Jazz cut 2, trim roster down to 17

The Jazz made their first two roster cuts prior to practice Sunday, waiving swingman Mark Karcher and forward Cory Violette to trim their training-camp roster to 17.

Thirteen of the survivors have guaranteed contracts, and one, big man Robert Whaley, has a partially guaranteed deal. Three free agents remain, including Utah State product Spencer Nelson.

"I consider myself lucky to be here every day that I'm here," said Nelson, a 6-foot-8 forward who has four points and four rebounds while logging nearly 20 minutes combined in Utah's first two games of the preseason. "So it's nice to know that I have another day."

Karcher, a former Philadelphia 76ers second-round draft choice from Temple University who has never played in the NBA, had one point in seven exhibition minutes at Toronto on Wednesday. He did not play in the Jazz's second game of the preseason, Thursday's loss at Indiana.

Violette, a Gonzaga product who played last season in Italy, appeared in both exhibitions, averaging four points in 22 minutes per game.

Big man James Lang, drafted straight out of his Alabama high school in 2003, and point guard Andre Owens, a rookie from the University of Houston, are the other two free agents besides Nelson still in Jazz camp.

It remains to be seen if Utah will carry 14 or 15 players to open the season, which gets under way Nov. 2. At least two more cuts will have to be made before then, but Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said Sunday he was uncertain when those will come.

BOOZER DOUBTFUL: Power forward Carlos Boozer, Utah's leading scorer last season, is doubtful for tonight's Delta Center preseason game against Phoenix, a Jazz spokeswoman said Sunday.

Boozer missed last week's two preseason games with a strained left hamstring.

Also out tonight is forward Matt Harpring, who is rehabbing from offseason knee surgery.

MISC.: Former Jazz co-captain Raja Bell makes his first appearance in the Delta Center since bolting Utah for Phoenix hours after the NBA's summer free-agency signing period opened this past offseason . . . According to ProBasketballNews.com, reports out of Turkey say ex-Jazz center Ben Handlogten "will sign with Fenerbahce if he fails to receive a guaranteed contract from New Jersey." Handlogten is in Nets camp with a non-guaranteed contract . . . New Jersey power forward Jason Collins, the twin brother of Jazz big man Jarron Collins, "will be held out of all basketball activities for the next few weeks" due to an injured right knee, the New York Times reported.

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