Utah Jazz Extra: Knuckleheads, getting Dodge out of Utah, D-Will done with Jazz?

STARTING FIVE

Not sure if you noticed, but a certain "Ex" was in town for a homecoming. His time in Utah seemed to be as short as his membership in the Kardashian family, but that familiar-looking guy was Kris Humphries. Meanwhile, back to Deron Williams:

1. VISITING VILLAIN

What a weird coincidence. Jazz fans were so busy booing referee Violet Palmer at the beginning of every Nets possession Saturday they apparently didn't realize Williams was New Jersey's ballhandler. No doubt they'll cheer one of the greatest players in franchise history when he comes back next year.

Williams expected to get booed (and Palmer's used to it). His buddy, C.J. Miles, also figured reactions to D-Will would be mixed, and that Mehmet Okur would get a vocal group hug from Utah.

"Everybody has their perspective on what when down (with resigned Jazz coach Jerry Sloan) and how they feel about people," Miles said. With a grin, he added, "I'm pretty sure there's people out there (in Utah) that don't like some of the guys on the team right now, so there's nothing you can do about it."

Maybe boo back?

2. GETTING THE DODGE OUT OF UTAH

Williams and former Jazzman Kyle Korver will continue to do their popular charity fund-raising dodgeball tournament. Just not in Utah.

"Probably not," the former Illinois standout said in a recent interview with Deseret News when asked if he'd do another Dodge Barrage in Salt Lake City. "I think we're going to move it to Chicago next year. Kyle's in Chicago and I have a lot of ties with the Chicago area. We think it can be a bigger event in Chicago."

The third-annual event was held in Utah last summer even though both players were with different NBA teams. At the time, Williams said the tournament stayed in Utah because they wanted "to really make an impact on an area that holds a special place in both of our hearts."

3. WORTH REPEATING

— Best sign at Williams' not-so-welcome-back party Saturday: "D-Will thanks for the Favors."

— Most sarcastic D-Will quote to the D-News (after being told Okur was worried he'd get booed by Jazz fans): "Memo won't get booed. He didn't run the coach out like I did."

— The King, the Jedi, even the Living Dead returned. Is a Return of the D-Will sequel in Salt Lake City possible? "No," Williams said in that Q&A. "That chapter in my life is over."

And, yes, he said that before booing began.

4. SPECIAL TREATMENT IN TURKEY

Wonder if, deep down, Mehmet Okur or Enes Kanter are at all jealous Williams got a jersey retired in his honor in Turkey — and after only 15 games with Besiktas — before either of the big Turks did. That the Jazz allowed Josh Howard to snag No. 8 only 10 months after Williams (a la GR8TNESS per the T-shirts) stopped wearing his familiar number gives an indication that his jersey won't be raised to EnergySolutions Arena's rafters anytime soon.

5. THE FINAL SHOUTDOWN?

Coaches and players bicker all the time, C.J. Miles admitted. So he doesn't think one argument between Sloan and Williams caused the Hall of Fame coach to resign.

"Out of all the players (Sloan)'s played with and knuckleheads that's been coming through here and the things that we've done in practice that made him mad," Miles said, "I can't believe that that one argument is the reason he retired."

Miles chuckled after saying that, then added: "There's been people here who have done some crazy stuff, and (Sloan)'s been here."

COMING ATTRACTIONS