Boozer was answering a question Wednesday about the phone calls and text messages he and Deron Williams traded this summer, in particular Williams' experience playing for the U.S. team "because I'll be with them next year in Beijing."

If he made the final 12-man roster, Boozer would do so without having played for the U.S. at either the 2006 world championships or the 2007 FIBA Americas championship.

Boozer did play on the bronze-medal winning team at the Athens Olympics.

USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said in September he would not be holding a "tryout camp" before selecting the Olympic roster and would give preference to players who played the past two summers.

Boozer said he did not talk to Colangelo this week when the Jazz played in Phoenix, though Colangelo was at the game. He did play at Duke, however, and is close to Krzyzewski, who has coached the national team since October 2005.

"There's a lot of good players. Whatever team they take over there is going to be ready to win,'' Boozer said, adding, "We've been talking about that throughout the summer with Coach K, so we'll see what happens in the months to come."

Boozer pulled out of the Americas tournament this summer with his wife set to deliver twins and his son set to undergo a bone-marrow transplant.

The U.S. is almost certain to add Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to the Olympics roster, but the Jazz could be well represented if Boozer and Williams made the final cut. Williams was the No. 3 point guard this summer behind Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups.

USA Basketball spokesman Craig Miller said no decisions have been made about how the final selection process will take place, let alone which players will be considered.

Harpring update

With his recovery from right knee surgery going slower than expected, forward Matt Harpring headed to Santa Barbara, Calif., to undergo performance testing. The Jazz are calling Harpring a "maybe" to be ready by opening night.

Harpring, who had the surgery to clean out scar tissue and has not played in the preseason, was to return Thursday night and has only two more chances to get in any game action before the start of the regular season.

"It's something that'll be good for Matt," said Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's executive director of basketball operations, "because if they come back and say, 'You know, look, everything's in place, you're just going to be a little sore,' I think it's going to help clear his head."

rsiler@sltrib.com