T-Mac wearing thin
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Camby would be great with the Knicks - he could reunite with his old cheerleader girlfriend - you know the one that he was caught sending flowers to on that call-in radio show?? Q-Rich is entirely past his prime and hurting the team with each chuck from behind the arc. David Lee is putting up career numbers and the Knicks should trade high.
T-Mac’s comments the other day obviously did not go unnoticed. True to form, Rafer “general english” Alston took his displeasure with McGrady to the media…like a good floor general. The best thing for these Rockets to do would be to go and get some of that emerging talent from Golden State, including Marcus Williams and Anthony Morrow, to pair with Yao and the gang.
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The Portland Trail Blazers’ dogged pursuit of David Lee could result in Marcus Camby returning to New York. Knicks president Donnie Walsh denied that he is working on a three-way deal with the Blazers and Clippers, but several team sources confirmed that Walsh and the Knicks’ coaching staff have discussed the possibility of adding Camby, who was traded from Denver to the Clippers last July. NY Daily News
Portland has been trying for months to acquire David Lee, who will become a restricted free agent this summer. Mike D’Antoni would prefer to have the athletic 7-foot Camby as his center as opposed to the 6-9 Lee, who has improved offensively but has struggled on the defensive end. NY Daily News
There was a report of the Knicks being involved in a deal that would send Quentin Richardson to the Clippers and Lee to Portland, with the Knicks getting back Camby and former Knicks first-round pick Channing Frye. Walsh, however, denied having discussed that trade with the Clippers and Blazers. NY Daily News
Donnie Walsh is also hopeful that the Knicks can add a backup point guard. Curry practiced Sunday for the first time since Nov. 1. NY Daily News
Carlos Delfino is back on the Raptors’ radar. During a halftime interview yesterday, general manager Bryan Colangelo, without provocation, mentioned the swingman’s name as a possibility. Delfino left the Raptors last season as a restricted free agent, bolting to Russian club team Khimki BC in what is believed to be a three-year deal worth $12 million US. Toronto Sun
The Raptors can match any offer by opposing NBA clubs for Delfino, who emerged as a very productive reserve in his only season in Toronto. Colangelo traded second-round picks in 2009 and 2011 to Detroit to acquire Delfino, who averaged 9.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists as a Raptor. Toronto Sun
The Bulls seem better positioned now that it appears they do have a future star in No. 1 overall draft pick Derrick Rose. But having someone like Rose, do you build with him now with some well placed trades and not risk waiting until 2010 and maybe being shut out? Or give up one season with the chance to get a true star like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire, and suddenly be a serious championship contender with enough decent pieces that will have been cultivated by then? Of course, you could do all the right things and it still may not work. It’s why the sports business is easier to second guess than manage. Bulls.com
One team you could see entering in a deal with the Bulls would be Charlotte, and maybe you go for the defensive big man in Emeka Okafor and give them the kind of hard playing types Larry Brown would prefer like Hinrich, Nocioni, Sefolosha and maybe Noah. You might take back someone Charlotte doesn’t desire like Adam Morrison. Those numbers don’t work yet, but you could find something. Though that’s just one potential example. Bulls.com
Let go Drew Gooden and Ben Gordon after the season, trade Nocioni and Hinrich for expiring deals and make a free agency run this summer for someone among those who could be free agents, including Carlos Boozer, Lamar Odom, Al Harrington, Mehmet Okur, Anderson Varejao, Shawn Marion, Allen Iverson, David Lee, Ron Artest, Rasheed Wallace, Jason Kidd, Michael Redd and Chris Wilcox. Bulls.com
Cash it all in while marking time next season and try for the big strike in 2010 with money to go after at least two top players to go along with Rose among LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson, Dirk Nowitzki, Ginobili, McGrady, Steve Nash, Marcus Camby and Ray Allan all potential free agents. Or one to combine with perhaps someone picked up this coming summer, like the Magic hoped would work in a second run at Duncan. Bulls.com
Bulls: Anyone could get traded, with the exception of Derrick Rose and Ben Gordon, who by rule has to approve any move since he signed the one-year qualifying offer. Arlington Heights Daily Herald
Drew Gooden is a prime candidate to be traded, since it appears unlikely he’ll re-sign with the Bulls this summer. An ideal move would be to swap him for a player whose contract expires next year, which could work for both sides if the other team wants to save some money. Arlington Heights Daily Herald
Some big men who fit that description are the Clippers’ Marcus Camby (maybe), Toronto’s Andrea Bargnani (maybe) and Miami’s Udonis Haslem (doubtful). Arlington Heights Daily Herald
Most of the other centers that might be available (Chris Kaman, Sam Dalembert, Troy Murphy, Nick Collison) have contracts that run through 2011 or beyond. But in theory, those players could be potential assets if the Raptors decide to make a pre-emptive trade next year before Bosh becomes a free agent. Arlington Heights Daily Herald
Larry Hughes could be traded straight-up for Sacramento center Brad Miller, but the Kings would likely want Joakim Noah included in the deal. If cash and draft picks could be used as sweetener, it would make sense for the Bulls. Arlington Heights Daily Herald
Portland might offer Channing Frye and Travis Outlaw for one of the Bulls’ established players besides Hughes. Arlington Heights Daily Herald
No names were mentioned, but this is the Tracy McGrady conundrum in Houston. McGrady is the problem, though no one wants to come out and say it and fear losing what little they can get from McGrady. It was just over a year ago that McGrady and new coach Rick Adelman were at odds over the offense and McGrady was quietly talking about being traded. Bulls.com
So would some team take a chance on McGrady? Perhaps with a new environment, which he’s shown he needs to get energized every few years (three years and he wanted out of Toronto, four and he wanted out of Orlando and he’s now in his fifth season in Houston), he can play past his knee problems. I don’t know that there’s much demand for McGrady, but he should be an interesting name come trading deadline. Often teams proper when they use addition by subtraction. Bulls.com
Though the timing of the Rockets’ injuries at small forward and shooting guard can make things worse with the team on a five-game road trip, it could be ideal for Von Wafer. Wafer and other players with non-guaranteed contracts who are on NBA rosters after 5 p.m. Friday will have their contracts automatically guaranteed for the rest of the season. Wafer said he does not think about the key date, and Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said he would not make a decision until necessary, as is Rockets custom with roster moves. Houston Chronicle
However, coach Rick Adelman said no decision had been made but that the changing lineups have been difficult. “We have two days off, but I think we have to look at our whole situation,” Adelman said. “It’s starting to wear, too, on the guys. We never know who will play and who won’t play. I think that’s been unsettling.” Houston Chronicle
McGrady has struggled while dealing with soreness in his left knee. Teammates say they need more from him, though they always add that they need it when he is healthy enough to bring it. “It’s going to come down to Mac getting healthy, and then Mac’s got to kind of be more of a dog,” Artest said. “Yao is definitely doing his part. “I think it’s coming along.” Houston Chronicle
Morey and Adelman have asked that players emphasize their own efforts rather than worry about others, a point Yao made Friday and Rafer Alston repeated on Saturday. “You have to look at yourself in the mirror,” Alston said. “Then you get to look at your teammates and say something, but you can’t do that until you look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself are you giving 110 percent.” Houston Chronicle
After Friday’s game, however, Alston went so far as to suggest the team issue fines for poor effort, a step Morey said the Rockets have not taken. Alston had said then that the team is “not at all” on the same page. On Saturday, he would not go so far as to say it is splintered but did say that night’s effort could serve as an example. Houston Chronicle
Even before the Rockets’ most determined of efforts Saturday, Adelman expected at least that. “I trust them,” he said. “They’ve done it before. I think we have a lot of quality people on this team. It’s got to come from within.” With their latest loss, the Rockets got closer to the way they should play. The trick will be doing it consistently and turning that into wins. Houston Chronicle
It’s no secret around the NBA that anyone on the Thunder’s roster not named Kevin Durant, Jeff Green or Russell Westbrook can be had for the right price. Oklahoman
Charlie Villanueva and Tyronn Lue have recently been rumored to be on the move, with the Thunder named as a potential landing spot. The 6-foot-11 Villanueva creates mismatches with his inside-outside game, while Lue is a savvy veteran point guard who knocks down open shots and is a tough on-ball defender. Oklahoman
Anthony Parker and former Oklahoma State standout Joey Graham were reportedly included in a package that would have sent Earl Watson to the Raptors, and now former No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani is reportedly on the trading block as well. The Thunder could use Parker and Bargnani’s perimeter shooting and Graham’s defense and toughness. Oklahoman
With an abundance of shooting guards, and the Jazz potentially scrambling to re-sign big men Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap this summer, sharpshooter Kyle Korver could be made available at a bargain price. Oklahoman
Arron Afflalo and Amir Johnson are young players who fill two pressing needs for the Thunder on the wing and in the post. The Pistons are high on Johnson, but the Thunder could sweeten the deal with a future draft pick. Oklahoman
Doc Rivers did his best to dodge and deflect questions before Sunday night’s game about Stephon Marbury joining the defending champs in Beantown, but the Knicks’ exiled point guard received a vote of confidence after the game inside the Celtics’ locker room - and from an unlikely source. “I’m not opposed to Steph. I feel like Steph has a lot of basketball in him and his IQ is very, very high,” said Kevin Garnett, who had a well-known falling-out with Marbury when the two played together in Minnesota. “He is one of the best point guards I have ever played with. I wouldn’t be opposed to that. If Steph came to this team and made it better, I’m all for that.” NY Daily News
On Marbury: “He’s been a great talent in this league for a long time,” Ray Allen said. “I don’t know the situation that happened with him in New York, but I know he’s got a lot of basketball left in him.” Added Pierce: “He’s a rare talent. … It’s an unfortunate situation that he’s not on the court right now.” Even Rondo, who could find himself in competition for playing time if Marbury arrives in Boston and plays well, seems to be on board with the idea of Marbury joining the Celtics. NY Daily News
The pregame was all about Stephon Marbury, with Doc Rivers visibly uncomfortable with the topic. Rivers said he’d consult with his top players before ever agreeing to have Marbury join the team. But Rivers already knows Kevin Garnett is behind this pursuit if Marbury gets his release from the Knicks this week. NY Post Blog
There’s a perception from fans KG doesn’t like Marbury. I can’t vouch for what KG feels about Marbury as a person, but I know every time I’ve talked to him about Marbury, he raves about him as a player more than anyone I’ve spoken to. KG truly enjoyed his two seasons with Marbury and that is probably why he still holds some bitterness that it wasn’t good enough for Marbury to remain. NY Post Blog
Marbury has told me countless times his decision to force a trade out of Minnesota and not sign a seven-year extension had nothing to do with not wanting to play alongside Garnett. He hated the cold weather in Minneapolis and found the city not culturally diverse enough to raise his family for the next seven years. NY Post Blog
“I know where this is going, ya’ll. Y’all relax, OK?” Garnett told a small crowd of reporters who waited over an hour for him to speak following the Celtics’ shocking 100-88 loss to the Knicks. “If Steph came to this team and made it better, I’m all for that. If anybody came to his team and made it better, I would be for that.” Of course, Marbury remains the property of the Knicks, who are not exactly enamored of the idea of Marbury joining an Eastern Conference rival and remaining relevant well into June — a good two months after the Knicks’ own 2008-09 relevancy will have long since expired. ESPN.com
New York is even less enamored of Marbury possibly joining the Miami Heat — one of the teams the Knicks expect to be contending with for one of the final playoff spots in the East. ESPN.com
Donnie Walsh plans to speak with Marbury’s representative from the players’ association sometime this week, but there have been no talks between the sides since Marbury stormed out of buyout talks after only 15 minutes last month, then subsequently withdrew the offer he had made to the Knicks in which he would accept $1 million less than his $20.8 million salary in a buyout. ESPN.com
People close to Marbury say it is of paramount importance to him to recoup all the money he is due to make this season, so the only factor that might push this matter to a quicker resolution would be if a team — either the Celtics or someone else — let it be known to Marbury’s camp that they’d be willing to go above the veteran’s minimum to sign him. ESPN.com
Rivers would not comment on the Celtics’ interest in Marbury. “We’re cash-strapped,” Rivers said. “We’re an interesting team - even though we won the championship last year we don’t have a lot of players that guys want to trade for. That’s unusual. Like I said at the beginning of the season, if we have the guys we have now at the end of the year, I’m very, very comfortable with it.” Boston Globe
“We need a guard and we need a big,” Rivers said. “We don’t need one, but we will take one if we can get one. . . . (But) like I told Danny (Ainge), and I’ve said it publicly, if we end the season with the exact guys we have now, I’m very, very comfortable with that. If we add, then we add because we think we can improve our team.” Boston Herald
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said the team has not relinquished hope in the return of P.J. Brown, who said last week he has retired. “He hasn’t forgotten how to play, [but] we don’t know if he can still play,” Rivers said. But the Celtics’ chances of adding players are affected by salary-cap limitations and a roster composed of few trade-bait players. Boston Globe
The other issue with Marbury - and big man P.J. Brown, if the Celts can persuade him to give up his retirement - is that he hasn’t played this season. “You do worry, but nothing stops you,” Rivers said. “There’s guys out there who aren’t playing right now - P.J. being one of them - who we keep in contact with. He hasn’t forgotten how to play. We just don’t know if he can still play. You know what I mean?” Boston Herald
The Chicago Bulls had a handshake agreement of that sort with Tim Thomas three years ago when they bought him out and allowed him to sign with Phoenix, but it is questionable whether an outright pre-arranged divorce agreement designating which conference the bought-out player would relocate to would be allowable under NBA guidelines. ESPN.com
With the rash of injuries the Clippers have, Coach Mike Dunleavy wondered what role, if any, the agents for the team’s injured players have had in the players returning later rather than sooner. “When guys get injured, typically you have agents that are going to tell them, ‘There’s no reason to hurry back. Make sure you’re 110% healthy before you come back,’ ” said Dunleavy, also the team’s general manager. “I think that’s one of the things you have to try and guard against. We don’t ever want anybody coming back that has a chance of injuring themselves.” LA Times
Dunleavy says Kaman will get another MRI exam in 1 1/2 weeks, meaning the center will be out at least another two weeks. Asked when he might return, Baron Davis said, “hopefully within the next couple of weeks.” LA Times
After being cut by Virtus Bologna, Earl Boykins is back with the team right now after having apologized to everybody within the organisation. Ball in Europe
Chucky Atkins: Nearly each week, the Nuggets guard gets wind of another destination where he could be shipped by the Feb. 19 trade deadline. “I’ve heard Toronto, Oklahoma City, New York, Orlando, Indiana . . . since the season started,” Atkins said. Denver Post
Mike D’Antoni’s decision to now use Al Harrington off the bench in favor of Jared Jeffries and Quentin Richardson has resulted in two victories - a road triumph over Charlotte - in the past three games where opponents scored in the 80’s. D’Antoni took Kevin Garnett and point guard Rajon Rondo out of the game with his defensive scheme as they combined for 9 points on 1 of 13 shooting. NY Post Blog
Ever wonder what an NBA coach gets his players for Christmas? One year, Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan presented his players with gift cards. Another year, he gave them luggage. But this year, McMillan decided to get a little more personal. Each player, and many of the team’s supporting staff, were given plaques with the genealogy of their first name. The plaques gave the origin of the name (i.e. Greek or Hebrew), what the name means, and traits that define people with that name. Oregonian Blog
For instance, forward LaMarcus Aldridge said his name means “War Like” and some of the traits included being the backbone of his family, leading by example and sharing ideas with others. “It made me freak out a little bit,” Aldridge said. “Because I feel all of those traits represent me. I can see the ‘War Like’ because I’m always trying to give my opinion on everything.” Oregonian Blog
Webster said he learned he was named after King Martell. “He was a hammer — he would hammer on his enemies and peers,” Webster said. “But at the same time, he was gentle, cares for his family and he’s very passionate.” Oregonian Blog
Inside KeyArena these days it feels like a ghost town. It is a spectral place. The echoes of the NBA still are in the building. The ghosts of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, Nate McMillan and Ray Allen still can be felt on the floor, in the stands, in the hallways underneath the arena. The banners honoring great past Sonics and past seasons still hang from the rafters, reminders of how much that team once meant to this community. Seattle Times
It’s wake-up time in Seattle. It’s time to save KeyArena. The clock is ticking. It’s crunch time for KeyArena. Crunch time for NBA basketball in Seattle. Crunch time for Seattle Center and surrounding businesses. But why isn’t the business community rallying to save the site? Why aren’t the business leaders openly lobbying legislators? Where’s the buzz? Where’s the energy? Where is the sense of desperation? Seattle Times