The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has exercised its first right of refusal and retained restricted free agent forward Paul Millsap, pending the results of a physical.  Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.  Utah had seven days to match an offer sheet made to Millsap by Portland.

?Keeping Paul on our roster was one of our main goals this offseason,? said Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O?Connor.  ?We look forward to watching him play a key role on this team for many years to come.?

A three-year NBA veteran, Millsap (6-8, 250, Louisiana Tech) appeared in 76 games (38 starts) in 2008-09 averaging 13.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 30.1 minutes per game.  As a starter Millsap increased his numbers in each statistical category, averaging 16.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists including a streak of 19-straight double-doubles, the longest streak in the NBA since 2006.  Millsap finished the season with 29 double-doubles overall.  The native of Monroe, La., also set career-highs in points (32 at Boston 12/15) and rebounds (17 at L.A. Lakers 1/2) while finishing fourth in voting for the league?s Most Improved Player award.

?We are excited to keep Paul with the Jazz,? said Jazz President Randy Rigby. ?Since he arrived in 2006 he has been an integral part of our team, establishing himself as one of the up-and-coming power forwards in the NBA.?