With his advancing age and retreating productivity, it has been a trying season for Karl Malone.

Malone's scoring has plummeted, and his shooting percentage is at a career low. His annual talk about retirement and a trade this summer irked Jazz owner Larry Miller, and Malone has feuded with coach Jerry Sloan. Meanwhile, the Jazz is barely keeping its head above water and does not have the look of a contender.

Malone, 39, will be paid $19.25 million this season, his 18th in the league. Malone knows Jazz fans expect more from a player earning one of the league's highest salaries, but that doesn't make him feel better about being targeted as a scapegoat.