NIAGARA FALLS — In one of their final efforts to persuade LeBron James to stay in Cleveland, the Cavaliers tried Thursday to make a trade for Niagara Falls native Jonny Flynn, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Flynn is one of the few NBA players represented by James’ marketing firm, LRMR, and shares an agent, Leon Rose, with James.
The Plain Dealer’s report was confirmed by outlets, but even before James announced on national television that he would sign as a free agent with the Miami Heat, the rumor that Flynn was about to change teams was doused with cold water.
“Jonny Flynn is not being traded,” Minnesota Timerwolves general manager David Kahn told reporters after his summer league squad worked out Thursday, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
“At this time of year, as I’ve said I hope very candidly, everybody on our roster is open for discussion. But with Jonny, in the entire year that he has been here, we’ve had discussion about Jonny with a grand total of two teams in both cases, his agents have been appraised of it.
“We’re not looking to move Jonny Flynn. At the same time, we’re not in the position where we just say no, we won’t talk. At this time of year, there’s just a lot of talk.”
The Cavs coveted Flynn not only for his off-the-floor relationship with LeBron, but also because would be a good fit in the up-tempo offense new coach Byron Scott plans to implement, the Plain Dealer reported.
Flynn, whom the Timberwolves drafted with the sixth overall pick in 2009, averaged 13.5 points and 4.4 assists as a rookie. He often struggled fitting in to coach Kurt Rambis’ version of the triangle offense.
There is still an unlikely possibility that the Heat could try and trade for Flynn. Miami has reportedly been trying to trade power forward Michael Beasley, the No. 2 overall pick in 2008, and could also offer point guard Mario Chalmers and draft picks to try and pry Flynn away from Minnesota.
