Carlos Arroyo is in Detroit, and in fact was playing Saturday night for the Pistons.
That left the Jazz to sift through what remains in the aftermath of Friday's trade between Utah and Detroit: two largely unproven point guards in 29-year-old Keith McLeod and 24-year-old Raul Lopez, and one more first-round draft choice to add to their growing stockpile of picks.
Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's senior vice president of basketball operations, is anxious to evaluate McLeod, Lopez and other Jazz youngsters over the second half of Utah's season.
"We still haven't seen (All-Star) Andrei (Kirilenko, who missed 26 games until Saturday with a knee injury) and Raul play together," O'Connor said. "(Center) Curtis (Borchardt) is finally starting to play sometimes.
"I think that (evaluating) is what we're trying to do over the last (41) games — that, and try to win every game."
That is not to say, however, that the Jazz have made their last deal prior the NBA's Feb. 24 trade deadline.
O'Connor: "I'm not saying we're done; I'm not saying were looking to trade someone."
But they are looking to see how McLeod and Lopez in particular will play without Arroyo, the Jazz's starter in each game he played last season and for 16 games earlier this season, lurking in the shadows.
The Jazz have a third point, combo veteran Howard Eisley, on their roster, though he has been playing more at shooting guard lately.
Still, the crowded backcourt made for some awkward moments at times.
"Sometimes you never know how you were going to play, or when you were going to play," McLeod said shortly after Arroyo was dealt. "Sometimes, it would be tough."
Sometimes, one or another — for injury reasons, or just because it was their turn — would sit for extended times.
Each time, though, all but Arroyo managed to overcome.
"For sure, with four point guards it's harder to play minutes," Lopez said. "But it was the situation, and I accepted it, and I just tried to do my best to be on the floor."
"The only thing you can do as a player is be ready when called upon," Eisley added. "You can't dictate how much you play, or even if you play at all."
With Arroyo no longer in the picture, though, no one among the three will have to wonder now from where their minutes might come.
As the starter, McLeod — who is playing in just his second NBA season, and is on a one-year contract — should continue to get plenty of playing time.
He welcomes the opportunity.
"I was playing when Carlos was here, so I don't feel like there's any pressure at all," said McLeod, who does admit he plays with something of a chip on his shoulder after going undrafted out of Bowling Green University. "I think I'll just pretty much keep doing what I'm doing."
Beyond the points, the Jazz have an extra pick to play with in the future.
The 2006 first-rounder from Detroit is lottery-protected, meaning it can be deferred until 2007 if the Pistons fail to make the playoffs next season.
Utah also owns its own first-rounder and Dallas' (from last draft night's Pavel Podkolzin trade) in 2006, plus one originally belonging to New York (top-20 protected in 2006, as acquired in last season's Tom Gugliotta/Ben Handlogten/Keon Clark trade with Phoenix).
The Jazz also acquired veteran center Elden Campbell in their swap with Detroit for Arroyo, but O'Connor will work to buy out at a discounted rate the remaining $2.5 million or so on Campbell's $4.4 million salary for this season.
"We're still talking," O'Connor said Saturday night.
Once done, Campbell would be waived.
If he is not claimed within 48 hours — Houston, and perhaps New Jersey or Charlotte may be the only teams that can absorb his contract without going over the NBA's team payroll salary cap — Campbell would be free to sign with any team, including the Pistons, who apparently want him back.
With Campbell technically taking up a spot on the Jazz's 12-man roster for now, though, Utah was unable to activate center Jarron Collins for Saturday's game vs. Memphis.
The Jazz did activate All-Star forward Andrei Kirilenko. To free up roster space for him, rookie guard Kirk Snyder was placed on the injured list with a supposed knee injury and must now sit out a minimum of five games.
E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com