Pickings at guard position are suddenly looking slim

Ever since the 2004-05 season ended some three months ago, and even after they took Deron Williams at No. 3 in the June 28 NBA Draft, the Jazz have made their yearning for veteran help at the point abundantly clear.

Today — three weeks since the league's free-agency shopping market opened, and with the 2005-06 season's start barely more than three months away — that need remains.

Late Tuesday, the agent for one of the Jazz's top targets — Seattle's Antonio Daniels — made it known his client is headed to Washington. On Wednesday, ESPN.com reported Daniels accepted the Wizards' full five-year, estimated $30 million midlevel-exception contract offer.

That's believed to be far in excess of what Utah and Daniels' other primary suitor, the Los Angeles Lakers, would pay.

The Jazz probably did not dangle more than a three-year midlevel deal to the 30-year-old, and the Lakers are known to have offered midlevel money (starting at slightly more than $5 million per season) for only two seasons.

Also Tuesday, Philadelphia guard Willie Green — in whom Utah had supposed interested — reportedly agreed to remain with the 76ers for at least $20 million over six years.

"We talked to some other teams," agent Noah Croom told the Associated Press, "but because Willie was a restricted free agent, (the 76ers) held most of the cards."

Where does it leave the Jazz?

Weeding through free-agent possibilities that seem mostly unobtainable or unappealing, it appears.

Rather than pursuing a pure point, Utah — which also could still bring back part-time starter Keith McLeod, though probably not in a full-time backup role — now seems anxious to acquire a combo guard who can play both when Williams is sitting and alongside him.

Still, the pickin' is subprime.

The Jazz are known to have liked 6-foot-7 Los Angeles Clippers guard Marko Jaric for some time, nearly taking him instead of since-departed high school shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson at No. 23 in the 2000 draft.

But Jaric, who went No. 30 to the Clippers, also is restricted. L.A. can match any offer he receives, which may explain why the Jazz so far seem to be shying away.

According to Wednesday's Los Angeles Times, Jaric's agent said the 26-year-old "has drawn interest" from Seattle, Portland, Denver, Miami and Minnesota.

Utah? No mention.