Utah Jazz: Wesley Matthews moves up on Utah's priority list

MAITLAND, Fla. — Now that Carlos Boozer is off to Chicago, the Jazz can start paying some attention to Wesley Matthews.

And they plan to do just that.

"We'll have conversations with him," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said Wednesday night. "I think the logjam is kind of broken a little bit."

O'Connor and Matthews' agent, Lance Young, both are in town for the ongoing Orlando Pro Summer League here.

Young suggested Wednesday that there was nothing new to report. But the two are likely to talk today.

Matthews, a restricted free agent and the Jazz's starting shooting guard to end last season, is drawing attention from other teams, as well.

But O'Connor reiterated Monday just how much the Jazz like Matthews, mentioning the undrafted rookie's "toughness and his ability to compete."

"That's gonna be up to him, as far as where anywhere he goes," O'Connor said when asked if he projects Matthews to continue as an NBA starter.

"He's gonna have to improve, as every young player has to improve," the Jazz GM added. "But ... is he a long-term starter if he gets better? He certainly has that opportunity."

BREWER BACK? Matthews took over as starter when Utah traded Ronnie Brewer, once a Jazz lottery pick, to Memphis in February.

The Grizzlies didn't extend Brewer a qualifying offer, though, so now he's an unrestricted free agent — and one in whom O'Connor suggested the Jazz again will show interest.

"We're gonna talk," he said.

Why haven't they already?

"I think his agent, Henry Thomas, was a little occupied," O'Connor said, "with a couple of guys in Miami."

Thomas also represents Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, two of the highest-profile free agents in this summer's NBA free-agency shopping market.

KORVER'S CORNER: If the Heat have any cap space left after reigning NBA MVP LeBron James makes his free-agency decision tonight, could Miami be a contender for Jazz shooting guard Kyle Korver?

According to the Miami Herald, "Among small forwards, the Heat loves Mike Miller — with Josh Howard, Richard Jefferson and Korver also in the mix — and spoke to agents for Rasual Butler and Matt Barnes, who are cheaper."