Jazz notes: Harpring getting tests done on bum knee

Backup forward Matt Harpring left the Jazz on Wednesday for testing on his surgically repaired right knee, leaving his status for the club's Oct. 30 regular-season opener very much in doubt.

Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said Wednesday that even if Harpring returns from a two-day visit to Santa Barbara, Calif., with a favorable opinion, it remains to be seen how long he will continue to be sidelined.

"Don't know," O'Connor said when asked if Harpring would be ready for Utah's 2007-08 opener at Golden State. "I can't tell that, because I don't know."

Harpring missed the Jazz's 101-93 exhibition win over Philadelphia on Wednesday night, and the ex-Sixer did not accompany the club to Albuquerque for tonight's preseason game against Sacramento.

He hasn't played, in fact, in any of the Jazz's five preseason games to date.

The bigger issue, though, is that of just how much longer Harpring will be out.

"It's more of a concern today," O'Connor said, "than it was in the middle of September, when we thought he was closer to being on track."

Harpring underwent arthroscopic surgery in August to clean out scar tissue in the knee, which twice previously was repaired via microfracture surgery.

He also underwent arthroscopic surgery in early September to address scar tissue in his ankle.

The most-pressing issue now, though, is the knee.

Harpring continues to feel pain, and O'Connor said the 31-year-old swingman "said it's not recovering as fast as he wants."

Harpring was limited to one practice a day during two-a-day sessions in the Jazz's opening week of training camp at Boise and recently returned to full-fledged rehab rather than engage in practice contact drills.

O'Connor suggested he hopes Harpring can find reassurance in California that the pain he is feeling is merely typical of a post-surgery recovery and that there are no structural issues to be addressed.

"It's something that will be good for Matt," O'Connor said, "because if they come back and say, 'Look, everything's in place, you're just gonna be a little sore' ... I think it's gonna help clear up his head."

Harpring averaged 11.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 25.5 minutes while appearing in 77 games for Utah last season.

The Georgia Tech product is entering his sixth season with the Jazz and has three years and $18.5 million remaining on a contract that is not fully guaranteed but instead is tied to how many games he plays.