From Deseret News archives:
Utah Jazz hoping team cohesion, not contract issues, prove key
Nobody brought potato salad or swapped cherished stories about wacky Uncle Earl. But other than those minor details, Monday sure felt like a family reunion for the Jazz, who return a whopping 13 players from last season's team.
As they prepare to begin their four-day fall training camp today in Boise, the Jazz believe the familiarity on and off the court and tight-knit friendships they have in unusual abundance will play to their advantage during the upcoming 2008-09 season.
"We have a great chemistry," Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said.
That was one of the common C-words of the day. The Jazz family, it seems, might start something akin to a swear-word jar for players who mention the other popular one: contracts.
Veteran guard Brevin Knight and rookie center Kosta Koufos are the only new Jazz players in camp this fall with guaranteed contracts, but the roster could look drastically different next year. Between free agency and contract options, it's possible that only six of the current group will be back in 2009-10.
You've heard of contract years for players?
Consider this a contract year for the franchise.
"I'm telling you right now, we're not going to worry about that," Boozer said. "Nobody's contract is going to be talked about. We're going to talk about playing basketball, winning games and trying to win a championship. All the contract stuff we can wait until this summer (to do)."
Nevertheless, Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Kyle Korver can all opt out of their contracts at the end of the year. And though rumors were spread about Boozer's possible departure to Miami or Memphis next season, the Jazz's only returning All-Star from last year promises he isn't going to stoke the rumor-mill fire.
"I'm not going to speak about it. I advised my teammates not to speak about it," he said. "Let's focus on us, get ready to win a championship and then we'll worry about that in the summertime.
"We want to win a championship, that's all that matters."
Other Jazz players and coaches are singing a similar tune from coach Jerry Sloan to backup point guard Ronnie Price. They don't deny that next summer could be a wild one a possibility that could help or hinder the Jazz during this season but for now they are much more interested in making this year a winning one.
Recent comments
So Jazzsmack, enlighten us.
What are the "right pieces"
and the...
magnus | Oct. 1, 2008 at 3:38 p.m.
Just look at the camp roster.
Common sense tells you this team...
Jazzsmack | Sept. 30, 2008 at 9:11 p.m.
Those dirty utes ha e nothing on the coug's! Go byu!
Cougar fan | Sept. 30, 2008 at 8:02 p.m.
- Jones' joy for life remembered 4:09 p.m.
- 'A Christmas Story' opens this week 4:05 p.m.
- Fantasy is reality for BYU professor 4:05 p.m.
- Art gallery exhibitions this week 4:05 p.m.
- Special exhibits and programs 4:05 p.m.
- Utah concert calendar 4:05 p.m.
- 'The Nutcracker' tradition of change 4:05 p.m.
- Ballet West sponsors coat drive 4:05 p.m.
- Book signings, readings, other events 4:05 p.m.
- 'Gathering Storm' hard to put down 4:05 p.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Running game key to BYU offense
- Budget cuts won't help in 2011
- Efforts to save a life praised
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
272 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Boys basketball rankings
134 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
134 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
112 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
111 - Letters: Trump card for believers
98 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Utah, BYU are top choices for bowls
76
It's finally time for the game that everyone has been waiting for all...
Its finally here, the big game. No matter what the circumstances are, it...
sloan never intendrd to trade boz. and everybody figured he would play good...
you are certainly a shining example of a student who attended a teacher's...
I always compare every version of the Nutcracker to the Ballet West...
I agree with frustated - I am sad for the families loss, but I'm also sad for...
Guess what, kids love caves but this one should have been closed long ago....
I didn't mean to be anonymous. What a wonderful portrayal of the Christ of...
Clearly eating disorders and the model mentality is dangerous, but I think a...
Yes, thank you for such a wonderful portrayal of the Christ of Christmas!...
And the hits just keep on coming....As I said before, the ignorance about the...
I went throught this cave when I was young and I thought it was fun. I was...
