Salt Lake Trib: Jazz lure Maggette

Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 08:50:38 -0500
Newsgroups: alt.sports.basketball.nba.gs-warriors
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http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Jul/07142003/sports/75313.asp
The noteworthy paragraph:
One of those plans is Gilbert Arenas, though Jazz owner Larry Miller
said "the word is, he's planning on staying at Golden State." Still,
Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor spoke to Dan
Fegan, Arenas' agent, on Sunday, though the Jazz owner wondered whether
his team is being used to drive Arenas' price up elsewhere. "We may be
getting used as a pawn," Miller said.
Jazz lure Maggette By Phil Miller (c)2003, The Salt Lake Tribune The Jazz have convinced a free-agent guard from the Clippers to
sign with Utah. Just not the one everybody expected. Corey Maggette, a four-year veteran who averaged 16.8 points in 64
games for L.A. last season, has informed the Jazz he will sign an offer
sheet with Utah on Wednesday, several NBA sources confirmed Sunday.
Maggette's decision comes one day after his backcourt mate with the
Clippers, Andre Miller, chose Denver over Utah. Maggette's signature on a contract Wednesday, the first day free
agents are allowed to switch teams, does not ensure he will ever wear a
Jazz uniform, however. The 6-foot-6 Chicago native is a restricted free
agent, meaning the Clippers have 15 days to match the offer. The Jazz's offer is expected to be for the maximum six years, but
it's not known how much Maggette will be paid. With John Stockton
retired and Karl Malone agreeing to play for the Lakers, the Jazz are
between $18-20 million under the salary cap. Maggette's choice, like Miller's, apparently came down to Denver
and Utah. The 23-year-old guard -- he will turn 24 two weeks into the
2003-2004 season -- reinforces a shooting-guard position that the Jazz
have had trouble filling consistently since Jeff Hornacek retired in
2000. Maggette's scoring has risen in each of his four seasons, from 8.4
points per game as a rookie with Orlando, to 10.0, 11.4 and 16.8 points
in his three seasons with the Clippers. Maggette, who left Duke to turn pro after his freshman season, is
considered an explosive open-court player and a talented finisher. He
even participated in the NBA's slam-dunk contest during the 2001
All-Star Weekend. In three games against the Jazz last season, Maggette averaged 16.3
points and 5.7 rebounds, including a 23-point outing April 1. If Maggette ends up in Salt Lake City, the Jazz are unlikely to
bring back Calbert Cheaney, a free agent who started 74 games last
season and averaged 8.6 points in his only season with Utah. The Jazz
still have three- year veteran DeShawn Stevenson and last month's first-round draft
choice, Sasha Pavlovic, at the position. Point guard is a little more uncertain, especially given Miller's
commitment to Denver. "I was really taken aback" by the former University of Utah
All-American's apparently decision to spurn his college hometown, Jazz
owner Larry Miller told KSL-TV on Sunday. Miller suggested that Andre
Miller might have been reluctant to step into Stockton's old role. "I
thought the money [the Jazz and Nuggets offered] was very similar." The next step? "Now we'll have to go back to Plan B or C," Miller
said. One of those plans is Gilbert Arenas, though Miller said "the word
is, he's planning on staying at Golden State." Still, Jazz vice
president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor spoke to Dan Fegan,
Arenas' agent, on Sunday, though the Jazz owner wondered whether his
team is being used to drive Arenas' price up elsewhere. "We may be
getting used as a pawn," Miller said. email-address-deleted