The third-year guard sat out the opening day of training camp in Boise, Idaho, on Tuesday and could do the same for much of the Jazz's stay here. Just eating solid food would be a start for Williams, who hasn't done so since having his wisdom teeth pulled Friday.

"I wouldn't have no energy, even if I did [eat],'' said Williams, whose wisdom teeth were so impacted that a bone graft was necessary as part of the oral surgery.

Williams had known all summer that his teeth were impacted but only started experiencing discomfort last week, when he went to New York to film a commercial and left with the side of his jaw hurting after he chewed something wrong.

The Jazz commended Williams for dealing with the problem immediately, rather than costing himself weeks later. Although the Jazz are missing Williams and Carlos Boozer to start camp, coach Jerry Sloan said he wasn't overly concerned this early in the season.

Kirilenko report

The Jazz spelled out to forward Andrei Kirilenko that they expected hard work from him as the first step toward any reconciliation after Kirilenko voiced his desire to leave Utah. So far, so good, if the first day of camp was any indication.

"He was fine,'' Sloan said. "There wasn't any problem."

Williams, meanwhile, seconded Sloan's suggestion from Monday about getting Kirilenko more involved in the offense by letting him handle the ball occasionally and post up around the basket depending on matchups.

But Williams added that Kirilenko got enough touches last season, pointing to the number of times the Jazz used dribble handoffs to put the ball in his hands. Too often, Williams said, Kirilenko failed to do something constructive.

"You got to go and you got to do something with it,'' Williams said. "Not just settle for those pull-up jumpers. Try to attack the basket more. Get him in more post-up situations."

Etc.

Forward Matt Harpring will practice only once a day this week, with the Jazz hoping to save his knees. "We just call him 'One Practice Matt,' " Sloan said. . . . Longtime coach Dick Motta is a guest of Sloan, who played eight seasons for him in Chicago, in Boise this week. Between them, Sloan and Motta have 1,970 combined coaching victories. "I loved playing for him,'' Sloan said. "He was a great coach, did a great job, and our teams played hard every night. We were hard to beat." . . . The Jazz are discussing opening Saturday's practice to the public, Sloan said.

rsiler@sltrib.com