The Jazz, however, quietly upped the ante.

In an attempt to jump ahead and select Illinois point guard Deron Williams, The Salt Lake Tribune has learned that the Jazz have offered Portland the No. 6 and No. 27 picks in this draft, as well as a future first-round pick. Shooting guard Gordan Giricek could also be included in the deal.

In addition, the Jazz have agreed to take baggage-toting veteran Ruben Patterson as part of the proposed trade, which seems to be designed to blow away any competition the Jazz might have for the No. 3 pick.

It certainly appears that Charlotte, Toronto and the L.A. Lakers - teams known to be interested in moving up - will have a difficult time making the Trail Blazers a better offer.

Contacted Monday night, Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor declined comment on the possible trade.

Over the weekend, a league source said that Utah was among "eight or nine" teams interested in acquiring Portland's No. 3 pick.

"The phones have been busy," Jazz president Dennis Haslam said. "There has been a lot of activity."

But the Trail Blazers patiently waited, and in the end, the Jazz bumped an original

offer that would have sent Kirk Snyder, Giricek and the No. 6 pick to Portland for the No. 3 pick and Patterson.

All the drama, of course, raises one pertinent question: Is Williams worth it?

Apparently, the Jazz think so.

They just struggled through a 26-win season in part because they usually were overmatched at point guard.

In Williams, they see a Jason Kidd-like quarterback with the ability to match up with opponents with his size and strength.

No matter what eventually happens between Utah and Portland, Williams certainly will be one of the top four picks in the draft.

University of Utah star Andrew Bogut almost certainly will go to Milwaukee, which owns the No. 1 pick. "I'll drop over dead if they don't take him," a league source said.

With the second pick, Atlanta is expected to take North Carolina's Marvin Williams.

Though his abilities are similar to Atlanta's group of young foundation players that includes Josh Smith, Al Harrington and Josh Childress, the Hawks are not expected to pass on the 19-year-old forward with such vast potential.

Asked if the Jazz had approached Atlanta about a trade that could net them Deron Williams, Haslam said, "No. 1 and No. 2 aren't going to move, I don't think."

Enter Portland.

The Blazers don't need a point guard like Deron Williams or Chris Paul, which is why they have been shopping the No. 3 pick. They also have seen it as a way of ridding themselves of Patterson.

The Blazers want one of the two best high school players in the draft - Gerald Green or Martell Webster - and they figure one will be available at No. 6.

If Portland can land Green or Webster, add a veteran shooter like Giricek, get a future first-round pick and dump Patterson, the Blazers would have to be be thrilled with their draft.

Meanwhile, the Jazz must have decided that taking Patterson was a critical component to completing a trade. It is not clear whether they expect him to be on the roster next season or whether they might try to negotiate a buyout of his contract.

Patterson's six-year, $33.8 million contract expires at the end of this season. That could help the Jazz's long-range salary cap situation, but will it be worth it? After all, Patterson totes some serious baggage.

At the University of Cincinnati, he was he was arrested for aggravated burglary and suspended for the final 14 games of his senior season for extra-benefits violations.

In the past five years, Patterson has been involved in three highly-publicized off-the-court incidents.

He was charged with felony domestic assault after his wife placed a 911 call from the couple's home in Oregon. He also was charged with misdemeanor assault after breaking a man's jaw outside a Cleveland nightclub. Finally, he was charged with third-degree attempted rape for an incident involving his children's 24-year-old nanny.

In the attempted rape case, Patterson entered a modified guilty plea and was sentenced to 1 year in jail. But he served only 15 days; the rest of the sentence was suspended.

On the court, Patterson was involved in a fight with teammate Zach Randolph in April of 2003. He suffered a broken eye socket and was suspended for three games by Blazer management.

Take Patterson? Even for only one year?

Several other teams were unwilling to do so. But the Jazz must have decided to roll the dice, all in the name of landing Deron Williams.

Still, Jazz officials will be busy in the hours leading up to the start of the draft - just in case. "We have contingency plan No. 1 and contingency plan No. 10," Haslam said. "And we have contingency plans off all those contingency plans. . . . [Today] is going to be a very busy day."

Right price?

To acquire the No. 3 pick to select Deron Williams, this is what the Jazz have offered Portland:

l Their two first-round picks, Nos. 6 and 27.

l A future first-round pick.

l Possibly guard Gordan Giricek.

lTaking Ruben Patterson - and his ton of baggage - from the Trail Blazers.