Utah Jazz: Charles Barkley grills D-Will about locker room 'tension'

ATLANTA — The question came up late Thursday night, when Jazz point guard Deron Williams stopped by TNT's studios here in Atlanta for an appearance on the cable network's NBA postgame show.

It came from Charles Barkley, who recently has been rather outspoken on the subject of Carlos Boozer and the Jazz.

Barkley's question to Williams centered on whether there is tension in the Jazz locker room due to uncertainty of Boozer's future with the franchise, as his contract expires after this season.

Said Barkley: "There has to be tension in your locker room. When you're on a team, everyone has to buy into 'we're trying win' and you think you're going to be together for a long time. Clearly the elephant in the room is Carlos Boozer, who is going to be a free agent and who you guys are probably not going to re-sign. Is there talk or tension about that at all?"

Answered Williams: "I think in the offseason there was and maybe early on the season, but not now. The way he came back and played and got along with everyone, there's really no tension in the locker room. We've been enjoying playing with each other and we don't know what's going to happen after the season. You don't know what's going to happen until it happens."

The Jazz visit the Atlanta Hawks tonight, stop No. 2 on a five-game road trip.

e-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com