Mo Williams, the pg from Alabama

http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_2385213

After spending $150 million on new contracts belonging to Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, Gordan Giricek and Carlos Arroyo, Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor still has some unfinished business.
O'Connor is waiting to hear from agent Mark Bartelstein, who represents restricted free agent Mo Williams.
A second-round pick from Alabama last season, Williams played his way into coach Jerry Sloan's rotation and became a valuable member of a young team that unexpectedly won 42 games.
The Jazz have tendered a qualifying offer to Williams, meaning they can match any offer the 21-year-old point guard receives.
Bartelstein has not presented O'Connor with any offers for the Jazz to consider matching.
"His agent," said O'Connor, "doesn't seem to be in any hurry."
Williams told The Salt Lake Tribune during the recent Rocky Mountain Revue summer league that he wants to return to Utah. But the Jazz's recent decision to sign Arroyo to a four-year, $16 million deal - combined with the fact that former first-round pick Raul Lopez stayed healthy last season - might have changed the landscape.
Perhaps Williams and Bartelstein are searching for a team without two young, capable point guards already under contract.
O'Connor shook his head at the suggestion and declared the Jazz want to re-sign Williams, who filled a valuable role last season as a high-energy reserve. Williams is more physical than Arroyo or Lopez, and he showed an ability to swing to shooting guard when the matchups allowed.
"We didn't draft a point guard and we didn't sign a [new] point guard," O'Connor said. "That's what he should be looking at."
Charlotte could be looking at Williams as the expansion Bobcats build their team around first-round draft pick Emeka Okafor.
Milwaukee might also need a point guard, considering second-year man T.J. Ford's immediate future seems questionable as he recovers from the neck injury he suffered last season.
In recent weeks, Indiana and New Jersey have been in the market for backup point guards. But the Pacers are ready to sign Weber State product Eddie Gill to a $720,000 deal and New Jersey is reportedly looking at veteran Jacque Vaughn, who started his career in Utah.

Kirilenko's future

Jazz can start negotiating a contract extension for All-Star forward Andrei Kirilenko on Aug. 1, but will they?
O'Connor is not sure, pointing out that Kirilenko is under contract for next season and the Jazz can match any offer he gets for 2005-06.
An extension, O'Connor said, "does not affect him playing here next year."
Still, the Jazz would not mind locking up Kirilenko, a cornerstone player, with a contract extension.
Referring to expected negotiations with agent Marc Fleisher, O'Connor said, "If both of us come up with some kind of terms we're comfortable with, then we'll take a look at it."
Fleisher also represents Okur and Giricek, although O'Connor downplayed the connection when it comes to Kirilenko's extension.
"Every deal," he said, "is different."

Open house

The Jazz have scheduled a select-a-seat open house for potential season ticket holders this weekend at the Delta Center.
Fans will have a chance to pick out their seats and purchase them from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. A barbecue will be held on the Delta Center plaza from noon to 2 p.m. each day.
Seats in the lower bowl and the upper bowl are available to those interested in purchasing season tickets, according to Jay Francis, senior vice president of sales and marketing.
The Jazz have sold almost 12,000 season tickets, Francis said, citing a 92 percent renewal rate.
In the two weeks since the Jazz signed Okur and Boozer to offer sheets, Francis said, the team has sold "about 400" new season tickets.
Fans attending the open house will also see the Delta Center's new court. It features the team's new colors, "Jazz" light blue in the lanes and "Utah" dark blue around the court.


The guy was a third string point guard for the Jazz last year after they drafted him out of Alabama late in the second round. His minutes were limited due to having to play behind two good young point guards Arroyo and Lopez. He's done pretty good in the time given (anyone remember he kinda burned Francis in a game).
I watched him play last year, and watched him play a couple times in the Rockie Mountain Revue. He's very young (21), and I think he is good, at least as good as Lue, and way better than Wilks. Many Utah fans are saying he is better than Lopez and he should be the backup for Arroyo instead of Lopez.

He's available, and if he's dirt cheap, I don't mind having him on the Rockets roster. I don't think he can solve our point guard problem just by himself, but he can help.