Jazz Obtains Harris and Favors from New Jersey
Franchise also receives two future first round draft picks in exchange for Deron Williams.
SALT LAKE CITY (February 23, 2011) – Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has acquired guard Devin Harris and forward Derrick Favors along with two future first round draft picks (New Jersey’s 2011 pick and Golden State’s 2012 pick) from New Jersey in exchange for guard Deron Williams.
“We feel that we’ve addressed a current need at point guard with Deron’s departure, as well as the future with draft picks and a big man,” said O’Connor. “To do so we had to give up an All-Star, but we feel like this is a win for both sides.”
Currently in his sixth NBA season, Harris (6-3, 185, Wisconsin) has appeared in 463 regular season games (212 with New Jersey and 251 with Dallas), and owns career averages of 13.2 points, 5.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Harris has appeared in 54 games (all starts) for the Nets this season, averaging 15.0 points, 7.6 assists (career-high), 2.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
The 27-year-old is currently averaging a career-high 84 percent from the free throw line and ranks eighth among all NBA guards in total free throw attempts with 307. He also currently ranks 11th in the NBA in assists per game. An Eastern Conference All-Star in 2008-09, he finished that season as the league’s third-highest scoring point guard and one of only five players to average at least 21 points and 6.9 assists per contest.
A native of Milwaukee, Wisc., Harris was originally selected by the Washington Wizards in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft. His rights were immediately traded by Washington along with Christian Laettner and Jerry Stackhouse to Dallas in exchange for Antawn Jamison and cash considerations. He joined the New Jersey via trade from Dallas on Feb. 19, 2008.
Currently in his rookie season, Favors (6-10, 246, Georgia Tech) has appeared in 56 games (23 starts) for the Nets this season, averaging 6.3 points and 5.3 rebounds a game while shooting 51 percent from the field (fourth-highest among NBA rookies this season). He is currently the youngest player in the NBA at 19.
A native of Atlanta, Ga., Favors was selected by New Jersey in the first round (third overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft following his freshman season at Georgia Tech. Named the ACC Rookie of the Year, he was also named to the Sporting News All-Freshman team and the ACC All-Tournament First Team. He led the nation in field goal percentage heading into the NCAA tournament.