Utah Jazz: O'Connor has been the man behind team moves for over 10 years

If Kevin O'Connor were the nostalgic type, Saturday's game might have a little more added significance than most on the 82-game NBA schedule.

After all, O'Connor not too long ago had his 10th anniversary with the Utah Jazz, and the team he left behind in the City of Brotherly Love will visit EnergySolutions Arena during its annual trip to the Beehive State.

Now in his 11th season as the Jazz's general manager, O'Connor has fond memories of people he worked with in Philadelphia — from administrative assistants still there to former owner Pat Croce.

But make no mistake. His allegiances and loyalties are in Utah with his current employer.

"You move on," O'Connor admitted.

And he certainly has.

Since taking over on Aug. 26, 1999, for outgoing Scott Layden — who was headed to the New York Knicks (and since returned) — O'Connor has played an integral role with the Jazz.

Utah hasn't quite matched the success of the NBA Finals' years during his tenure, but the Jazz have remained a relevant player in the league with the teams that he's helped assemble.

That, however, is quite the feat, considering the Jazz aren't exactly perennial lottery draft pickers.

That's how Jerry Sloan sees it, at least.

The Jazz coach credits O'Connor for picking up valuable free agents such as Matt Harpring, Raja Bell, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur, who have bolstered the basketball team in the years since John Stockton and Karl Malone moved on.

O'Connor is also praised by many experts and onlookers for his shrewd moves on draft day in 2005, when he improved the Jazz's picking position by three spots — just enough to snag a promising point guard named Deron Williams with the No. 3 overall selection.

"I'd hate to think where we would've been if it hadn't been for Kevin," Sloan said. "He's done a lot of things to keep this franchise credible."

O'Connor has also had to be creative.

The makeup of this year's roster is an example of that. Only six Jazz players were actually drafted by Utah (including second-rounders Paul Millsap and C.J. Miles); two got here via trades (Kyle Korver and Kyrylo Fesenko, both coming from Philly, coincidentally); and four were brought here as free agents.

He's not the boastful or self-promoting type, but O'Connor looks back at the accomplishment of the franchise remaining a perennial power and playoff team with a feeling of pride. To further the point about his non-bragging style, O'Connor gives most of the credit for making post-Stockton-and-Malone success possible to Sloan and to the organization's late owner, Larry H. Miller.