Utah nixes trade

[MavsFanFinley]

I find this hard to believe.

Jazz nix Russell-Ostertag trade to Wizards
Added: 7th September, 2002

Tim Buckley of the Desert News reports that the Jazz have refused another sign and trade proposal for free agent swingman Bryon Russell. This latest deal reportedly would have sent a re-signed Russell and Greg Ostertag to the Wizards in exchange for Christian Laettner, Chris Whitney and perhaps another player.

There have been other trade proposals involving Russell this summer but the Jazz have refused to make a deal. They have also refused to offer a contract to Russell. Ostertag have been the subject of trade talks since last summer. It is believed that Laettner’s expensive contract coupled with the fact Utah would have been left short in the middle contributed to the proposal being nixed.

By acquiring Whitney, a Clemson product who has played seven of his nine NBA seasons in Washington, the Jazz could have addressed their need for backup help behind John Stockton. Instead, while waiting for final word on the medical fate of 2001 first-round draft choice Raul Lopez, they will continue to scour the free-agent market for a reserve point.

Top candidates include free agent Damon Jones, who played last season in Detroit; veteran John Crotty, who has had two stints in Utah but was plagued by knee injuries while playing this past two seasons for the Jazz; Carlos Arroyo, a guard for the Puerto Rican World Championship team who played for both Toronto and Denver as an NBA rookie last season; and possible training-camp invitee William Avery, a former member of the Minnesota Timberwolves who played for Utah's summer-league team in July.