Utah Jazz: A spot in the starting lineup was a nice surprise to Miles

When the Jazz decided in July to match the four-year, nearly $15 million offer sheet that reserve swingman C.J. Miles signed with Oklahoma City, Miles had to switch gears.

No longer could he think about fighting for a potential starting spot with the relocated Seattle Sonics. Now, instead, the Texas high school product had to figure out a way to stay off the bench in Utah.

"I was just trying to make sure I got some minutes, somewhere," he said.

A funny thing happened on the way to the start of the 2008-09 NBA season, however.

First, Matt Harpring was set back by infection in his surgically repaired right ankle.

The usual backup small forward still hasn't played in the preseason, and won't travel with the team on a three-game exhibition trip that opens Wednesday night in Denver.

Then Jazz coach Jerry Sloan got to thinking about the many possible pluses prompted by bringing 2004 All-Star Andrei Kirilenko — Utah's incumbent starting small forward — off that very same bench.

All of a sudden an invitation to a potential starting job had been delivered to Miles on a platter. Before he can ponder just what he might do with the work, however, Miles must win it.

And he hasn't yet, Sloan suggested Sunday.

"We'll have to see what C.J. does," he said. "Maybe somebody else steps up and plays a little better somewhere along the line. He (Miles) has to play, and compete. He can't just be out there, you know?"

Sloan acknowledged he'll consider other possibilities.

One would be to start usual backup shooting guard Kyle Korver along with starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer at the interchangeable 2 and 3 positions. Another is scrap the Kirilenko-as-a-sub plan altogether. Or maybe Harpring will start, whenever he gets healthy enough to play.

For now, though, the role is Miles' to claim.

"I've got to really lock in," the 21-year-old fourth-year pro said.

He's still struggling, however, with the combination.

Miles — who could have been a senior at the University of Texas this season had he not declared for the 2005 NBA Draft, in which the Jazz made him a second-round selection — shot 3-for-6 in Utah's preseason-opening win over the Los Angeles Lakers.