Jazz ink Harpring, add Fisher

Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller had a box of tissues at his feet, and he had to reach for them Wednesday as the team formally announced the re-signing of 6-foot-7 forward Matt Harpring to another four-year contract worth around $25 million.

It's the kind of emotion Miller often expressed about past stars like John Stockton and Karl Malone.

And now Harpring is in that company as he accepted a deal that agent Richard Howell said, "probably left a little on the table to come back here." Howell indicated other teams might have offered more years and a dozen were interested in the unrestricted free agent, four calling soon after the 12 a.m. July 1 start to the hunting season.

The Jazz hope to announce the re-signing of another key free agent today.

They have been working to get center Jarron Collins back, and there were indications that — barring a big overnight pitch from San Antonio or another team desperate to get one of the top unrestricted free-agent centers still available — they will have a Collins press conference today.

A deal for him seemed pretty far along Wednesday afternoon.

"Well, not like them," Harpring said placing himself below Jazz legends Stockton and Malone. "I do really appreciate how he's sincere," the 30-year-old said about Miller's emotions after mentioning in his Wednesday news conference that it was his first choice to come back to the Jazz in his first-ever free-agent opportunity.

"You hardly ever get an owner that cares as much as he does, and it's great to be a player to have an owner that passionate and caring about you. It makes you want to play harder, give the extra effort."

Miller said he decided when Stockton and Malone left to quit having that kind of relationship with players because it's too draining. But he has it for Harpring in spite of himself, especially after a relieved Harpring told him the day after February's NBA trading deadline, "Thanks for not trading me." Harpring was subject of many trade rumors and was a bit unnerved by the attention.

The Jazz re-signed him though there are still some questions about his knee after two microfracture surgeries; he said the knee feels good.

Coach Jerry Sloan said he doesn't think people can appreciate how hard Harpring worked to return from his surgeries and, "If anybody has fought through tough times, Matt has. That's the thing I appreciate as much as anything."

"He brings a lot of qualities we appreciate," said senior VP of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor, noting his "warrior mentality" more than once.