Jazz still in hunt for Madsen

The Jazz continue to pursue free agent Mark Madsen, the Minnesota forward's agent said Thursday.

"There are some teams that have interest right now, and the Jazz are one of them," said agent Bob Meyers, who spoke with Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor during the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league at Salt Lake Community College.

The Jazz had not made a formal contract offer as of Thursday night, but they are expected to soon, perhaps today.

Meyers said "four or five teams" have expressed interest in Madsen, who is living in Utah during the offseason. He did not name them all, but did say Washington has "serious interest." Contrary to a Minnesota newspaper report, however, Madsen does not yet have a formal offer from the Wizards.

"A lot of people like what Mark brings — his energy, and the intangibles," Meyers said of Madsen, who played his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and the past two with the Timberwolves.

A 6-foot-9 hustle player, Madsen's strength is his defense. He played just 41 games this past season, though, and underwent season-ending wrist surgery after tearing a ligament in the joint.

Madsen hopes to decide where he will play next season by the weekend, Meyers said.

Minnesota owns Madsen's so-called Early Bird rights, meaning it can re-sign him for any amount up to the league's average salary without using one of its primary team payroll salary cap exceptions.

The Timberwolves are interested in doing just that. They may have even made a multi-year offer. Yet they do not seem to have made re-signing Madsen a high priority.

"I love Minnesota. I love to play," Madsen said in Thursday's Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I'm not trying to play the (negotiating) game. I'm not

trying to squeeze anybody. I just need to know what offers are on the table. I'd like to make a decision by (today) and give a verbal agreement."

"It may work out, and he stays here," 'Wolves owner Glen Taylor told the Minneapolis paper. "Then again, it might be where somebody else has more money or puts a higher value on him."

If the Jazz follow through with an offer, it might come from their midlevel-exception money — in others words, a multi-year deal starting next season at some portion of slightly more than $5 million.

"Mark's eager," Meyers said, "but he's patient at the same time."