Yet Brewer is a strong candidate to be selected to play in the rookie/sophomore game. Among second-year players, only Rudy Gay, Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge are averaging more than Brewer's 12.3 points a game.

"It'd be a great honor if I did," Brewer said. "It's a great situation. Biggest stage in basketball other than the NBA Finals."

From playing in only 56 games as a rookie, Brewer has been a full-time starter this season, learning on the job at age 22, although his minutes have slipped some since Kyle Korver's arrival.

Forward Paul Millsap played in the game last season as a rookie and could be chosen for a second time. Millsap has averaged 8.5 points and 5.7 rebounds; Brewer said he liked the idea of two Jazz players being selected.

"Hopefully, this year both of us can go," Brewer said. "I think that'd be a good situation. It shows the hard work that we put in and it shows that we have a young team and we've got guys who are young who are good players."

The NBA will announce Wednesday the nine-player teams for the game.

Sitting tight

Rookie guard Morris Almond has gone five games without playing, including the last three on the inactive list. The Jazz have not indicated whether Almond will be reassigned to the NBA Development League's Utah Flash.

"It's kind of day by day," Almond said. "I don't really think about it. When I wake up, where I'm supposed to be, that's where I go."

Almond did offer a veteran answer when asked about his preference. "I prefer to be wherever I'm at," Almond said. "There's good sides to being with both teams, so I can't go wrong either way."

Plugging in

As part of an All-Star campaign for Roy, Portland sent an iPod nano - dubbed the iRoy - to Western Conference coaches filled with highlights from this season and a testimonial from Blazers coach Nate McMillan.

"They don't have to send me an iPod about what he does," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said, "because I saw what he does. In my opinion, he's a wonderful player. "An interesting player in that he doesn't seek the ball out to score points in the beginning of the ballgame. He waits till it counts, as you come down the stretch. He seems to be very giving of himself to help his teammates."

The biggest question is what's Sloan, who has joked about not being able to turn on a computer, going to do with an iPod? "I don't have one," he said. "Probably never going to have one."

rsiler@sltrib.com

Jazz vs. Sacramento

Where: EnergySolutions Arena

Tipoff: Today, 7 p.m.

About the Kings: Sacramento had won three games in a row before being blown out Wednesday at the L.A. Clippers. . . . Guard Kevin Martin is averaging 22.9 points in seven games back after injuring his groin last month against the Jazz.