Question: What is the latest on Matt Harpring? What will his role be when he gets back? Obviously, somebody is going to lose minutes when he is healthy. I think Jerry Sloan is doing a good job developing C.J. Miles. It seems like he's getting better. Does Harpring or Kyle Korver start for Miles? Does Miles lose playing time? Obviously, the way Andrei Kirilenko is playing, he will keep coming off the bench, right? Thanks.

- Steven Rawnsley

Answer: I double-checked with our Jazz beat writer, Ross Siler, and he tells me that Harpring continues to increase his activity in practice and could be ready to return by the end of next week. Harpring is not expected to play during the Jazz's ongoing trip, even though they could use him because Memo Okur's family issues, Kyrylo Fesenko's visa issues and Jarron Collins' elbow issues have left coach Jerry Sloan shorthanded.

I can tell you one thing: If Harpring returns so quickly, I will be surprised.

When I saw him during the Jazz's preseason media day, his problematic ankle was about half the size of the healthy one. I am not exaggerating. I thought it would takes months - not weeks - to get his ankle strong enough to withstand the pounding that it takes playing professional basketball.

For his sake, however, I'm glad his progress is faster than I thought it would be when I first saw his withered ankle.

That said, it will be interesting to see how Sloan uses Harpring when he returns.

You suggested the simplest solution: replace starter C.J. Miles with either Harpring or Kyle Korver, bring the other one off the bench and drop Miles from the rotation.

However, I believe the Jazz are committed to getting Miles some meaningful minutes. They just signed their 21-year-old swingman to a four-year, $14.8 million contract and they want to develop him into a player who is worth the commitment or, perhaps, has some trade value. The best way to do that is play him when it matters - and play him against the opponents' best players.

So let's assume Miles keeps his job as the Jazz's "designated starter" at small forward, even if it's only for 10 or 15 minutes per night. That will take a little playing time away from Paul Millsap, Korver and Harpring, in my opinion.

I don't see Sloan drastically cutting the minutes of Ronnie Brewer or Andrei Kirilenko because both are playing so well right now.

Brewer is demanding minutes because of his improved jump shot, defense and strength. Frankly, the progress he has made over the last three years startles me. He now looks like a long-term piece to the Jazz's puzzle.

Kirilenko?

While he will continue to get most of his minutes at small forward and power forward, his versatility allows Sloan to use him all over the place and get him enough minutes to stay content. I think that's what will happen. He will replace Miles in the first quarter but, if the Jazz go big, he can play shooting guard or even some point guard. If the Jazz go small, he can play power forward or even some center.

You asked specifically about Harpring's role.

I believe it will be about the same as last year, with a little less playing time because Miles is starting and Brewer has improved. Harpring's toughness and experience, however, won't get lost in the shuffle.

Generally speaking, here's how I think the playing time might average out as the season goes along, if Sloan uses a 10-man rotation:

Deron Williams: 38 minutes

Carlos Boozer: 36 minutes

Memo Okur: 32 minutes

Andrei Kirilenko: 30 minutes

Ronnie Brewer: 26 minutes

Kyle Korver: 20 minutes

Paul Millsap: 20 minutes

Matt Harpring: 18 minutes

C.J. Miles: 12 minutes

Ronnie Price/Brevin Knight: 8 minutes

Not in the rotation: Jarron Collins, Kyrylo Fesenko, Kosta Koufos, Morris Almond and Brevin Knight/Ronnie Price.