Patriot Games: Jazz players going global

The Beijing Games are far in the rear-view mirror, the Summer Olympics in London aren't for another three years, and the World Championships won't take place until 2010.

So when it comes to global hoops competitions, this is an off year.

That hardly means everybody's taking a long summer siesta and saying "sayonara" to their national teams and international play.

Au contraire.

Case in point: Of the 12 players currently under contract with the Utah Jazz, at least six will likely participate with their national teams this offseason in one form or another.

Paul Millsap, Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver have each been invited to participate in a USA Basketball mini-camp this week in Las Vegas, while Deron Williams and assistant coach Tyrone Corbin have agreed to assist in Sin City, as well.

Meanwhile, Kyrylo Fesenko (Ukraine) and Kosta Koufos (Greece) are in Europe to play for national bragging rights. And they aren't the only big guys across the pond in action with Jazz ties. A pair of post players whose NBA rights are owned by the franchise — second-round picks Ante Tomic and Goran Suton — will also play in the upcoming major European tournaments in Poland and Finland.

Some off year, eh?

And there could be more.

It's possible, though not likely, that Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur could still suit up for their native lands, even though all indications are that they won't.

That's not to mention what's in store for Carlos Boozer. He doesn't have any national team requirements, but later this summer, the two-time Olympian will represent the NBA and the Jazz — assuming he's still a Jazz representative by then — in a Basketball Without Borders program in South Africa.

Though Jazz brass keep their fingers crossed that no injuries will occur while their highly paid players lend their services to their respective countries, the organization tries to be amenable and supportive when players seek to share their talents with their national teams.