This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In their quest to offer a variety of ticket packages, the Jazz have an obvious opportunity. They can market a series of 2012-13 games featuring the players who delivered the team's most recent playoff victory.
That would be Game 6 of a 2010 first-round series against Denver. Only forward Paul Millsap remains from that team, which subsequently was swept by the Los Angeles Lakers.
At least eight members of 2009-10 Jazz will be playing for other NBA clubs this season: Deron Williams (Brooklyn), Carlos Boozer (Chicago), C.J. Miles (Cleveland), Kyle Korver (Atlanta), Andrei Kirilenko (Minnesota), Kosta Koufos (Denver) and Ronnie Price and Wesley Matthews (Portland).
That's not counting Ronnie Brewer (New York) and Eric Maynor (Oklahoma City), who were traded during the 2009-10 season. From the 2011-12 team, Devin Harris will be playing in Atlanta and Raja Bell and Josh Howard may end up with other teams as well.
Unlike the lockout-shortened, 2011-12 schedule, the upcoming season will bring every NBA team to EnergySolutions Arena at least once. So get ready for a lot of "former Jazzman" themes in the coverage of nearly half of the Jazz's home games.
This quick turnover of the roster is unlike anything in Jazz history. Much of the transition is explained by one key factor: Kirilenko's contract, which tied up a big chunk of the Jazz's payroll and prevented them from keeping players. General manager Kevin O'Connor also was dealing with overcrowding at the wing positions, which necessitated some moves.
Even after the recent flurry of activity, there may be much more to come. Keeping the bulk of the current roster intact will be difficult, because the Jazz have so many expiring contracts in 2012-13. They also have decisions to make about their young players in the coming years.
The list of 13 Jazz players who appeared in that series against Denver in 2010 also included Kyrylo Fesenko, Sundiata Gaines, Mehmet Okur (injured in Game 1) and Othyus Jeffers.
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