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The World Famous LayupDrill Rumor Mill
6/19/09 Part 2
A Friday Night edition of the Rumor Mill during the offseason can only mean there is plenty to update. I start in New Jersey, where it looks like the Nets may be ready to blow everything up regarding their core and start over. The news starts from the Memphis Commercial Appeal, where reportedly New Jersey has approached the Memphis Grizzlies about the possibility of trading All-Star point guard Devin Harris to Memphis for the rights of the number 2 pick.
Yahoo! Sports in also reporting the Nets are in talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers to trade Vince Carter to Cleveland for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic. The Wallace/Pavolovic combo is the same that was offered to the Suns for Shaq by Cleveland. It will be interesting to see if the Cavs opt for Carter to play alongside Lebron James. Cleveland would still need to upgrade in the front court, whether done via free agency or the draft.
New Jersey also has been in talks with the Chicago Bulls about swapping picks in the first round of next week’s draft. Chicago would give New Jersey the 16th and 26th picks for the rights to go 11th. The Bulls are interested in selecting James Johnson, however it is almost certain with his rising stock, he will not be around by the time they go at 16.
The Minneosta Timberwolves may have said no to the Amare Stoudemire deal, but their is still one trade that could change the way their team looks drastically on the table. The Wolves and Grizzlies are in talks around an offer of Kevin Love and a Wolves first round pick,whether this year or next year, for the rights to select 2nd. Minnesota would make that move to move up and select Rubio. The Wolves do not want to part with their number 6 pick at all, and if they can land Rubio at 2, they would opt for either DeMar DeRozan or Jordan Hill at 6. According to both ESPN and Yahoo! Sports, Mark Jackson, current ABC/ESPN NBA analyst, is the leading candidate to be the head coach of the Wolves when they take the court next year.
The Portland Trailblazers off-season wish list is now down to three players. Jason Kidd, Hedo Turkoglu, and Trevor Ariza. Dallas is expected to offer Kidd what he is asking for, which is a contract in the range of $8 million dollars next season. The Magic have come out and said they will be willing to pay Turkoglu what he wants, if he wants to return. The Lakers, meanwhile, will offer Ariza the most they can truly afford, though it is very possible the Blazers offer could entrice him. Ariza is in a situation much like James Posey was with the Celtics last season.
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