If anything, Almond's role has increased almost by the week since the Jazz decided in late October to decline a contract option to bring back their 2007 first-round draft pick for the 2009-10 season.

"Once I'm on the floor, I just play, as simple as that," said Almond, who scored a career-high 12 points in 26 minutes Tuesday against Sacramento, playing the entire fourth quarter.

With the Jazz declining to bring him back for $1.156 million next season, Almond effectively is auditioning for teams around the NBA at the same time Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is giving him greater and greater opportunities.

"It's not like we've sentenced him to exile a month ago. We made a decision to be able to have options," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said. "He's responded and competed and that was the big thing that we wanted him to be able to do."

Almond was the only first-round pick from his draft class not to have his third-year option exercised. O'Connor said it was a decision based more on roster numbers, with Almond playing behind Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Miles.

O'Connor said there was no second-guessing the decision and no urgency to trade Almond. "He's helped us win a couple games," said O'Connor, who added that the Jazz could re-sign Almond this summer.

"If he likes it here and he's playing here and we offer him a contract that's commensurate with everybody else, he might want to stay," O'Connor said. "If he's not playing, then he might want to leave."

Almond said he was staying focused on his routine and trying to get better every day. His family and friends have left alone the topic of where he'll be playing this time next year.

Injury report

Andrei Kirilenko is targeting Friday to return from an irritated right ankle. He reported improvement in the ankle Wednesday, plans on working out today and will not require a second cortisone shot. "It feels way better," Kirilenko said.

Matt Harpring, meanwhile, also reported improvement two days after receiving an epidural injection in his strained back. The pain isn't completely gone, but Harpring said, "I'm feeling a lot better than I was four days ago, for sure."

Briefly

Toronto's Jay Triano, who took over as the team's interim coach Wednesday after the firing of Sam Mitchell, went to training camp with the Jazz in 1984. His debut as Raptors coach will take him back to Utah for Friday's game.

rsiler@sltrib.com