Basketball Trade Rumors - NBA Rumors from legitimate sources

Josh Howard hopes to play again for Wizards

Wizards Insider

After leading the Washington Wizards to a shocking 10-point victory over the Denver Nuggets nearly three weeks ago, Josh Howard reached into his locker room stall and picked up an all-white Washington Nationals baseball cap. Howard then explained how much he liked the curly W logo and that he had bought a few hats in different colors long before the Dallas Mavericks made him a District resident in a trade deadline deal.

"I got a whole bunch of these," Howard said, flashing his crooked grin as he twisted the slightly oversize cap around his head. "You'll see."

Howard had hoped to make wins and his assortment of Nats hats a regular post-game sight, but that was the last time he would play a game at Verizon Center and leave the court without assistance.

Howard's season came to an end just two games later on Feb. 22, when his left knee bent awkwardly while receiving an outlet pass from Mike Miller in the first quarter of a 101-95 win over Chicago. He said he immediately knew "something wasn't right" but didn't find out until a day later that he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament.

"It was devastating," said Howard. "No guy wants to find out they're not going to finish out the season. I had high expectations of taking this team to the playoffs, which I thought we was on our way, too. It was an unfortunate situation to happen."

Howard was the main acquisition, from a talent and financial perspective, when the Wizards made their roster overhaul last month. The Wizards had no intention of picking the one-time all-star 's $11.8 million option next season, even before the knee injury. The team began touting the salary cap flexibility provided by his expiring contract immediately after acquiring him from Dallas for Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2010/03/josh-howard-hopes-to-play-agai.html?wprss=wizardsinsider

Moment of truth approaching for Phoenix Suns, Amar'e Stoudemire

Dan Bickley

Relationships aren't always easy. Familiarity spawns contempt. Lusty courtship can fade into disenchantment, disappointment.

But here on the slow road to goodbye, a strange thing is happening in Arizona.

Amar'e Stoudemire is winning hearts all over again.

"I see him as improving," Suns point guard Steve Nash said.

Enough to award him a maximum contract, which would start at $17.1 million and increase by 10½ percent annually?

"He's the type of guy who puts up those numbers, but I don't know," Nash said. "If I'm a Mark Cuban-type, maybe."

Once, Nash felt betrayed by Cuban. Lately, it's clear that Nash occasionally misses the freewheeling, free-spending Mavericks owner. But that's a different relationship, a story for another day.

For now, cynics are on red alert. Like many others of his generation, Stoudemire must be chasing a dollar sign, trying to snag the biggest number possible. This summer, he can opt out of the final year on his contract with the Suns and sell himself to the highest bidder. His current level of play and his season-long temperament (mature, unaffected by trade rumors, the anti-Shawn Marion) guarantees no shortage of potential suitors.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2010/03/10/20100310bickley-suns-stoudemire-rebirth.html

Sources: Brackins, Gilstrap to declare

FoxSports

Iowa State junior Craig Brackins and Cyclones teammate Marquis Gilstrap are both expected to declare for the NBA Draft.

A source close to the situation told FOXSports.com that both players will make an announcement in the next few days.

Iowa State lost to Texas, 82-75, in the first round of the Big 12 tournament on Wednesday night.

It's expected that the 6-foot-10, 230-pound Brackins, a California native, will ultimately sign with an agent.

He earned a spot on the Big 12 all-league first team as a sophomore last season and still had a solid year as a junior, averaging 16.5 points and 8.6 rebounds.

According to NBA executives, Brackins' stock has fallen this season, but he could still be a first-round pick in the June NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-7, 215-pound Gilstrap came into the program this season from the junior college ranks and averaged 14.8 points and 9.4 rebounds while shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc.

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2010/03/11/sources-brackins-gilstrap-declare/

The Power Of Maybe: LeBron Selling Knicks Tickets

Darren Rovell

In just a couple of weeks, the New York Knicks have taken deposits on 1,800 new season tickets. For those keeping score at home, that's the fastest the team has sold this many new season tickets in its storied history.

Considering the team is heading for another losing season and hasn't won a playoff series in a decade, it can be assumed that all this excitement has to do with the anticipation of the free agents the team is going to sign for next season.

"We didn't hit this number until about August 15 of last year, which was a record year," said MSG Sports president Scott O'Neil. "We are on fire."

The question is, how will the people who have put down $250 or $500 react based on what free agents the Knicks get? How many are LeBron or bust? How many will pay the rest — which by the way, the prices haven't been determined yet — if the Knicks land Chris Bosh or Joe Johnson?

"There's certainly anticipation of adding two superstars to New York," O'Neil said. "I think there's also a sense of, most of us remember the 90s when you couldn't get a ticket to a Knicks game."

Despite its struggles, the team will sell out 28 games this year.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/35780977

Sixers coach Jordan on way out, sources say

Kate Fagan

Comcast-Spectacor is ready to fire 76ers coach Eddie Jordan, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.

Several other sources also indicated that the organization will "seriously evaluate" Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski, who hired Jordan less than a year ago.

One of these sources indicated that the company had considered terminating Jordan earlier, but likely was "deterred" by the early-season firing of former Flyers coach John Stevens.

Comcast-Spectacor owns both franchises.

These sources indicated that Jordan could be fired before this season ends - if it becomes obvious he has lost the team - but more likely after the final game of this dismal season.

One of these sources also characterized Comcast-Spectacor chairman Ed Snider as "up in arms" about Jordan's coaching effort, with another source with intimate knowledge of the management's thinking calling Jordan's coaching "baffling."

An NBA source said Jordan's philosophy, which is overloaded on the offensive side with his high-IQ "Princeton" offense, was a mistake at its inception.

"The apathy for this team is back to where it was" in the '90s, the NBA source said. "This team, with that much cap space, at least should be one of the top five teams in the East."

The Sixers are maxed out on salaries through next season, at which point multiple contracts expire. The NBA source said the situation can be fixed. The hiring of a defensive-minded coach whose style would mesh with the team's athletic roster could return the Sixers to the playoffs.

According to sources close to the team, the players "no longer believe in Jordan's coaching system or philosophies" and are trying to finish this season strong for pride and contractual obligation.

The Sixers took a 23-39 record into last night's game, all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Last season, the Sixers finished 41-41, losing to the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs.

In May 2009, Stefanski signed Jordan, who had worked with him for the New Jersey Nets, to a four-year contract worth about $12 million to $13 million. But the fourth year is a team option, as confirmed by a source with knowledge of the deal, meaning the Sixers could fire Jordan after this season and would have to pay him only through the 2011-12 season.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/87198237.html

West: No interest in Clippers job

Ken Berger

The first name that came to mind after the Clippers' rude and unceremonious news release came out Tuesday night announcing Mike Dunleavy's firing was none other than Jerry West. The Logo had been long rumored to be a candidate to take over the Clippers' woebegone basketball operations if -- and, as it turned out, when -- they finally "severed ties" with Dunleavy.

From West himself Tuesday night: Not gonna happen.

"No contact, no interest, not looking to work anymore," West said by telephone after the Dunleavy news broke. "Time for someone younger to have an opportunity to do something. I have not been contacted, nor would I have any interest."

But West, who was at the center of speculation to take over the Knicks' basketball operations when Isiah Thomas was deposed two years ago, left the door open ever so slightly to returning to a front office in some capacity.

"Unless there was something that was along the lines of a consultant job -- a working consultant," West said. "I don’t want a title or need a title. It was fun to be involved. It's a tough business. But I'm not looking for a job nor am I putting my name out there for any job. I've always felt we all have a lifespan with what we’re doing. Mine has been served."

West, 71, left the Memphis Grizzlies after his contract expired in 2007 and hasn't been involved in running a team since. The architect of two Lakers dynasties is forever linked with job openings, though. Another credible Jerry -- Colangelo -- would be high on any serious team's list of candidates. During All-Star weekend in Dallas, Colangelo tried to tamp down speculation that he was in the running to take over the Nets -- but also said if a team called, he'd listen.

Meantime, with another important draft and the biggest free-agent class in NBA history looming, the Clippers had better hope the promotion of assistant GM Neil Olshey works out. After reading the Clippers' brutally worded news release on Dunleavy's dismissal -- and knowing the organization's track record for losing and cheapness -- what credible candidate would want to work there?

"The team has simply not made sufficient progress during Dunleavy’s seven-year tenure," the news rocket said. "The Clippers want to win now."

And for the past quarter century, too, right?

The irony is that buried somewhere in all that dysfunction is a fairly promising roster and cap flexibility. Clippers fans can look forward to Blake Griffin's return in 2011-12, and Dunleavy left Donald Sterling enough cap space to get a marquee free agent if anybody wants to go.

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/20389780?source=rss_blogs_NBA

Where will John Wall fit in?

Frank Hughes

Barring some unforeseen cir*****stance, it appears Kentucky freshman point guard John Wall will become the NBA's next No. 1 draft pick.

But Wall will be entering the NBA a season after many of the 12 point guards taken in the first round of the 2009 draft have already made an impact. Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings and Stephen Curry are the top players in the class, and Ty Lawson, Jonny Flynn and Darren Collison, among others, are also getting high marks.

Combine that with a look at the projected lottery teams, and, with a few exceptions, a personnel shuffling will be needed no matter where Wall goes.

"You are getting a very valuable asset," one NBA executive said of Wall. "So regardless of what happens, you are going to come out ahead. Either you keep Wall and trade your existing point guard, or you keep what you have and you fill in your roster with what you can get by trading Wall."

Sure, a team could do that. But since the draft lottery began in 1985, only twice has a team traded away the top pick. (Cleveland chose Brad Daugherty No. 1 in 1986 after acquiring the pick from Philadelphia for Roy Hinson and cash. In 1993, the Magic selected Chris Webber first, then immediately traded him to the Warriors for Anfernee Hardaway and three future first-rounders.)

Holding the top pick in the draft brings an emotional attachment, for both the organization and its fans. For teams whose previous season was bad enough to land them in the lottery, the draft is their hope for the future. Their selections do not always turn out to be the saviors they had hoped for, but the draft is nonetheless a transformative moment, when the thought of acquiring one talented player is enough to rejuvenate a team's outlook and eventual climb back to respectability. (Think LeBron James.) Besides, the last thing a fan wants to hear is that a team is acquiring an asset that can be used to obtain other assets.

In Wall's situation, however, there likely will have to be some sort of maneuvering by the team that drafts him in order to make things work.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/frank_hughes/03/08/john.wall/

Sixers' Speights still positive despite second injury of season

BOB COONEY

Marreese Speights' season hasn't been much different than that of many other players and coaches in the organization - that is to say it has been frustrating, borderline maddening. But the second-year forward/center out of Florida has been able to keep that devilish grin present throughout the season. He is the team leader in fist-pounds and high-fives and any other sort of congratulatory demonstration he can think of.

As the team prepared at Conseco Fieldhouse yesterday for tonight's game against the Indiana Pacers, though, Speights sat his 6-10, 245-pound frame on the sideline of the practice court, his right knee wrapped in a huge ball of ice. He will be out tonight and will not practice tomorrow.

Speights came down awkwardly midway through the second quarter in Sunday's 114-101 win at Toronto, grasping at his right knee as play continued. He left the court immediately with the help of teammates. His first thoughts certainly weren't good ones. Speights had missed 14 games earlier this season when he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during a game in Chicago. This injury seemed much worse to him.

"It felt way worse than my other injury," Speights said. "But when I got up and started walking, it started to ease up a little bit, so I was walking regular. When I first did it, it hurt real bad. Everything goes through your head when you hurt your knee like that. I thought I tore my ACL, my MCL. I'm glad it's not really that serious. It's minor, so I'll come back from it."

Speights started the season as one of the first big men off the bench, and was doing a good job at it. Through the first 10 games of the season, Speights was averaging 11.4 points and six rebounds in close to 24 minutes. He also was shooting a blistering 54.8 percent from the floor.

He missed the next 14 games after suffering the left knee injury, but showed signs of being 100 percent. In his first eight games back from the injury, Speights still put up 12 points and 4.5 rebounds in an average of 20.6 minutes.

Then his playing time, and because of that his numbers, started to dip. Speights has averaged a little more than 12 minutes of playing time since Jan. 1 and scored in double figures in just four of the 30 games since then.

"It's just been an up-and-down year, but it's been an overall good year," Speights said. "The only thing I can complain about is me getting hurt. Other than that it's been a good year.

"This is the first time I've ever been out of any games. In high school I hurt my ankle, but it was nothing serious."

Throughout this dismal season, Speights has toughed it out.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20100309_Sixers__Speights_still_positive_despite_second_injury_of_season.html

O'Brien must go -- for the good of the bad Pacers

Bob Kravitz

Maybe Jim O'Brien is trying to get himself fired. Maybe he's gone in the tank, just as his team has done for the past few months, and is willing to take the cash for next season and move on back to Florida.

I've written it before, with a mild bit of hesitation.

I'm writing it now, with no hesitation, with major emphasis, with boldfaced capital letters.

O'BRIEN HAS GOT TO GO

We can all agree, this season was stillborn before it got past the first two weeks. Even in that home opener, they played with no energy, no passion, no clue. And it hasn't gotten any better all season.

Maybe that says more about this current group of players than it does about O'Brien, but you can't fire the players. Ultimately, they're not performing for this guy. They've checked out, zoned out, quit hearing his voice. If it was just a matter of losing, fine, but they're losing badly, losing by double digits, getting outworked on a regular basis.

This team came into the season with the most minimal of expectations. Win three or four more games than last year, end up with 40 total and maybe sneak into the playoffs in the top-heavy Eastern Conference. Instead, they've regressed.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100307/SPORTS15/3070387/1034/SPORTS15/O-Brien-must-go-for-the-good-of-the-bad-Pacers

Knicks' Lee likes appeal of Nets

FRED KERBER

Nets center Brook Lopez really likes the idea of someday playing alongside current Knick David Lee.

And unlike some impending free agents who view the Nets as less desirable than waterboarding, Lee likes the Nets' potential more than their 7-55 record.

"The Nets are an interesting team," said Lee, sounding more like Phoenix's Amar'e Stoudemire and Memphis' Rudy Gay who claimed they would not be scared off by the Nets' hideous record. "They're a clear example of a team whose talent level doesn't reflect the record.

"If statistics work out, they get the No. 1 pick," Lee said, "They have a great center in Lopez, an All-Star point guard, Devin Harris, great athleticism with wings Chris Douglas-Roberts and Terrence Williams. They could have a big turnaround year next year if they get a good free agent and the No. 1 draft pick. It's going to be interesting which direction they go."

That direction could lead to Lee as one of the second-tier types the Nets could target with their $23.3 million cap space. Another is Gay who, like Lee, should do very well after the top shelf empties of the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade types.

The Nets see Gay tonight when they start a four-game road trip in Memphis, a trip where they will be without Yi Jianlian. He stayed behind with a sprained left ankle suffered in Saturday's 113-93 rout of the Knicks.

As a restricted free agent, Lee signed a $7 million one-year deal last summer with the Knicks. The Nets currently start Yi at power forward. While he gets rebound numbers (7.0), he's not the walking double-double Lee is and lacks his toughness.

"It would be great," Lopez said of possibly teaming with Lee, "a guy who loves to crash the offensive glass for so many extra possessions. Then with Yi, if you had the three of us playing together, it would be a great situation."

Now the trick is to get a guy like Lee, who has nothing decided. The Knicks have the most cap space, nearly $32 million, but two max guys would eliminate Lee from their plans. So the Brooklyn-bound Nets might appeal to Lee, who could shed his center position and play the four next to a legit 7-footer.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/nets/lee_likes_appeal_of_nets_CUZzQRPXyp8CzjOPCs4KGJ