Robert Whaley does not even know for certain that he has made the Jazz roster ? yet he faces the prospect of being suspended for their regular-season opener.

The Jazz had not yet heard from the NBA on Wednesday regarding an incident involving second-round draft choice Whaley in Tuesday's preseason loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, basketball boss Kevin O'Connor said.

Still, there seemed to be a sense of resignation that the league's disciplinarians would soon call.

"Robert is a rookie," O'Connor said, "and he's got to learn his actions could cost the team something ? and cost himself something."

A monetary fine and perhaps a suspension may await Whaley, who punched Adam Parada's neck after the Lakers free agent elbowed him in the throat in Tuesday's closing minutes.

"We told them in the beginning that if you do that you're either going to get fined or suspended," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "I can't help them there.

"You can't react," Sloan added. "You've just got to swallow it up."