Jazz preview 2004: The roster

Carlos Arroyo

Point guard

6-2, 202

Age: 25. College: Florida International. From: Puerto Rico. NBA season: No. 4. Other NBA teams: Toronto, Denver. How acquired: Signed as free agent, 2002.

Upside: Arroyo stepped into retired John Stockton's starting point position last season, averaging a career-high 12.6 points and team-leading 5 assists per game. He has benefited tremendously from international experience, helping his native Puerto Rico upset the United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics play. He also came to training camp in great shape. Arroyo is quite quick, and a much-improved outside shooter. The Jazz re-signed him for $16 million over four years this past summer.

Down: Jazz coach Jerry Sloan seeks more consistency from Arroyo, who must transition out of the scoring-point mentality he has when playing for Puerto Rico and into the offense-quarterbacking mindset the Jazz system demands. Can Arroyo handle heavy minutes on a night-in, night-out basis?

With backup Raul Lopez's health a concern, he'll have to if the Jazz are to have much success this season. Improved defense also is a must if Arroyo is to continue to keep Sloan content.

Raja Bell

Shooting guard

6-5, 210

Age: 28. College: Florida International. From: U.S. Virgin Islands.

NBA season: No. 5. Other NBA teams: Philadelphia, Dallas. How acquired: Signed as free agent, 2003. Draft status: Undrafted.

Upside: Where should we start? Bell has consistently shot above 40 percent each of the past three seasons. He plays with a tenacity Sloan loves. He'll show up every night. He isn't afraid to take a charge. His defense is, and always has been, strong. He can come off the bench and won't complain, but would not look out of place as a starter. Either way, he's likely to be on the floor at the end of a game — and can be counted on when he is.

Down: Bell is so competitive that he is a bit hot-tempered, and it cost him with several flagrant fouls last season. Some referees seem to grow weary of his frequent complaining. He's a bit undersized, albeit durable and able to make up for what he lacks with impressive quickness. And: He's likely in for a huge hike in pay next summer, so it could cost the Jazz dearly if they want to keep him long-term.

Carlos Boozer

Power forward

6-9, 258

Age: 22. College: Duke. From: Fairbanks, Alaska. NBA season: No. 3.

Other NBA team: Cleveland. How acquired: Signed as free agent, 2004. Drafted: Second round, No. 35 overall, in 2002.