Jazz brass already looking forward to coming season

The ink that recorded the story of their 2006-07 season may not be dry yet, but Jazz brass have already started thinking about what's next.

Owner Larry H. Miller, senior vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor, coach Jerry Sloan and others will make a litany of decisions about the future of the team over the summer. Among them, the Jazz will decide what to do with free agents-to-be Rafael Araujo, Dee Brown and C.J. Miles.

O'Connor wasn't at the EnergySolutions Arena Thursday during the Jazz's annual locker clean-out day, but Sloan said the organization will be deciding whether to pursue those players as the summer unfolds.

"Those things we will have to discuss," he said. "We just finished up the season. We'll get prepared for the draft and talk about those things.

"We don't make any decisions today, obviously," Sloan added, "but everybody has to be talked about."

For their part, all three Jazz players had slightly different answers when asked about their impending free-agency.

"I love the city. I want to be here. I think everybody knows I love it," said Araujo, who played his college ball at BYU. "I wanna be here so much, but I have no control there.

"Just leave this stuff between the organization (and) my agent," he added. "Make sure — when it comes the right time — at least they know I love to be here, I wanna be here. That's all I can control."

Asked if he would prefer to remain in Utah, Brown, a rookie guard from Illinois, responded: "Yeah, I've got a year under my belt with all the fellas and everybody in the organization. With me, it's all about just me being able to play basketball everyday."

Then there was Miles.

"I don't have any problems with anything where I'm at now," he said. "But if something seems like it's better for me at the time, then I'll just have to take it."

Jazz guard Derek Fisher pointed out that — while players control the ultimate fate of a team during the season and in the playoffs — those same guys have little control over the business decisions that are made.

At least one Jazz man, however, would like to see all three free agents remain with the team.

"I love 'em," Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said. "I'm gonna tell you, all three of those guys work their tail off, and I hope they're back."