Utah Jazz notebook: Salary shedding a perception or reality?

General manager Kevin O'Connor on Monday addressed the popular perception that the Jazz are committed to shedding salary to get beneath the NBA's team payroll luxury-tax threshold of $69.92 million before the league's Feb. 18 trade deadline.

"I don't think we would get under the tax at all costs," O'Connor said.

Apparent interpretation: O'Connor won't gut the Jazz or make a short-term fix with negative long-term ramifications, like taking on an unwanted multi-year contract, just to get under the threshold.

But nothing has been ruled out in terms of possible personnel moves between now and the deadline.

"You talk every day with everybody," O'Connor said.

"If we do it, it would be reality," he added. "But (now) it's just perception."

O'Connor seemed miffed by questions on the subject, promptly partly by last month's trade that sent first-round draft choice Eric Maynor to Oklahoma City but will save Utah more than $10 million and partly by recent Internet reports using unnamed sources who suggest the Jazz are committed to getting under the threshold and that they've made everyone except point guard Deron Williams available via trade.

According to computations by ESPN.com, the Jazz are facing a dollar-for-dollar tax bill of $4,858,225 — but if they can shed that much salary and get under the threshold, they would receive a $4.5 million rebate payout in July.

Getting under the threshold, in other words, would amount to a swing of more than $14 million for the Jazz.

"I think we've heard this luxury-tax stuff long enough," O'Connor said. "You know, we're trying to win games — and we're committed to trying to win games."

As for sources who won't identify themselves, the Jazz GM said, "That's gutless. You know, if you've got something to say, say it. If you can't put your name next to it, don't say it."

O'Connor did acknowledge that how the Jazz fare over the next month could impact what moves are and aren't made.

"Everything changes as you go day-by-day, whether it's injuries, whether it's how we're playing, whether it's everything else," he said.

But the GM also suggested the Jazz's playoff picture isn't nearly as bleak as some paint it.

Utah started Monday 10th in the NBA's Western Conference, four-and-a-half games out of 13th place but just three out of fourth place and homecourt advantage for the first round of postseason play.