The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to send power forward Al Jefferson to the Utah Jazz for two first-round draft picks and a salary-cap trade exception, according to a source.
Jefferson averaged 17.1 points and 9.3 rebounds last season for the Timberwolves in his first year back from a major knee injury in February 2009. He will help fill a void in Utah created when Carlos Boozer went to Chicago.
Jefferson came to the Timberwolves in 2007 as the main cog in the deal that sent Kevin Garnett to Boston. Jefferson averaged 23.1 points and 11 rebounds in the 50 games before he was injured in 2009.
Utah gained the traded player exception, which provides salary-cap relief, in the sign-and-trade deal that sent Boozer to Chicago. Utah GM Kevin O'Connor declined to comment when reached by phone Tuesday.
Chandler to Dallas, not Toronto: After a potential trade with Toronto fell apart, the Charlotte Bobcats sent Tyson Chandler and fellow center Alexis Ajinca to the Dallas Mavericks for center Erick Dampier, forward Eduardo Najera, shooting guard Matt Carroll and cash considerations.
Chandler, a 7-foot-1 center acquired from New Orleans for Emeka Okafor last season, spent one injury-riddled season in Charlotte.
Fans back owner: Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has more fans and friends than he ever knew.
His emotional letter criticizing LeBron James for leaving to join Miami spawned an outpouring of fan support for Gilbert. A team spokesman said the team has received thousands of e-mails and phone calls, including some from fans offering to help Gilbert pay a $100,000 NBA-imposed fine.
Where LeBron goes ...: Zydrunas Ilgauskas is following James to Miami.
The center, who started playing for Cleveland in 1997 and has not suited up for another NBA team, expects to sign a two-year contract with the Heat later this week, agent Herb Rudoy said.
Switching Florida teams: Quentin Richardson wasn't swayed to take less money to be part of the Heat's roster that includes Dwyane Wade, James and Chris Bosh. Instead, he'll have a chance to wreck the South Beach party.
After a year with the Heat, Richardson joined the Orlando Magic with a three-year deal worth around $7.5 million. He said there is also a player option for a fourth year.
Briefly: The Hornets and general manager Jeff Bower have "mutually agreed" to part ways immediately. Bower, New Orleans' GM since 2005, spent more than 14 seasons with the club in various capacities. ... The Knicks have signed Russian center Timofey Mozgov. Mozgov, 23, averaged 11 points per game for Russia in the 2009 European Championship.
