Karl Malone Is Said to Agree on Contract

Forward Karl Malone has agreed to an eight-year contract with the Utah Jazz, team officials said.

Word of the agreement, negotiated personally by Malone with Jazz owner Larry Miller, filtered out of Ruston, La., where Malone was honored Saturday by his alma mater, Louisiana Tech.

At a banquet in Ruston attended by Frank Layden, Jazz president, and Coach Jerry Sloan, Layden told the audience that an announcement on Malone’s new contract with the club would be made within a week.