<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"I'd like to stay in Utah, sure," Harpring said. "I've always said, at the trade deadline and now, I want to be where I'm wanted. I'm happy with the Jazz, but it's up to them." And the Jazz will have plenty of other factors to consider, too, starting with his age, and the health of those knees. Harpring missed 51 games two seasons ago to have knee surgery, then needed the same knee repaired last April. If he finishes this season, he will have played in 259 of a possible 328 games over his four Jazz seasons, a respectable percentage. But durability has to be weighed. Then there's money, no small consideration considering the Jazz already have nearly $44 million committed to eight players next season, not far under the current salary cap of $49 million. Harpring's price will be determined by the market, and it's too early to tell if the relatively thin crop of free agents this summer will help him match or exceed the $5.02 million he is earning this season. The Jazz need to address their center and backcourt positions, and may need their money for trades or other signings. One more factor: The Jazz are a far different team than when Harpring arrived four summers ago, acquired initially as a supporting player for John Stockton and Karl Malone's farewell season. Harpring was a starter for most of three seasons, but now the Jazz have Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer, all forwards, competing for some of the same minutes. Harpring has to ask himself, too: If a title contender offered him a contract, or a team with an opening at his position, or a franchise with more money to spend, what would he do? Would changes on the Jazz affect his thinking? Would he rather play closer to his Georgia home? "It's all a bunch of 'ifs' right now," Harpring said. "I'm playing the rest of the year, then whatever happens, happens. All I can do is play." And wait. </div> Source
