Jazz forward Carlos Boozer didn't shoot down the possibility of signing with the Knicks as a free agent this summer.

Boozer, who appeared to be done in Utah heading into the season, has expressed his desire to re-sign with the Jazz as well.

"I love D'Antoni, he's the dope," Boozer said of New York's coach. "Spending time with him in the Olympics, his offensive mindset is unbelievable. He's got the best plays I've ever been around -- on a whim. It's like rappers when they come out on the top of the dome with quotes. He's got plays in the back of his head with plays for that moment."

Kevin O'Connor is in the enviable position of holding the Knicks' ticket to this year's draft lottery.

"I think the easiest way to say it is you?ve got an opportunity to have a high draft pick without the pain of going through a season to gain it," O'Connor said.

"Don?t make us out to be geniuses," O'Connor said about the shrewd move combined with good fortune that led to the Jazz getting a seat at this year's lottery dais. "We saw it as a possibility, because of the amount of protection that was on the picks."

For his part, Donnie Walsh made an interesting comment about the odds of a team improving by way of the draft versus free agency, where the Knicks will attempt to make a major splash this summer.

"I think you?ve got a better bet in free agency than how that pick will turn out," Walsh said. "I love to have high draft picks, but you?re never quite sure until the guy gets out there in an NBA game how good he is.  It?s not that I?m saying I don?t want the pick  ?  you always want the pick. But if you don?t have it, you move on."

Kyle Korver could become a free agent this summer, but he'd strongly consider signing an extension with the Jazz beforehand.

"If the Jazz came to us and wanted to do something, I would definitely be very open to it," Korver said, adding, "I like it in Utah. I've said that all along and I mean it when I say it."

Korver is on pace to break Steve Kerr's single-season record for three-point shooting percentage (52.4%) with eight games remaining.

"I would love to finish my career here," he said, "and if they came with an offer that made sense, I would get it done."

Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko had an MRI on Sunday which revealed that his left calf is strained yet again.

According to the team, the calf is strained in a different place.

The original strain has healed, but he suffered a new one in Utah's loss to Indiana on Friday night.

Kirilenko won't face the Knicks on Monday night and will be re-evaluated on Wednesday.

Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko missed the team's game against the Wizards on Saturday night with a strained left calf.

He had missed Utah's previous four games with the injury, but was able to play on Friday against Indiana before leaving in the fourth quarter.

Kirilenko is set to have an MRI on Sunday.

Sundiata Gaines is one of the D-League success stories, finding a place on the Jazz.

"Everybody that is going to the NBA ? they're not going to call you up to be a superstar on the team," Gaines said. "Defense separates a lot of guys because a lot of players can't play defense on this level."

"He has a terrific body for a point guard," Jerry Sloan said. "He's strong and he can defend. He has to have the ability to defend and be consistent with that. I can't say a guy is always going to be consistent making shots. But defensively, you should be consistent if you take care of yourself and are ready to go."

Jazz forward Carlos Boozer is hoping to remain with the team through this summer, when he'll become a free agent.

Last offseason Boozer caused a stir by talking about his desire to play for both Chicago and Miami.

"I'd love to have the opportunity to come back," Boozer told FanHouse. "July will be interesting, but I'd love to have the opportunity to stay. ... The rest is up to them. That's all I can do."

Boozer is having a tremendous season and Utah is within reach of the second seed in the Western Conference.

Jazz assistant coach Tyrone Corbin could be the next hot head coaching candidate in the NBA.

"He's ready to be a head coach," Carlos Boozer said of Corbin. "I think we have a luxury of having him with us and hopefully we can keep him. But he's in a place in his career where he's ready."

Corbin has been a member of Jerry Sloan's staff in Utah for six seasons.

"He can watch your game and analyze your game better than a lot of guys can analyze their own game," Ronnie Price added. "You need that outside look, you need that advice from someone who's been there and experienced it."

Corbin hired an agent earlier this month, a possible step towards interviewing for lead gigs.

"I haven't had one in the past and I've gotten interviews," Corbin said of hiring an agent, "so I just decided to have somebody else represent me instead of me doing it myself."

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O?Connor announced today the Jazz has signed rookie guard Othyus Jeffers for the remainder of the season.

Jeffers (6-5, 210, Robert Morris (IL)) was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the Jazz on March 3 before being re-signed to a second 10-day contract on March 14. Jeffers has appeared in seven games for the Jazz, averaging 2.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 4.4 minutes per game. The Jazz is 7-3 since signing Jeffers. He recorded career-highs in points (eight) and minutes (nine) at Phoenix on March 19. Jeffers has scored in five of the seven games he has appeared in. The Chicago native made his NBA debut vs. the L.A. Clippers on March 6.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan will not be punished for his recent run-in with referee Michael Smith.

A review of the incident is complete and there is "nothing" in terms of a fine or suspension for Sloan, a league spokesman said.

"It's good news, and business as usual," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said.

Sloan made contact with Smith with 0.2 seconds remaining in Friday night's loss at Phoenix, but the contact was deemed "incidental" by the league.