Utah's O'Connor clarifies report in Cleveland paper

Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor on Monday addressed a Cleveland newspaper report suggesting he spoke with the Cavaliers regarding their vacant general manager's position.

According to a note in last Saturday's Cleveland Plain Dealer, "It was learned Friday that the Cavs spoke with (O'Connor) several weeks ago. . . . O'Connor said the discussion was not an interview. However, an NBA source said the Cavs did discuss the position."

O'Connor confirmed the Cavs made contact, but the Jazz boss suggested nothing more was discussed.

"There's nothing to the story," he said.

"I hate to have my name in the paper about, 'Well, they called about talking to me,' " added O'Connor, who was back in Utah on Monday after spending last week in Chicago for the NBA's annual pre-draft camp. "It's a non-issue."

Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown has long been rumored to be considering an offer to become president of the Cavaliers, should medical issues prevent him from coaching next season.

But it remains to be seen just what the future holds for Brown, who is a good friend of O'Connor's.

O'Connor, who has two seasons remaining on his current contract with the Jazz, came to Utah in 1999 from Philadelphia. There, the former Jazz scout spent two seasons as director of player personnel for the 76ers when Brown was head coach in Philly. The New York native also was an assistant coach on Brown's staff at UCLA in 1983-84.

NO HURRY: The Jazz are in no hurry to hire a replacement for longtime assistant coach Gordie Chiesa, who last week accepted an assistant's position with New Jersey, O'Connor reiterated Monday.

"Our focus," he said, "is going to be on the draft."

O'Connor again would neither confirm nor deny if ex-Jazz assistant Kenny Natt, who left Utah for Cleveland last season, is a candidate to return. The hire, he added, will be made by Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan — but it probably won't happen until sometime after the June 28 draft.

WORKING OUT: The Jazz plan to work out more draft prospects later this week and most of next week, O'Connor said. He did not, however, say who is scheduled to visit as of now.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com