<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SALT LAKE CITY -- As often as they clashed over nine seasons in Utah, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was ready to welcome back center Greg Ostertag. The 7-foot-2 Ostertag has been the target of some nasty letters to the editor, radio calls and critical sports columns since word of the multi-team deal to bring him back leaked July 22. But Sloan defended the player he could be harshly critical of during his first stint with the Jazz. "There's not a problem there. There wasn't a problem when Greg left," Sloan said Tuesday as the Jazz were waiting for the trade to go through. Sloan said he even had a little fun with Ostertag after the summer league ended and he got a call from his former player. "I said 'Greg, I didn't even know we traded for you," Sloan said with a chuckle. Sloan admitted he knew the trade was pending and was teasing Ostertag, who will likely be returning as a backup to Mehmet Okur. Ostertag was quoted in a Jazz statement issued after the deal was approved as saying, "I missed playing for coach Sloan. I know what Utah expects in the locker room, what they expect in games and at practice. If we get on the same page, play hard and follow what Jerry and the coaching staff are putting out there for us then we will be competitive every night."</div> <div align="center">Source </div>
