Not only didn't they have a Turkish player on their roster, the Timberwolves didn't even have their biggest star any longer, having traded Kevin Garnett to Boston. There was little consolation for Okur, who heard from Stern that the schedule couldn't be changed.

Instead of returning to Istanbul as a national hero, Okur headed to Boise, Idaho, for five days of camp.

The Timberwolves traveled to Turkey and even played a preseason game against Efes Pilsen, Okur's former team.

Talking about the possibility of someday playing in his home country, Okur said Thursday: "It means a lot. I just want to be there with my team, play against my former team. It would be fun for me, I guess for my teammates, too."

But the Jazz won't be heading overseas this October, no matter how much their players would embrace the opportunity. The league announced Thursday that Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans and Washington had been chosen to take part in its 2008 NBA Europe Live tour.

It will be the third year that the NBA has sent teams to Europe for training camp and preseason games. Deron Williams said he could only imagine how much it would mean to Okur and Andrei Kirilenko if the Jazz someday took part.

"I definitely think those guys would like to go back and show us their home countries," Williams said.

The Jazz originally were scheduled to travel to Moscow in October 2004, before the trip was canceled because of security concerns. At the time, Russia was reeling from a series of terrorist attacks, including a massacre at a school in Beslan that left more than 330 people dead.

"Of course, I was ready to go," Kirilenko said. "All my friends, all my family was excited, but it was canceled. There were some reasons for it."

The NBA did head to Moscow in 2006, but opted to send the Los Angeles Clippers, with the Jazz believing they were slighted in favor of a higher-profile team. This season, the Timberwolves were chosen to make the trip to Turkey.

Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said he did not talk to the NBA about taking part in the 2008 tour. Without having talked to owner Larry Miller, O'Connor declined to comment about the future possibility of heading to Europe.

It seems inevitable that the Jazz someday will pack their bags, as America's professional sports leagues continue to look overseas for growth. Major League Baseball just opened its season with two games in Tokyo while the NFL played host to its first regular-season game in London last fall.

The Jazz did open the 1990-91 season in Japan, where they played two regular-season games against Phoenix. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said the uncertainty about that trip made those the two most pressure-packed games of his life.

After the Jazz returned home, Sloan said his players were so exhausted they looked like they were 80 games into the season. The Jazz went the better part of a month without practicing so Sloan's players could get their legs back.

Asked if that experience made him hesitant about traveling to Europe, Sloan said: "It's not a talking point on my part. I just think you get on the bus wherever it takes you."

As a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Jazz guard Kyle Korver traveled to Barcelona, Spain, and Cologne, Germany, in 2006. The most diplomatic thing he could say about the trip was "There's pluses and minuses," adding, "It's a long time to be away."

Korver told the story of trying to buy batteries at the hotel gift shop only to realize all of Barcelona was at home for siesta. The Sixers went out to dinner at 10 p.m. and wound up eating in an empty restaurant. At midnight, the same restaurant was packed.

"People stay out until like 4 or 5 in the morning," Korver said. "Then they struggle to get up in the morning and then they take their siesta and then they go out at 12 o'clock again. It's a much different culture, but it was cool to see."

The chance to have training camp in Europe would be a nice head-start for Carlos Boozer, who said he planned to travel the world once his playing days were over. "I think we'd like to go abroad and check out some new cultures," he said, "play in some different arenas and enjoy that."

For all the logistical concerns that exist, all Boozer had to do was point to the Celtics' 29-3 start this season after holding training camp in Rome.

"It worked for Boston," Boozer said.

rsiler@sltrib.com

Clippers at Jazz

Where: EnergySolutions Arena

Tipoff: Today, 7 p.m.

TV: KJZZ

Radio: 1320 AM, 98.7 FM

Records: Jazz 47-25; Clippers 21-50

Last meeting: Clippers, 114-104 (Feb. 22)

Line: Jazz by 16

About the Jazz: They are 31-1 all-time against the Clippers at EnergySolutions Arena, with their only loss coming in January 2003. . . . They also are eager to avenge last month's loss to the Clippers on the road. "They took it to us the last time we played them and we haven't forgot that,'' Carlos Boozer said. . . . For the month of March, Mehmet Okur is averaging 17.6 points and 9.9 rebounds, while Deron Williams is averaging 19.6 points and 13.3 assists.

About the Clippers: They have lost nine games in a row, but did welcome back center Chris Kaman for Wednesday's game against San Antonio. Kaman, who had 16 points and five rebounds in his return, had missed nine games with a sore lower back. The Clippers are 2-16 without Kaman this season.

Study abroad

Date Game City

Oct. 9 N.J. vs. Miami Paris

Oct. 12 N.J. vs. Miami London

Oct. 14 Wash. vs. N.O. Berlin

Oct. 17 Wash. vs. N.O. Barcelona, Spain

Small world

All four American pro sports leagues are increasingly looking overseas for growth opportunities:

* MLB: Opened season with two Boston-Oakland games in Tokyo, exhibition series between San Diego-Los Angeles Dodgers in China

* NBA: Four teams will take part in third-annual NBA Europe Live preseason tour. Orlando-Cleveland played two preseason games in China in October.

* NFL: Played first-ever regular-season game in London last fall. The league will return for a San Diego-New Orleans game on Oct. 26.

* NHL: The Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks opened season against Los Angeles Kings in London in September.