An assumption in circulation all season held that Detroit would try to move Rip Hamilton before any other Piston because there isn't enough room in one rotation for Rip, Ben Gordon and Rodney Stuckey. The reality is that Tayshaun Prince would appear to be the most likely of Detroit's championship holdovers to be dealt first, since Prince possesses the more cap-friendly contract. - ESPN.com
Eduardo Najera is expected to be a Maverick by the end of Monday, if the NBA office puts its stamp of approval on the trade with the Nets. Owner Mark Cuban will save about $4.7 million on this deal, in salary and with the smaller luxury-tax check he'll have to write to the NBA. - Dallas Morning News
Sean Williams, who will be waived today to make room for the two players, acknowledged that Sunday was his last day as a Net. "I’m going to have to talk to my agent and see what opportunities arise," he said. - Bergen Record
Hedo Turkoglu, who signed a five-year $53-million deal US with Toronto this summer, admitted yesterday he is uncomfortable with his role at a time when just about everyone else on this Raptors roster seems to have found a comfort zone. "The things I can't do -- I don't know if you followed me much (in Orlando) and how I played there -- I just can't do the things without the ball." - Toronto Sun
The Knicks left Houston on Saturday night without a victory and without genuine hope of winning the Tracy McGrady Sweepstakes. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told The Post that Donnie Walsh appears a longshot to nail McGrady, with seven teams having submitted various proposals. "There might not be a fit with New York because their goals don't necessarily meet our goals," Morey said. "I think they like him but there's an issue of fit." - NY Post
The countdown to the end of the Chris Bosh era in Toronto has officially begun. The Rockets, who have Tracy McGrady’s insurance-protected $23 million expiring deal, are believed to be interested, and sources believe there could be legs to a scenario that would send Bosh to the Lakers for Andrew Bynum. Bynum’s base-year compensation status complicates matters slightly, but sources believe a workable deal could be consummated. - CBS Sports
While the Blazers continue to mull whether they need to add a big man after losing Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla for the season, the key piece of the equation is Andre Miller. The veteran point guard’s uncomfortable tenure in Portland got worse last week when he had a 30-minute shouting match with coach Nate McMillan. GM Kevin Pritchard and McMillan have downplayed the incident, and a source indicated that Miller has snapped back into line after the blowup. - CBS Sports
Griz owner Michael Heisley has initiated negotiations toward a contract extension for [Lionel] Hollins, who is working on a 17-month deal he signed Jan. 25, 2009. Heisley instructed general manager Chris Wallace to contact Hollins' representative last week for the purpose of determining where both sides stand. However, the Grizzlies' Chicago-based, billionaire owner made clear that he intends to keep Hollins in charge beyond this season. - Memphis Commercial Appeal
The Wizards removed all Arenas-related merchandise from the arena and edited him out of the pre-game video after he was suspended indefinitely by the NBA on Wednesday. Arenas is under investigation for bringing guns to the Verizon Center and related incidents. - AP
The Pacers, losers of 11 of their past 13 games, are going through a transition again with forwards Danny Granger (foot) and Troy Murphy (ankle), who both missed an extended amount of time with injuries, back in the lineup. The Pacers host the Toronto Raptors tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse. "It's certainly not easy, but that's the way it works," said swingman Mike Dunleavy, who has missed a lot of time the past two seasons. - Indianapolis Star
From a numbers standpoint, one potential move could involve swingman Dorell Wright, whose $2.9 million salary would essentially wipe out Miami's tax. With James Jones difficult to move because of the three years remaining on a contract that has a significant guarantee, the Heat also has other low-salaried players at the end of its bench who could be moved. Among that group are Daequan Cook, Carlos Arroyo and Jamaal Magloire. - Miami Herald
But his Bulls superiors simply haven’t backed him. They’ve actually done more to undermine him, which has surprised even Del Negro's critics after the team publicly acknowledged Del Negro's lack of experience when it hired him and made it sound as though they'd work through the growing pains together. Whatever shortcomings you wish to cite, Del Negro certainly deserved better after Chicago’s second-half surge last season and its epic seven-game series with Boston. - ESPN.com
Although the Lakers avoided their first three-game losing streak in almost two years with a 95-77 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, the convincing win failed to assuage concerns over Bryant's wayward jumper. He missed 13 of 14 first-half shots and finished with 12 points on 4-for-21 shooting, reducing his success rate from the floor to 33 percent in the past four games. - Press Enterprise
Cleveland guard Mo Williams doesn't pay much attention to all-star voting. But when he was recently told McGrady was a starter through the fourth, and final, publicized all-star voting returns, his mouth hung open. "There you go," Williams said. "I think ya'll have more knowledge about the voting than I do, so you can write the criticisms about it. But you telling me that, that's . . . wow." Internet voting has made it easier for NBA franchises to get their fan bases to vote early and often for the hometown players and has opened it up to global participation. Last season, this almost resulted in San Antonio forward Bruce Bowen being voted an all-star starter. - Denver Post
Rajon Rondo’s triple-double didn’t catch him by surprise. Friends with stat sheets let him know at the midpoint of yesterday’s 114-107 triumph over the Raptors that, with nine points, six rebounds and nine assists, he was close. “They told me,” Rondo said. “At halftime, T-Lue (assistant coach Tyronn Lue) threatened me, so I had to go out there and get it done.” The last number to fall into line in his 22-point, 10-rebound, 13-assist afternoon was a piece of glass. - Boston Herald
And while Turkoglu didn't appear to hear or acknowledge his detractors, Rasheed Wallace had no problem doing just that. Wallace was lining up for a teammates' free throw when one leather lung called out to him: "You suck, Wallace." Not missing a beat Wallace saluted his non-fan and thanked him for his opinion. - Toronto Sun
The unusually cold weather that hit Houston might have damaged more than pipes and plants. The Rockets began Saturday's game against the Knicks making just one of their first seven shots, and one player had a theory to explain their slow start. “It was really cold,” guard Aaron Brooks said. - Houston Chronicle
Nelson said he doesn't want to use Corey Maggette, a natural small forward, much at Randolph's vacated power-forward spot. Vladimir Radmanovic, the team's lone remaining power forward, has made 33.3 percent of his shots in the past 17 games. "It doesn't matter how he plays; he's going to have to play," Nelson said. Unless Turiaf can somehow manage to play even more. The Warriors started Turiaf at power forward alongside center Andris Biedrins for Friday's second half. - San Francisco Chronicle
The Kings are awaiting the return of Kevin Martin, who has a doctor's appointment Tuesday that could determine when he'll be back from his broken left wrist. Francisco García's return would also give Westphal another option late in games. But without the two veterans, Evans has shouldered the burden late in games, which isn't easy for someone with just a year of college experience. - Sacramento Bee
Said Artest: "I didn't hit my head. Just needed a breather." Artest has struggled since returning from the concussion he sustained Christmas night, averaging only 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in four games and scoring just two points on 1-for-2 shooting Sunday night. Although Artest insisted he's not feeling any after-effects from the concussion, Jackson wasn't so sure. - Press Enterprise
Kevin Garnett entered and left the building quietly yesterday. His hyperextended right knee will be re-evaluated today, but the bigger decisions will likely come toward the end of the week. “We knew he wasn’t going to play on this trip, so I didn’t even bother to ask about it,” said Rivers. “I think when we get back I’ll have a better evaluation - actually when we get back and get through these three more games then I’ll have a better answer. Hopefully (he’ll return) soon after that, but I don’t actually know that.” - Boston Herald
Although he thought he was back for good last month, Korver took himself out of a Dec. 19 game in Charlotte and didn't play on the rest of the Jazz's pre-Christmas trip. He also skipped a two-game trip to Minnesota and Oklahoma City to continue rehab work. Sloan said he recommended Korver push the knee as hard as possible -- to the breaking point, even -- in the hopes of regaining strength and confidence. "That's what [Michael] Jordan did when he got hurt," Sloan said. "He went out and he told them, he said, 'I'm going to see if I can break it.' And if it holds up, then you're ready to go." - Salt Lake Tribune
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