On the night he dropped a bomb about John Stockton having recent surgery on his right elbow, Jazz owner Larry H. Miller also revealed he has appealed to his longtime point guard's heart.
     
The Jazz initially had hoped to have Stockton's decision on whether or not he will return for a 19th season in Utah before Wednesday night's draft, but now Miller is saying the 40-year-old can take whatever time he needs to ponder retirement.
     
"I said to him, 'You know, this year I think it's as important as ever, even more so, that you take the time and go through your processes without us pushing you,' " said Miller, who expressed contrary sentiments just after the Jazz's 2001-2002 season concluded.
     
"Frankly . . . we felt that to push him to get an early decision would probably be more likely to push him to a decision of not coming back."