"A lot of times, you look at a player and see what he can't do," O'Connor said. "With Ronnie, we look at him and see what he can do. And what he can do very, very well is defend. . . . We got torched on the perimeter by some people last year."
Like Bryant, Allen, Ginobili, Arenas and Carter, among others.
According to O'Connor, the Jazz "looked at" their lack of perimeter defense when deciding to sign Price, a 6-foot-3 guard who played collegiately at Utah Valley and spent his first two seasons in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings.
"He is a terrific athlete," O'Connor said. "We are very happy to have him on board. He makes us a little bit more more athletic and a little better defensively. . . . He does a terrific job guarding people, if you watch the film."
Price signed a two-year deal with the Jazz, who will use him as part of a three-player rotation at point guard with Deron Williams and another recent free-agent addition, Jason Hart.
Price is also capable of swinging over to shooting guard - a position he played "about 25 percent of the time" during his two seasons with the Kings.
"We think he can guard both positions," O'Connor said, "except on the occasion when [the opponent] has a really big 'two.' "
Said the 24-year-old Price: "Defensive-wise, I can defend 'ones' and 'twos'. Offensive-wise, I can play 'one' and 'two'. I'm comfortable at both positions. It's just whatever is needed at the time, I feel I'm able to supply it and help out."
Financial terms of Price's deal with the Jazz were not announced, but the minimum salary next season for a third-year veteran is $798,000. The minimum salary for a fourth-year player in 2008-09 is $826,000.
"Coming out of college, the team I wanted to play for was the Jazz," said Price, who vowed to "work my tail off and do whatever I can to make this team better."
Price became an unrestricted free agent two weeks ago, when the Kings rescinded their qualifying offer to him. That meant Sacramento no longer could keep him by matching another team's offer, which allowed Price to seek out a new team.
Asked if the Kings' decision bothered him, Price said, "That was just part of the process that happened. I wasn't stunned. But it had to happen for me to be here."
When he became an unrestricted free agent, Price's agent told him several teams were interested. When Utah was mentioned as a possible destination, Price suddenly had a No. 1 choice.
"There were some other teams - just teams that were showing a little interest," Price said. "But when the Jazz came into play, I was like - my agent asked me - and I was like, 'Yeah, I'm really happy about that. If we could get something with them, that would be nice.'"
Price averaged 3.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 58 games last season.
What role does he expect to play for coach Jerry Sloan?
"Whatever Coach needs me to do," he said. "If that's come in and play 10 minutes of defense, or if that's coming in to give somebody a breather for five minutes, or if that's playing 30 minutes. . . . Whatever I'm called on to do."
When the Jazz signed Price, it meant they decided not to re-sign rookie point Dee Brown.
Some have wondered how the Jazz's decision might impact Williams, their emerging All-Star who played with Brown, his good friend, in college at Illinois.
O'Connor did not admit to asking for Williams' blessing on the addition of Price, but he did say Utah's "core players" are kept up to date on possible moves personnel moves being considered by management.
"We try to keep our players informed on things," O'Connor said. "Specifically, do I talk about what we're doing? Yes, we try to keep the guys we have under contract informed."
In Williams and Price, the Jazz have created a Texas connection in their backcourt. Williams is from Dallas and Price grew up in Friendswood, which is near Houston.
"I'm excited," said Price. "He's a Texas guy. He's an All-Star."
luhm@sltrib.com
