Utah Jazz: Looking back at the busy offseason

Foye has experience at both guard positions, which could come in handy depending on how soon Earl Watson returns from his knee surgery.

RAJA SAGA

Disgruntled veteran Raja Bell made his intentions known the day after the Jazz were eliminated in May, saying he wanted to end his second stint in Utah a year early. A reported buyout between Bell and the Jazz has yet to happen, so this bitter relationship continues to fester without a resolution.

On Friday, the Jazz announced that they agreed with Bell's camp that the 12-year NBA veteran should not attend training camp.

Not exactly a shocking development, considering the now-36-year-old Bell claimed Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin was "unprofessional" in their dealings and described how their relationship suffered "irreparable damage."

Bell is owed $3.5 million this season, so don't count on the Jazz to pay him for doing nothing for too long.

Another familiar face who won't be around this year: C.J. Miles. The swingman was not re-signed by the Jazz after spending the first seven seasons of his NBA career in Utah. He signed with Cleveland.

SUMMER WORKOUTS

Last year, Jazz brass couldn't communicate with locked-out players from July 1 until late-November. Imagine the giddiness of Corbin and crew to be able to keep in contact with their guys as much as they wanted to for the past four-plus months.

Corbin spent part of the summer making visits and, from afar, kept tabs on players' physical fitness and personal progress.

The coaching staff got to help teach younger guys — Alec Burks, Enes Kanter, Jeremy Evans, DeMarre Carroll and Kevin Murphy, in particular — during the team's participation in the Orlando Summer League in July.

The Jazz also had 12 players work out at the Santa Barbara-based Peak Performance Project training center — from guys like Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap to Slam Dunk champion Evans — whose picture was taken while jumping to touch a 121/2-foot-high object, by the way. That's the most Jazz players to ever participate in their six-year partnership, according to P3.

"The important thing is everybody looks good," Corbin said earlier this month. "They're working hard and they understand that we have to come into camp in great shape."

OLYMPIC TASTE

Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors, both considered major pieces of the Jazz's current/future puzzle, relished their invaluable opportunity to train with the U.S. Olympic team in Las Vegas.

Favors said being on the USA Select Team showed him what he needs to do to become an elite player. Hayward hopes it helps pave way for more success and opportunities.

"It was a good experience for both me and D-Fav. We were one of the only teams that had two guys from the same team represented on that Select team," Hayward said. "Derrick Favors and I, young guys, we're trying to get better. I think we both want to eventually make the Olympic team and that's the first step."

Added Favors: "Practices were tough and competitive. It was a good experience. It was an eye-opener. I learned that I could compete with those guys, but at the same time l learned that I've got a lot of work to do to be on their level consistently."

The youngsters had different answers on their upcoming roles with the Jazz, though.

Hayward said he wants to start, adding that he isn't sure if the bulk of his minutes will be at shooting guard or small forward, (not that it matters all that much in the Jazz offense).

Favors hopes for an increased role, but the power forward said he doesn't care if he backs up Millsap or starts.