It's looking more and more like the Jazz will be without their top two point guards for their regular-season opener — and a lot like their newest point could be a blast from the past: Howard Eisley.
Usual starting point Carlos Arroyo has been diagnosed with a sprained left ankle that will keep him out at least five to seven days, and it seems likely he will not play in Wednesday night's opener at the Delta Center against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Jazz said Saturday.
Usual backup point Raul Lopez will be examined today by the same surgeon who rebuilt his twice shredded right knee two years ago, and it's quite likely he also will be out for the opener, the team also said Saturday.
As a result, the Jazz are prepared to add a point — and, as widely speculated, it could be Eisley, who backed up John Stockton for five seasons in Utah, from 1995 through 2000, basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor acknowledged for the first time Saturday.
"Hopefully, we'll have a veteran point in (soon)," O'Connor said. "We've had one or two possibilities, and one of them obviously reared his head."
That "one" would be Eisley, who was waived by Phoenix after agreeing Friday to a contract buyout with the Suns reportedly worth at least $10 million — but something less than the full $14.8 million the Suns owed him for all of this season, all of the 2005-06 season and a portion of the 2006-07 season.
"We're having conversations with Howard, yes," O'Connor said.
The addition of Eisley, who probably would be offered a one-year contract at the 10-year veteran's minimum of $1.1 million, is not certain.
"There is still some decision in it, on our part," said O'Connor, who added Eisley also has supposed interest from other teams.
If things don't work out with Eisley, unemployed veteran free agent Doug Overton is a possibility.
But it appears Eisley rejoining the Jazz is a match in the making, since the 31-year-old probably could step in and understand what Jazz coach Jerry Sloan wants with minimal preparation.
In Phoenix, he was disappointed to finish the preseason as what amounts to the Suns' No. 5 point — behind Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa, rookie Yuta Tabuse and even Joe Johnson.
In Utah, at least for now, Eisley would shoot toward the top of the charts.
The Jazz also have not ruled out keeping No. 3 point Keith McLeod, or using shooting guard Raja Bell at the point for stretches — but they'd apparently be uncomfortable giving starter's minutes to either if both Arroyo and Lopez indeed are out.
"We've got a little bit of uncertainty," Sloan said. "That's just the way it is."
Arroyo sustained an inversion sprain to his ankle during Utah's preseason finale at New York on Thursday night, and the Jazz are hoping his absence will not extend beyond the week or so they anticipate.
But they don't for sure how long he'll be out.
"There is not a lot of swelling," O'Connor said of Arroyo's ankle, "but there is some swelling in it."
Lopez's case is much more complicated.
He did not play a preseason game, and sustained a setback while rehabbing to strengthen the quadricep and hamstring muscles around his twice surgically reconstructed knee.
After Lopez meets with his surgeon today, the Jazz hope to have a better feel for just how long he will be out.
They also hope they'll have enough information to decide whether or not they'll pick up the 2005-06 season on his rookie contract, valued at $1.74 million — a call that must be made by tonight.
Utah also must decide by tonight if it will pick the $1.97 million option for '05-06 on center Curtis Borchardt's rookie contract.
Not picking up the option would allow either or both to become unrestricted free agents next year, though they would be allowed to re-sign with the Jazz.
Contract matters, though, were far from Sloan's mind Saturday. He just wants to know who will be available Wednesday.
"We'll play the game some way," Sloan said.
"I just hope we can hold together," he added, "and fight through the tough times."
E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com