Tim Buckley of the Desert News reports on the latest in the Donyell Marshall/Utah Jazz soap opera and the star of the show, agent Dwight Manley.

Manley, who is the agent for Jazz free agents Donyell Marshall and Bryon Russell as well as Jazz power forward Karl Malone says that the Sacramento Kings have become serious suitors for Marshall. He also says that the way the Jazz organization brushed off Russell does not sit well with Malone or Marshall. "When they give you the send-off Bryon got, it doesn't really appeal to Donyell ? or Karl," Manley said.

Manley suggested that the Jazz handling of the Russell situation may effect next year?s negotiations with Malone. "There's nothing Karl can do but honor his contract. He's a man of his word, and he will do that," Manley said of Malone, who has waffled on whether or not he plans to retire with the Jazz or finish his career elsewhere. But he's very smart," Manley added. "Karl realizes what is going on. If that's the send-off Bryon gets, what's it going to be like in Karl's situation?"

As for the Marshall negotiations, Donyell has made it clear that he wants to stay with the Jazz for the long term. But he also wants a raise over last year?s $6.5 million salary. The Jazz initially offered a three-year contract worth $21 million. Manley countered, and Utah pulled its first offer off the table. They later replaced it with a four-year, $23 million offer that starts at $5 million per season. Talks have been stalled there so Manley has been shopping his client elsewhere. "Since things basically shut down with the Jazz, things elsewhere have heated up," Manley said.

Manley said he is in "serious negotiations" with the Kings regarding a short-term deal for the mid-level salary-cap exception slot, worth $4.545 million. Going to a contending team like Sacramento, Manley added, would be quite appealing to Marshall. One other source confirmed those talks.

Manley continues to state that he and Marshall are serious about playing elsewhere and are not using the threat as a negotiating ploy. Marshall, he said, would prefer to go to a situation "you perform well for a team, and then that team takes care of you." Manley said he does not feel that happened in the case of Russell. In fact, he was very surprised with the Jazz callous attitude toward Russell.

 "Not so much as a phone call, a letter ? nothing," Manley said. "And certainly not the offer which he was promised all year. This is really pretty sad that the Jazz treated Bryon like that. "If you work at 7-Eleven nine years, you get more than Bryon Russell got. At least you'd get a sandwich or something."

Now, it seems possible both Marshall and Russell may sign elsewhere without the Jazz getting anything in return. "Bryon's not crying or complaining," Manley said. "It is what it is. But it doesn't mean it's right."