Thunder Acquire Maynor From Jazz

December 23, 2009

BetOnline

The Oklahoma City Thunder gave point guard Shaun Livingston a chance to revamp his career by signing him to backup Russell Westbrook, but it appears the team has given up and decided to go another direction.  The Thunder acquired rookie Eric Maynor in a trade with the Utah Jazz, who are trying to dump salary.  Shaun Livingston and Mike Wilks were waived by the Thunder to clear room for Maynor on the roster.

Maynor was the 20th overall pick in this year’s draft and is averaging 5.2 points and 3.1 assists in 26 games this season.  The Thunder are dealing with some injury issues right now and since they are fighting for a playoff spot, decided to make a move.  Kevin Ollie and Kyle Weaver, the usual backups to starter Russell Westbrook, are both injured.

Oklahoma City also agreed to take on the $6.5 million contract of injured veteran Matt Harpring, who won’t actually join the Thunder. Harpring, an 11-year veteran, hasn’t played this season while recovering from an infection that developed after he had surgery on his ankle in the summer of 2008.  It is expected that Harpring is going to retire at the end of the season.

The Jazz will get the rights to 2002 second-round draft pick Peter Fehse, who has never played in the NBA and is currently playing in the German League.  While they didn’t want to give up Maynor, reducing their luxery tax responsibility was important and with star Deron Williams and a proven backup in Ronnie Price, Maynor was expendable.

Livingston joined the Thunder late last season after recovering from a gruesome February 2007 injury in which he tore three ligaments in his left knee and dislocated his kneecap. He played in 10 games for Oklahoma City this season, including the past eight in a row after missing just under a month following surgery.

Wilks was signed after Livingston, Ollie and Weaver were all injured and played in four games.

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