Eric Maynor made a whirlwind trip to Salt Lake City Tuesday and Wednesday for a 30-minute interview with the brass of the Utah Jazz.

So he wasn't surprised when NBA Commissioner David Stern called his name when Utah's turn came with the 20th pick in the first round of last night's draft.

"I had a great feeling about Utah at 20," Maynor said via phone. "I had everybody telling me I'd go here, I'd go there."

Read more: Maynor: First-round selection a ‘dream come true’

Despite being born and raised in sunny southern California, DeMar DeRozan shrugs off any suggestion that he's unprepared for life north of the border.

"I'm not worried about it; I'm psyched," DeRozan said Friday, a day after being selected by the Toronto Raptors in the NBA draft. "It's no problem for me ... I've just got to get some bigger coats and get ready for that."

Read more: Raptors introduce top draft choice DeRozan

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Vince Carter is going home to Orlando, and to the Eastern Conference champion Magic.

On a draft day when Cleveland made the biggest splash by trading for the Suns’ Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando made a blockbuster move of its own in acquiring the Nets’ Carter, an eight-time NBA All Star who grew up in Daytona Beach and lives in Orlando.

New Jersey also dealt forward Ryan Anderson to the Magic, who sent the Nets three players in return: Point guard Rafer Alston, shooting guard Courtney Lee and power forward Tony Battie.

Read more: Nets send Vince Carter to Magic in 5-player deal

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs needed a scorer and they needed to get younger. They got both in one deal.

Milwaukee sent swingman Richard Jefferson to San Antonio on Tuesday for Bruce Bowen(notes), Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto, taking three aging bench players with expiring contracts to unload Jefferson and the $29.2 million owed in the final two years of his contract.

Read more: Bucks send Jefferson to Spurs in 4-player swap

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Kobe Bryant said he plans to stay with the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers even he if opts out of his contract this summer. Phil Jackson said his health will dictate whether he returns as coach.

Bryant met with Jackson and general manager Mitch Kupchak for an individual exit interview Friday.

The finals MVP can terminate the last two years of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He’s spent his entire 13-year career with the Lakers, winning four NBA championships. But he could get a new, more lucrative and longer deal if he opted out.

Read more: Bryant says he’s staying with Lakers

Lakers could be title threats for years, but with free agency and salary cap, can Buss keep championship team intact? Free agents Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza are keys. Oh, and Kobe, too.

The Lakers will officially close the books on their championship season with Wednesday's victory parade and a few days' worth of individual exit meetings, but one question won't be answered amid all the confetti and congratulations.

The Lakers will experience a flurry of activity between now and mid-July, starting with the draft June 25, in which they have the 29th, 42nd and 59th picks. Then the real decisions begin with free agency.

Read more: Money talks; will any Lakers walk?

Ring No. 4 for Kobe Bryant has inevitably set off a small firestorm of debate and spirited conversation about where the Lakers' star falls in the pantheon of NBA greats. For some odd reason, in 35 years of covering the league, I have never before posted my own best-ever list, leaving it to others with less to do. So by popular demand, or just because, here it is, the top 10 NBA greats ever, broken into two groups, pre- and post- Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

Read more: Ted Green: How does Kobe Bryant rank among NBA greats?

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Kobe Bryant has the NBA title he needed most -- the one without Shaq.

Bryant's seven-year chase of a coveted championship is over. He's got his fourth, and Lakers coach Phil Jackson his record 10th, a ring for each finger. One year after failing in the Finals, Bryant and the Lakers have redemption, and all the rewards that go with it.

They earned their 15th title on Sunday night as Bryant scored 30 points and Pau Gasol added 14 and 15 rebounds in a 99-86 win in Game 5 over the Orlando Magic, who ran out of comebacks.

Read more: Lakers put away Magic for 15th title; Phil gets record 10th

IN the moments after what looked like a Lakers miracle, someone asked Coach Phil Jackson to describe what has kept Derek Fisher gainfully employed as his starting guard, despite flaws that for so many others would forever be fatal.

Too old, at 34. Too small, at 6-foot-1. Too slow and stumpy at 200 pounds.

Jackson nodded slightly, an eyebrow rising, his mouth forming his trademark half-grin.

“Well, it’s character,” Jackson said. “We’ve always said that character has got to be in players if they’re going to be great players. You can’t just draft it. It’s not just about talent, it’s about character, and he’s a person of high character.”

Read more: This Guy Jackson Just Might Win a Championship