Flyers trades of Carter and Richards evoke mixed emotions for Laviolette, Briere

Flyers coach Peter Laviolette had mixed emotions after one of the most stunning days in the franchise's history.
On one hand, both were excited about the young talent and draft picks the Flyers acquired Thursday - and the cap space they gained to sign goalie Ilya Bryzgalov - by dealing Mike Richards to Los Angeles and his best friend, Jeff Carter, to Columbus.
On the other hand . . .
"It's tough to talk about the players going and the players coming at the same time," Laviolette said from Minneapolis, site of Friday's first round of the NHL draft. "We got younger and bigger, and we're adding a goaltender and depth. But the emotions are tough when you're talking about [trading] two players who went to battle for you and went to the Stanley Cup Finals with you. That makes it a difficult day.
"When you talk about Mike and Jeff, you're talking about the face of the organization the last few years, certainly with the forwards," he added.
Briere, in a phone conversation from Quebec, said he was floored by the developments.
"I'm shocked. I never saw it coming," he said. "There were rumors, and I knew something might happen, but to see both go, I'm shocked."
Briere paused.
"It's never fun to see teammates go, but that's the business side of it."
The Flyers acquired young forwards Wayne Simmonds and ultra-promising Brayden Schenn from Los Angeles and forward Jakub Voracek from Columbus. They also picked up first- (eighth overall) and third-round selections from the Blue Jackets and a second-round choice from the Kings.
Carter has a cap hit of $5.27 million, with 11 years remaining on his recently signed extension. Richards has nine years remaining on his deal, with a cap hit of $5.75 million. Before the two trades, the Flyers had nearly $59 million committed to 18 players for next season.
Bryzgalov's deal is for a reported nine years and $51 million, so the Flyers paved the way to re-sign winger Ville Leino, a prospective free agent, with the cap space they created.
"I'll be very excited if we get Ville back," Briere said of his linemate.
The deals also allow the Flyers to keep their defense intact. Teams, knowing the Flyers had to unload salary to sign Bryzgalov, had been inquiring about defensemen Braydon Coburn and Matt Carle.
General manager Paul Holmgren received lots of calls about Richards and Carter, but the Flyers didn't want to make a deal unless they were overwhelmed, a club source said.
"We weren't shopping them," said Peter Luukko, president of the Flyers' parent company, Comcast-Spectacor.
But the talks intensified when Holmgren got to Minneapolis a few days ago and on Thursday morning they decided to roll the dice.
"It was strictly a situation where the hockey department thought what was offered would make us a better team," Luukko said.
"Today we're a different team, and I really like the way it's structured right now," Holmgren said.
Richards and Carter were the last of an era, players who came up through the system with former coach John Stevens. Now, the team belongs to the 23-year-old Claude Giroux and the 22-year-old James van Riemsdyk.
"Certainly the emergence of Claude over the past few years has been a factor," said Holmgren, who compared Giroux to Richards.
Luukko said it was "difficult" for Holmgren to part with the two stars because "he had drafted them and watched them grow and have success."
One of the best parts about the moves, Luukko said, "is that it gives us a world-class goalie. And Paul had worked hard to put a great 'D' together - and that doesn't have to be broken up now. We got a little bigger, faster, and stronger, and it gives us financial flexibility to make moves down the road."
In other words, look for Leino to be back.
There was speculation after the season that Richards should hand over the captain's role to a teammate. Now the "C" will be given to either Chris Pronger, Briere, or Kimmo Timonen, a source said.
Laviolette said he will talk with Holmgren about "who wears the 'C.' "Briere, once a cocaptain in Buffalo, said: "There are lots of leaders who don't wear the letter." If he was named, "it would be a great honor, but it's not just one guy that leads."

Jazz score big, Timberwolves make puzzling moves, Faried a great fit

Four foreign-born lottery picks for the first time, the fourth straight year a John Calipari-coached point guard (Brandon Knight) lands in the top eight and a ninth straight year the son of a former NBA player (Klay Thompson) has had his name called. Let's break down the 2011 NBA Draft.

Three winners

1. Jazz. A lot of chatter that the Jazz might go small with Brandon Knight or Kemba Walker with the No. 3 pick, speculation that increased after news of the three-team deal between the Kings, Bucks and Bobcats earmarked Jimmer Fredette for Sacramento at No. 10. Utah refused to reach and instead landed a legitimate low post center in Enes Kanter who, along with Derrick Favors, will form the core of a powerful, athletic frontcourt. And with Jimmer off the board, the Jazz still got a scorer in Alec Burks, a 19-year-old who will get better once his range increases.
2. Mavericks. The Mavs have a handful of key free agents (Tyson Chandler, J.J. Barea, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler) to sign, and limited cap space to do it. Enter Rudy Fernandez, who battled through an up-and-down three years in Portland but is far more of a sure thing than any late-round pick would be. Fernandez, 26, brings scoring and athleticism to the Mavs bench, which should keep Dallas in the hunt for another title in 2012.
3a. Bulls. First, Jimmy Butler. The ex-Marquette forward is polished and across-the-board good in a lot of categories. At worst, he's a terrific practice player. Nikola Mirotic, however, is the gem. A lot of international scouts are high on Mirotic, a rangy scorer with unlimited range and a surly style that enables him to play through contact. He doesn't need to contribute next season, and he probably won't; Mirotic has a buyout clause with Real Madrid worth more than $2 million. In a few years, however, look for Mirotic to come Stateside and compete for a starting spot. Said a rival executive, "He's a stud."
3b. Wizards. The Wizards were locked in on Jan Vesely, an NBA-ready Euro who relishes contact and can finish at the rim. And they landed a badly needed defensive stopper at No. 18 in two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year Chris Singleton. Toss in Butler's Shelvin Mack, whose stock soared after a strong NCAA tournament, and the Wiz can pat themselves on the back after this one.

Three losers

1. Bobcats. Bismack Biyombo, at No. 7, was a stretch. Lots of potential (have you not heard the Ben Wallace comparisons?) but an offensive game that makes Alexis Ajinca look like Hakeem Olajuwon. If he doesn't become a great -- and I mean great defender -- he's going to struggle to stay in the NBA. Kemba Walker is a skilled playmaker, but 'Cats coach Paul Silas and his staff spent most of last season (successfully) rehabilitating D.J. Augustin. Can the two coexist? They made a great value pick at No. 39 with former high school phenom Jeremy Tyler ... and promptly traded him to Golden State.
2. Kings. I like the Fredette pick -- but did the Kings really need to take John Salmons and the remaining three years and $24 million on his deal to move down to get him? Sacramento has the cap space to easily absorb Salmons contract, but is a ball-stopping guard needed on this roster? If Salmons can buy into a backup role, fine. Because this is Fredette and Tyreke Evans' backcourt to rule.
3. Timberwolves. After fielding countless calls for the No. 2 pick, the Timberwolves settled on Derrick Williams, an athletic forward who should mesh well with Ricky Rubio. The Wolves' next pick was Donatas Motiejunas. And they traded him. Then they picked Mirotic. And traded him, too. Finally, they acquired Bojan Bogdanovic. And sold him to New Jersey. Minnesota has a smart and experienced scouting department, which makes it perplexing why they would ship out three high-level international talents.

Best fit

Kenneth Faried, Nuggets. With the possibility of losing both Kenyon Martin and Nene to free agency, the Nuggets needed a banger. Enter Faried, a 6-foot-7 do-the-dirty-work type player who will rebound and defend voraciously. He doesn't have much of an offensive game but on a team that wants to get out and run, he may not need one.

Biggest surprise

Reggie Jackson, Thunder. There were a lot of rumors that Jackson, who canceled nearly all of his workouts before the draft, had a first-round promise and that the Thunder was the team that gave it to him. Still, with more accomplished players like Marshon Brooks and Jordan Hamilton on the board, the Thunder grabbing Jackson qualifies as a mild stunner.

Biggest letdown

Alec Burks, Jazz. Yes, I just ranked Utah as a winner. But the Jazz -- and an energized fan base -- wanted Fredette pretty bad. Burks could turn out to be a very good guard, but he will likely never have the same impact on the community -- or at the ticket office -- that Jimmer would have.

Veteran(s) who are on notice

Baron Davis, Cavaliers. Davis played reasonably well (13.9 points, 6.1 assists) in his short time as a Cavalier but with Kyrie Irving on board, his days are numbered. Byron Scott will likely try some two-guard lineups, but this is Irving's team now. If Cleveland can find a take for the last two years and (gulp) $27 million on Davis' deal, he's gone.
Paul Millsap/Al Jefferson, Jazz. The arrival of Kanter and the team's commitment to Derrick Favors means someone will have to go to ease the logjam up front. Both Millsap and Jefferson are under contract through 2012-13 and have been productive players. Utah could shore up a weak backcourt by trading one of its stud bigs.

Worst Moment

For more than three and a half hours, French forward Sarra Camara sat in the third row waiting for his name to be called. It wasn't.