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Jazz To Pursue Paul Millsap

June 26th, 2015 at 2:15pm CST by Chuck Myron

JUNE 26TH: There is a growing sense that Millsap will go where the market dictates, and that the Jazz won’t be able to afford him, according to Checketts (Twitter link).

JUNE 25TH: There continue to be rumblings about how the Jazz want to re-acquire Millsap, Jody Genessy of The Deseret News tweets.  Utah, his source adds, might also trade Derrick Favors.

JUNE 12TH: The Jazz will make an active pursuit of soon-to-be free agent Paul Millsap this summer, as Spencer Checketts of 1280 AM The Zone hears (Twitter link). Millsap, who spent his first seven NBA seasons as a member of the Jazz, and agent DeAngelo Simmons dropped hints at the end of Atlanta’s playoff run that the power forward would like to remain with the Hawks, though Utah has brother Elijah Millsap under contract for two more years. A pursuit of Paul Millsap would represent a sharp turn in Utah’s rebuilding effort, one that’s been patient so far, just two seasons after the team watched him go, at a discount, to Atlanta.

Competition will no doubt be stiff for the leading scorer from a 60-win Hawks team this season, and the Hawks face a stiff financial challenge to re-sign Millsap and fellow impending free agent DeMarre Carroll with only Early Bird Rights on both, as I examined when I looked at Atlanta’s offseason. The Hawks nonetheless appear confident that they can accomplish the task.

The Jazz can have as much as $16.6MM in cap room for next season without making a trade, as I noted in their offseason outlook, though that wouldn’t necessarily be enough to lure Millsap, as speculation, at least, has him in line for a max deal that would start at an estimated $19MM. Knicks president Phil Jackson is reportedly intrigued with Millsap, and New York has the cap flexibility to offer the max. Millsap apparently signed his two-year, $19MM deal with Atlanta in 2013 with an eye on putting himself in a better position to sign a lucrative contract this summer. Still, he has a good relationship with Jazz coach Quin Snyder, a Hawks assistant in Millsap’s first year in Atlanta, notes Andy Larsen of KSL.com.

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And-Ones: Sixers, Jackson, Marble

February 17th, 2015 at 11:42pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Sixers are willing to take on expiring contracts in order to increase their stash of second-round draft picks, according to Tom Moore of Calkins Media. Trade talks have been heating up, an NBA source told Moore, and the team is likely to make at least one deal before Thursday’s deadline. The Sixers already own 16 second-rounders over the next six drafts but wouldn’t mind adding more assets. The franchise also has $18.4MM in salary-cap room to absorb expiring deals, Moore continues. If the Sixers do make a deal, Luc Mbah a Moute is the player most likely to be moved. Mbah a Moute, who has an expiring contract of approximately $4.4MM, is averaging a career high of 10.0 points,  and could draw interest from a contender. Moore also speculates the club would consider moving its best all-around player, Michael Carter-Williams, for the right price.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • Reggie Jackson would probably wind up with a non-contender if he’s dealt by the Thunder before the trade deadline, Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman writes. Jackson’s most likely destination would be a team needing a long-term solution at point guard with the expectation of re-signing him when he becomes a restricted free agent this summer, Slater adds. Jackson is making just over $2.2MM and might have to be paired with a higher-salaried player such as Kendrick Perkins, who is making approximately $9.65MM, in order to bring back a quality player in return, according to Slater.
  • Gary Payton has shown interest in joining George Karl’s staff with the Kings, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee tweets. Payton was Karl’s long-time point guard in Seattle, including during the 1996 NBA Finals when the SuperSonics lost to the Bulls.
  • The Magic have re-assigned Devyn Marble to the Erie BayHawks, their D-League affiliate, Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel tweets. Marble, a rookie guard, has not appeared in an NBA game since January 25th. In 16 games with the Magic this season, Marble is averaging 2.3 PPG.
  • Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert are the main building blocks for the Jazz and have too much potential to be traded, Brad Rock of the Deseret News writes. Quality big men are precious commodities and that makes the duo more important than the team’s current star, Gordon Hayward, Rock adds.
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Cavs Interested In Arron Afflalo, No. 4, No. 12

June 24th, 2014 at 4:17pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Cavs have interest in the Magic’s proposal of Arron Afflalo, and the Nos. 4 and 12 picks in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday’s draft, as Jeff Goodman and Chad Ford of ESPN.com report. The Magic have offered the same package to the Bucks with no success, as Ford wrote Monday.

Afflalo has drawn plenty of mention in rumors of late, as he’s reportedly a target of the Bulls and Hornets. The Magic are apparently seeking either the first or second pick and seem aggressive in their attempts to move up.

Cleveland is torn on whether it prefers Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker at No. 1, as we noted when Goodman and Ford published an earlier version of their story. The Jazz, Sixers and Timberwolves have all reportedly been involved in trade talks with Cleveland for the top pick in case GM David Griffin and company decide to punt on the Wiggins/Parker decision, as Ford and Goodman note. Still, Cleveland prefers Orlando’s offer to the Jazz’s proposal involving Derrick Favors and pick No. 5 and the Sixers’ offer of Thaddeus Young and the third pick, according to the ESPN scribes.

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Cavs, Jazz Talking Swap Of No. 1 Pick, Favors

June 23rd, 2014 at 8:00pm CST by Zachary Links

8:00pm: The sense is that, despite the buzz, the Cavs really aren’t close to a deal they like, Amico tweets.  Meanwhile, a source close to Waiters tells Amico (link) that Waiters believes he or Kyrie Irving will be traded.  The two guards reportedly clashed last season.

7:16pm: The Jazz and Cavs are discussing a trade that would involve Derrick Favors going to the Cavs for the No. 1 pick, according to Spencer Checketts of 1280 AM (via Jody Genessy of the Deseret News on Twitter).  Checketts says that Utah is offering Favors, Alec Burks, and the No. 5 pick to the Cavs for the No. 1 selection and Jarrett Jack.  Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (on Twitter), meanwhile, hears that the deal being discussed also includes Utah’s No. 23 pick.

Checketts adds that the Utah front office is split about including Burks in their offer to Cleveland (link).  Checketts hears (link) that the Jazz initially offered Favors and the No. 5 pick for the No. 1.  The Cavs wanted an unprotected first-round pick thrown in and the Jazz then countered with the No. 23 in this year’s draft.

The Cavs have also talked with the Sixers, Magic, and Timberwolves within the past 24 hours, Amico tweets.  Meanwhile, the Cavs have also discussed Dion Waiters with an unknown team in the top ten (link).

Favors is set to begin a four-year, $49MM deal this season and one surprised NBA insider tells Genessy (via Twitter) that he can’t see Utah moving the former No. 3 overall pick.  This past season was Favors’ best to date.  The soon-to-be 23-year-old averaged 13.3 PPG and 8.7 RPG in 30.2 minutes per contest.  His 19.0 PER was also a career best and the youngster has seen that number rise in each of his NBA seasons.

Depending on who you ask, the Cavs may have discussed Jack with the Nets last week in a deal that would have brought them guard Marcus Thornton.  Jack signed a $25MM contract with the Cavs last summer after a successful 2012/13 campaign in which he came off the bench behind Stephen Curry for the Warriors. His 2013/14 season was a disappointing one however, as the point guard shot just 41% from the floor and posted a career-low 11.5 PER.

It was reported last week that Utah was making Burks available in order to move up in the draft.  The shooting guard averaged 14.0 points in 28.1 minutes per game with a 15.8 PER, all career highs.

While there has been a lot of buzz around Andrew Wiggins as the clear-cut No. 1 choice in this year’s draft following Joel Embiid‘s injury, the Jazz could be eyeing the top pick in order to tab Duke’s Jabari Parker.  Parker, who is of the Mormon faith, would be tremendously marketable in Utah.

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Jazz Notes: Jones, Vonleh, Favors, Kanter

June 6th, 2014 at 11:12am CST by Zachary Links

Jazz assistant Brad Jones is indeed a candidate for the head coaching position, but he could also be in line for an assistant job on the team’s new staff if they go with Alvin Gentry, Quin Snyder, or Adrian Griffin as the hire, tweets Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune.  After having spent the 2012-13 season in charge of player development, Utah promoted Jones to a full fledged assistant in July of last year.  Being appointed as head coach would mark a very rapid climb up the organizational ladder for Jones.  The latest out of Utah..

  • A source tells Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter link) that the Jazz saw Indiana big man Noah Vonleh workout privately last week in New York.
  • After attending Utah’s pre-draft workout yesterday, Jones learned (link) that the organization sees Derrick Favors as a center, not as a power forward.  Because of that, the Utah front office is confident that Vonleh can come in and play alongside Favors without any trouble (link).  Meanwhile, if the Jazz see Favors as a five, that raises some questions about how they view Enes Kanter (link).
  •  Utah State big man Jarred Shaw and Weber State guard/forward Davion Berry are among the 12 players working out for the Jazz this morning, tweets Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune.  Neither player is featured on DraftExpress’ Top 100.
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Odds & Ends: Favors, Mavs, Knicks, Draft

November 6th, 2013 at 2:37pm CST by Luke Adams

Security and comfort were concerns for Derrick Favors when the Jazz began discussing an extension with his camp this offseason, but he didn’t get very involved in the negotiations himself, as he tells Grantland’s Zach Lowe.

“That’s more of an agent thing,” Favors said. “They talked all summer and had conversations. But that’s more for the agent and the front office. I didn’t have that much word in it. My agent really just asked me questions and stuff.”

As Favors and the 0-4 Jazz prepare to face the NBA’s other 0-4 team in Boston tonight, let’s round up a few odds and ends from around the league:

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Jazz Rumors: Rush, Favors, Fredette

November 5th, 2013 at 10:14pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Jazz fell to 0-4 tonight for the first time since they moved from New Orleans for the 1979/80 season, but there was a silver lining to the team’s loss to the Nets. Brandon Rush played his first game since tearing the ACL in his left knee a year ago. He re-emerged in Utah as one of three Warriors who came over in a trade that was more about draft picks for the Jazz than it was about current players. Rush might not be part of Utah’s future, but Derrick Favors is, and there’s more on him as Jazz fans already start to think about 2014/15:

  • Favors had no intention of letting contract talks with the Jazz play out until next summer once the team approached him about an extension, and says to Tim Bontemps of the New York Post that he told agent Wallace Prather to, “Go ahead and get this done.”
  • Favors was of two minds when the Jazz decided not to re-sign Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, as Bontemps notes in the same piece. “I mean, it’s exciting for me,” Favors said. “I hate it that we had to let Al and Paul go, because those guys are great guys, great teammates, great people overall. But I guess it was a time for a chance, and I’m excited about it.”
  • Signing Jimmer Fredette next summer would serve neither the Jazz’s nor the former BYU star’s best interest, argues Brad Rock of the Deseret News, who believes that if the Jazz want to have a Mormon on the roster, they should draft Jabari Parker.
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Western Notes: Suns, Favors, Hayward, Kings

October 28th, 2013 at 7:18pm CST by Chuck Myron

Executives from around the league who spoke recently to Grantland’s Zach Lowe believed there might be only one solid veteran on a poor team capable of enticing another club to give up a first-round pick in a trade. That player was Marcin Gortat, and the Suns indeed extracted a first-rounder from the Wizards when they traded Gortat last week. GM Ryan McDonough acknowledges to Greg Esposito of Suns.com that his team has plenty of “valuable currency” with the potential for six first-round picks in the next two drafts, and that he could use them all or package some of them in a trade for a star. While we wait to see how teams pivot from opening night to the trade deadline, here’s more from the West:

  • Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey wants Derrick Favors to “increase his motor” this season, and Kurt Kragthorpe of The Salt Lake Tribune believes it’s critical for the team that Favors begin fulfilling his potential now that he has his long-term extension.
  • Gordon Hayward is also negotiating an extension with the Jazz, though the sides are far apart on a deal. Favors told Matthew Coles of The Associated Press that it’s a priority for him that Hayward stick around. “Me and Gordon, we’ve been together going on three years now and we went to USA Basketball camp together so we have a good chemistry going. It’s important to keep the core together for the future,” Favors said.
  • The NBA isn’t worried about a petition drive to put funding for a new arena for the Kings on the ballot in Sacramento, as Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com explains (on Sulia). The league is confident that voters would back the funding measure.
  • We rounded up more news from the Pacific and Southwest divisions earlier today.
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Northwest Notes: T-Wolves, Thunder, Jazz

October 28th, 2013 at 2:36pm CST by Luke Adams

The Timberwolves officially extended their relationship with Minnesota’s Target Center today, announcing that the team’s lease will now run through 2032. As Jerry Zgoda writes in his Star Tribune report, the agreement announced today will include $97MM in renovations to the area, set to begin next summer and be completed 18-24 months later.

Here are a few more notes from around the Northwest Division:

  • One year after the Thunder traded away James Harden, Darnell Mayberry and Anthony Slater defend the move in a pair of pieces for the Oklahoman, explaining why it was the right move for OKC and why it had to happen. Meanwhile, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle looks back at the deal from Harden’s perspective.
  • At the press conference to formally announce Derrick Favors‘ contract extension, Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey told reporters, including Jody Genessy of the Deseret News (Twitter link) that Favors’ agent’s first question in negotiations wasn’t about money. It was about whether Utah intended to keep its current core together, which is very much in the team’s plans (Twitter link).
  • Jazz CEO Greg Miller on contract talks with Gordon Hayward (Twitter link via Genessy): “The sooner we can get all that worked out, the sooner it’s not going to be a distraction.”
  • Lindsey also revealed earlier today that the Jazz would pick up their 2014/15 options on Enes Kanter and Alec Burks by Thursday.
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Stein On Hayward, Favors, Extensions, Durant

October 25th, 2013 at 9:56am CST by Luke Adams

At the start of the week, ESPN.com’s Marc Stein provided an update on the NBA’s remaining extension-eligible players on rookie contracts, reporting that Gordon Hayward was the likeliest candidate for a new deal. Stein is back today with the latest news on Hayward and others, so let’s dive in and recap his two newest pieces for ESPN.com….

  • Hayward and the Jazz continue to negotiate a new contract, and remain likely to work something out by Thursday’s deadline. Talks are expected to intensify this weekend as the team returns from a California road trip.
  • According to Stein, Derrick Favors‘ extension with the Jazz works out to just over $47.7MM in guaranteed money. Stein adds that a new contract for Hayward may still be end up being worth more than Favors’ deal.
  • Extensions are also still in play for Eric Bledsoe (Suns), Ed Davis (Grizzlies), and Avery Bradley (Celtics), who continue to talk with their respective teams. While there may still be one or two dark horse candidates, those three players, plus Hayward, are the strongest bets to sign long-term pacts next week.
  • In his second column, Stein discusses Kevin Durant‘s contract situation with the Thunder, noting that even though the star forward won’t be a free agent until 2016, OKC “would be wise not to relax” — Durant has dropped a couple “odd hints” suggesting he’s getting antsy about winning a championship, says Stein.
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