Utah Jazz: C.J. Miles' career at a crossroads

SALT LAKE CITY — Entering his sixth season, it'd be fair to describe C.J. Miles as being at a crossroads in his career.

For the moment, he's motoring through the intersection of Untapped Potential and Veteran Expectations.

But on the first day of a training camp that he hope precedes a breakout season, Miles took a quick detour along What Might Have Been Way.

Texas legend Rick Barnes was among the visiting coaches observing Jazz practice Tuesday. As y'all might recall, he would've been Miles coach in college had the swingman not leaped into the NBA out of his Dallas high school.

After watching the 2010 version of Miles, Barnes only wishes the sixth-year pro and 2005 Texas commit still had some college eligibility remaining as another player he once recruited, Deron Williams, jokingly told him was the case.

The comparison of comments that came out of Miles' current coach and the one he committed to play for as a teenager was an interesting paradox.

Barnes, the Miles fan, marveled at how much the 215-pound forward has developed and matured — both his body and game — since he began recruiting him as a sophomore in 2002.

"It's great watching him," he said. "He's totally changed his body and (was) just telling me how much he loved it here and how much he believed in the system and what they're doing."

The Texas coach joked with Miles, a skinny teen when he recruited him, about his more-muscular physique, telling him, "I'd probably have to make you a power forward."

Jerry Sloan, on the other hand, spoke with a more critical still-hoping-to-get-the-message-through tone about Miles. The Jazz coach wants to see him play better defense, pass better and for him to tap out his "ton of talent."

"He should be better," Sloan said, "(and) do all those things you'd expect a guy to do with experience. ...

"His whole process has got to get better," Sloan added, "the whole process of being a better player."

Barnes attended Jazz practice to learn from a coaching staff and time-tested system that he admires, even if — perhaps partly because — Miles can be the recipient of some tough love.

Barnes loves that Miles ended up with Sloan — and Miles loves that, too.