The Utah Jazz called a press conference for 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon, amid reports they planned to announce the signing of forward Matt Harpring.
A team spokesman declined to divulge the reason for the press conference, but all indications are that Harpring will be the featured guest.
A free agent who played last season in Philadelphia, Harpring reportedly was seen at a Salt Lake restaurant Wednesday night and was still registered at a Salt Lake hotel Thursday morning.
The Jazz confirmed their interest in Harpring after team personnel chief Kevin O'Connor met with the player and his agent, Richard Howell, in Atlanta recently.
It is believed Harpring will get some but not all of the mid-level exception, which means the Jazz will have money left to sign a backup point guard and possibly sign or re-sign another player. Free-agent forward Scott Padgett, for instance, might fit into such a slot.
The signing of Harpring means the team will not bring free-agent Donyell Marshall back — an outcome that Marshall's agent, Dwight Manley, says comes as no surprise.
"Honestly, I don't think there ever was a chance — in hindsight," Manley said Thursday morning.
Manley said his client is choosing to look on the positive side of his stay with the Jazz, rather than dwell on this disappointing offseason. He said Marshall feels that playing with Karl Malone and John Stockton and for coach Jerry Sloan was a "great experience" and "really helped him grow as a basketball player."
Manley said there are several teams interested in Marshall, who according to reports out of Chicago may receive an offer from the Bulls later this week.
"He wants to go to a team where he'll fit in, he can contribute, and it's a team that's going forward—not rebuilding," Manley said.
Of Marshall and his other ex-Jazz client, Bryon Russell — who he claims is being courted by several teams — Manley said, "Both players are going to land on their feet and their careers are going to go forward."
Contributing: Tim Buckley