Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- C.J. Miles will stay in Utah after the Jazz matched the deal offered by Oklahoma City to the restricted free agent.
On July 18, Oklahoma City offered a four-year deal worth about $15 million to Miles, who will be entering his fourth NBA season. Under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, the Jazz had a week to match that offer and said Friday they would do so.
The 6-foot-6 guard was the 34th player chosen in the 2005 draft, selected by Utah out of Skyline High School in Dallas.
In three seasons, the 21-year old Miles has played in 120 games, averaging 4.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists. He also appeared in eight playoff games for the Jazz.
Last season, he averaged a career-high 5.0 points and 11.5 minutes per game in 60 appearances.
Miles said in a conference call that the Jazz "are not going to promise me I'm going to play just because I signed the contract. That's not been discussed. It's been discussed that if I come in and work and show that I should play, then I will play, and that's what I plan to do."
Miles would have been the first free agent signed by the franchise formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics since it moved to Oklahoma City earlier this month. He would have joined a young lineup that includes returning rookie of the year Kevin Durant and likely would have contended for a starting spot.
Miles said he could also play significant minutes for the Jazz.
"Who says that I can't come in and work as hard and earn significant minutes on this team like it's the same thing going to Oklahoma City?" he said.
Miles' signing gives the Jazz 15 players under contract for next season, the NBA maximum. Oklahoma City has 13 players under contract.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-07-26-08 1101MDT
