The Jazz's hopes of reaching the top of the NBA standings may depend upon how well they mine the bottom.

Clippers, Warriors and Hawks -- those are the teams the Jazz wouldn't mind raiding for free agents next month, a seemingly contradictory strategy given that none have reached the playoffs in this century. But that's where the young talent lies in the 2003 free-agent class.

Gilbert Arenas of Golden State, who averaged 22.5 points and 5.8 assists in four games against the Jazz last season, would add a scoring boost in John Stockton's vacated point-guard spot. Jason Terry of Atlanta, who averaged 26 points and 8.5 assists in two matchups with Utah, isn't a bad option, either.

And the Clippers? They may not win many games, but they are a gold mine of young, available-at-a-price talent. An entire starting lineup is on the free-agent market this summer: Center Michael Olowokandi, forwards Elton Brand and Lamar Odom, and guards Andre Miller and Corey Maggette are all looking for new contracts.

Olowokandi and Odom, for various reasons, are not good fits for the Jazz, who also plan to contact Pacers center Brad Miller, Kings center Keon Clark (if he opts out of his contract) and Wizards guard Tyronn Lue, among others. But the five Clippers, Hawks and Warriors are expected to form the top of the Jazz's wish list this offseason, as the team decides how to spend the $20 million or so it will have under the salary cap.

"We plan to get significantly younger," said Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's vice president of basketball operations, and those five players fit the profile. At 26, Miller is the oldest.

One problem: All five are restricted free agents, and all but Arenas can be retained by their previous team if that team decides to match an offer. That means money won't be the only calculation in each negotiation.