Jazz making noise with two trades

Giricek, a guard, was acquired from Orlando in exchange for swingman DeShawn Stevenson. The Jazz then traded centers Keon Clark and Ben Handlogten to the Phoenix Suns for forward Tom Gugliotta and two future first-round draft picks.

According to various reports, the teams involved are waiting for league approval.

The 22-year-old Stevenson, who bypassed the collegiate level and was selected 23rd overall in the 2000 draft, had a rocky stay in Utah, clashing constantly with head coach Jerry Sloan. However, the talented young player has seen increased playing time this season and it has paid off to the tune of a career-best average of 11.4 points per game.

Giricek is just 26 years old, but is headed to his third team in the past year. A year ago to the day, he was traded from Memphis to Orlando prior to the trading deadline. Giricek, in his second season in the NBA, owns a career average of 11.5 points per game. He played in 48 contests for Orlando this campaign and averaged 10.2 points per outing.

The 6-foot-11 Clark was traded from Sacramento to Utah during the offseason. His first season in Utah, however, has been slowed by an ankle injury that has limited him to just two games. Handlogten is a rookie out of Central Michigan who has played sparingly in 17 games during the current campaign. He is also currently injured and will be out for the remainder of the season due to torn ligaments in his left knee.

The Jazz obtain the injury-plagued Gugliotta, who like Clark is in the final year of his current contract. The 34-year-old Gugliotta, a former All-Star, has been hampered by injuries the past few years, slowing down what was once a productive NBA career. He has played in 30 games this season, posting an average of just 2.3 points per contest.