"But," he added, "it's just friendships, know what I mean?"

As for free-agency possibilities, Boozer consistently has said he won't address possibilities — including those with the Heat, should he opt out — until after this season.

Until then, rumors are likely to persist — and Boozer seems understanding of that reality.

"People want to talk about stuff," he said. "They're going to talk about it anyway."

Such chatter, Sloan suggested, doesn't seem to have distracted Boozer at all this season.

"Not as far as I'm concerned," the Jazz coach said. "He's been terrific to work with, from our standpoint."

TOYS FOR TOTS: The Jazz will help host the annual Toys for Tots charity drive before home games tonight and Friday night. Fans are asked to bring new, unwrapped toys.

The first 2,000 who do, or who make a cash donation, will receive a ticket voucher to a 2009 Salt Lake Bees baseball game.

NEW GIG: Jazz big man Kyrylo Fesenko's agent, Jason Levien, begins work later this month as an assistant GM and general team counsel in Sacramento.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com