National Basketball Association

Jazz refute rebuilding mode scenario

Published Feb. 25, 2011 12:42 a.m. ET

foxsports

At one point the Utah Jazz were on pace for a 60-win season.

As March approaches, they're stuck on a number half that and forced to move forward minus their Hall of Fame coach of 23 years and All-Star point guard Deron Williams.

Despite Jerry Sloan's abrupt retirement two weeks ago and Williams' stunning trade to the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday, Jazz officials insist they are not in a rebuilding mode.

''We're excited about the guys we're picking up and believe they have an opportunity to make us great, as well as the (two) first-round picks we're (acquiring),'' Jazz CEO Greg Miller said of point guard Devin Harris and 6-10 rookie Derrick Favors. ''I think we'll be competitive for the next several years until we see how the trade pans out.''

Center Al Jefferson, who arrived in Utah last summer excited to play because of Sloan and Williams, remained confident even after the latest shocker.

''It's still the best job in the world,'' he said after scoring 30 points in a 118-99 loss Wednesday night at Dallas that dropped Utah to 31-27. ''We've got each other. We've got a great point guard coming in here. We still have a chance to do something special. We have 24 games left, but we've got to come together and stick together and try to make a big run at the end of the season.''

Favors and Harris joined the team Thursday night for a practice in Indianapolis, where the Jazz play the Pacers on Friday night.

''This is probably the third time I've had to step into some shoes - Steve Nash in Dallas, Jason Kidd in New Jersey - so that's something that I'm kind of used to and that I've grown accustomed to,'' Harris said.

Now that the shock has worn off, Harris said it's time to settle in.

''Always, with midseason trades, it takes a little bit of time to get used to, obviously with the travel and getting caught up to speed, but I feel good about the situation,'' Harris said. ''You look at every opportunity when it knocks. I'm just looking to make a playoff push and get this team back on track.''

Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor certainly believes Favors, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 draft and youngest player in the NBA, can help with Utah's injury situation.

The Jazz have been without Mehmet Okur most of the season, first because he was recovering from an Achilles' tendon injury and in recent weeks because of a lower-back strain. Francisco Elson also has been slowed by injuries.

''As soon as they're ready for me, I'll be ready,'' Favors said Thursday night.

Favors gives the Jazz an extra big man that so many have said they need.

He has come off the bench in 23 of 56 games with the Nets, and that doesn't figure to change, though he could see more minutes in Utah.

''The big problem is at 19 years of age he's got a body that's ready to play but he's got to learn how to play a little bit. Hopefully that comes with help,'' said O'Connor, who insisted the Jazz haven't seen a physical specimen like Favors in 10 years.

Favors averaged 6.3 points and 5.3 rebounds with New Jersey while shooting 51 percent from the field (fourth-highest among NBA rookies this season).

Though he hasn't had the breakout rookie season many expected, Favors knows he can get better. Having all the trade talk finally behind him will help.

''It's a big relief because you don't have to hear your name being mentioned for this trade or this trade,'' Favors said.

Nets coach Avery Johnson said Favors can be a multidimensional player with his jump hooks, and ability to turn, face and shoot. And he has predicted even bigger things in a few years when Favors is 10 pounds heavier and stronger.

Favors already is an imposing figure at 266 pounds.

''You don't get a kid that size, and that athletic if you're not drafting in the top 3 or 4, and you know the pain (of losing) you go through to get there,'' O'Connor said.

Harris also was a top 5 draft pick with career averages of 13.2 points, 5.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals. Just two years ago he was an Eastern Conference All-Star when he ranked as the third-highest scoring point guard and one of only five players to average at least 21 points and 6.9 assists per contest.

''We took a player off our team that was our leading scorer and leading assist man,'' O'Connor said. ''But we did add somebody ... (who is) rated as a very, very competent player. When he was with Dallas, he gave us fits.''

The big difference is that Harris is not a score-first point guard like Williams.

''Hopefully some of these players will continue to emerge and all of them will continue to grow and get better,'' Miller said. ''We hope some of these first-round picks will blossom into marquee players and help us get all the way through and help us win a championship at some point.''

Jazz head coach Ty Corbin, 0-4 since replacing Sloan on Feb. 10, doesn't believe the front office has given up on this season even though Utah has dropped five straight and 14 of the last 18.

The Jazz still have Paul Millsap, Andrei Kirilenko, Jefferson, Raja Bell, C.J. Miles, Kyrylo Fesenko, Elson and rookies Jeremy Evans and Gordon Hayward.

''This is a good group of guys with a chance to compete,'' Corbin said. ''We gave ourselves a chance by getting off to such a good start (15-5) before falling off the last month or so. But this is still a good ball club with a lot of good basketball left in us.''

If the playoffs started Thursday, the Jazz would be on the outside looking in from the ninth spot in the Western Conference. But they also are only 2 1/2 games out of the fifth spot held by New Orleans (34-25).

Miller is hopeful the post-Williams transition ultimately will be as smooth as his was after his father, Larry H. Miller, died two years ago after 24 years as team owner.

''I believe wholeheartedly the Utah Jazz franchise is the same franchise we've always been and have the same values we've always had - hard work. respect, loyalty,'' Miller said. ''They're still there. They've just been overshadowed by some of this dust, this turmoil that's been going on the last couple of weeks. Once that dust settles and we get back to winning some ball games, our fans will see that even though there's new faces.''