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Timberwolves trade Al Jefferson to Jazz

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has acquired center/forward Al Jefferson from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for center Kosta Koufos, the Memphis Grizzlies’ protected 2011 first-round pick (obtained by the Jazz a previous trade) and an additional future protected first-round pick.

(Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.)

“We are happy to acquire a young power player who has developed into one of the best low-post scorers in the league,” said Jazz General Manager O’Connor. “We gave up significant assets to obtain Al and we look forward to watching him progress with our team.”

“I want to thank Al for his three years with the Timberwolves and the professionalism he exhibited this summer,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “Al is motivated to have a career-defining season and I recognize the Jazz will be the recipients of that, not us. I expect him to help Utah immensely.

“However, this trade was made in the best interests of not only Al, but also us. With the arrival of Michael Beasley, it would have been difficult to play Al the kind of minutes he deserves without jeopardizing the development of both Kevin Love and Michael. Moreover, I believe we had to take the opportunity to do this trade during the summer, when a small handful of teams are capable of absorbing his salary without sending back equal contracts in return.

“The first-round picks we receive plus the flexibility that we now have under the salary cap made this the right time to make what was a difficult decision.”

Originally selected by the Boston Celtics in the first round (15th overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft, Jefferson (6-10, 275, Prentiss H.S. (Miss.)) owns career averages of 15.3 points (.503 FG%), 8.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.25 blocks in 407 career games (276 starts) over six NBA seasons with Boston and Minnesota since entering the league directly out of high school in 2004. Jefferson has averaged a double-double in four of the last five seasons and has 98 career games with 20+ points and 10+ rebounds.

In three seasons with the Timberwolves (2007-10), Jefferson appeared in 208 games (all starts) and averaged 20.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.44 blocks in 34.7 minutes while leading the team in scoring each season. His best statistical season came in 2008-09, when Jefferson registered career-high averages of 23.1 points, 1.6 assists and 1.66 blocks while grabbing 11.0 rebounds per game, becoming one of only five players in the last 10 years to average both 23+ points and 11+ rebounds for a season (Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Webber are the others).

In 2009-10, Jefferson averaged 17.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.29 blocks in 76 games (all starts) with 35 double-doubles. He scored 20+ points on 27 occasions and had 10+ rebounds 37 times, including a game on January 14, 2010 when he hauled in a Minnesota franchise-record 26 rebounds and scored 26 points in the Wolves triple-overtime loss at Houston. The effort was his fifth career 20-20 game and just the ninth 25-point, 25-rebound game in the NBA in the past 15 years.

In February 2010, the 25-year-old Monticello, Miss., native and former Mr. Basketball for the state of Mississippi was among 27 NBA players selected to the 2010-2012 USA Basketball Men’s National Team Program.

Originally selected by the Jazz in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft, Koufos (7-1, 265, Ohio State) owns career averages of 3.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.2 assists in 48 career games (seven starts).

Heat trade Michael Beasley to Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has acquired 6-9 forward Michael Beasley from the Miami Heat in exchange for the Wolves’ second-round picks in the 2011 and 2014 NBA Drafts and cash considerations.

“We felt Michael had two very good years in Miami,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “We feel he will have a very productive career, and wish him nothing but the best as he moves on.”

Beasley, 21, was the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. An NBA All-Rookie First Team selection following the 2008-09 season, Beasley averaged 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 78 games (all starts) for the Heat during the 2009-10 campaign. In his two NBA seasons, Beasley owns career averages of 14.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 159 career games.

A unanimous First Team All-American and the Big 12 Player of the Year following his lone season at Kansas State, Beasley averaged 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds 1.64 blocks, 1.27 steals and 1.2 assists in 33 collegiate games.

Beasley was also named the National Freshman of the Year by both The Sporting News and the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), and also received the Pete Newell Big Man of the Year award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

Beasley led the nation in rebounding and ranked third in scoring during his one season with the Wildcats.

Timberwolves sign Darko Milicic

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed free-agent center Darko Milicic. Per team policy, terms of the contract offer were not disclosed. We’ll post contract info tonight.

“We are pleased to have Darko Milicic back on our ballclub,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “I believe Darko re-discovered his love for basketball last season with us, due to his relationship with Coach Rambis and the opportunity for playing time. Darko is now old enough and mature enough to harness his special basketball skills and we expect big things from him in the coming years.”

Milicic, 25, appeared in 24 games for the Timberwolves this past season after being traded to Minnesota from New York on Feb.17 in exchange for Brian Cardinal. In those 24 games (18 starts), the 7-0 center from Serbia averaged 8.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.38 blocks. Milicic established season highs with 16 points and 12 rebounds March 19 at the Lakers, and dished out a career-high five assists April 9 vs. the Lakers. He contributed 15 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high four blocks in a Wolves’ win over Sacramento on March 31.

The second overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by Detroit, Milicic has played seven seasons in the NBA and owns career averages of 5.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. His best statistical season came in 2006-07 when he averaged 8.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 80 games with Orlando.

Clippers sign Ryan Gomes

The Los Angeles Clippers Thursday signed free agent forward Ryan Gomes. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

Gomes, 27, averaged 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 76 games last season for the Minnesota Timberwolves. A teammate of recently signed Clippers guard Randy Foye in Minnesota from 2007-09, Gomes has appeared in a total of 374 games in his five-year NBA career with Boston and the Timberwolves and brings career averages of 11.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists in 307 total starts to Los Angeles.

“I think Ryan Gomes is an excellent addition to our team,” said Neil Olshey of the Los Angeles Clippers. “Ryan is a proven, hard-nosed veteran presence who is a consistent inside-out scorer with great character who has had a positive impact on every team he has been a part of.”

The six-foot-seven, 250 pound Gomes led Minnesota in scoring 10 times last season and recorded his 4,000th career NBA point on Feb. 17, 2010. Gomes was traded by Minnesota to Portland in a draft day trade, and subsequently waived by the Trailblazers on June 29.

The all-time leading scorer in Providence College history with 2,138 points, Gomes was originally drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 50th overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft. After a sparkling college career, Gomes played two seasons in Boston before the Celtics traded him to Minnesota on July 31, 2007 along with Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and two 2009 First Round draft picks in exchange for Kevin Garnett.

The Waterbury, Connecticut native enjoyed three solid seasons with the Timberwolves, putting together an impressive Ironman streak of 203 consecutive games played that came to an end on Dec. 14, 2009. Gomes averaged a career-high 13.3 points in 2008- 09 when he started a career-high 76 games.

Clippers sign Randy Foye

The Los Angeles Clippers Thursday signed free agent guard Randy Foye. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

A four-year NBA veteran, Foye played for the Washington Wizards last season averaging 10.1 points, 3.3 assists, 1.9 rebounds and 23.8 minutes in 70 games. Foye, 26, has played in 261 regular season games and brings career averages of 12.2 points, 3.6 assists and 2.6 rebounds from Minnesota and Washington to Los Angeles.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to add Randy to our team,” said Neil Olshey of the Los Angeles Clippers. “Randy is a player who has improved throughout his time in the league, and is someone who will provide on the ball defense, athleticism, intensity and an impressive ability to score to the group we already have in place.”

The Newark, New Jersey native began his career with Minnesota in 2006-07 and was named to the 2006-07 All-Rookie First Team after appearing in 82 games and averaging 10.1 points. The six-foot-four, 210 pound guard was originally drafted by the Boston Celtics with the seventh overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft and was involved in two draft day deals that brought him to Minnesota.

The former University of Villanova star improved his scoring and assists average in each of his first three NBA seasons, culminating in his career-best 16.3 points per game average in 70 games during the 2008-09 season. Foye joined the Wizards prior to the 2009-10 season in a trade that saw him go to Washington along with Mike Miller for Oleksiv Pecherov, Darius Songaila, Etan Thomas and a 2009 First Round draft pick. Last season, Foye led the Wizards in assists 21 times and scored a career-high 36 points on Feb. 20, 2009 vs. Indiana.

At Villanova, Foye enjoyed an illustrious four-year career that culminated in a senior season that saw him average 20.5 points per game and earn a spot on the 2005-06 NCAA All-American Team while also being named 2006 Big East Player of the Year.

Report: Heat will trade Michael Beasley to Timberwolves

The Miami Heat have landed LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, and they will reportedly soon say goodbye to forward Michael Beasley.

The move will help clear salary cap space for the Heat.

According to Marc Stein of ESPN on Twitter, “Miami has agree to a trade with Minnesota that will send Michael Beasley to the Wolves. Wolves-Heat deal, sources say, calls for ‘Sota to absorb Beasley into cap space and send its 2011 second-round pick to Miami to seal deal.”

Miami has been actively seeking a Beasley trade for a while now, so this comes as no huge surprise. They want as much money as possible to pay their trio of stars, and then will have to fill in the blanks with a supporting cast built mostly from players who will accept the league’s minimum salary depending on their years of service.

Timberwolves will keep Darko Milicic

Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:

Less than 12 hours after the NBA’s free agency began, the Wolves followed last night’s agreement with European prospect Nikola Pekovic by agreeing to terms with Darko Milicic on a contract.

ESPN.com’s Chad Ford is reporting a four-year, $20 million deal, with the final year partially guaranteed.

Darko’s agent, Marc Cornstein, called his client “extremely excited this is in place.”

“Darko wanted to be there,” Cornstein said. “He felt like this is home from the moment he got there. Kurt Rambis has been fantastic for him. He’s resurrected his career. He has genuine belief in Darko as a player and a person.”

Blazers waive Ryan Gomes

The Portland Trail Blazers have waived forward Ryan Gomes. Gomes, along with Luke Babbitt (16th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft), was acquired in a draft day trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves for guard/forward Martell Webster.

In his NBA career, Gomes averages 11.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game with 45.3% shooting.

Last season, Gomes for the Wolves averaged 10.9 ppg and 4.6 rpg.

It’s very likely that somoene will sign him as a free agent.

Wolves, Wizards trade rookies

The Minnesota Timberwolves tonight acquired the draft rights to Marquette forward Lazar Hayward, the 30th overall pick, and Serbian forward Nemanja Bjelica, the 35th overall pick, from the Washington Wizards in exchange for the draft rights to Clemson forward Trevor Booker, the 23rd overall pick, and Hamady N’diaye, the 56th overall pick. Additionally, Minnesota selected center Paulao Prestes from Brazil with the 45th overall pick.

Hayward, a 6-6 forward, started 118 of his 138 games at Marquette, averaging 13.5 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from behind the arc. The second all-time leading scorer in Marquette history with 1,859 career points, Hayward played in a school-record 138 games and earned Second Team All-Big East and Honorable Mention AP All-American honors as a senior. He was recently named Most Outstanding Player at the 2010 NABC All-Star Game.

Bjelica, a 6-10 forward from Serbia, averaged 9.9 points per game in 20 appearances last season for KK Crvena Zvezda in the Adriatic League, and improved to 20.2 points per game in six appearances in the Serbia A League. He was also the leading rebounder on the silver medal-winning Serbian National Team in Eurobasket 2009 last fall.

Prestes, a 6-11 center, currently plays for CB Murcia in the Spanish ACB League. The native of Brazil averaged 9.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in the Spanish ACB league this season while shooting 57.4 percent from the field. On a per minute basis, Prestes is the top rebounder in his league.

Earlier tonight, the Wolves selected Syracuse forward Wesley Johnson with the 4th overall pick in the draft. Minnesota also acquired Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Martell Webster in exchange for forward Ryan Gomes and the draft rights to Luke Babbitt.

Wolves trade Ryan Gomes, Luke Babbitt draft rights to Blazers for Martell Webster

The Minnesota Timberwolves tonight acquired 6-7 guard/forward Martell Webster from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for forward Ryan Gomes and the draft rights to Luke Babbitt, the 16th overall pick in tonight’s draft.

“We’re excited to add a player like Martell who has the ability to shoot the basketball and display a rare athleticism on the floor. He fits in well with our stated desire to stay young and add maturity,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “We want to thank Ryan Gomes for being the consummate professional both on and off the court during his time in Minnesota and wish him the best of luck in the future.”

Just 23 years old but a five-year veteran in the league, Webster owns career averages of 8.5 points and 3.1 rebounds in 301 games (164 starts) for the Blazers. The 6th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft out of Seattle Preparatory High School in Seattle, Wash., Webster rebounded to appear in all 82 games last season and post averages of 9.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game after suffering a stress fracture in his left foot on opening night in 2008 that cause him to miss all but five minutes of the 2008-09 season. A career 37.2 percent shooter from behind the arc, Webster has connected on 120+ three-pointers in each of his last two full NBA seasons.

Gomes played three seasons in Minnesota, averaging 12.3 points and 5.1 rebounds in 240 games. The 50th overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 2005 NBA Draft, Minnesota acquired Gomes in the 2007 trade that sent Kevin Garnett to Boston.