Fisher close to returning to lineup

PORTLAND, Ore. — Injured guard Derek Fisher should practice Wednesday, and only then will the Jazz know if he can play in their preseason finale Thursday night against Indiana, coach Jerry Sloan said Monday.

"Hopefully we can see where he is on Wednesday," Sloan said prior to the Jazz's exhibition visit with Portland, "and if he feels like playing, then maybe we can get him on the floor and see where he is."

Even if Fisher isn't ready to go Thursday, he may be still be ready for Utah's Nov. 1 regular-season opener vs. Houston.

Sloan, though, isn't ready to commit to how many minutes Fisher can expect — or if he'll start.

"I just have to see where he is," the Jazz coach said.

"Now he's behind some of the stuff we've done, so I just have to try to work that out," he added. "I don't like for a guy to be totally uncomfortable with what we're doing, and hopefully (comfortable) is where we can get him in the next few days."

Not that catching up can't be quick.

"I don't think he'll have a problem with it," Sloan said of Fisher, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Golden State, understanding what he's missed. "We're not that difficult."

Fisher badly bruised his pelvis after falling hard to the floor of Conseco Fieldhouse during the opening quarter of the Jazz's second preseason game, a Nov. 14 visit to Indiana. He hasn't played since, and did not accompany the club on its current three-game exhibition trip that concludes with the second half of a back-to-back set tonight at Denver.

Instead, Fisher — who figures to eventually start at shooting guard and back up Deron Williams at the point — stayed behind in Utah to rehab.

With Fisher out, Sloan gave Gordan Giricek — who opened 36 games last season before yielding to a Achilles tendon injury — his third start of the preseason at the 2 spot. If Fisher isn't ready for Utah's opener, the veteran from Croatia looks like the top candidate to join Williams in the Jazz's starting backcourt.

DECISIONS PENDING: The Jazz probably will wait until sometime after Thursday night's preseason-ending game to reveal if they'll pick up the 2007-08 options on the rookie contracts of Williams and center Rafael Araujo, basketball boss Kevin O'Connor said Monday.

The Jazz could go either way on the Araujo decision.

Picking up the $4 million option on No. 3 overall 2005 draft choice Williams, however, seems like a no-brainer formality.