Jazz's Williams is earning respect

Jazz point guard Deron Williams' bid to play in his first NBA All-Star Game has a backer with clout.

"I think you've got to consider Deron Williams as an All-Star," Denver Nuggets coach George Karl said. "He's played that well."

Karl, who along with fellow conference coaches will have a say in selecting Western reserves for the Feb. 18 game in Las Vegas, said what he did even before Williams' 28-point, 12-assist double-double in Utah's 96-84 win Saturday at Denver.

The comment, relayed by a reporter who said Karl had called Williams an All-Star in the making, was accepted with humble appreciation by the Jazz's second-season point.

"I respect coach Karl a lot," said Williams, who already has nine double-doubles this season — four more than in all of his rookie season. "He's a great coach, and I definitely appreciate that compliment from him. Coming from him, that means a lot to me."

It wasn't the only endorsing going on Saturday, though.

According to the Denver Post, Jerry Sloan "said he would vote" for Denver's Carmelo Anthony "despite the 15-game suspension the Nuggets star is serving" for his role in a mid-December brawl at New York.

"I think you have to go on who he is and what he's able to do," the Jazz coach was quoted as saying when asked about Anthony, who helped the 16-15 Nuggets get off to a 13-9 start while averaging a league-leading 31.6 points per game.

"You've got to look and see where his team is and if he's responsible for that," added Sloan, whose 24-10 club took Sunday off from practice and plays host to Dallas on Tuesday night. "If there's somebody ahead of him, you'd probably take another look. But he's a great player. He deserves to be in the All-Star Game."

Anthony's All-Star competition includes the Jazz's top scorer, fellow forward and first-time hopeful Carlos Boozer.

TRADE TALK: According to a Newsday report Sunday, "despite speculation that the Jazz will be a player for the (Los Angeles) Clippers' Corey Maggette, Utah is too close to the luxury-tax threshold to do something dramatic and isn't looking to rent a player."

Newsday spoke directly with Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor, who reiterated comments made recently to Utah reporters in telling the New York newspaper "he's looking to add depth and experience, not break the bank."

"Would we do something short term that would prevent us from improving long term? No," O'Connor said.