JAZZ: Araujo Signs With Russian Club Team

Rafael Araujo's tenure with the Jazz ended with the signing of second-round draft pick Kyrylo Fesenko, a 7-foot-1 center from Ukraine who won't turn 21 until Dec. 26. Now Araujo's NBA career is on hold after three seasons in which the Brigham Young product failed to live up to expectations as the No. 8 overall pick in 2004.

Araujo signed Thursday with Spartak St. Petersburg, the Russian club team for which Andrei Kirilenko once played. Spartak plays in the Russian Superleague but not in the Euroleague that is home to most of the continent's top teams. The signing was announced on Spartak's Web site (www.bcspartak.ru). Araujo will join the team in September and take part in training camp in Lithuania.

The Jazz were willing to invite Araujo to attend training camp on a non-guaranteed contract but encouraged him to explore Europe as an option. Araujo has played in the equivalent of just 33 full games in his career, with the belief that he needs playing time to develop.

The hope is Araujo will be able to play his way back into the NBA after a season or two overseas. Araujo came to the Jazz from Toronto in a June 2006 trade for Kris Humphries and Robert Whaley and played 28 games last season as the No. 3 center.

source : sltrib.com