The NBA's Feb. 18 trade deadline is less than three weeks away and the Indiana Pacers are actively working the phones trying to salvage a disappointing season. The player that most likely could be moved before the deadline is forward Troy Murphy. Murphy is one of several players who have been linked to the Cleveland Cavaliers. - Indianapolis Star
Swingman Cartier Martin was informed by the team before Friday's game that he would not be offered a guaranteed contract for the remainder of the season, according to Warriors sources. The Warriors are at the league limit with 15 guaranteed roster spots, and Martin's second and final 10-day contract expires today. - San Francisco Chronicle
The Warriors are thus letting Martin go and plan to bring in a new player on a 10-day contract, according to sources close to the situation. That player, sources said, is expected to be guard Coby Karl, who sat out Friday night's game with the Idaho Stampede in anticipation of joining the Warriors. - ESPN
Asked following the game by Armstrong what the difference was in his game on the night, Turkoglu replied: “Ball” A four-second pause as Armstrong tried to decipher what exactly Turkoglu was trying to say followed. Prompted with a - “The ball in your hands and you did a lot with it?’ by Armstrong, Turkoglu said “I got nothing else to say.” The video of that exchange had gone viral by early Friday. Less than 12 hours after the conversation took place, there was a Fan page on Facebook set up. By Friday evening it already had 630 fans. - Toronto Sun
It's no secret that the Bulls want to clear as much salary-cap space as they can for this summer's free-agent bonanza, which is why you're hearing more and more about their willingness to move Kirk Hinrich and John Salmons as covered here last week. Miller's $12.3 million expiring contract is central to that strategy, so it's going to take a special offer to get Chicago to part with him. - ESPN
Dallas' interest in Sacramento's Kevin Martin was last week's big trade topic, but the Kings keep saying that Martin is not available. And while Washington's Caron Butler and Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala are most certainly available, one plugged-in source insisted this week that the Mavs have real reservations about trading Howard for Butler and are hesitant regarding Iguodala as well largely because of the four years and $56 million left on the Philly swingman's contract after this season. - ESPN
Amar'e Stoudemire acknowledged in a TNT interview and again after the game that trade speculation has distracted his play. He told ESPN, "I feel like the confidence in me is not quite there with them, for them to want to shop me around so much." With the Feb. 18 NBA trade deadline approaching, the probability of Phoenix trading Stoudemire appears greater than ever. - Arizona Republic
On Friday, Colangelo counted the impending regular-season debut of Reggie Evans, pencilled into the lineup for Feb. 17, as the equivalent of a deadline acquisition. But even as Triano has argued the merits of roster stability now that the club is on point – "I don't want to see much changed," the coach said – the GM didn't rule out an actual swap. Boxing Day prices presumably no longer apply. "Whether or not there's an additional piece, or something significant to add, is going to be something we'll know soon enough," Colangelo said. "You've never seen me, for a moment, not try to make the team better." - Toronto Star
The Raptors have a payroll of $67.8-million (U.S.) this season. Teams that go over $69.2-million have to pay tax to the league on a dollar-for-dollar basis. They also forgo the opportunity to receive a refund of sorts from the tax gathered, typically about $5-million. Next season, the league has projected the luxury tax threshold will come down considerably, as it's based on overall basketball-related revenue, which is expected to shrink in the wake of the economic downturn. - Globe and Mail
“I know pretty much what’s going on,” Bosh said. “I knew coming into this there was going to be a lot of chatter, especially now that this trade deadline is coming. It’s just a part of the game. That’s what it is. I just keep doing my day-to-day and focus on what I’m doing right now.” - Yahoo! Sports
Once a major critic of the February 2008 decision to trade Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers, Gregg Popovich now concedes Memphis also made out good in the deal. "They gave up a great player but it helped them extend the franchise's success into the future," Popovich said. "It's shown that they've done a good job. Whatever they were thinking a couple of iterations ahead at the time has paid off for them." - Memphis Commercial Appeal
Zach Randolph on what he plans to do with his roughly $330,000 bonus for making the All-Star team: "It's going in the bank. I wish it was more." - Memphis Commercial Appeal
Ben Gordon didn't play as much as he wanted during his return to the lineup, but he was not complaining. Gordon played just 13 minutes and scored 10 points during the Pistons 92-65 loss to the Heat Friday night at The Palace. He came into the game during the waning seconds of the first quarter and made his first two shots. "It was all right," he said. "I did not play a lot but it felt good the times I was out there. I just have to build off that and continue with my rehab." - Detroit News
Phil Jackson said he saw Andrew Bynum after learning Bynum didn’t make the All-Star team and said: “You avoided that rat race.” Bynum said and responded: “Maybe next year.” Jackson is no fan of All-Star weekend, but Bynum very much had been hoping to make it to Dallas for the All-Star Game this season. He said Friday he was “not really” upset about not getting chosen in the coach vote for reserves. - Orange County Register Blog
Hawks forward Josh Smith was included on many lists of so-called “snubs” after he wasn’t one of the seven All-Star reserves selected by a vote of Eastern Conference coaches. But Smith said he’s not upset. “The people around me, my family and friends, are more mad about it than me,” Smith said Friday. Among the East forwards selected, Boston’s Paul Pierce and Toronto’s Chris Bosh are established stars, and that tends to win them the benefit of any doubts. But the other reserve forward, Charlotte’s Gerald Wallace, will play in his first All-Star game. - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Swingman Cartier Martin was informed by the team before Friday's game that he would not be offered a guaranteed contract for the remainder of the season, according to Warriors sources. The Warriors are at the league limit with 15 guaranteed roster spots, and Martin's second and final 10-day contract expires today. - San Francisco Chronicle
The Warriors are thus letting Martin go and plan to bring in a new player on a 10-day contract, according to sources close to the situation. That player, sources said, is expected to be guard Coby Karl, who sat out Friday night's game with the Idaho Stampede in anticipation of joining the Warriors. - ESPN
Asked following the game by Armstrong what the difference was in his game on the night, Turkoglu replied: “Ball” A four-second pause as Armstrong tried to decipher what exactly Turkoglu was trying to say followed. Prompted with a - “The ball in your hands and you did a lot with it?’ by Armstrong, Turkoglu said “I got nothing else to say.” The video of that exchange had gone viral by early Friday. Less than 12 hours after the conversation took place, there was a Fan page on Facebook set up. By Friday evening it already had 630 fans. - Toronto Sun
It's no secret that the Bulls want to clear as much salary-cap space as they can for this summer's free-agent bonanza, which is why you're hearing more and more about their willingness to move Kirk Hinrich and John Salmons as covered here last week. Miller's $12.3 million expiring contract is central to that strategy, so it's going to take a special offer to get Chicago to part with him. - ESPN
Dallas' interest in Sacramento's Kevin Martin was last week's big trade topic, but the Kings keep saying that Martin is not available. And while Washington's Caron Butler and Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala are most certainly available, one plugged-in source insisted this week that the Mavs have real reservations about trading Howard for Butler and are hesitant regarding Iguodala as well largely because of the four years and $56 million left on the Philly swingman's contract after this season. - ESPN
Amar'e Stoudemire acknowledged in a TNT interview and again after the game that trade speculation has distracted his play. He told ESPN, "I feel like the confidence in me is not quite there with them, for them to want to shop me around so much." With the Feb. 18 NBA trade deadline approaching, the probability of Phoenix trading Stoudemire appears greater than ever. - Arizona Republic
On Friday, Colangelo counted the impending regular-season debut of Reggie Evans, pencilled into the lineup for Feb. 17, as the equivalent of a deadline acquisition. But even as Triano has argued the merits of roster stability now that the club is on point – "I don't want to see much changed," the coach said – the GM didn't rule out an actual swap. Boxing Day prices presumably no longer apply. "Whether or not there's an additional piece, or something significant to add, is going to be something we'll know soon enough," Colangelo said. "You've never seen me, for a moment, not try to make the team better." - Toronto Star
The Raptors have a payroll of $67.8-million (U.S.) this season. Teams that go over $69.2-million have to pay tax to the league on a dollar-for-dollar basis. They also forgo the opportunity to receive a refund of sorts from the tax gathered, typically about $5-million. Next season, the league has projected the luxury tax threshold will come down considerably, as it's based on overall basketball-related revenue, which is expected to shrink in the wake of the economic downturn. - Globe and Mail
“I know pretty much what’s going on,” Bosh said. “I knew coming into this there was going to be a lot of chatter, especially now that this trade deadline is coming. It’s just a part of the game. That’s what it is. I just keep doing my day-to-day and focus on what I’m doing right now.” - Yahoo! Sports
Once a major critic of the February 2008 decision to trade Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers, Gregg Popovich now concedes Memphis also made out good in the deal. "They gave up a great player but it helped them extend the franchise's success into the future," Popovich said. "It's shown that they've done a good job. Whatever they were thinking a couple of iterations ahead at the time has paid off for them." - Memphis Commercial Appeal
Zach Randolph on what he plans to do with his roughly $330,000 bonus for making the All-Star team: "It's going in the bank. I wish it was more." - Memphis Commercial Appeal
Ben Gordon didn't play as much as he wanted during his return to the lineup, but he was not complaining. Gordon played just 13 minutes and scored 10 points during the Pistons 92-65 loss to the Heat Friday night at The Palace. He came into the game during the waning seconds of the first quarter and made his first two shots. "It was all right," he said. "I did not play a lot but it felt good the times I was out there. I just have to build off that and continue with my rehab." - Detroit News
Phil Jackson said he saw Andrew Bynum after learning Bynum didn’t make the All-Star team and said: “You avoided that rat race.” Bynum said and responded: “Maybe next year.” Jackson is no fan of All-Star weekend, but Bynum very much had been hoping to make it to Dallas for the All-Star Game this season. He said Friday he was “not really” upset about not getting chosen in the coach vote for reserves. - Orange County Register Blog
Hawks forward Josh Smith was included on many lists of so-called “snubs” after he wasn’t one of the seven All-Star reserves selected by a vote of Eastern Conference coaches. But Smith said he’s not upset. “The people around me, my family and friends, are more mad about it than me,” Smith said Friday. Among the East forwards selected, Boston’s Paul Pierce and Toronto’s Chris Bosh are established stars, and that tends to win them the benefit of any doubts. But the other reserve forward, Charlotte’s Gerald Wallace, will play in his first All-Star game. - Atlanta Journal Constitution
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