Malone mansion will be auctioned

Former Utah Jazzman Karl Malone has hired a real estate auction company to sell his Salt Lake mansion in the Upper Avenues.

"I'm ready to make a smooth transition to the next phase of my life, and while I plan to maintain a smaller residence in Utah, I won't be there enough to justify a home of this size," Malone said in a statement issued through J.P. King Auction Co. of Gadsden, Ala.

The Malone family has not lived in the home since he left the Jazz to join the Los Angeles Lakers a year and a half ago. Last month he announced his retirement from the NBA.

The log-and-stone mansion has eight bedrooms, five fireplaces, 10-foot doorways, a basketball half-court, an indoor archery range, and an outdoor pool with a 100-foot water slide and pool house.

The home will sell to the highest bidder on May 19, according to Craig King, president of J.P. King.

"In an absolute auction, the home sells to the high bidder regardless of price."

The auction company's web site is www.jpking.com/.