The basketball bazaar called free agency opened for business Tuesday, with the Jazz and Karl Malone's agent busily discussing plans for next season with several other parties.

Both sides may have found the options slightly reduced, though, when Keon Clark told the Kings he plans to play in Sacramento next year.

The 6-foot-11 center, backup to Kings starter Vlade Divac, could have opted out of the second year of his two-year contract and become a free agent. But the five-year veteran announced Monday night that he planned to stay put and collect a $5 million salary next year.

Clark's decision crosses him off the Jazz's shopping list this summer -- one year after he headed that list. When talks with Donyell Marshall stalled last July, the Jazz were preparing to make a pitch to Clark. Before an offer could be made, Clark was caught with less than a gram of marijuana in his hometown of Danville, Ill., scaring off several teams. The Jazz were among them, and eventually signed Matt Harpring instead.

After averaging 6.7 points for the Kings, Clark might have heard from the Jazz again, though at 28, he is a little older than Utah's target age.