It has been 53 days and counting, though, without a deal since Miles hit the free-agent market. The Jazz now have 13 players under contract for next season; Miles has had a qualifying offer on the table since June 29 that he hasn't signed.

The Jazz have the right to match any offer Miles, a restricted free agent, were to sign with another team. And Ceisler said the lack of a deal was not an indication of a lack of interest in the 20-year-old guard around the NBA.

"I think the restricted title is exactly what it is," Ceisler said, adding, "We get calls on a regular basis from other teams wanting to know what's happening with him."

Ceisler grouped Miles with three restricted free agents - Anderson Varejao, Sasha Pavlovic and Mickael Pietrus - who remain unsigned and said the luxury-tax concerns of many teams had left them shy about spending.

Based on his conversations with the Jazz, Ceisler said the team was still committed to Miles and was hopeful a deal could be reached. Miles has been working out in New York and talking regularly with Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams, Ceisler said.

Miles skipped the Rocky Mountain Revue last month to Jazz coach Jerry Sloan's displeasure, citing the risk an injury could have had on his contract status. The last Revue game, however, was played more than a month ago, and Miles is still unsigned.

Ceisler called the slow progress "not a negative" and said Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's senior vice president of basketball operations, has been "very deliberate" in his decisions all summer. Nothing has changed, meanwhile, with Miles wanting to return.

"It's the same mentality C.J.'s always had," Ceisler said, "about coming back and being part of a young, exciting nucleus of the team and fighting for the starting two-guard spot."

The Jazz have extended a one-year qualifying offer of $945,610 to Miles, though the extent to which that money is guaranteed is unknown. Should the Jazz sign Miles, Ceisler believed it would be to a multi-year deal to avoid returning to free agency next summer.

Miles has played in 60 games in two seasons since being drafted out of high school. He would be the fourth shooting guard on the Jazz roster, joining Gordan Giricek, Ronnie Brewer and rookie Morris Almond.

Also: The Jazz officially announced the signing of second-round draft pick Kyrylo Fesenko, who agreed to a three-year, $2.45 million contract last week. The team had been waiting for final clearance on the deal from FIBA and the NBA office.

rsiler@sltrib.com