The Jazz notified Kyrylo Fesenko on Friday that they will exercise an $870,000 option to bring back the Ukrainian center for the 2009-10 season, according to Fesenko's agent, Stu Lash .
After acquiring Fesenko in a swap of second-round picks in the 2007 draft, the Jazz made a three-year commitment to his development. Fesenko has played in only 30 games in two seasons in Utah, averaging 2.3 points and 1.8 rebounds last season.
"I think what this indicates is they value Fes as a basketball player for the Jazz organization and they value Fes as an asset in the NBA," Lash said. "He's fine with it. This is what we expected all along. I'd have been shocked if they hadn't picked it up."
The Jazz already had invested more than $2 million in the 22-year-old Fesenko before exercising the option.
Fesenko, however, will not return from Ukraine next month to play with the Jazz's summer-league team, Lash said, a decision that could put him at odds with the organization.
Instead, Fesenko will play with the Ukrainian national team in relegation round games Aug. 5-20 as part of the European championships. Fesenko has faced criticism at home for skipping national team duty the last two summers.
Although he is under contract, Fesenko is not guaranteed to return to the Jazz. Much depends on what shape the roster takes with the opt-out decisions expected from Carlos Boozer and others this month, followed by free agency in July.
Should the Jazz return largely the same team, Fesenko could be the subject of trade talk. The Kings are said to remain highly interested in Fesenko, whose former agent, Jason Levien , now is assistant general manager in Sacramento.
If the Jazz experience significant turnover, Fesenko's value in Utah likely would increase, with two years of experience in coach Jerry Sloan 's system.
"He's a much better basketball player and a much better professional than when he got over here two years ago," Lash said.
All Hans on deck
North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough will headline a group of 12 draft prospects the Jazz will bring in for workouts Monday. Hansbrough, who helped lead the Tar Heels to the 2009 NCAA championship, is a three-time All-American and the ACC's all-time leading scorer.
Hansbrough has been projected as a lottery pick in recent mock drafts, out of reach for the Jazz with the No. 20 pick. Georgia Tech's Gani Lawal , Arizona State's Jeff Pendergraph and USC's Taj Gibson are possible first-rounders who will work out Monday.
Red, white and Brew
Ronnie Brewer has been invited to take part in a USA Basketball minicamp next month in Las Vegas, according to Henry Thomas , Brewer's agent.
Brewer is one of 24 players expected to participate, including Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant , Chicago's Derrick Rose and Memphis' O.J. Mayo , validating Brewer's status as one of the NBA's promising young players.
The Jazz will have an exclusive window from July 1 to Oct. 31 to sign Brewer to a contract extension, much as they did with Deron Williams last summer, but Thomas wasn't sure how great of a priority it was right now.
"Obviously, the Jazz have a lot of balls up in the air," Thomas said. "I don't know where Ronnie's extension fits with all the decisions they have to make. "
