Jazz have no plans to buy Lopez out

SAN ANTONIO — The Jazz have no plans to negotiate a buyout agreement with Raul Lopez that would allow the oft-injured point guard to return next season to his native Spain, Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor said Sunday.

A Spanish-language Web site, As.com, reported last week that Lopez's old team in Spain, Real Madrid, would welcome him back for the 2005-06 season.

Lopez, however, is under contract with the Jazz for $1.7 million next season — the picked-up option season on his original rookie contract.

"There has been no communication about anything like that," O'Connor said.

"He signed a contract with us," the Jazz boss added. "I would not want to say we're going to allow a player to say, 'I want to go back home and play.' What if Andrei (Kirilenko) said, 'I want to go back to Russia?' "

O'Connor did, however, say he planned to meet soon with Lopez. That could happen as soon as today.

"We're going to sit down and visit this week, more about his surgery than anything else," O'Connor said.

Lopez is out for the season with damage to his left knee. Surgery is needed but has not yet been scheduled.

The 24-year-old already has had three surgeries on his right knee, two reconstructive in seasons past and one arthroscopic earlier this season.

Lopez's injury woes, though, are not cause for the Jazz to sever ties with the former first-round draft choice, O'Connor suggested.

"I have not talked with Raul about that," he said. "I haven't even considered that."

COLLINS UPDATE: The Jazz lost to San Antonio on Sunday without usual starting power forward Carlos Boozer, who remains on the injured list along with Lopez, and usual starting center Jarron Collins.

Collins sprained an AC-joint ligament in his right shoulder in Friday's loss at New Orleans. Curtis Borchardt started in his place Sunday, making for the Jazz's 19th different lineup this season.

Collins will undergo an MRI exam today, Jazz trainer Gary Briggs said Sunday.

The Jazz will wait to learn the result of that test before deciding if Collins should go on the injured list, O'Connor said.

If that happens, the Jazz could consider signing a minor-league big man to a 10-day contract. If Boozer is ready to return next week from his foot strain, however, an addition might not be needed.

TO THE ROOF: The Spurs on Sunday retired the No. 32 jersey of longtime franchise favorite Sean Elliott, who spent 11 seasons with the Spurs and was a member of their 1998-99 NBA title team.

Elliott, who survived a kidney transplant to return to the NBA, currents works as a commentator for Spurs games on local television.

MISC.: Former Jazz big man Tony Massenburg played 10 scoreless off-the-bench minutes for the Spurs . . . San Antonio was without recently acquired big man Nazr Mohammed (groin strain) . . . Jazz guard Randy Livingston, signed to a 10-day contract last Thursday, did not play (coach's decision).

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com