Never mind that he was at odds with demanding Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, or that he asked to be traded. He seems to have the same sensible grasp of the situation that Sixers president/general manager Eddie Stefanski leaves somewhat unspoken but hopes Sixers Nation - as fragmented as it might be - comes to accept.
The Jazz, hopeful of driving deep into the playoffs in the crowded Western Conference, have added a perimeter shooter who should profit mightily from the presence of an effective low-post teammate (Carlos Boozer), who can draw double-teams and is willing to pass back to the open man.
That became obvious Monday night when video of Korver flashed across the late-night TV news shows in the area. Korver, despite scoring just 11 points in 17 minutes of the Jazz' 111-101 streak-stopping victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, was named player of the game. The Energy Solutions Arena crowd was already chanting his name.
That performance now serves as a backdrop for tonight's fascinating game against the Sixers, coming off Monday night's 98-90 victory in Seattle. Korver and Giricek, each facing his former team.
The Sixers, hopeful of being a major player in free agency and in the trade market in the summer, have added flexibility to their dossier. If they choose to allow Giricek to become an unrestricted free agent, they can have about $10 million in available space, plus the lure of a first-round pick they can acquire any time from 2009 to '14.
