HIBBERT WATCH: Georgetown center Roy Hibbert, who worked out for the Jazz last week and is projected by many Internet mock drafts to be headed to Utah at No. 23, worked out Thursday for the Indiana Pacers.

Hibbert, projected by some last year to be a potential lottery pick before deciding to return for his senior season, told The Indianapolis Star, "Sometimes people like to tell me I would have gone higher last year, but I don't think I was mentally or physically ready to go ... I feel like this year I'm more ready for the endeavors and the rigors of the NBA season."

The Pacers pick 11th in the opening round of this year's draft.

SLOAN SPEAKS: Houston Chronicle columnist Richard Justice quoted an unidentified "NBA coach" telling this tale revolving around the hot topic of refereeing and involving Jazz coach Jerry Sloan:

"Michael Jordan is cursing an official right in front of our bench. I'm hearing every word of it, and I promise you very few players could get away with the things he's saying. When Michael is finished, the referee asks, 'Can I have your shoes for my charity auction?'

"Now I'm ticked off. Are you telling me this guy is going to make tough calls on Michael Jordan when he's hoping to get a pair of his shoes? So I bring it up when the coaches meet with the league that summer. You know what the league guy asks? He wants me to give him the name of the referee. It's like I'm making up the story. No way I'm naming the ref. If the ref doesn't get back at me, one of his buddies will.

"I'm trying to get out of giving up the guy's name when Jerry Sloan speaks up, saying, 'Of course, stuff like that goes on. We've all heard it.' God bless Jerry Sloan."

RUMOR MILL: According to the Orlando Sentinel this week, the Jazz, along with Miami and Dallas, are among "several teams that are expected to show interest" in Magic unrestricted free agent combo guard Keyon Dooling.

The Sentinel spoke to Dooling and his agent, Rob Pelinka, for its story but did not cite a specific source for rumor of the Jazz's interest.

Dooling, 28, averaged 8.1 points in 18.5 minutes per game last season, when he made nearly $3.6 million. He is expecting a pay raise, the Sentinel reported.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com