If Kevin O'Connor were any more relaxed, he might need an alarm clock to keep from missing the start of training camp in Boise on Tuesday morning.

And why not?

As the vice president of basketball operations for the Utah Jazz, O'Connor appears to have his team perfectly positioned for another successful season.

No contract hassles.

No injury worries.

Cornerstone players just entering their prime.

Proven, versatile depth.

Clearly, the days leading up to training camp haven't been this worry-free for the Jazz since John Stockton and Karl Malone were in their prime and preparing to lead Utah to the NBA Finals.

Still, there are always a few questions that need answers. Such as:

* Will their Olympic team duties prove to be an extended burden for Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer?

* Will young-but-talented C.J. Miles step forward and be a major contributor?

* Can young centers Kyrylo Fesenko, Kosta Koufos or both help the Jazz cure their lack of size around the basket?

* Is Andrei Kirilenko truly happy in Utah?

Asked if he fears that Williams and Boozer could be hindered by lingering Olympic fatigue, O'Connor chuckles like a business executive who is supremely confident in his product.

"Deron is 24 and Carlos is 27," O'Connor said. "So we feel they will respond from the physical standpoint. . . . Mentally, I would hope they understand that we have a chance to be a pretty good basketball team and they are guys who have to be two of the leaders."

O'Connor also likes the fact that Sloan has experience in getting Olympians through the rigors of training camp.

Stockton and Malone played for the United States in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, while Memo Okur and Kirilenko are veteran members of the Turkish and Russian national teams.

"Whether coach limits two-a-days or limits minutes in the [preseason] games, I don't know," O'Connor said. "But he always does a great job of recognizing when players need rest."

"We probably won't practice them twice a day; that's what we're planning," Sloan said. "But they might want to practice, so we'll just have to monitor that situation like we did with John and Karl."

The Jazz avoided any contract issues during camp when they signed Williams to a $70 million extension and matched an offer sheet signed by Miles, who will earn $15 million over the next four years despite limited contributions so far.

"As a coaching staff, we're happy to have C.J. back," said assistant Phil Johnson. "We have a lot invested in him and he has a lot invested in us. So this was the way to go, for everybody."

O'Connor believes it's bust-out time for Miles who, despite entering his fourth season, is only 21.

"From a physical standpoint, you see a player who has matured," O'Connor said. "His first few years, his body prevented him from playing consistently. But we think he is going to be a good player."

With Miles back on the roster, the Jazz enter the season with a logjam of players at shooting guard and small forward, including Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, Morris Almond, Matt Harpring, Kirilenko and Miles. That list doesn't include free-agent hopeful Britton Johnsen, either.

"It's an age-old issue - how is everybody going to play?" O'Connor said. "But I think we'd all rather have that problem instead of not having enough good players."

At center, Okur will get most of the minutes. But if Fesenko or Koufos prove capable, it would ease the burden on other proven frontcourt players like Paul Millsap, Jarron Collins, Boozer and Kirilenko.

"Our expectations for both Fes and Kosta," O'Connor said, "are for them to recognize what they have to do to play in the league and go to work improving those things."

Said Sloan: "I'm anxious to see what progress they made over the summer. That's a big key - how hard they work because that's what will help them compete against NBA players."

Asked about Koufos' inconsistent play in the summer league, O'Connor said, "We all look for instant gratification. But he's 19, he played one year of college basketball and he was the 23rd pick in the draft. . . . He's definitely got to get stronger, but mostly he just needs experience to play in the NBA."

A year ago, Kirilenko was the top story as the Jazz entered training camp. He had demanded a trade in the offseason because he didn't like playing for Sloan.

On the first day of camp, however, Kirilenko and Sloan met and reached a season-long truce.

"I thought Andrei competed last year and helped us win 60 games, counting the playoffs," O'Connor said. "Hopefully that's something that's a nonissue because, at this point, that's how we are treating it."

This summer, a blogger in Russia reported that a pro team in Moscow was preparing to sign Kirilenko away from the Jazz - never mind the three years and $49 million remaining on his deal with Utah.

"Those people who write that apparently don't understand what a contract is," O'Connor said. "We can laugh about it because they don't understand contractual obligation."

luhm@sltrib.com