From Deseret News archives:

Report: Proposal no longer involves Jazz

Published: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 10:49 a.m. MDT
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It may not be the biggie some suspected — the Jazz, it was widely reported recently, discussed a deal that would have sent power forward Carlos Boozer to Philadelphia and 76ers star Allen Iverson to Boston, bringing swingman Wally Szczerbiak and big man Al Jefferson of the Cetlics to Utah.

Philadelphia and Boston apparently were proposing variations of the deal Tuesday and searching for a third trade partner — perhaps Cleveland, though evidently not the Jazz.

"Initially it was Utah," ESPN's Andy Katz reported Tuesday night. "That has now since been tabled."

Will it be revived?

"I don't think this is a legitimate deal that could go down," ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said on the cable network's draft preview show Tuesday night, "unless you're talking about Carlos Boozer ending up in Philadelphia along with somebody like (Boston's) Gerald Green."

Earlier Tuesday, ESPN's Ric Bucher said he doesn't expect Iverson, Boozer or Phoenix's Shawn Marion to be traded tonight — but added he would "not be surprised" if "any, or all three" change addresses before next season.

Bucher later reported the Jazz's No. 14 overall pick is among five lottery selections "potentially up for sale, depending on who's going to be there when those teams are picking."

Kevin O'Connor, meanwhile, doesn't think the Jazz will trade up just a couple, or even a few, spots tonight.

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O'Connor has not denied trying to make a monumental leap forward, either — though the Jazz's basketball boss acknowledges getting into the top-five is much easier said than done.

"I'm not gonna say we wouldn't," O'Connor said when asked about taking a big jump from 14. "You certainly try."

Another possibility: Rather than movin' on up, the Jazz move down.

According to DraftExpress.com on Tuesday, "Utah is talking with Phoenix about (swapping) the No. 14 pick for (the Suns' Nos.) 21 and 27 overall. The Jazz have Ronnie Brewer (of Arkansas) and (Duke's) J.J. Redick at the top of their draft board and will likely take (Senegal center Mouhamed) Saer Sene if neither of those two are there. If all three are gone, look for them to trade down, in which case players like Maurice Ager, Quincy Douby and Shannon Brown become options."

The Jazz are thought to like the two Michigan State guards and perhaps Rutgers' Douby too, though taking any of the three at 14 seems a bit high to some.

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