"The members of this team in place right now can be the best team in basketball in a very short time," Fisher said. "I fully believe it.

"I'll be rooting them on, no matter where I am. It's a special group of guys. It really is. They deserve the best ... and I truly feel sorry I can't be around to see (the Jazz's maturation) really come to fruition, because this team, I think, is gonna be great.

"It will be sad to watch their success going forward," he added, "and not (be) a part of it."

FREE-AGENCY NOTES: According to the New York Post, New Jersey is talking with ex-Jazz center Mikki Moore about returning. Houston and Golden State also have supposed interest in the free agent ... The Houston Chronicle reported the Rockets may also have interest in ex-University of Utah star Keith Van Horn, who took last season off, if they can't land their primary targets ... The New Orleans Hornets reportedly are talking with free agent Devin Brown about returning, but Denver's also reportedly interested in the ex-Jazz guard and Utah native ... According to the Washington Post, "a published report citing a Wizards offer of $9 million over three years" to keep ex-Jazz shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson "was just a possible starting point in negotiations" — and Stevenson, though he wants to remain in Washington, won't sign for so little.

---

E-mail: buckley@desnews.com