Jason Terry sticks out like a pristine Mercedes in a used car lot. The Hawks' restricted free agent point guard is the best available talent on a market where no big names remain, but few teams have been willing to give Terry a test drive.

The Utah Jazz, with plenty of money to burn, tried to stick their key in the ignition in July, but its contract offer was nowhere near what Terry, or his agent Raymond Brothers, believes he is worth.

So with only a perfunctory qualifying offer from the Hawks, Terry is slated to make $2.93 million in the upcoming season unless he can somehow strike a multiyear deal with his current employer by training camp. That would mean that Terry --- one of five players in the NBA to average at least 17 points and seven assists last season --- couldn't cash a better paycheck this offseason than Speedy Claxton.

Terry, who'll turn 26 next month, certainly could get more money next summer if he becomes an unrestricted free agent, but what gives now?

"I can't say that I'm shocked or amazed," Hawks general manager Billy Knight said. ''It's not a reflection on him --- and it's not a [sign] that we don't want him, either. . . . There is no set [timetable] for when players of his caliber sign contracts."