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O'Connor: No Players Were Ever Part Of Trade Talks
Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Bogut, Marvin And Deron Become The Top-3 Selections
Milwaukee had been debating whether to take Bogut or North Carolina small forward Marvin Williams with the franchise's first overall No. 1 pick since 1994, when the Bucks selected Glenn Robinson. In the end, the lure of a versatile, athletic 7-footer with Olympic experience was too much to pass up. "Adding the quality and the competitor in Andrew Bogut, we really feel we're solid in the center position," Bucks general manager Larry Harris said. The Atlanta Hawks chose Williams second, and the 19-year-old player flashed a bright smile at Stern while shaking the commissioner's hand. The 6-foot-9 small forward was a sixth man for the Tar Heels, who were expecting to have at least four players from their national championship team chosen in the first round. Illinois junior point guard Deron Williams went third to the Jazz, who sent three first-round picks -- Nos. 6 and 27 in this year's draft, plus a 2006 first-round pick -- to the Trail Blazers earlier Tuesday. The 6-foot-3 Williams was the first of several point guards chosen in the first round. New Orleans selected fourth and also chose a playmaker, picking Wake Forest sophomore guard Chris Paul, and the Charlotte Bobcats took North Carolina junior point guard Raymond Felton at No. 5. High school senior Martell Webster of Seattle Prep went No. 6 to Portland, making him the first prep player taken in a draft notable for its historical significance. It likely marked the final time high school players would be eligible to jump directly to the pros -- the route chosen by Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, LeBron James, Jermaine O'Neal and others. Under terms of the new six-year collective bargaining agreement to take effect in July, high school players will have to wait one year after their class graduates to become draft eligible. Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Jazz And Blazers Trade PicksThe Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers traded picks Tuesday. Portland traded the rights to the No. 3 pick to Utah for the rights to the No. 6 and No. 27 picks and the rights to a 2006 first-round pick that the Jazz got from the Detroit Pistons, a league source said. All trades had to be in by 2 p.m. ET. A source said the Jazz would look to draft a point guard at No. 3, deciding between Illinois junior Deron Williams and Wake Forest sophomore Chris Paul. The Blazers would then possibly draft one of three high school players -- Andrew Bynum, Gerald Green or Martell Webster -- at No. 6. Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Jazz Jun 2005 Archive
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Despite numerous reports and the supposed word of multiple player agents, Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor maintains players were never a part of trade talks with Portland before the Jazz and Trail Blazers agreed to the eventual swap of picks that led to Utah selecting Deron Williams at No. 3.
"There was absolutely never players involved in the trade. Not even discussed," O'Connor said. "(Portland's) Ruben Patterson's name, in 20 conversations, was never mentioned — and it really bothers me, whether it was Kirk Snyder or Gordan Giricek."
Jazz shooting guards Snyder and Giricek and power forwards Carlos Boozer and Kris Humphries all were rumored to be involved in potential trade scenarios.
"Now I gotta go call their agents — which I tried to do (Monday)," O'Connor said. "That's one of the things that bugs me. I know these are players — but they're also people."
The 20-year-old Andrew Bogut was the first selection in this year's draft. Utah is the first school to have players picked first in both the NBA and NFL drafts in the same year. Quarterback Alex Smith was drafted No. 1 by the San Francisco 49ers in April.