like he is healthy," said Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's senior vice president for basketball operations. "He would not be able to participate in a full camp right now."

TRY AGAIN: If it weren't for concerns over violence and security issues that caused their trip to be canceled, the Jazz would be in Russia today preparing to open the preseason with a Friday-night exhibition against CSKA Moscow.

Rather than near Red Square, though, they opened training camp surrounded by St. George's red cliffs.