Devin Lake Canada

Utah Jazz notebook: Kevin O'Connor says no Jazz players off-limits for trades

SALT LAKE CITY — It was long assumed that Deron Williams was one of the players the Jazz would never trade. That obviously changed in February, when Utah shipped the All-Star point guard to New Jersey in a shocking blockbuster deal.

In recent days, a few of the Jazz's top players, including Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Devin Harris, have been associated with trade rumors.

It's unknown whether any deals involving those three players will go down, but even hearing their names in trade rumors begs the question if anybody on the team is untouchable a la Karl Malone and John Stockton.

Kevin O'Connor's response to that question?

"Greg Miller," the Jazz general manager quipped.

While media members chuckled, O'Connor continued: "He owns the team, so he and Gail (Miller) are untouchable. Outside of that, I think we're all available for trades."

He wasn't about to tip his hand, but O'Connor didn't rule out the possibility of a draft-day deal.

"Because we have two more picks, we hear more talk," O'Connor admitted.

It worked out immaculately for the Jazz the last time they were involved in a high-stakes deal on the day of the draft. Utah swapped up from the sixth spot to No. 3 and landed D-Will, who had a spectacular run with the team for five-plus seasons.

But that trade was anything but a sure thing going into the day.

"The likelihood the last time when we moved from six to three, I thought, was about five percent at the beginning of the day on draft day and we wound up doing it," O'Connor said. "So, I don't want to put a quantitative number on it."

But he reiterated that the Jazz won't rule out doing some wheeling and dealing.

"What I would say is we'll look at everything to make us better," O'Connor said. "People look at our roster and people look at our draft picks, (but) we do a lot more talking than we do doing."

and crew will discuss in the ins and outs of their countless hours of scouting, evaluating and interviewing to come up with a ranking of the top 30 players in the draft.

"Now the hard part, trying to get your board together to see where you slot guys and where everybody else (is to) have a feel for where guys are going to fall," Corbin said. "(We'll) try to have a plan going into Thursday.

It's going to be a lot of fighting back and forth for where guys' opinions are, different guys, and see where your board finally ends up to be.

Old Oxford Highway To Be Closed For Road Improvements

RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation will be closing Old Oxford Highway in Granville County for road work, starting June 20. The closure between Hallie Burnette Road and Lake Devin Road is so crews can relocate a water line, add a turn lane and replace two pipes. The length of the closure will depend on the extent of work the crews determine is needed.

A 1.8-mile detour route will be in place. Motorists heading into Oxford on Old Oxford Highway should turn left on Hallie Burnette Road, then turn right on Burnette Road, and then right again onto Lake Devin Road back to Old Oxford Highway. Traffic going in the opposite direction should follow the detour route in reverse.

NCDOT reminds motorists to watch signs for construction information, stay alert and obey the posted speed limit.

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