Araujo happier in Utah

He played only sporadically during his two years in Canada, logging 59 limited-minute games as a rookie and 52 last season. But he did at least see more action than he has so far in his short stay with the Jazz.

Still, Brazilian big man Rafael Araujo wouldn't swap the opportunity he has now for his experience north of the border.

In fact, ask Araujo — selected No. 8 overall by the Raptors in the 2004 NBA Draft — if he misses anything about Toronto, and the answer requires little thought.

"Not really," he said. "I mean, I don't miss anything about it."

The ex-BYU center, however, does grasp for the silver in a stop clouded by high expectations, underachieving performance and mounds of criticism for not meeting the demands of a lottery pick.

"That was really harsh on me," he said, "but I learned a lot of things, so I keep up the hard work and keep a good attitude about it.

"It was ... learning about this business," added Araujo, acquired by the Jazz this past offseason in a trade for another 2004 first-rounder, forward Kris Humphries. "The challenge I went through, the situation I went through — it make me a lot mature."

But suffice it say to say he does not miss the Canadian boo-birds.

"Fair or hard, I mean, they don't know too much," he said. "They're just fans — you know, they like you today, they hate you tomorrow. ... I just (didn't) have the support I have today here."

When he left the Raptors after the conclusion of last season, Araujo had a feeling his days with Toronto were numbered.

"They told me I probably get traded," he said, "but they didn't give me 100 percent guarantee."

The deal, however, went through in early June.

Araujo is ever-so-glad it did — even if the Jazz did not pick up next season's $3 million option on his rookie contract.

"I did two years there; I think it was time to move on," he said. "In Toronto, I was just playing. ... But I wanted to be developed.

"Just to be here is lucky. I mean, just to play with good players — for me, for my development — is a big-time thing, you know? ... For me here, just playing for coach (Jerry) Sloan, I mean, he's a great coach."