Okur returning to Jazz lineup tonight; no word on Giricek

Mehmet Okur will play for the first time in eight games tonight when the Utah Jazz play host to the Dallas Mavericks at EnergySolutions Arena, but there was no word at Wednesday's shootaround regarding the inactive Gordan Giricek.

Last week, Giricek was sent home mid-week from the Jazz's four-game Eastern road trip after he and coach Jerry Sloan clashed on the bench, and Giricek did not practice Tuesday with the team at Zion's Bank Basketball Center. He was also not present at Wednesday's shootaround.

Sloan said he had talked with general manager Kevin O'Connor twice Tuesday regarding Giricek, but no final decision has been made on the player's fate with the organization.

Giricek could be reinstated, bought out of the remaining year of his contract or traded.

"We don't have anything at this point," Sloan said about progress on Giricek. "We talked about it. We're still talking about it."

O'Connor was in the building Wednesday morning but left without speaking to reporters about Giricek.

As for Okur, "Just can't wait," he said about playing after missing seven games with a shoulder injury that he tested for its ability to withstand contact for the first time Tuesday and then again in Wednesday's shootaround. He said it's the longest he's been out due to injury during his career.

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