April 2012 Basketball Wiretap

Jazz See Correlation Between Bigs, Titles

Apr 28, 2012 11:05 AM

The Jazz have great depth in the frontcourt with Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter.

Many have suggested Utah will eventually need to make a trade of one of those players to improve in other areas.

Kevin O'Connor was asked if the success of the 11-12 season will make him reevaluate his plans for the team.

"You (media) guys are the ones that all want me to trade somebody," said O'Connor. "You're talking about our big guys. I don't think you can ever have too many. You can have too few. If you look at the teams that have won it over the last couple of years, I think they've all had pretty good big guys."

O'Connor believes the Jazz can eventually win even without a true superstar.

"When you put a team together you try and have a vision. Maybe what you thought here was trying to build it through the draft.…When Detroit was winning, they had a lot of good players. Rasheed (Wallace), Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups. I'm not putting ourselves in that category yet because we haven't earned it, but what I'm saying is that maybe that's the idea — that we can beat you a lot of different ways instead of having to go to one or two guys over and over again."

According to 82games.com, Utah had a +4.1 and +4.3 net PER production at power forward and center during the regular season.

Jody Genessy/Deseret News

Tags: Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Enes Freedom, Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Wolves Plan To Be Aggressive In Offseason

Apr 27, 2012 4:25 PM

After previously stating that the Wolves didn't need to make "wholesale" changes, David Kahn plans to be aggressive this offseason.

Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio are the two franchise 'cornerstones', but the remainder of the roster doesn't appear to be untouchable.

Jerry Zgoda/Minneapolis Star Tribune

Tags: Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kings Will Listen To Trade Offers For Tyreke Evans

Apr 22, 2012 11:53 AM

The Kings will evaluate trade proposals for Tyreke Evans this summer, according to a report.

Evans has spent heavy minutes at small forward and has struggled to adjust to playing off the ball.

"I don't think it's any big secret," Princeton legend and longtime Kings consultant Pete Carril said. "Tyreke's got to learn to play without the ball. It's all there. I see some games, and he looks very good. Other games … he just has to work harder. I'd love to see him develop a mid-range game."

Evans, who is shooting 44.2 percent from the floor, recently voiced his concerns over the way the Kings have handled his this season.

Sacramento Bee

Tags: Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Warriors Have Lamar Odom On Radar

Apr 11, 2012 10:45 AM

The Warriors have Lamar Odom on their radar to fill the small forward position next season, according to sources.

Golden State is set at the other four starting positions, but Golden State believes Odom would be an upgrade at small forward over Dorell Wright, Brandon Rush, Dominic McGuire and Richard Jefferson.

Odom is set to make $8.2 million next year. But Dallas has a team option. If they cut him, only $2.4 million of that is guaranteed.

The Warriors could make a play for Odom via trade on draft day.

Marcus Thompson/Contra Costa Times

Tags: Lamar Odom, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Magic Threatened To Trade Howard To Lakers

Apr 6, 2012 10:42 AM

The Magic told Dwight Howard before the deadline that “he would be a Laker by the end of the day,” according to one source, if he did not sign an agreement to waive the opt-out clause for the final season of his contract.

Even though Howard's camp had permission to talk to the Nets, Mavericks and Lakers, he only wanted to go to the Nets.

“He was adamant: New Jersey, New Jersey, New Jersey,” a source claimed.

The Magic want to avoid a repeat of Howard's indecisiveness this summer.

“[The Magic] do not want to go through it all again,” said one source who claimed Orlando wants a commitment from Howard on an extension before training camp to avoid his bolting as a free agent in 2013. “[The Magic] are determined to avoid another year of that.”

Orlando preferred the trade offer from the Lakers that would include Andrew Bynum, Devin Ebanks and Steve Blake.

Fred Kerber/New York Post

Tags: Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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