---

For 16 teams, the two-month process of playoffs has begun. For 13 others, it was locker-cleaning time.

For the first time in 20 years, the Jazz are not a part of the post-season dance. Lots of questions remain unanswered. If Utah would've had home-court advantage in the East playoffs, shouldn't the NBA do a little more to bring parity besides moving playoffs-bound New Orleans to the West? While I do think the Pacers, Pistons and maybe the Nets have a legitimate shot at whoever emerges from the West, it's a bit disgraceful that four teams in the West who missed the playoffs have a better record than the East's 8th seed, the Boston Celtics, who finished with a pathetic 36-46 record and just got wiped out of round one in ugly fashion.

David Stern says it'll all even out over time. But ook at what teams are assembled in the West and East and look at how bright their futures are. The big-name superstars in the East like Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson and Vince Carter are all cleaning out their lockers. Teams like New York and Boston got back into the playoffs, and they'll have salary cap issues for years to come. One suggestion making the rounds is to take the top six from the West, top six from the East, and make the last four playoff berths wild-cards regardless of conference. Had that been in play this year, all teams in the playoffs would have been at least .500.

Despite all this, Utah now has to look at what they can do to regroup and continue to build for the future. Last year they had plenty of money to throw at Brad Miller and Andre Miller to no avail, and Corey Maggette and Jason Terry were restricted free-agents whose services were retained by their previous teams.

First, the Jazz have three first-round picks, and they have to be thinking of packaging some of those. Picks 14, 16 and 21 don't guarantee anything, but players like Peja Stojakovic and Jermaine O'Neal have been taken that low. My guess is they take two of their picks and try to trade up.

Second, they have to determine who's staying and who's going. Only six players are signed on through next year -- Matt Harpring, Andrei Kirilenko, Raul Lopez, Raja Bell, Sasha Pavlovic, Curtis Borchardt -- but they have four restricted free agents -- Carlos Arroyo, Gordan Giricek, Jarron Collins, Maurice Williams.

Tom Gugliotta and Greg Ostertag's free agency free up about $20 million, and the Jazz buy-out of Glen Rice won't count against them.

I would predict that Carlos Arroyo and/or Matt Harpring are used as bait along with some draft picks in a trade or two. If they can't find anything, they keep the three point-guards, re-sign Giricek, and leave the oft-injured Borchardt exposed for the Charlotte Bobcats to take. Borchardt is a 7-footer who's played 16 games in two years.

The Jazz may re-sign Mikki Moore if they need a 12th man. Jarron Collins and Michael Ruffin will receive a pat on the back and a "nice knowin' ya." They may actually keep Greg Ostertag if he'll settle for about $2-3 million a year. He did have a career year for rebounds and assists, and his best year for scoring since his sophomore season.

It'll be an interesting summer for the Jazz. And the draft is only about 60 days away.