Andrei Kirilenko's tearful meltdown last Sunday over his reduced role and poor play may have prompted some not in-the-know to speculate the Jazz might consider trading their starting small forward from Russia this offseason.

But Jazz coach Jerry Sloan ? his club still involved in a first-round NBA playoff series with Houston ? squashed that notion before Saturday's late-starting Game 4.

"That's all people talking," Sloan said.

"I mean, people can say anything they want ? which they do, and I don't have a problem with that, other than I would appreciate people being a little more fair and honest about it instead of off-the-cuff stuff that's not true."

The truth, Sloan suggested, is that Kirilenko is a critical component of a Jazz core he hopes to have together for years to come.

"I don't look to trade players," he said. "That's when people (other teams) come in and they think you're gonna have ... a fire-sale."