Kyle Weaver is optimistic about his opportunity with the Jazz.

“It’s a good situation," said Weaver. "Great feeling to be here. I know a lot of guys are banged up right now and they are struggling a little bit. ... Hopefully I can bring some versatility to the team. That’s one of my assets.”

According to coach Tyrone Corbin, the Jazz have liked Weaver since he worked out for them prior to the 2008 NBA draft.

“I loved his attitude,” Corbin said. “He’s a hard-worker -- a good defensive player. Hopefully, we can get him up to speed [because] he may have to play for us right off the bat.”

Utah General Manager announced Wednesday that the Jazz plan to sign wing Kyle Weaver to a 10-day contract, calling the 6-foot-6, 200-pound player up from the NBA Development League's Austin Toros.

"We like his experience," O'Connor said. "We like the fact that he can play a couple different positions."

Weaver was drafted by Oklahoma City in 2008.

Weaver, a Washington State product, played with the Toros on Tuesday night and will travel to Utah today. He should sign his contract and then practice with the team Thursday.

Al Jefferson left Monday's overtime loss with 54 seconds remaining in the third period and Tyrone Corbin never reinserted him into the game.

Corbin was asked if there is an issue with Jefferson, but the Utah coach said he believed the younger group had earned the right to finish the game.

“The young guys were playing well,” Corbin said. “They played hard and I thought they deserved to be on the floor.”

But Jefferson clearly isn't happy at the moment. In the four past games, Jefferson has issued three no-comments to reporters and also was ejected on Saturday.

Jefferson left the arena without speaking to reporters following the game.

Al Jefferson leads the Jazz in average scoring (19.1) and rebounds (9.6) this season. And he did not find his real rhythm until after the All-Star break, since which he ranks fifth out of all players in points (25.1), topping stars such as New York’s Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Orlando’s Dwight Howard.

While the undersized interior pair of Jefferson and starting power forward Paul Millsap has been an offensive dream, it's a defensive nightmare for the Jazz. Moreover, Utah ranks 28th out of 30 teams in rebounding (39.3).

With the recent acquisition of power forward Derick Favors, Millsap has an possible solution to Utah's front line dilemma. Move Millsap to the small forward position.

Millsap’s ballhandling has continued to improve. He consistently beats opposing defenders off the dribble. And his outside shot has developed to the point that one of the few automatics for Utah has been the sight of Millsap pulling up for and draining a smooth 18-foot jump shot.

“I think with a preseason, [a summer] to prepare for it — to know that I’m going to be in that position — I think it’d make that transition smoother,” Millsap said.

“Put Derrick [Favors] at the four,” Jefferson said. “I’m at the five — that’s a nice lineup.”

Gordon Hayward has made a conscious effort to be more aggressive on offense over the recent stretch of games. He is attacking the basket with more frequency and taking shots when they appear.

“[The coaches] want me to stay aggressive. That’s a big key,” said Hayward.

Hayward has struggled with confidence during the early part of his rookie season. He has been a pass-first player ever since high school.

“I’ve started telling myself … ‘You’re hurting the team if you don’t take that shot. Whether you make or miss, you’ve got to take that shot,’ ” said Hayward, who entered Saturday averaging 4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 45.1 percent behind the 3-point line.

The New Orleans Hornets gutted out a 121-117 overtime victory over Utah here Thursday night, but in the process may have lost power forward David West for an extended period of time with a left knee injury.

West sustained what is being termed as “left knee trauma” on a driving slam dunk with 22.5 to go in regulation. West landed awkwardly on his left leg and his knee buckled under him. Team medical staff came out and he was eventually taken off the floor in a wheelchair.

West was laid out on a training table in the dressing room, his knee encased in ice, in obvious pain, his face covered by a towel. A large immobilizing splint and a pair of crutches were brought into the locker room.

X-rays on the knee were negative, but an MRI is scheduled for today in Phoenix, where the Hornets play the Suns on Friday night.

As the Jazz embark on an important road trip with huge playoff implications, coach Tyrone Corbin said he plans to keep C.J. Miles in the starting lineup instead of Raja Bell, who had started all season when he was healthy. Miles responded to his starting role with two solid games last week, including a sensational 40-point outing Wednesday night in the win over Minnesota.

Corbin said he made the switch because he wanted a quicker start for his team and because he feels Miles can contribute more in a starting role.

"Hopefully it gets us off to a better start," Corbin said. "We lost so many games in a row there and we were giving up so many points early in the game, we just needed a change. C.J. gets more minutes on the floor (as a starter) and gets a chance to get off right from the beginning of the game. His numbers certainly indicate that he's better as a starter."

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has elected not to re-sign center Marcus Cousin to a second 10-day contract. Following the transaction, the Jazz roster now stands at 14 players.

Cousin was originally signed to a 10-day contract on March 9 and appeared in four games for the Jazz (all as a reserve), averaging 1.0 point and 0.8 rebounds in 4.5 minutes per game. He registered four points, two rebounds and a block in 13 minutes of action at Minnesota on March 11.

Little by little, Derrick Favors is growing into what is expected from the third pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. Acquired by Utah from New Jersey in the Deron Williams trade, Favors started for the second straight game and played a positive role in the Jazz's 119-104 defeat of Minnesota Wednesday.

On a night where C.J. Miles blew up the scoreboard for 40 points, Favors did the little things on the way to 13 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes.

“I’m just getting used to the system,” said Favors, still nursing a calf bruise he picked up while with New Jersey. “Every day after practice coach keeps me and some of the other guys, about a half hour or so working on plays."

Favors had a monster slam dunk over Minnesota's Darko Milicic midway through the third period.  But it was his effort against the Wolves’ Kevin Love that caught the attention of Jazz coaches. Love finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds, but nothing came easy.

“Favors is a young guy … a bigger body,” Utah coach Ty Corbin said. “He rebounds after contact, he can finish with the ball and score a little bit in the lane. He’s still learning the system and he’s not really, really comfortable yet. He’s getting better.”

Mehmet Okur has missed the last 22 games after suffering a strained lower back on January 28th.

Following a complete and in-depth evaluation with Okur, Jazz team orthopedist Dr. Lyle Mason, Utah Jazz medical staff and back rehabilitation specialist Dr. Graham Hill, Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced that it has been determined to be in Okur’s best interest to discontinue any further attempts to return to play this season.

“His efforts and determination to return from his combined left Achilles’ surgery and back issues may have put undue stress on his body,” said O’Connor. “We feel that a concentrated effort to return his back and Achilles’ conditions to acceptable levels is our main concern. Mehmet is expected to be at full speed for the start of the 2011-12 Jazz training camp.”