Utah Jazz notebook: Jazz brass planning to talk to Carlos Boozer's agent

SALT LAKE CITY — It's not as if any sort of agreement will be reached any time soon.

But sometime before their starting power forward becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason, the Jazz do plan on talking with the Carlos Boozer camp about the possibility of his remaining in Utah, general manager Kevin O'Connor said Monday night.

"We've had conversations with everyone's agents throughout the year," O'Connor said, "and I don't think we ever said we'd rule out anything."

He didn't say precisely when, but O'Connor did say "sure' when asked if he'll talk with Boozer's agent again before July.

"Will we have conversations? Absolutely," he said.

The Jazz may even present a formal contract proposal to keep Boozer in Utah beyond this season, though it's likely the two-time United States Olympian will test free-agent waters anyway.

After a rollercoaster five-year relationship, the Jazz had no interest in bringing back Boozer after last season ended.

But he — despite earlier public promises about getting a new deal and pay raise — instead wound up surprisingly opting in for the final $12.66 million season on his current six-year contract, partly because there was concern he could land no better deal in the open market.

O'Connor would not comment when asked when organizational opinion on retaining Boozer changed, but he did indicate the club now is keeping all options open.

"I think if you look at it at the end of last year and end of last summer," the Jazz GM said, "I think you keep things alive, at least talking about people."

Boozer had 23 points and nine rebounds in Monday night's win Washington, one board short of what have been his 45th double-double this season.

INJURY UPDATE: Starting center Mehmet Okur returned Monday after missing Sunday's game due to back spasms, and starting point guard Deron Williams played with protective padding on his sore left shoulder, but starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko and backup point guard Ronnie Price both sat out again.

Okur wound up not needing a pain-killing injection for his back, which began hurting him in Friday's loss at Milwaukee.

Kirilenko and Price both underwent MRI exams Monday, but neither showed anything more than what was suspected — a strained left calf for Kirilenko, and a bruised right wrist for Price.