FORD: (UPDATE) Zach Randolph for Jefferson talks DEAD

[Krapinsky]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_ ... the-phones

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been burning up the phone lines the last few days looking for a trade.

They've discussed deals to move up to No. 2 for Evan Turner, a 4 for 7 swap with the Pistons, and have looked at moving their other draft picks (16 and 23) to either get up in the draft or to add another veteran.

However, the most consistent thing I'm hearing is that the team appears to be determined to move Al Jefferson. According to sources they've offered him to Detroit for Tayshaun Prince this week and have also contacted the Pacers about their interest in Jefferson for Troy Murphy's expiring contract.

However, the latest thing I'm hearing out of Minnesota may have the most legs. Sources have told me that the Wolves and Grizzlies have been discussing a swap that would send Jefferson to the Grizzlies for Zach Randolph. The deal would allow the Wolves to save a lot of money over time. Randolph has one year, $17.6 million left on his contract. Jefferson has three years, $42 million left.

According to sources, Randolph's ongoing legal problems aren't an imediment to Minnesota who is doing the trade in an effort to get out of Jefferson's deal and free up more playing time for Kevin Love and potentially Derrick Favors if he falls to them with the No. 4 pick.

While sources stressed that the two sides were still just discussing the deal, one source sounded optimistic that it could actually happen.

[Krapinsky]

[Esohny]

Yesterday, Kahn was "overvaluing" Jefferson. Now he's willing to give him away for Z-Bo?

[MNRunLeft]

If Favors falls to 4 I say take him and then offer Detroit Al and 16 or 23 for Prince and 7 provided that Cousins or Monroe doesn't fall to them.

[wildvikeswolves]

what the hell???

[Vega06]

That's selling way too low on Al. These reports are making it sound like Al is old or a cancer instead of a young 20-10 big. We should be able to get more than expiring contracts for him. Hopefully it's more than what's being reported.

[Krapinsky]

Or Troy Murhpy!!

We'd be better off just giving him to NJ or Miami for cap space.

I can't take these horrible rumors anymore. I'm going to be sick...

[The J Rocka]

[tekkon]

Would this involve Memphis' picks?

[jpatrick]

This HAS HAS HAS to include a signed Gay right? Gay/Randolph for Jefferson? I can't believe we'd be just giving him away for expirings. I thought the proposed Pistons deal was Prince/7 and now we can't even get Prince. Something's not right here.

[allweneedisLOVE]

The #12 would have to be included..

[SSUBluesman]

As Real GM has stated countless times Zach Randolph and Al Jefferson are, in fact, the exact same player. If they were traded for one another it would cause a paradox that would destroy the fabric of the time-space continuum. Our only hope is to take the DeLorean back to the year 1996 and prevent the trade of Allen to the Bucks for Marbury which causes the downward spiral of the Wolves franchise resulting in the trade of KG for Al Jefferson. Perhaps we'll win a ring or two as well.

[Wolves21]

This has to be a joke,who wrote the report Ashton Kurtcher.Good god AL Jefferson for Z-Bo would be terrible and without even their pick included.Same goes for Troy Murphy who would be even worse then Z-Bo.The Pistion deal for Tayshaun Price I could live with as long as their 7th pick is apart of it.

I am would be the first guy on the board to trade Big Al but not for this ****.Theirs better ways to get out from his contract and actual get some value in return.

[Calinks]

Haha, Badass deal for the Grizzles!

[Krapinsky]

We would need the rights to Gay or Mayo for this to be okay IMO.

[The J Rocka]

We would need the rights to Gay or Mayo for this to be okay IMO.

Absolutely no question about that. But if it's just Z-Bo for Big Al straight up, god.....

[Esohny]

Didn't he mention this during his live chat with Simmons? All the Stupidity flying around between those two must have coalesced into this "rumor."

[karch34]

Bizarre. I guess all I would say is if we do wind up with Favors at #4, then watch out. Of course at the end of the day Randolph, Murphy, and Prince would all amount to moving Al for an expiring and a top 12 pick. Just some picks and expirings are better than others.

[AQuintus]

David Kahn: Hey Portland, what would it take to get Batum?
Portland: How about number 4?
David Kahn: *Hang Up*
Chad Ford: Minnesota offers number 4 for Batum.

David Kahn: Hey Memphis, how about 16 + 23 for 12.
Memphis: Interesting. How about 16 for 25 and 28 instead?
David Kahn: *Hang Up*
ESPN: Minnesota offers 16 for 25 and 28.

Toronto: Hey David Kahn, how about Turkeyglue and 13 for Brewer and 16.
David Kahn: *Hang Up*
Espn (or Whovever): Minnesota offers Brewer and 16 for 13 and Turkeyglue.

David Kahn: Hey Memphis, would you be interested in an Al Jefferson trade?
Memphis: Sure, but you'd have to take back Zach Randolph.
David Kahn: *Hang Up*
Chad Ford: Minnesota trying to trade Al Jefferson for Zach Randolph.

[SSUBluesman]

Didn't he mention this during his live chat with Simmons? All the Stupidity flying around between those two must have coalesced into this "rumor."

As good a guess as any, especially since most of the "rumors" and "It's been said that..." and "My sources say..." is really sports "writers" sitting around in their underwear making up possible trades and hiding behind the "It was only a rumor guys".