Utah's lotto pick available?

[BrianFromWA]

Hollinger writes today that it might be the case:

The Jazz, meanwhile, are looking at whether to trade a first-round pick from the Knicks that now should land in the top 10 in the June 24 draft. The temptation to package it with Andrei Kirilenko to pawn off his $17 million expiring contract may be too great to ignore, especially since they could clean up their balance sheet enough to re-sign Boozer and fellow free agent Kyle Korver, and then use their midlevel excelption to upgrade the backcourt depth.

I was excited for a second, until I realized that we can't really get in on this action, unless MAYBE we can move Miller and JPEC for Kirilenko and the #9. We could use some more D and backup 3/4 for a year with some playoff experience. They get rid of about 2M from their cap (and lux tax) for Kirilenko as well as a 2M cap hit for their lotto pick, while shoring up some backcourt depth and getting about 6M back if Joel gets paid by insurance this year.

So Kirilenko and lotto pick for Miller, JPEC, 6M in cash from the insurance, 5.1M off of their cap (and lux tax), so it's basically 16M cash money homey in their pocket.

He also thinks that Joe Johnson, Parker and Boozer are all moving this summer.

 

[BrianFromWA]

If I was Presti, I'd be calling to see how desperate they are. Also, the Knicks might be able to get in on that...lose the chance for multi-max FA's this summer, but sign (say) LBJ to go with Kirilenko and a re-signed Lee and Gallinari, and then can go after Carmelo in July 2011.