<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Jazz's amicable divorce with point guard Raul Lopez, their 2001 first-round draft choice, has been put on temporary hold due to procedural concerns. Utah intends to let Lopez out of his contract for the 2005-06 NBA season so he can return to play in his native Spain, and had hoped to do so as early as Friday. On Friday, however, Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor said he has learned the agreement cannot be formalized until the NBA's current moratorium on such transactions expires July 22. But the Jazz do still plan to let the injury-plagued Lopez out of his deal, O'Connor suggested. Meanwhile, the Jazz still do not know if 2005 second-round draft choice C.J. Miles will sign with them or, as he is permitted to do since he has not yet hired an agent, opt to play for the University of Texas. "It's in a holding pattern," O'Connor said. "That's something we'll continue to negotiate." The Jazz are believed to be willing to guarantee at least part of Miles' contract, but Miles' family is thought to be seeking a fully guaranteed deal.</div> Source
