Utah Jazz: Harpring to meet to decide future

With fall camp less than three weeks away, Matt Harpring's status for the 2009-10 season remains in a to-be-determined category.

That could soon change.

A couple of months after publicly admitting that he wasn't sure if his banged-up body could handle another grueling season — something he privately told Jazz officials at the end of his personally painful 2008-09 campaign — the 11-year NBA veteran plans on discussing his options with front-office personnel early next week.

"I haven't talked to the Jazz yet," Harpring, who makes his offseason home in the Atlanta area, said by telephone Sunday.

But that fateful discussion is forthcoming.

Harpring will return to Utah later this week and expects to sit down with the Jazz early next week to discuss his future with the franchise.

The possibility of him not playing next season — for which he is under contract to make $6.5 million — remains an option under consideration.

Just like it did earlier this summer when the small forward, who's logged seven seasons in a Jazz jersey, admitted he'd "love to play" but wasn't sure if that would be possible because of medical concerns. Because of health issues, Harpring added that he was bouncing back and forth in his mind between "thoughts of playing and ... thoughts of not playing."

That revelation came in early July, when he also said he planned on talking to the Jazz by about this time. Two months had passed then since the Jazz's early playoff elimination, but Harpring was still being bothered by his surgically repaired right ankle. That was the ankle that became so infected in the summer of 2008 the former Georgia Tech star even feared for his life.

Harpring's right knee, which also caused him problems and required multiple surgeries, was also still not fully right midsummer, either. Knowing that, Harpring and the Jazz decided he should rest for a couple more months and then report back to weigh the options.

When they meet, it's possible they could choose to continue to have him rest and rehab.

It's also still possible, as Harpring suggested in July, that he and the Jazz could map out an exit strategy — perhaps in relation to another R&R: retirement and relaxation — or work on other possibilities that would best benefit both parties.

Should his playing career with the Jazz be over — aside from the official announcement — it doesn't mean Harpring's affiliation with Utah will simultaneously cease.

Harpring previously has expressed interest in maintaining a relationship with the franchise, including the possibility of doing broadcast commentary work. He has done that on several occasions in the past for both radio and TV broadcasts of Jazz games.

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