RealGM Basketball Wiretap

Cavaliers Win Lottery; Magic, Wizards In Top-3

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:52:23 EDT

The 2013 NBA Draft Lottery was held on Tuesday in Times Square with the Cleveland Cavaliers winning for the second time in three years and third time in ten years. The Washington Wizards moved up from the eighth slot to draft third.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Orlando Magic
3. Washington Wizards
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Phoenix Suns
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trail Blazers
11. Philadelphia 76ers
12. Toronto Raptors
13. Dallas Mavericks
14. Utah Jazz

Sloan Could Rejoin Jazz As Consultant

Sat, 18 May 2013 19:43:58 EDT

Jerry Sloan could return to the Utah Jazz as a consultant, two years after he resigned as coach.

"If there’s something out there that’s right for both parties, we would welcome a relationship with Jerry," Jazz president Randy Rigby said. "The Utah Jazz have great love and respect for him."

Sloan wouldn’t want to be seen as getting in the way of Tyrone Corbin.

"When we talked about getting him seats to the games, he was very sensitive about where they were located," Rigby said. "He didn’t want to be too close to the floor. He did not want to portray to Tyrone that he was interfering. That speaks volumes about Jerry Sloan, that he’s sensitive to something like that."

Jazz Host Myck Kabongo, Nate Wolters For Pre-Draft Workout

Sat, 11 May 2013 19:57:12 EDT

The Utah Jazz worked out point guards Myck Kabongo and Nate Wolters on Saturday in preparation for the NBA draft.

None of the Utah’s point guards from last season — Mo Williams, Jamaal Tinsley or Earl Watson — is under contract for next year.

"Utah does need a point guard, and everybody is aware of that," Kabongo said. "[So] I’m excited to come out here. Obviously the history with John Stockton is here. And a lot of [other] great guards have come through. So it’s a pleasure to be here."

Said Wolters: "My agent and I thought this would be a good fit. ... We’re going to a lot of workouts [but] to get one before the combine is nice — just to have one under my belt."

76ers To Interview Mike Malone, Hornacek

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:35:16 EDT

The Philadelphia 76ers will interview Mike Malone and Jeff Hornacek for their head coaching vacancy, according to sources.

Malone is currently an assistant with the Golden State Warriors, while Hornacek is an assistant with the Utah Jazz.

Malone has been a candidate for several NBA head coaching jobs and is currently the top-paid assistant in the league.

The 76ers are also strongly considering Brian Shaw and would be interested in Lionel Hollins should he become available.

Kevin O'Connor Denies Report He's Stepping Down As Jazz Exec

Wed, 01 May 2013 03:01:11 EDT

Kevin O'Connor denied a report on Wednesday that said he will step down in his position within the Utah Jazz's management.

Asked if he was stepping down after 14 years as an executive with the organization, O’Connor said, "Not true, and I have no comment."

Salt Lake City CBS affiliate KUTV Ch. 2 said O’Connor, the team’s executive vice president of basketball operations, would leave the Jazz this summer and hand all of his executive duties over to general manager Dennis Lindsey.

O’Connor sold his Holladay home on April 17, the same day the Jazz’s season ended with an 86-70 loss in Memphis.

The Jazz have missed the playoffs in two of the past three seasons.

Millsap Isn't Thinking About Possible Last Game With Jazz

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:17:02 EDT

Depending on how the playoff race and offseason shake out, Friday could be Paul Millsap's last home game as a member of the Utah Jazz.

The Jazz will host the Minnesota Timberwolves before finishing the regular season in Minnesota and Memphis. They enter Friday night's action a game back of the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

Millsap is the longest-tenured member of the Jazz.

"I don't approach it differently than any other game, especially in these past few weeks," he said. "The main focus, the main goal, is to win."

He has been a member of the franchise since 2006.

"I don't have enough time to really talk about it. It's been a long road — a long, long, long time being here. Seen a lot. Done a lot," Millsap said. "(I've) met some great people and everybody that I've met (here) has been a part of my growth, has been part of me getting better as a person, as a basketball player.

"I owe a lot to this community," Millsap added. "I owe a lot to this organization."

Enes Kanter Will Have Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:01:21 EDT

Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter will undergo a surgical repair on his injured left shoulder.

The procedure will be performed on Wednesday, April 10 in Chicago by Dr. Guido Marra. As a result, Kanter will miss the remainder of the season.

He suffered the injury at the 10:23 mark of the second quarter of the Jazz's 103-88 win over Phoenix on March 27 and has not played since. Prior to his injury, Kanter had seen action in 136 of a possible 138 games over his first two seasons with the Jazz.

Enes Kanter Unlikely To Return This Season

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:49:29 EDT

The Utah Jazz haven't announced an official timetable for Enes Kanter to return, but it seems unlikely that he'll play again this season.

Kanter dislocated his right shoulder on March 27 against the Phoenix Suns. He has missed Utah's last six games.

He was in New York on Monday, consulting with doctors about the injury.

Jazz Sign Jerel McNeal For Remainder Of Season

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 15:54:19 EDT

The Utah Jazz have signed Jerel McNeal for the remainder of the season.

McNeal, a 6-foot-3 guard, averaged 18.1 points, 5.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 44 games for the Bakersfield Jam this season.

J.R. Smith, Al Jefferson Named Players Of The Week

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 03:42:48 EDT

J.R. Smith and Al Jefferson have been named the NBA's Players of the Week.

Smith led the Knicks to a 4-0 week which included two wins over the Boston Celtics and a win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Smith averaged 29.8 points (second in the league), 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals. He tallied three consecutive 30-plus point performances off the bench to open the week, including a season-high 37 on March 29 during a 111-102 win over the Charlotte Bobcats. The last NBA player to score 30-or-more off the bench in three consecutive games was the Milwaukee Bucks' Ricky Pierce in 1990.

Jefferson led the Jazz to a 4-0 record, which helped Utah pull back into a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference -- both teams own 38-36 (.514) records. He averaged 19.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.25 steals and 1.5 blocks. Jefferson's displayed his versatility with 20 points, seven rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks as the Jazz topped the Brooklyn Nets 116-107 on March 30 to seal the undefeated week.

Kanter Out Indefinitely With Dislocated Shoulder

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:58:03 EDT

Enes Kanter suffered a dislocated shoulder and will be out indefinitely.

Kanter averaged 7.3 points and 4.4 rebounds in only 15.6 minutes this season.

"I thought he was making great strides," Tyrone Corbin said. "His game was really coming around — where and how to use what he has. His quickness at times. His brute strength at times. His jump shot. His feel for defense is getting better."

Jazz Sign Jerel McNeal To 10-Day Contract

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:55:07 EDT

The Utah Jazz have signed Jerel McNeal on a 10-day contract.

McNeal had been playing for the Bakersfield Jam in the D-League.

"For me, it's just really exciting and just humbling to be able to come from where I just came from," McNeal said, "and today, this morning, be in an NBA locker room. It means a lot to me."

McNeal, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard out of Marquette, went undrafted in 2009.

Jazz Sign Jerel McNeal To 10-Day Contract

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:30:21 EDT

The Utah Jazz announced Wednesday that the team has signed guard Jerel McNeal of the NBA Development League’s Bakersfield Jam to a 10-day contract.

McNeal has averaged 18.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 44 games this season for Bakersfield.

The Jazz had an open roster spot after deciding not to keep Travis Leslie and waiving Raja Bell.

Corbin Credits Utah's Eight Impending Free Agents For Not Making Issue Of Minutes

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:18:29 EDT

The Utah Jazz have eight impending free agents this offseason, which has made Tyrone Corbin's job of finding minutes for everyone even more difficult.

"With this group, I like to say that they've been tremendous all year," Corbin said. "Right from the beginning of training camp, we talked about the number of free agents we had. Everybody keeps mentioning it. We tried to get the guys — as much as they could — to not worry about it as much, but it's been there."

Upcoming free agents include regulars Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson, Mo Williams, Randy Foye, DeMarre Carroll, Jamaal Tinsley and Earl Watson.

Corbin contends that it hasn't been an issue on the whole.

"You have so many guys on the same mode it affects your overall play a little bit," Corbin said. "To these guys' credit, I think for the most part all year long they've been focused on trying to control what they can control, and that's how they're playing right now."

Corbin Admits Upcoming Free Agency Impacting Jazz

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 00:17:05 EDT

With eight unrestricted free agents this offseason headlined by Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, Ty Corbin acknowledges the upcoming process is affecting Utah Jazz players and their slide out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings.

"It may have a little something to do with where we are," Corbin said. "We can’t do anything about it. We’ve got to play our way through it, that stuff we can’t do anything about until it’s time to do something about it."

Along with Jefferson and Millsap, Mo Williams, DeMarre Carroll, Randy Foye, Earl Watson and Jamaal Tinsley all will be seeking new contracts.

"All that stuff could come into play," Corbin said. "I’ve been a free agent before. You’ve got a lot of things that come into play now."

Get Your Latest NBA News From RealGM's Basketball Wiretap

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:17:02 EDT

Get all the latest news and happenings from around the NBA with RealGM's Basketball Wiretap.