Tuesday, February 17
Bosh Rumor Gains Steam
Chris Bosh |
Raptors
The
Amare Stoudemire trade talk still has the Bulls among the teams most involved, but a new scenario making the rounds has the Bulls taking part in a three-team deal that would bring
Toronto Raptors star
Chris Bosh to Chicago. The rumored swap would send Stoudemire to Toronto and land the
Phoenix Suns a package of players and draft picks from the Bulls, likely to include
Drew Gooden and his expiring $7.2 million contract,
Tyrus Thomas and a first-round pick. --
Chicago Sun-Times
Nothing Imminent
Team president Ed Stefanski said the Sixers are still talking and listening about potential deals prior to Thursday's trade deadline. In an e-mail response late Monday afternoon, Stefanski said, "Nothing has changed. We continue to talk to teams throughout the league, but nothing is imminent." --
Bucks County Courier Times
McGrady Eyes More Opinions
Tracy McGrady |
Rockets
Tracy McGrady will spend some of this week visiting out-of-town doctors to get more opinions on his left knee. He did not practice with the team Monday evening, will not play tonight against New Jersey and is listed by the Rockets as day-to-day. "I didn't expect to see him," said head coach Rick Adelman. "He's gonna get second opinions, and we just have to deal with who we have right now and get ready for this game [tonight]." --
Houston Chronicle
VC Swirls In Trade Winds
Vince Carter |
Nets
The Nets and Rockets have exchanged trade proposals and continue to talk, according to league sources and sources close to the Nets. One scenario has
Vince Carter and
Josh Boone going to Houston for
Ron Artest,
Carl Landry and
Luther Head. But another Texas team remains very much alive in the Carter sweepstakes. The
San Antonio Spurs' package for Carter would include
Roger Mason Jr.,
George Hill and
Bruce Bowen, the sources said. The Nets would have to make other moves to clear roster room for the additional players they take back.
Nothing is imminent at this point, but the trade deadline is Thursday. Things are expected to heat up before then. --
The Record
Tim Duncan says he would love to have Carter as a teammate, and why not? At age 32, Carter remains one of the NBA's most productive small forwards, averaging 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists. Duncan hedges when the price for Carter reportedly includes Roger Mason Jr., Bruce Bowen, George Hill and
Fabricio Oberto.
"I'd hate to see that many guys go," Duncan said.
If GM R.C. Buford can find a way to get Carter from the Nets without including so many rotation players -- a
Robert Horry sign-and-trade could be part of such a solution -- it is easy to imagine Duncan giving such a deal the blessing Gregg Popovich likely would seek. --
San Antonio Express-News
"Doesn't bother me," Carter said of the incessant trade talks before the Nets practiced at the Toyota Center Monday. "I don't really get caught up in that. I hadn't heard anything -- through hearsay or through other people. No big deal." "Like I said, if it happens, it happens. I do my job regardless. I'm at a point in my career it's more about being professional. And I'm not avoiding the question. With the years behind [me], I've learned to just accept the reality of it and make the best of it."
Just the same, does he understand why the Nets would make such a move?
"I don't," Carter said with a laugh. "I won't [play GM]. It could be for so many reasons I couldn't name today. [But] I can hold my head up high and feel good about it. And if it happens, move on and do what I need to do." --
The Star-Ledger
Small Deal With Minnesota?
There remains the potential for the Kings to do a smaller deal, and sources said one such scenario exists with Minnesota. Third-year guard
Quincy Douby ($1.4 million expiring contract) and veteran forward
Mikki Moore ($5.8 million this season and only $2 million of $6.2 million next season guaranteed if waived by June 20) could go to the Timberwolves for guard
Rashad McCants (expiring deal for $2.6 million). --
Sacramento Bee
Will Sixers Trade Miller?
Andre Miller |
76ers
The league's trade deadline is Thursday afternoon. If the Sixers believed they wouldn't be able to sign the free agent for next season, general manager Ed Stefanski might be forced to get what he can for
Andre Miller now rather than watch him walk away at season's end without receiving anything in return. "That's not how we're looking at this. Not at all," Stefanski said yesterday. "I can't speak for Andre, but I think he likes it with us, and we like him. Getting the contract done is a process and the trading deadline this week is one step in the process."
"The only way we would trade Andre Miller is if we get a deal that makes basketball sense for us," Stefanski said. "We're not going to trade Andre Miller just to do a financial deal. We like him for all the things he does for us on the court, and we would like to keep him if at all possible." --
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Will DiLeo Remain The Coach?
Tony DiLeo |
76ers
Tony DiLeo, who remains the senior vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager, has reveled in the job. Even though both Ed Stefanski and DiLeo have said they will discuss the future after the conclusion of the season, it has become obvious that DiLeo very much wants to remain the coach. "When I first mentioned the possibility of coaching to him, I suggested that he take a day to think about it, but he said, 'No, I want to do it,'" Stefanski recalled. "Even the next day, I suggested he take another day and he again said he wanted to do it. One thing I know: Tony knows basketball, knows personnel. And these players knew him, because he was the one scouting them, drafting them, acquiring them. If he had been brand-new or coming from the outside, I would never have done that." --
Philadelphia Daily News
Clips Don't Want To Trade Camby
I've been repeatedly told the Clippers do not want to trade
Marcus Camby. And really, why should they. Camby has a relatively inexpensive contract, has been a great team leader and is playing like an All Star. Now, does that mean the team would never trade one of the aforementioned players [
Eric Gordon,
Al Thornton,
Zach Randolph and Camby]? No. It means they don't want to trade them and it would take a lot to change their minds.
I was told, however, that if the Clippers were trying to dump
Chris Kaman's salary, they could've done it in two seconds. In other words, that's not the objective. --
Los Angeles Daily News
Miller On Knicks' Radar
Brad Miller |
Kings
The interest in
Brad Miller remains lukewarm leaguewide, but sources said he remains on New York's radar. The Knicks have indicated that they are interested in Miller or swingman
John Salmons, with the potential players coming to Sacramento including
Malik Rose ($7.6 million expiring contract),
Nate Robinson ($2 million expiring contract) and
Jerome James ($6.2 million this season, player option for $6.6 million next).
New York also is believed to have told the Kings it has no intention of trading exiled guard
Stephon Marbury and his $20.8 million expiring contract. --
Sacramento Bee
Big Trade Unlikely
New Jersey's
Vince Carter, Phoenix's
Shaquille O'Neal and Minnesota's
Mike Miller may sound delicious, but any chance of the Mavericks dealing for them is remote. More likely, according to a pair of NBA sources, is that the Mavericks would pull off a smaller deal for a player who would be solidly in their playing rotation.
The teams that seem to be on everybody's speed dial are Oklahoma City and Portland. --
The Dallas Morning News
Ankle Still Sore
Tyson Chandler |
Hornets
After missing 12 consecutive games before the All-Star break with a sprained left ankle, Hornets starting center
Tyson Chandler experienced a setback Monday. Chandler completed only half of Monday's practice before experiencing soreness in his left ankle.
Near the end of the Hornets' two-hour practice, Chandler appeared disappointed as he sat in a chair with socks on but no shoes.
"I'm trying to do everything in my will to stay on the court," Chandler said. "I made it through 75 percent of the practice, and then it got kind of sore on me. It's just not where I want to be or where the trainers wanted me to be." --
The Times-Picayune
Grunfeld Doesn't Regret Signing Arenas
Gilbert Arenas |
Wizards
GM Ernie Grunfeld said that he does not regret awarding
Gilbert Arenas such a huge contract last summer even though the three-time All-Star had been limited to 13 games last season after undergoing a second knee surgery. At the time of the signing, Grunfeld thought Arenas would be ready to play the majority of this season. Arenas originally expected to return by December, but has continued to experience discomfort in the knee and has been limited to games of one-on-one and other noncontact work. No official timetable has been established for Arenas's return, but, according to a team source, the Wizards expect to have Arenas and Haywood back before the end of the season. Grunfeld said he would "absolutely" sign Arenas again knowing what he knows now. "Gilbert is a top-notch player and we expect him to be back and we expect him to play at an All-Star level. I wish I had a time frame to give you, but you never really know with those things." --
The Washington Post
Ridnour Preparing To Return
Luke Ridnour |
Bucks
Less than two weeks ago, on Feb. 5,
Luke Ridnour suffered a fractured right thumb that was expected to keep him out of the lineup for at least four weeks. Now it's possible the 6-foot-2 guard could return to Milwaukee's lineup later this week.
"I think I'm way ahead of schedule," Ridnour said after finishing his shooting drills. "I'm just staying positive, trying to get ready and stay in shape. Hopefully, everything goes well these next couple days." --
Journal Sentinel
Waiting For A Call
Kevin Durant |
Thunder
Kevin Durant said he did not meet with USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo during All-Star Weekend in Phoenix to talk about a possible roster spot on the 2012 team. "They honored the guys that won the Olympics so I guess their focus was all on that," Durant said. "But whenever he calls my name I'm going to be more than ready to participate. So I'm just waiting on that call.
"I heard all the guys that played before want to come back. Obviously there wasn't any room for me on that team, so I'll just wait my turn." --
The Oklahoman
Not Seeking Fame
Jerry Sloan |
Jazz
Jerry Sloan didn't throw a party for himself at his Illinois farm this past weekend when it was announced that he is a Class of 2009 finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame. "That hasn't been my ambition in coaching," he said Monday. "It hasn't been my ambition in playing."
The Jazz coach did, however, admit that it would be somewhat special.
"Obviously, it would be an honor," he said. "But I'm not going to lose any sleep over it." --
Deseret News
