<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Andrei Kirilenko has at least one Utah Jazz teammate who isn't upset by his recent trade demands. Jazz center Mehmet Okur, who calls himself "a very good friend" of Kirilenko's, has shown his support for both his disgruntled fellow European star and the Jazz organization.</p> "I believe that people have to respect (Kirilenko's) opinion that the Utah system no longer is a good fit for him," Okur said on his official Web site, www.memo13.com.</p> "I think the fact that he has said that he would agree to rework his contract shows his determination. Andrei is a very important player that has been an All-Star. However, sometimes the system might not fit the player and vice versa."</p> Kirilenko, in both a personal blog post and in an interview with a Russian newspaper, said last week that he no longer wants to play for the Jazz and, more specifically, veteran coach Jerry Sloan. He said he would like a trade to another NBA team or would even consider giving up the final four years of his contract, worth $63 million, in order to stay and play in his native Russia or elsewhere in Europe.</p> Jazz point guard Deron Williams wasn't nearly as understanding as Okur. Williams, in fact, had some harsh words concerning Kirilenko's work ethic in a radio interview on Friday.</div></p> Source: Desert Morning News</p> The Jazz locker room seems to be clearly divided, which is never a good sign heading into the start of a new season. Deron Williams and Jason Collins have taken one side, and now Okur has taken Kirilenko's side. I'm not sure what the underlying cause to this divide has been, maybe it's more than one element. Is it a culture clash? Does it stem back to the teams views on John Ameci? Has Sloan unknowingly created this tension?</p> How should the Jazz organization solve this problem? Wait it out and hope cooler heads prevail or take a proactive approach by trading AK47 or fire Jerry Sloan?</p>
