<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Jazz flew to Memphis on Thursday for a four-game trip that opens tonight against the Grizzlies. For a couple of rookies, it was a particularly momentous flight. The Jazz decided Thursday to stick with both big man Robert Whaley and shooting guard Andre Owens, meaning each's $399,000 contract becomes fully guaranteed for the remainder of the season. "We're trying to build a team, and I think we've been happy with them," Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor said of the two. "Robert (Whaley) has contributed in a few games, and Andre (Owens) was a pretty big part in helping us win a couple." Owens was undrafted this past summer out of the University of Houston, and his contract for the season previously was non-guaranteed. Whaley was a late second-round pick, and his deal was only partially guaranteed. All NBA contracts for players still on a roster as of next Tuesday, and because of procedural concerns ? 48 business-day hours must pass before clearing waivers ? the actual deadline for releasing players without having to pay them for the rest of the same came early Thursday night.</div> <div align="center">Source</div>
