Now the 6-foot-9 forward, a former lottery pick who lasted only two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, has come to the Rocky Mountain Revue to restart his career.

"It's the best league in the world and everybody [is] trying to get here," Korolev said of the NBA. "Especially my age, I've still got a lot of years in front of me, so I'm going to do my best to try and get back here as early as I can."

Although they drafted Korolev with the No. 12 overall pick in 2005 - ahead of Sean May and Rashad McCants - the Clippers elected not to exercise the third-year option in his rookie contract.

During that time, the Clippers said they wanted to re-sign Korolev for less than his $1.96 million option.

Those plans changed as soon as Brand was injured. The Clippers rescinded their contract offer to Korolev and signed forwards Ruben Patterson and Josh Powell to replace Brand, filling the roster spots that could have gone to the young Russian.

When no other NBA team signed him, Korolev went to training camp with the Clippers and was released.

He returned home to play last season with Dynamo Moscow, his NBA career having amounted to only 34 games, though Korolev said there were no hard feelings toward the Clippers.

"I'm happy with those two years that I spend there," Korolev said, "and if I'm going to have a chance to do it, I'm going to take it again because it's two years in the league, at that age that I have, I think that any guy my age is going to take that."

Through a team spokesman, Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy declined to comment on Korolev. The Clippers opted to bring Korolev immediately to the NBA as an 18-year-old rookie when they could have retained his rights while he played overseas.

There also was the suggestion that Korolev, who followed Andrei Kirilenko in starring for the CSKA Moscow junior team, didn't develop as quickly as the Clippers had hoped.

"I spent a lot of time developing and I'm sure I did develop," Korolev said. "It's just it wasn't so lucky for me that two main players on the Clippers got injured. They have to switch some young guys for more experienced guys."

Korolev's strengths come in his shooting and his court vision, as well as the mismatches he can create with his height against smaller forwards and guards.

The Jazz liked Korolev enough to work him out last summer, agent Marc Fleisher revealed, but opted to sign guards Jason Hart and Ronnie Price as free agents. Fleisher said the Jazz have consistently been one of the most interested teams in Korolev.

"He never really got an opportunity with the Clippers," Fleisher said by phone from Italy. "I think he's getting closer to starting to hit his stride."

With the Jazz's international scouts praising Korolev before the 2005 draft, general manager Kevin O'Connor said Tuesday: "We want to see if he's expanded his game a little bit."

"He's got a blank page with us," O'Connor added. "He's a 21-year-old that's a young player that's coming in to look for a spot.

"That's how we look at it. Whatever happened before and everything else. . . . I want to see who he is now."

Korolev already played a game for Dallas' summer-league team in Las Vegas, finishing with two points and a rebound in 15 minutes.

Talking about Korolev and where he was drafted, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said, "If you're good enough as a first-round [pick] or a third-round or a fourth-round, you make people know that.

"There's a lot of guys that people make mistakes on, but that doesn't mean they can't play if they work at it hard enough and understand what's going on. We just take a look at him and see what's here."

Even if he never plays another game, Korolev did make history as the NBA's highest-ever drafted Russian player, eclipsing Viktor Khryapa, Sergei Monia and Kirilenko. He has offers to play overseas this season but said he appreciated the chance to audition in the Revue.

"It's the league," Korolev said. "It doesn't matter, I think, what team it is. It's just when you're trying to get back into the league, you take any opportunity, any chance. They gave me one, and I get myself ready and I get here."

rsiler@sltrib.com

Jazz Revue roster

Player Pos From Yrs

Morris Almond SG Rice 1

Tyrone Brazelton PG W. Ken. R

Earl Calloway PG Indiana R

Russell Carter SG N. Dame R

Mike Efevberha G Cal St. N. R

Kyrylo Fesenko C Ukraine 1

Hiram Fuller PF Fresno St. 1

Brian Greene SF Colo. St. R

Leemire Goldwire G Charlotte R

Brian Jackson PF Oregon St. R

Britton Johnsen SF Utah 2

Yaroslav Korolev SF Russia 2

Kosta Koufos C Ohio St. R

Kevin Kruger PG UNLV R

Kevin Lyde C Temple R

Rickey Paulding SG Missouri R

H. Quaintance SF Kent St. R