Utah Jazz: Kyrylo Fesenko likely to stay in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Kyrylo Fesenko fans in Houston might want to say a few extra prayers, and quickly.

Otherwise, he'll return to the Utah Jazz by morning's end, a source confirmed to the Deseret News.

Fesenko and the Rockets couldn't come to an agreement on the structure of a multi-year deal this weekend, so the 7-foot-1 center plans on signing the qualifying offer tendered by the Jazz earlier this summer. That should happen this morning and would keep the restricted free agent in Utah for a fourth season at the tune of $1.1 million.

"Barring an unforeseen miracle offer or change of heart by Houston, he will be at media day," the source said.

At the very least, Fesenko hopes to be ready for the start of training camp Tuesday.

Fesenko never received a formal offer from Houston, but the sides were closing in on a two-year, $4 million agreement that ultimately fell apart due to what the source called some structure "hangups."

A Saturday deadline set by Fesenko's camp was postponed until Sunday in hopes that a last-minute deal could be bartered. That didn't happen, and the big Ukrainian wants the situation resolved before camp.

Though intrigued by Houston, which is pursuing center Erick Dampier, "Fesenko definitely wants to play in Utah," the source said. With Mehmet Okur being out for an undetermined amount of time while rehabbing from Achilles tendon surgery, Fesenko hopes to pick up extra playing time with the Jazz.

Technically, Fesenko has until Oct. 1 to sign the Jazz's qualifying offer, but he must be under contract to participate in camp. If a Houston miracle surfaces this morning, the Jazz would have seven days to match.

"He's got to make a decision by (Friday), or else it goes away," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor told KSL-TV on Sunday. "There's a lot of teams, from what I understand, that are saying, 'Just hold off. We'll wait and we may give you this.'"

O'Connor called the Jazz's offer "well above the minimum."

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