The biggest question for Hart is, "What if?" Specifically, what if the Inglewood, Calif., product could have found a way to stay with the hometown Clippers last summer?

There was no hesitation on Hart's part when he signed with the Jazz in July. After failing to land Morris Peterson as a free agent, the Jazz offered Hart a two-year, $4.8 million contract to back up Deron Williams.

That was more than Hart's offer from the Clippers, whose first priority was trying to sign Steve Francis. Given a day to decide, Hart agreed to terms with the Jazz while Francis headed to Houston. The Clippers eventually signed Brevin Knight in August.

"It was just like a big money difference,'' Hart said. "In the NBA, your time, your window is so short. I think about that every day with Brevin playing [22.9] minutes a game and I'm playing [12.5]. That's how it goes; just got to deal with it and move on."

Hart knew he would be pressed for minutes playing behind Williams. He also knew that Clippers guard Shaun Livingston was likely to miss the season recovering from a horrific knee injury and 38-year-old Sam Cassell would battle injuries.

Sure enough, Cassell has missed time with a calf injury while Knight has made 17 starts and is averaging 5.0 points and 4.5 assists, albeit on an 11-23 team.

With the Jazz set to play the Clippers tonight and Monday, Hart made clear how appreciative he is to his old team. Freed from Sacramento, Hart stepped in as an immediate starter on the Clippers with Livingston out and nearly helped lead the team to the playoffs.

"Mike Dunleavy, I owe forever,'' Hart said of the Clippers coach. "He gave me a chance to kind of get my career back going. . . . I'm forever grateful for him for just giving me the ball and letting me play those games."

Briefly

Ronnie Brewer was removed in the third quarter and played a season-low 12 minutes. . . . Guard C.J. Miles played for the first time in three games, while guard Ronnie Price played in his first game back from a sprained left ankle. . . . Denver's Marcus Camby became just the third player in NBA history to finish with at least 24 rebounds and 11 blocks in one game, joining Shaquille O'Neal and Elvin Hayes.

rsiler@sltrib.com