Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman has been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured West All-Star guard Brandon Roy (right hamstring strain) of the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas. Kaman will be making his first All-Star appearance. - NBA
Memphis (26-24) has dropped three straight games for the first time since beginning the season 1-8, which included a seven-game losing streak. The Grizzlies' loss last Saturday at Minnesota also was their fifth in the past six games. Memphis, which had won 15 of its previous 19 contests to ascend to a seventh seed in the Western Conference postseason standings, now sits 21/2 games back from the eighth and final playoff spot. - Memphis Commercial Appeal
Whether dealing with teams throwing zones around the paint, switching on the perimeter, double-teaming Landry when he catches passes or starts moves, or Saturday's return of defensive fronting, the Rockets' offense has been fragile, breaking when hit with something different. This might come with the offensive limitations of a roster built around Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady now relying heavily on Aaron Brooks and Landry. - Houston Chronicle
It took just a matter of seconds for the Celtics to realize just how much they had missed Marquis Daniels. The man is a walking mismatch for opponents, and immediately he threw a wrench into the Magic’s plans yesterday. Orlando has gotten quite a bit from J.J. Redick off its bench, but after a few minutes with Daniels on his case, Redick had to be hooked and reeled back in to the bench. - Boston Herald
Indications are it won't be easy. CBSSports.com, citing a person familiar with the document, reported that the first proposal the league sent the union last week called for a reduction of the players' share of the basketball-related income from 57% to below 50%, as well as reductions in the length and amount of maximum value contracts, and elements of a "hard" salary cap to replace the current system that forces teams exceeding the cap to pay a luxury tax. - Toronto Sun Wire Services
If (76ers GM) Stefanski himself acknowledges, "We're a better team in the open court," and everyone knows the Princeton offense requires a credible point guard and a shooter to be successful, it's not hard to figure out why the Sixers, riding high right now, are still 12 games below .500. - Philadelphia Inquirer
At the same time, there have been talks with Phoenix (and probably every other team). The Suns, for example, are supposedly interested in taking Iguodala and Dalembert for Amare Stoudemire ($17.7 million next season, with a right to terminate early, with a contract that reportedly includes a trade kicker). The Rockets were said to have renewed interest in Iguodala and Dalembert for Tracy McGrady's expiring $23 million contract. - Philadelphia Daily News
Until Thorn knows about his situation, there's not much he can do. Thorn, who previously said he had no plans for a coaching change, said yesterday he would "probably not" replace interim Kiki Vandeweghe, who has compiled a 4-28 record and this week lost assistant coach Del Harris. - New York Post
Mike D'Antoni is ready to reinstall Chris Duhon as the Knicks starting point guard, and also wants to make him a quasi-assistant coach as he seeks more input from the players. The Post has learned Duhon and D'Antoni held an important meeting in their Cleveland hotel Saturday afternoon as the desperate Knicks coach picked his captain's brain on the Knicks' troubles for 30 minutes. - New York Post
With D'Antoni saying Nate Robinson is "a shooting guard," it exacerbates their need for point guard help at the Feb. 18 trade deadline and they have been linked to Bobcats point guard Acie Law, who has been given permission to talk to other clubs. - New York Post
Dr. Charles A. Czeisler, chief of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, spoke to the Celtics Saturday in preparation for the upcoming West Coast trip. The Celtics have altered their training schedule to allow players at least eight hours of sleep nightly. “He’ll show you exactly what it does to your body, if you don’t have eight hours of sleep, from the fatigue to not having your balance, all these different things,’’ Allen said. “Since I’ve been in the league, certain games, you don’t know why you just lost games - I think, sometimes, lack of sleep. I’ve always thought we sleep too much as athletes, but it’s more like we need it, and that’s part of the job." - The Boston Globe
This summer, the Wolves must decide whether they will extend Gomes' conditional five-year contract he signed two summers ago and pay him $4.2 million for next season. If they decide not to do so, he will be paid about $1 million for each of those remaining three seasons. It's an unusual contractual arrangement that was agreed upon long before David Kahn took over as Wolves boss last spring. - Minneapolis Star Tribune
The Bulls will return to practice today with an assumption that Tyrus Thomas will be back ready to play after serving a one-game team suspension. The Bulls did find a quick replacement, though. Power forward Chris Richard, in his second game since signing a 10-day contract, played 20 minutes and grabbed 7 rebounds in the Bulls' 95-91 win over Miami. - Aurora Daily Herald
Though team president Danny Ainge has publicly ridiculed the Allen trade reports, several NBA executives told CBSSports.com that the Celtics have been actively trying to parlay Ray Allen's $19.7 million expiring contract into an asset that could keep them in the mix during the upcoming playoffs and also help them for the next several seasons. The most recent inquiry, sources say, involved Sacramento sharpshooter Kevin Martin, who'd be a good fit with Boston's remaining core. - CBS Sports
Warriors guard Monta Ellis isn't buying it, though. While acknowledging the team has chemistry issues, he suggested the Warriors' lack in that area doesn't cover all of their ills. He said chemistry is built in training camp — in which center Chris Hunter, forward Anthony Tolliver, swingman Coby Karl, forward Vladimir Radmanovic, and forward Devean George did not participate — but in the meantime the team can pay attention to detail. - Contra Costa Times
Jerry Sloan now readily acknowledges, with the benefit of hindsight, that perhaps Andrei Kirilenko hasn't been used properly over the years. But lately the Jazz's starting small forward has been playing like the NBA All-Star he once was. Playing like when he stars for his homeland on the world stage. Playing like someone living up to, if such a notion actually is possible, his $16.44 million season-long salary. But why? Why now, and why not previously? Curious minds want to know just what's behind the recent resurgence of the lanky Russian, which not so coincidentally at all coincides roughly with a stretch in which the Jazz have won eight straight and 12 of their last 13 games. - Deseret News
Owner Mark Cuban said publicly that changes are coming, and Dallas — one of the few teams not terrified of the expected smaller salary cap — is on the phones hard, according to sources. The Mavericks have more than $17 million worth of expiring contracts, including forward Josh Howard, who has an $11.8 million team option for next season. - Contra Costa Times Blog
The departure of Del Harris Tuesday night came only two days after his agent, Warren LeGarie, approached Nets president Rod Thorn about the possibility that his client become the team’s head coach. This exchange, according to two NBA officials privy to the conversation who requested anonymity because they are friendly with both sides, took place at Izod Center. LeGarie, one of the game’s heaviest hitters, told Thorn the Nets would be better off letting Harris take over and moving Kiki Vandeweghe back to the front office, if only to begin preparation for 2010-11. - Newark Star Ledger
Nets: If there is change, it could come after the All-Star break. Team president Rod Thorn will meet with Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov and likely will learn his own fate. Prokhorov is expected to be approved as the Nets' new owner next month. Until Thorn knows about his situation, there's not much he can do. Thorn, who previously said he had no plans for a coaching change, said yesterday he would "probably not" replace interim Kiki Vandeweghe, who has compiled a 4-28 record and this week lost assistant coach Del Harris. - NY Post
Said Ray Allen, who scored 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting, “Right now we can’t say that we’re better than Orlando. We can’t say that we’re better than Atlanta. We can’t say that we’re better than the Lakers. They beat us. It’s all about what’s in the pudding, and right now, we don’t have the proof.’’ - Boston Globe
For the first time in their marriage as superstar player and neophyte head coach, Dwyane Wade has publicly and pointedly taken issue with the approach of Erik Spoelstra. In the wake of Saturday's 95-91 loss in Chicago, a loss that extended the Heat's losing streak to five, the longest in Spoelstra's two seasons as coach, Wade said predictability has contributed to the team's series of late-game struggles. - South Florida Sun-Sentinel
In the strongest comments yet by a players' union official since NBA owners made a new collective bargaining proposal, first vice president Adonal Foyle of the Orlando Magic said the offer put forth last week by commissioner David Stern's office was "ludicrous." That was the first word out of Foyle's mouth when he was asked Sunday to characterize the owners' new labor proposal, which was given to the union late last week as the sides took one of the first major steps toward replacing the collective bargaining agreement that expires at the end of the 2010-11 season. - ESPN
Memphis (26-24) has dropped three straight games for the first time since beginning the season 1-8, which included a seven-game losing streak. The Grizzlies' loss last Saturday at Minnesota also was their fifth in the past six games. Memphis, which had won 15 of its previous 19 contests to ascend to a seventh seed in the Western Conference postseason standings, now sits 21/2 games back from the eighth and final playoff spot. - Memphis Commercial Appeal
Whether dealing with teams throwing zones around the paint, switching on the perimeter, double-teaming Landry when he catches passes or starts moves, or Saturday's return of defensive fronting, the Rockets' offense has been fragile, breaking when hit with something different. This might come with the offensive limitations of a roster built around Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady now relying heavily on Aaron Brooks and Landry. - Houston Chronicle
It took just a matter of seconds for the Celtics to realize just how much they had missed Marquis Daniels. The man is a walking mismatch for opponents, and immediately he threw a wrench into the Magic’s plans yesterday. Orlando has gotten quite a bit from J.J. Redick off its bench, but after a few minutes with Daniels on his case, Redick had to be hooked and reeled back in to the bench. - Boston Herald
Indications are it won't be easy. CBSSports.com, citing a person familiar with the document, reported that the first proposal the league sent the union last week called for a reduction of the players' share of the basketball-related income from 57% to below 50%, as well as reductions in the length and amount of maximum value contracts, and elements of a "hard" salary cap to replace the current system that forces teams exceeding the cap to pay a luxury tax. - Toronto Sun Wire Services
If (76ers GM) Stefanski himself acknowledges, "We're a better team in the open court," and everyone knows the Princeton offense requires a credible point guard and a shooter to be successful, it's not hard to figure out why the Sixers, riding high right now, are still 12 games below .500. - Philadelphia Inquirer
At the same time, there have been talks with Phoenix (and probably every other team). The Suns, for example, are supposedly interested in taking Iguodala and Dalembert for Amare Stoudemire ($17.7 million next season, with a right to terminate early, with a contract that reportedly includes a trade kicker). The Rockets were said to have renewed interest in Iguodala and Dalembert for Tracy McGrady's expiring $23 million contract. - Philadelphia Daily News
Until Thorn knows about his situation, there's not much he can do. Thorn, who previously said he had no plans for a coaching change, said yesterday he would "probably not" replace interim Kiki Vandeweghe, who has compiled a 4-28 record and this week lost assistant coach Del Harris. - New York Post
Mike D'Antoni is ready to reinstall Chris Duhon as the Knicks starting point guard, and also wants to make him a quasi-assistant coach as he seeks more input from the players. The Post has learned Duhon and D'Antoni held an important meeting in their Cleveland hotel Saturday afternoon as the desperate Knicks coach picked his captain's brain on the Knicks' troubles for 30 minutes. - New York Post
With D'Antoni saying Nate Robinson is "a shooting guard," it exacerbates their need for point guard help at the Feb. 18 trade deadline and they have been linked to Bobcats point guard Acie Law, who has been given permission to talk to other clubs. - New York Post
Dr. Charles A. Czeisler, chief of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, spoke to the Celtics Saturday in preparation for the upcoming West Coast trip. The Celtics have altered their training schedule to allow players at least eight hours of sleep nightly. “He’ll show you exactly what it does to your body, if you don’t have eight hours of sleep, from the fatigue to not having your balance, all these different things,’’ Allen said. “Since I’ve been in the league, certain games, you don’t know why you just lost games - I think, sometimes, lack of sleep. I’ve always thought we sleep too much as athletes, but it’s more like we need it, and that’s part of the job." - The Boston Globe
This summer, the Wolves must decide whether they will extend Gomes' conditional five-year contract he signed two summers ago and pay him $4.2 million for next season. If they decide not to do so, he will be paid about $1 million for each of those remaining three seasons. It's an unusual contractual arrangement that was agreed upon long before David Kahn took over as Wolves boss last spring. - Minneapolis Star Tribune
The Bulls will return to practice today with an assumption that Tyrus Thomas will be back ready to play after serving a one-game team suspension. The Bulls did find a quick replacement, though. Power forward Chris Richard, in his second game since signing a 10-day contract, played 20 minutes and grabbed 7 rebounds in the Bulls' 95-91 win over Miami. - Aurora Daily Herald
Though team president Danny Ainge has publicly ridiculed the Allen trade reports, several NBA executives told CBSSports.com that the Celtics have been actively trying to parlay Ray Allen's $19.7 million expiring contract into an asset that could keep them in the mix during the upcoming playoffs and also help them for the next several seasons. The most recent inquiry, sources say, involved Sacramento sharpshooter Kevin Martin, who'd be a good fit with Boston's remaining core. - CBS Sports
Warriors guard Monta Ellis isn't buying it, though. While acknowledging the team has chemistry issues, he suggested the Warriors' lack in that area doesn't cover all of their ills. He said chemistry is built in training camp — in which center Chris Hunter, forward Anthony Tolliver, swingman Coby Karl, forward Vladimir Radmanovic, and forward Devean George did not participate — but in the meantime the team can pay attention to detail. - Contra Costa Times
Jerry Sloan now readily acknowledges, with the benefit of hindsight, that perhaps Andrei Kirilenko hasn't been used properly over the years. But lately the Jazz's starting small forward has been playing like the NBA All-Star he once was. Playing like when he stars for his homeland on the world stage. Playing like someone living up to, if such a notion actually is possible, his $16.44 million season-long salary. But why? Why now, and why not previously? Curious minds want to know just what's behind the recent resurgence of the lanky Russian, which not so coincidentally at all coincides roughly with a stretch in which the Jazz have won eight straight and 12 of their last 13 games. - Deseret News
Owner Mark Cuban said publicly that changes are coming, and Dallas — one of the few teams not terrified of the expected smaller salary cap — is on the phones hard, according to sources. The Mavericks have more than $17 million worth of expiring contracts, including forward Josh Howard, who has an $11.8 million team option for next season. - Contra Costa Times Blog
The departure of Del Harris Tuesday night came only two days after his agent, Warren LeGarie, approached Nets president Rod Thorn about the possibility that his client become the team’s head coach. This exchange, according to two NBA officials privy to the conversation who requested anonymity because they are friendly with both sides, took place at Izod Center. LeGarie, one of the game’s heaviest hitters, told Thorn the Nets would be better off letting Harris take over and moving Kiki Vandeweghe back to the front office, if only to begin preparation for 2010-11. - Newark Star Ledger
Nets: If there is change, it could come after the All-Star break. Team president Rod Thorn will meet with Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov and likely will learn his own fate. Prokhorov is expected to be approved as the Nets' new owner next month. Until Thorn knows about his situation, there's not much he can do. Thorn, who previously said he had no plans for a coaching change, said yesterday he would "probably not" replace interim Kiki Vandeweghe, who has compiled a 4-28 record and this week lost assistant coach Del Harris. - NY Post
Said Ray Allen, who scored 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting, “Right now we can’t say that we’re better than Orlando. We can’t say that we’re better than Atlanta. We can’t say that we’re better than the Lakers. They beat us. It’s all about what’s in the pudding, and right now, we don’t have the proof.’’ - Boston Globe
For the first time in their marriage as superstar player and neophyte head coach, Dwyane Wade has publicly and pointedly taken issue with the approach of Erik Spoelstra. In the wake of Saturday's 95-91 loss in Chicago, a loss that extended the Heat's losing streak to five, the longest in Spoelstra's two seasons as coach, Wade said predictability has contributed to the team's series of late-game struggles. - South Florida Sun-Sentinel
In the strongest comments yet by a players' union official since NBA owners made a new collective bargaining proposal, first vice president Adonal Foyle of the Orlando Magic said the offer put forth last week by commissioner David Stern's office was "ludicrous." That was the first word out of Foyle's mouth when he was asked Sunday to characterize the owners' new labor proposal, which was given to the union late last week as the sides took one of the first major steps toward replacing the collective bargaining agreement that expires at the end of the 2010-11 season. - ESPN
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