Jazz reaping rewards of Miller's spending

PORTLAND, Ore. — When Larry H. Miller pried open his wallet in the summer of 2004, reaping benefits like those enjoyed by certain individuals this past weekend was part of what the Jazz owner had in mind.

Carlos Boozer: a first-time All-Star, albeit an injured one.

Mehmet Okur: also a first-time All-Star, representing the organization on the floor in the league's showcase game at Las Vegas.

Andrei Kirilenko: once an All-Star himself, still regarded nationally as the face of the franchise more than perhaps anyone else except coach Jerry Sloan and retired multi-time All-Stars John Stockton and Karl Malone.

That, though, is not nearly enough to justify the mounds of money Miller spent that offseason — giving Kirilenko a six-year, $86 million contract extension; Boozer a six-year, $68 million deal; Okur a six-year, $50 million contract; and that's not to mention a pair of four-year, $16 million deals given to current reserve shooting guard Gordan Giricek and since-traded point guard Carlos Arroyo.

"Winning validates it more than anything. That's how I feel," said Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor, who was responsible for making the personnel decisions that Miller's spending spree permitted.

"We're judged in a court of public opinion, and I think the public opinion is really dictated by whether you win or lose," he added shortly before heading to Las Vegas last week. "I mean, we could have a guy getting 26, 27 points a game, our record could be a lot less than it is, and I think you'd have more questions than you do today."

At 35-17 heading into tonight's first game after the All-Star Weekend break, the Jazz — who have not participated in postseason play since Stockton and Malone exited Utah in 2003 — so far this season are doing their part in the victory column, as well, to render moot any doubts that may arise over money matters.

"I think Kevin O'Connor has done an awesome job being a part of that as far as finding players that were gonna mesh together," said former Jazz forward and current broadcast commentator Thurl Bailey, who also was in Vegas for the All-Star celebration. "And now you're seeing the rewards of it."

How long the jackpot run can continue, however, is anyone's best guess.

"I always believed the Jazz would at least make the playoffs," said Bailey. "But I see bigger and better things. Can they win the championship? I'm not sure they're seasoned enough."