Almond earns praise for 'D' News Utah Jazz

All the emphasis, fuss and coaching Morris Almond got from the Utah Jazz on improving his defensive game the past two years might finally pay off ? for the New York Knicks. In an unexpected twist, an aspect of the guard's game that was considered a liability while in Utah ? both with the Jazz and the Flash of the D-League ?

is now earning him high praise so far in his summer stint with the Knicks. Remember Almond the sharpshooter? Meet Almond the defensive stopper. That, at least, is how he's being billed in New York this week. Although Almond, who holds the D-League single-game scoring record, hit 7 of 12 shots en route to 17 points in his Knicks' summer-league debut in Las Vegas on Tuesday, the New York Times reported that coach Mike D'Antoni was especially impressed by the ex- Jazz guard's defense. "That's kind of what we're looking at is, can he do something else, because you know he can score and shoot," D'Antoni told the Times. "I thought his instincts on defense were good; obviously, the Utah system helped him." The Knicks, the Times claimed, have had their eyes on Almond since he was drafted by the Jazz as the 25th overall pick in 2007. New York reportedly even attempted to trade for him last year, but the Jazz declined due to injuries. After Utah turned down the third-year team option on Almond's rookie contract, the Knicks offered him a spot on their summer-league squad. New York is looking for a shooting guard, and the 6-foot-6 Rice University alum is looking like he could win that job. "If you look at our team, we don't really have a prototype 2 guard," Knicks president Donnie Walsh told the Times. "He's more of that. He's close to that." After he dazzled New York in his debut, Almond told a TV reporter he is happy to be in what he called "a free-flowing offense." He added that "it allows players to make plays. It's everybody's dream to play in a system like this." Almond, who also called playing for New York like "a breath of fresh air," especially loved what he heard from a Knicks assistant. "(Coach) Phil Weber, the first thing he said before I went out there was, 'If you've got an open look, take it,'?" Almond told MSG.com. "I hadn't heard that in a while, so that makes Basketball fun again." BOOZER MAKES WHITE HOUSE CALL: A day after telling a Chicago radio station he will be traded by the Jazz , power forward Carlos Boozer was spotted outside of President Barack Obama's Washington, D.C. digs. Boozer told Fox News contributing editor Major Garrett, who posted a photo of the power forward he took using his Blackberry phone, that he was introduced to Michelle Obama and White House senior staff members. "I saw everyone but the boss man," Boozer said, according to Garrett's blog. "It was great." Boozer previously visited the White House with Reggie Love, his former Duke teammate and Obama's "body man." When asked if Boozer was bummed out the president was too busy to see him, he told Garrett, "Nah, we'll be back. We're going to visit again." BIG INTEREST: Interest in Boston Celtics restricted free forward big man Glen "Big Baby" Davis seems to be growing, with New Orleans, Charlotte and Cleveland now joining Detroit and the Jazz on the list of teams that like the Louisiana State product. Boston, however, remains intent on retaining Davis. "We like him and want him back," Celtics Basketball boss Danny Ainge said in Wednesday's Boston Globe. "We're trying to get Glen back. We're planning on having Glen back." Because he's restricted, Boston has the right to match any offer sheet Davis may sign with another team. Utah has serious interest in Davis, but probably could add him this season only if it doesn't match Portland's four-year, $32 million offer sheet to backup power forward Paul Millsap by the end of the week or if it didn't get a big man back in a trade for Boozer. BACK OF THE LINE: A Newsday report Wednesday downplays the likelihood of the Knicks landing Boozer, who has been on the trade block since at least late last month. According to the newspaper, "the Knicks aren't believed to be real players in the Boozer talks at this point. That type of scenario may have to involve (restricted free agent guard Nate) Robinson, if not restricted free agent (forward) David Lee. "The Knicks would be more than willing to rent Boozer, who has one year left on his contract, but it is unlikely they would agree to sign him to an extension as part of the trade." Boozer prefers to go a team that would grant him an extension, but the Jazz are not at all obligated to find such a suitor. PRICE'S PACT: Though originally thought to be a one-year deal, it is now believed that point guard Ronnie Price signed a multiyear contract with the Jazz . It is not known, however, if any team or player options are included in the new deal. D-LEAGUE TIDBITS: Negotiations are ongoing between the Flash and Brad Jones to strike a new deal with the Orem-based D-League franchise's only head coach, according to a team source. Dale Osbourne, who's been Jones' assistant for two years, will not return to Utah next season. He has accepted a position with the Tulsa 66ers. Former BYU Basketball player and SUU assistant Austin Ainge is the leading candidate to become the first head coach of the D-League expansion Maine Red Claws, a source told Yahoo! Sports. e-mail: jody@desnews.com, tbuckley@desnews.com