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The Jazz are thinning out inside.

Utah announced Wednesday that veteran reserve center Mehmet Okur is expected to be out at least three weeks while undergoing rehabilitation to address inflammation in his lower back due to a chronic disc problem.

Okur has missed seven consecutive contests due to the injury. He also sat out a six-game stretch from Dec. 30 to Jan. 8 because of back pain.

Okur, 31, has only played in 13 of Utah's 54 contests this season. He is averaging 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds , while shooting just 35.5 percent from the field.

There is a small chance that the nine-year veteran could return before the three-week timeline. Right now, though, Okur will be re-evaluated after his rehab, and the earliest he would likely return to action is March 3 for a home game against Denver.

More pain

Jazz reserve center Francisco Elson missed his second consecutive contest due to left knee inflammation, and was not in uniform Wednesday for Utah's home game against Chicago.

Elson said that his knee was drained Tuesday to remove excess fluid, and has been told that he has left quadriceps tendinitis.

Holding strong

Despite being down to 11 active players and only having two healthy centers — starter Al Jefferson and backup Kyrylo Fesenko — Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said that Utah is unlikely to sign a free agent to a 10-day contract.

Instead, the Jazz will rely upon rookie forward Jeremy Evans to help fill the void inside.

Weekend getaway

Utah's Deron Williams and Gordon Hayward will represent the Jazz next week in Los Angeles during scheduled labor negotiations between the NBA and the players association.

The duo will fill in for elected Utah player representative Ronnie Price, who will not attend a meeting that is tentatively set for Friday, Feb. 18 during All-Star festivities.

Greenlight

Williams said that he will play in the All-Star game set for next Sunday despite dealing with a lingering right wrist injury.

He was under the impression that the NBA forces players that are elected to the game who play in the final regular-season contest before the break to take part in the exhibition.

But an NBA spokesman said that there is no such rule. Williams will not participate in the All-Star skills competition, though, despite winning the event in 2008 and finishing second last season.

bsmith@sltrib.com Twitter: @tribjazz