A year ago Wednesday, the Jazz announced a one-year contract extension for Sloan, taking the 66-year-old coach through the 2008-09 season. There has been no similar announcement yet, but another one-year extension for Sloan is expected.

"We've had communication about it and we've extended the invitation, and I think we'll get it done," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said.

"It hasn't been like a rush where 'We've got to do this.' We don't have a timetable on it, but it's something we'd like to do sooner than later."

The Jazz have been talking to Sloan about an extension since before the start of training camp. O'Connor said the hold-ups mainly have come with the logistics of having lawyers approve the contract as well as coordinating schedules with the Jazz's travel.

"I think we're closer than we've been," O'Connor said. "The biggest thing, I think, it's not a negotiation as much as it is dotting the i's and crossing the t's."

Sloan, who won his 1,000th game as Jazz coach in November, is the longest-tenured coach in major professional sports. He would be returning for his 22nd season in Utah and said of signing an extension: "That's not been a problem."

As always, though, Sloan reserves the right to walk away at any time. Although he expressed a desire to return for 2009-10, Sloan also said he has no way of knowing how he will feel after this season is over.

"I don't know how you know," Sloan said. "I can't tell you how my health will hold up. Things like that, I have no control over. That's why we've tried to keep it so they're not locked up and I'm not locked up to where I can interfere with what they've got going on."

O'Connor said of Sloan: "He's always said that he'd like to continue to coach, but there's an asterisk there and it's always been, 'If I don't feel like I'm [up to it], that somewhere along the line I may pull the plug.' "

The Jazz and Sloan agreed to the one-year extension Dec. 3, 2007. O'Connor said there was no danger that Sloan's future could become a subject for debate the longer it took to finalize an extension.

"I think everybody knows that we want Jerry to coach as long as he wants to," O'Connor said.

The general manager also praised Sloan for the Jazz's 12-8 record even while dealing with a run of injuries. Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur have missed a combined 30 games already this season.

"I think a lot of teams wouldn't have this kind of record," O'Connor said. "He does such a wonderful job of accepting what he can't control and saying, 'Somebody's hurt, somebody else should want to play.'

"If you think about it, that's pretty common sense, but you always hear people say, 'We don't have so-and-so, we don't have so-and-so.' "

Williams said Sloan has stressed not to make excuses despite the injuries, with the Jazz having a lineup that can win games as long as they execute on offense and defend aggressively. C.J. Miles echoed those sentiments after Wednesday's loss to Miami.

"He's just pushing us, which is what he should do as a coach," Miles said, "and we shouldn't be worried about the injuries and none of that, that's not an excuse, and telling us that he believes in us, that we can do it without some of the guys."

Notes: The franchise was valued at $358 million in the latest Forbes magazine rankings, which were released Wednesday. That represents a 4.7 percent increase from last season ($342 million) and leaves the Jazz the 14th-highest valued team in the NBA. The Jazz passed Sacramento and Philadelphia on Forbes' list. . . . The Jazz are listing Kirilenko (irritated right ankle), Matt Harpring (strained lower back) and Kyrylo Fesenko (strained lower back) as game-time decisions to play tonight against Toronto.

rsiler@sltrib.com

Jazz vs. Raptors

Where: EnergySolutions Arena

Tipoff: Today, 8:30 p.m.

TV: KJZZ, ESPN

Radio: 1320 AM, 98.7 FM

Records: Jazz 12-8; Toronto 8-9

Last meeting: Jazz, 96-79 (March 17)

Line: Jazz by 6

About the Jazz: The last time the Jazz lost three consecutive home games was in April 2007, when they lost to Seattle, Denver and Phoenix at the end of their 51-31 season. The Jazz need a victory tonight against a Toronto team making its last stop on a three-game trip to avoid a repeat. . . . Andrei Kirilenko could return after missing two games with an irritated right ankle.

About the Raptors: Interim coach Jay Triano will make his debut after taking over Wednesday for the fired Sam Mitchell. . . . The Raptors, coming off a 39-point loss Tuesday in Denver, had high hopes entering this season after acquiring Jermaine O'Neal from Indiana. . . . O'Neal recently missed three games with a sprained left ankle.