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Kyrylo Fesenko Decides to Return to Jazz

Sep 27, 2010 – 12:32 AM
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Sam Amick

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Kyrylo FesenkoUkrainian center Kyrylo Fesenko has decided to return to the Utah Jazz, league sources told FanHouse.

The 23-year-old, fourth-year pro plans to sign the team's qualifying offer for one-year and $1.03 million on Monday just in time to take part in the team's training camp that starts Tuesday. And while he clearly was intrigued with the notion of joining Houston, he declined an offer put forth by the Rockets that was, in essence, available only so long as free agent center Erick Dampier wasn't coming their way. Yet instead of waiting for that possibility to unfold, he will be returning to the only NBA team he has ever known.

Fesenko, who was taken in the second round by Philadelphia in 2007, is enthused to return to what is a favorable situation in Utah. The Jazz are primed to contend once again, of course, no matter if forward Andrei Kirilenko is swapped for Charlotte's Boris Diaw (in the possible four-team deal that would send Carmelo Anthony to New Jersey) or not.

Fesenko, who started nine games last postseason after starter Mehmet Okur tore his Achilles in Game 1 of Utah's series against Denver, should see significant time in his absence once again. Okur had surgery April 20 to repair the Achilles and -- according to the Salt Lake Tribune -- may not return until December or January.

E-mail Sam at amick.sam@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @SamickAOL.
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