Jazz introduce sharpshooting draft pick Almond

Almond saved himself from an embarrassing moment late in his introductory news conference when he said he had watched the Jazz play at Houston in the opening round of the playoffs. Utah rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win the series in seven games.

Almond slyly ducked the question when he was asked if he had been cheering for the Rockets.

"I'm not from Houston. I just went to school there," he said with a grin.

Adding Almond could leave the Jazz fully stocked at shooting guard. Utah selected Ronnie Brewer in the first round last summer and C.J. Miles out of high school in the second round of the 2005 draft.

On Friday the Jazz made qualifying offers to Miles and point guard Dee Brown, making them restricted free agents. That gives Utah the option of matching any offers Miles or Brown get and hanging on to them.

O'Connor said Brewer and Almond have the size to match up with some small forwards. Veteran guard Derek Fisher can play either backcourt position, so O'Connor feels there is enough versatility that the Jazz want to hang on to their developing shooting guards.