Despite numerous reports and the supposed word of multiple player agents, Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor maintains players were never a part of trade talks with Portland before the Jazz and Trail Blazers agreed to the eventual swap of picks that led to Utah selecting Deron Williams at No. 3.
     
"There was absolutely never players involved in the trade. Not even discussed," O'Connor said. "(Portland's) Ruben Patterson's name, in 20 conversations, was never mentioned ? and it really bothers me, whether it was Kirk Snyder or Gordan Giricek."
     
Jazz shooting guards Snyder and Giricek and power forwards Carlos Boozer and Kris Humphries all were rumored to be involved in potential trade scenarios.
     
"Now I gotta go call their agents ? which I tried to do (Monday)," O'Connor said. "That's one of the things that bugs me. I know these are players ? but they're also people."

The Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers traded picks Tuesday.

Portland traded the rights to the No. 3 pick to Utah for the rights to the No. 6 and No. 27 picks and the rights to a 2006 first-round pick that the Jazz got from the Detroit Pistons, a league source said.

All trades had to be in by 2 p.m. ET.

A source said the Jazz would look to draft a point guard at No. 3, deciding between Illinois junior Deron Williams and Wake Forest sophomore Chris Paul.

The Blazers would then possibly draft one of three high school players -- Andrew Bynum, Gerald Green or Martell Webster -- at No. 6.

Portland, being the team that many consider the draft hinging on, may be looking into acquiring a third first round pick.

The team they would trade with? Memphis. The Grizzlies have been reportedly shopping the pick and Portland did buy New Jersey's first round pick last year, taking Russian Viktor Khryapa.

"Probably not strong odds, but it's possible," Blazers GM John Nash said, regarding the chances of acquiring the pick.

Utah Jazz officials continued talking to the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday morning about the possibility of acquiring the No. 3 pick in tonight's NBA draft.

"I can tell you there are continuing, ongoing negotiations being held," Jazz team president Dennis Haslam said at 11:30 a.m. MDT. "But at this moment, no deal has been struck."
 
The Jazz are trying to trade up from No. 6 in order to grab Illinois point guard Deron Williams.
   
On Monday night, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that the Jazz had offered the Trail Blazers the No. 6 and No. 27 picks in this draft, a future first-round draft pick and possibly shooting guard Gordan Giricek for the No. 3 pick and baggage-toting veteran Ruben Patterson.

A source close to the negotiations told Reina on Monday that the Utah/Portland deal is as good as done, which has been widely reported, but more pertinently, that the final agreement has not been made whatsoever. Portland is reportedly adamant about keeping things open for another team to come in at the 11th hour with a deal that they?d prefer.

It is not a negotiation tactic to squeeze more out of Utah because the deal which would send Giricek, Snyder and the 6th pick for the 3rd and Patterson will not change.

The Blazers are just holding out hope that a dream-like deal will appear if their phones are still accepting calls and despite media reports that have Deron Williams on the next plane to Salt Lake City, they want other GM?s to know that his plane can still go to a number of cities, including Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Initial reports by DraftExpress regarding a second private workout with Andrew Bynum appear to be right on the money. Multiple sources have confirmed that Portland indeed did workout Bynum on Thursday in their facilities, and that the Trailblazers will be making a move on draft night to trade out of the #3 spot and take Bynum.

According to Jonathan Givony, the Lakers are out of the picture right now as a new team has emerged with a better offer. That team appears to be the Utah Jazz. A deal that could very well go down on draft night to satisfy both sides would be Portland sending Utah the #3 pick along with Ruben Patterson in return for the #6 pick, Kirk Snyder and Gordan Giricek.

The deal works under RealGM.com?s trade checker. With the #3 pick, the Jazz would select Deron Williams, and with #6 Portland would take Andrew Bynum. The Jazz would try to fill their gaping hole on the wing with the #27 pick by selecting Matt Walsh.

A league source told The Salt Lake Tribune Sunday night that the Jazz and Trail Blazers are involved in "intense discussions" about a possible trade.
 
According to the source, Portland would take Deron Williams with the No. 3 pick. The Jazz would then take one of three players who interest the Blazers - high schoolers Gerald Green and Martell Webster or Arizona center Channing Frye.

Every team trying to move up has John Nash's phone on speed dial, as he and the Blazers hold the third pick and are accepting offers.

"My hat's off to (Trail Blazers general manager) John Nash," Charlotte coach and GM Bernie Bickerstaff, quoted on his team's Web site, said over the weekend. "He (messed) everything up. That guy's really good."

According to the Daily News' Mitch Lawrence, "The Blazers are open to dealing the No. 3 pick, but they've been insisting that backup Ruben Patterson be part of the deal. Few teams want to take on Patterson's baggage."

"We set a price with several teams, and thus far we haven't gotten a meeting of the minds," Nash told The Oregonian. "We have options, but they're not as attractive as the third pick.
     
"Until somebody presents to us an option, or accepts one that we've presented to them, that causes us to believe that it is more impressive than the third pick, we'll just hold on to the third pick."

"If you're going to buy something, and it's on sale," O'Connor said, "you can wait and come back the next day when they have further reductions ? and it might be gone.
     
"So, do you make a deal when you like it? Yeah."
     
Many suspect the Hawks will take Marvin Williams, the North Carolina small forward, at No. 2. But no one knows for certain.

"I would hate to trade the third pick in the draft and then learn that he's going to be available at three," Nash told The Oregonian. "I think before we would conclude that it's in our best interest to trade, we need to get a feel that either we don't want Marvin Williams or he won't be there."

The Blazers are open to dealing the No. 3 pick, but they've been insisting that backup Ruben Patterson be part of the deal. Few teams want to take on Patterson's baggage.

The Lakers have been considering a move up to number three to land Illinois PG Deron Williams. They need to upgrade the spot and Phil Jackson likes big guards. Caron Butler and Devean George have been mentioned in a potential trade.

Chris Paul is also an option for the Lakers at number three.

Former Milwaukee Bucks coach Terry Porter told ESPN.com's Marc Stein on Thursday that he has contacted the Portland Trail Blazers in hopes of getting an interview for the Blazers' vacant coaching position.

"I've reached out to them," Porter said, one day after he was fired by the Bucks. "Obviously, with my history there, I would be very interested in trying to help them bring back the glory days."

And it appears that Porter's wishes will be granted. Various media outlets in Portland were reporting Thursday night that general manager John Nash has traded messages with Porter's agent and plans to bring the ex-Blazer in for an interview.

It's believed that Portland is prepared to offer its vacancy to Phoenix Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni if it cannot lure Seattle's Nate McMillan away from the rival Sonics.