O-O-Oster 2: Beleaguered big man returning

The Jazz agreed Friday to trade three former first-round draft choices, all so they can acquire one former first-rounder who has been bid adieu once already.

As part of a three-team, six-player swap, longtime Jazz center Greg Ostertag is returning to Utah after one season in Sacramento and shooting guard Kirk Snyder, center Curtis Borchardt and the contract of point guard Raul Lopez all are headed to Memphis.

Memphis also gets Sacramento guard Bobby Jackson, and disgruntled Memphis guard Bonzi Wells — who had his $8 million option for next season picked up by the Grizzlies on Friday — goes to Sacramento.

The deal still must be approved by the NBA.

It also cannot be made official until after expiration of the league's current moratorium on player transactions, which began July 1. That is expected to be Thursday at the earliest — but it might be pushed beyond then while the NBA and its players union put the final touches on a new collective bargaining agreement that already has been agreed upon.

As a result, Jazz brass was reluctant to discuss the trade. But it was acknowledged.

"There's been an agreement in principle about some things," Jazz basketball operations vice president Kevin O'Connor said Friday night, "but there is no trade 'done' — because nothing has been done in the NBA since June 30."

Only an unforeseen snag would prevent the deal from being consummated, and all of the principles involved have been informed that it is pending.

"He's thankful for his opportunity here," agent Bob Meyers said after speaking to Borchardt, one of his clients.

Snyder, who has been playing the past week on Jazz's Rocky Mountain Revue summer-league team, did not show up to Salt Lake Community College for Utah's Revue-ending game Friday night.

"It's a business: One day you're here, and one you're not," Jazz summer-leaguer Spencer Nelson said when asked about Snyder. "Kirk's a great guy, and I'm sure he'll be successful in Memphis."

The Commercial Appeal of Memphis first reported the trade on its web site Friday, the deadline for the Grizzlies to decide whether or not they would exercise the option on Wells' contract.

With Ostertag, the Jazz fill their need for a shot-altering big man.

What they're getting, however, is an enigma.