Kevin O'Connor, Jazz vice president for basketball operations, said surgery to repair the injury likely will occur within the next few weeks.
     
Lopez and the Jazz still have not signed a contract, however, and according to reports in the Spanish media, the Jazz are trying to reduce their offer to the lowest possible figure for a player drafted at his spot in the first round.
     
Apparently there has been some speculation in the Spanish media that Lopez ? who had to acquire a loan to pay a $1.5-million buyout of his contract with the Real Madrid team ? would refuse to sign, or even that the Jazz might be trying to low-ball Lopez to dissuade him from signing.
     
O'Connor said in the prepared statement that the team would have no further comment on the Lopez injury, surgery or contract talks until an agreement has been reached between the parties.