Jazz organization, Sloan look to move forward as Giricek trade is completed

Less than two weeks after kicking him out of a game at Charlotte and on the same day the Jazz traded Gordan Giricek to Philadelphia, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan essentially accused media members of making the matter worse.

"It wasn't as big a conflict as you all made it," Sloan told reporters prior to the Jazz's loss Saturday night to Boston, which came hours after Utah dealt Giricek and a protected first-round draft choice to the 76ers for swingman Kyle Korver. "You know all that stuff goes on — it has to be talked about, for whatever reason."

Several Jazz players, however, seemed to see things somewhat differently — suggesting that tensions between Giricek, who was banished from the team for three games before finally being reinstated, and Sloan had mushroomed over time to a point that a trade was inevitable.

"I think the situation with Gordan and Coach had run its course," backup center Jarron Collins said, "and it's probably best for all parties involved to move forward and go on."

"Giri's my friend, so it's bad to lose him," small forward Andrei Kirilenko added. "But it's a business. I think everybody understands that. And he didn't along with the coach. So, it was a decision we were ready for."

Giricek — who was playing his fifth season in Utah — lost a war of words with Sloan on the sideline in Charlotte, and was immediately shipped back to Salt Lake City.

"Once something like that transpires," Jazz point guard Deron Williams said, "it's pretty hard for (Sloan) to get it out of his head."

The two claimed to have mended fences when Giricek was reinstated last Thursday, but reality is that Sloan had had enough of the veteran from Croatia — and, quite obviously, vice versa.

"I think (Giricek's) time here was up," Williams said. "He and Coach had their run-ins."

Kirilenko, like Collins, spoke with Giricek after the deal went down.

So did Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor, who made the trade.

"I don't think Gordan was shocked by it," O'Connor said.

"I (told Giricek) he's got a clean slate," O'Connor added, "and he gets an opportunity to show how he can play."

O'Connor also spoke with Korver in the moments after the deal was brokered, as did new 76ers general manager Ed Stefanski.