According to multiple league sources, the Cavs have put their interest in forwards Troy Murphy and Antawn Jamison on the back burner for the moment and are getting serious about a higher-profile name, Phoenix Suns All-Star Amare Stoudemire. Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry and Suns General Manager Steve Kerr, former teammates and friends who have already collaborated on big deals, met this afternoon in Dallas. Suns owner Robert Sarver and Cavs owner Dan Gilbert are also in town and are on the labor relations committee that met. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
Meanwhile, Orlando’s Stan Van Gundy, who is coaching the Eastern Conference for Sunday’s All-Star game, apparently has decided to start Johnson in place of Allen Iverson. Hawks PR man Arthur Triche said Johnson hasn’t been informed but orlandomagic.com is reporting that Van Gundy already made his decision. - Atlanta Journal Constitution
The Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks are closing in on a multi-player trade that will launch Washington's long-anticipated rebuilding project in earnest and send Wizards mainstays Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to the Mavericks, according to sources close to the situation. Although the deal could take until Monday to be finalized, sources said that the teams have essentially agreed on the principal pieces: Butler, Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas for Josh Howard and Drew Gooden. - ESPN
In a dramatic move that would resuscitate their fading championship hopes, the Boston Celtics are discussing a deal with the Washington Wizards for forwards Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Friday. The proposed deal would send the expiring contracts of Ray Allen, Brian Scalabrine and J.R. Giddens to the Wizards, a move that would signal the start of Washington’s rebuilding process. - Yahoo! Sports
The coach remained impressively consistent with his attitude and approach as unfounded rumors of his imminent dismissal surfaced in December. Look for that same unflappability and upbeat demeanor to be evident as the second season in his three-year guaranteed contract winds down. Del Negro has confided to confidantes the likelihood he won't be retained. And all signs continue to point to his departure whenever the season concludes. - Chicago Tribune
O'Neal wasted no time offering his opinion. The first question dealt with the Cavs playing "man-up" defense in the final minutes. "I don't really consider it man-up until you play me straight up," O'Neal said. "When I was coming up there was Pat Ewing and Hakeem [Olajuwon] ... I never doubled anybody. "You tell me," he said, "who the real Superman is." - FanHouse
Portland has joined San Antonio, Denver, Charlotte, and Sacramento in the pursuit of Tyrus Thomas, with one person familiar with the situation characterizing the Blazers as “close” to finding a workable scenario. Rival execs have contradicted that account, saying the Bulls are telling them they need to sweeten their offers. - CBS Sports
Fred Schaus, a former Los Angeles Lakers coach and general manager who mentored Jerry West and Hot Rod Hundley at West Virginia, has died. He was 84. The former West Virginia University coach and athletic director died Wednesday night in Morgantown, said Dan Hastings, a funeral director at Hastings Funeral Home in Morgantown. Schaus had been living in a nursing home. The cause of death wasn't immediately released. - AP
Denver Nuggets coach George Karl has informed league officials that he plans to start Dirk Nowitzki for the West in place of the injured Kobe Bryant in Sunday's All-Star Game, sources told ESPN.com. Sources close to the situation confirmed that Karl -- who is not scheduled to arrive in Dallas until Friday with the Nuggets playing host Thursday night to the Spurs -- will move Nowitzki from the hometown Mavericks into the starting lineup even though he's obviously not a guard. - ESPN
The proposal the NBA sent to the players' association for a new collective bargaining agreement seeks cuts from the biggest superstars down to guys not even in the league yet. A person who has seen the document told The Associated Press on Thursday that first-round picks would have their salaries cut by about one-third and the minimum salary would be reduced by as much as 20 percent. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly about the negotiations. - AP
In a stunning development, 10 All-Stars including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony joined the collective bargaing talks Friday, standing in defiance of commissioner David Stern and the owners' negotiating committee during what was described as a "contentious" and "heated" bargaining session. The owners, according to union chief Billy Hunter, agreed to pull their current proposal off the table, relinquishing ground after hitting the union with demands for a hard salary cap and drastically reduced salaries. - CBS Sports
The Rockets have also been discussing deals for the Wizards for some time and have maintained an interest in Butler and Haywood in a deal featuring Tracy McGrady's $22.5 million expiring contract. - ESPN
Ray Allen’s name has come up in several rumored deals over the last week or so, including ones that would have netted the Celtics Kevin Martin from the Sacramento Kings, or Mota Ellis from the Golden State Warriors. "I have no control over trade rumors people," Allen announced to his fans via his Twitter account Friday. "Let's just focus on being positive. I am a Celtic. Green all day." - ESPN
Karl confirmed Friday he has agreed in principle to a one-year contract extension. One reason the extension, which is for $4.5 million, is for one year is there is expected by many to be an NBA lockout after next season. "I just think it's the circumstances of what the league is,'' Karl said during All-Star Weekend, where he will be the West coach for Sunday's game. "I don't think there are going to be many coaches that sign a contract that is going to pay them in the lockout year. For me, why not be free?'' - FanHouse
Dwyane Wade hasn't been asked about free agency as much as LeBron James has, but surely it's close. He anticipates the question, and has a safe answer at the ready. "I'm in Miami," he told a gaggle of reporters at All-Star weekend. "This is where I want to be." But he did not just leave it there. "I want to make sure," he added, "that we do everything we can to make sure we build a winning program. We do that ... I'm satisfied." - ESPN
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame today named an elite list of players, coaches and teams as finalists to be considered for election to the Hall in 2010. Gaining the honor of being named a Hall of Fame finalist is one of the true highlights of a career in the sport of basketball. This year’s list includes two-time NBA MVP, 14-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz and Scottie Pippen, a six-time NBA champion as a member of the Chicago Bulls and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, both first-time nominees. They will be considered along with previous finalists, such as legendary high school coach Bob Hurley of St. Anthony’s in Jersey City, N.J., and Cynthia Cooper, who helped the Houston Comets win four WNBA titles and aidied the U.S. to Olympic gold (1988) and bronze (1992) medals. - InsideHoops
Mainstays Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton have been rumored to be on the trading block since the season began. But season-long injuries have not only affected their production since returning, but also their trade value. While it would appease Piston fans to make a trade before next Thursday's deadline, the best deals won't come Joe Dumars' way until after the draft lottery on May 18, when every team is in play and the Pistons' pick is known. - Detroit News
Ronnie Brewer will be a free agent at season’s end and the Jazz would have to tender him a $3.8 million qualifying offer just to keep him a restricted free agent. They might have to match an offer sheet with an even bigger number from another team to hold onto Brewer. - Salt Lake Tribune Blog
Meanwhile, Orlando’s Stan Van Gundy, who is coaching the Eastern Conference for Sunday’s All-Star game, apparently has decided to start Johnson in place of Allen Iverson. Hawks PR man Arthur Triche said Johnson hasn’t been informed but orlandomagic.com is reporting that Van Gundy already made his decision. - Atlanta Journal Constitution
The Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks are closing in on a multi-player trade that will launch Washington's long-anticipated rebuilding project in earnest and send Wizards mainstays Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to the Mavericks, according to sources close to the situation. Although the deal could take until Monday to be finalized, sources said that the teams have essentially agreed on the principal pieces: Butler, Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas for Josh Howard and Drew Gooden. - ESPN
In a dramatic move that would resuscitate their fading championship hopes, the Boston Celtics are discussing a deal with the Washington Wizards for forwards Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Friday. The proposed deal would send the expiring contracts of Ray Allen, Brian Scalabrine and J.R. Giddens to the Wizards, a move that would signal the start of Washington’s rebuilding process. - Yahoo! Sports
The coach remained impressively consistent with his attitude and approach as unfounded rumors of his imminent dismissal surfaced in December. Look for that same unflappability and upbeat demeanor to be evident as the second season in his three-year guaranteed contract winds down. Del Negro has confided to confidantes the likelihood he won't be retained. And all signs continue to point to his departure whenever the season concludes. - Chicago Tribune
O'Neal wasted no time offering his opinion. The first question dealt with the Cavs playing "man-up" defense in the final minutes. "I don't really consider it man-up until you play me straight up," O'Neal said. "When I was coming up there was Pat Ewing and Hakeem [Olajuwon] ... I never doubled anybody. "You tell me," he said, "who the real Superman is." - FanHouse
Portland has joined San Antonio, Denver, Charlotte, and Sacramento in the pursuit of Tyrus Thomas, with one person familiar with the situation characterizing the Blazers as “close” to finding a workable scenario. Rival execs have contradicted that account, saying the Bulls are telling them they need to sweeten their offers. - CBS Sports
Fred Schaus, a former Los Angeles Lakers coach and general manager who mentored Jerry West and Hot Rod Hundley at West Virginia, has died. He was 84. The former West Virginia University coach and athletic director died Wednesday night in Morgantown, said Dan Hastings, a funeral director at Hastings Funeral Home in Morgantown. Schaus had been living in a nursing home. The cause of death wasn't immediately released. - AP
Denver Nuggets coach George Karl has informed league officials that he plans to start Dirk Nowitzki for the West in place of the injured Kobe Bryant in Sunday's All-Star Game, sources told ESPN.com. Sources close to the situation confirmed that Karl -- who is not scheduled to arrive in Dallas until Friday with the Nuggets playing host Thursday night to the Spurs -- will move Nowitzki from the hometown Mavericks into the starting lineup even though he's obviously not a guard. - ESPN
The proposal the NBA sent to the players' association for a new collective bargaining agreement seeks cuts from the biggest superstars down to guys not even in the league yet. A person who has seen the document told The Associated Press on Thursday that first-round picks would have their salaries cut by about one-third and the minimum salary would be reduced by as much as 20 percent. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly about the negotiations. - AP
In a stunning development, 10 All-Stars including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony joined the collective bargaing talks Friday, standing in defiance of commissioner David Stern and the owners' negotiating committee during what was described as a "contentious" and "heated" bargaining session. The owners, according to union chief Billy Hunter, agreed to pull their current proposal off the table, relinquishing ground after hitting the union with demands for a hard salary cap and drastically reduced salaries. - CBS Sports
The Rockets have also been discussing deals for the Wizards for some time and have maintained an interest in Butler and Haywood in a deal featuring Tracy McGrady's $22.5 million expiring contract. - ESPN
Ray Allen’s name has come up in several rumored deals over the last week or so, including ones that would have netted the Celtics Kevin Martin from the Sacramento Kings, or Mota Ellis from the Golden State Warriors. "I have no control over trade rumors people," Allen announced to his fans via his Twitter account Friday. "Let's just focus on being positive. I am a Celtic. Green all day." - ESPN
Karl confirmed Friday he has agreed in principle to a one-year contract extension. One reason the extension, which is for $4.5 million, is for one year is there is expected by many to be an NBA lockout after next season. "I just think it's the circumstances of what the league is,'' Karl said during All-Star Weekend, where he will be the West coach for Sunday's game. "I don't think there are going to be many coaches that sign a contract that is going to pay them in the lockout year. For me, why not be free?'' - FanHouse
Dwyane Wade hasn't been asked about free agency as much as LeBron James has, but surely it's close. He anticipates the question, and has a safe answer at the ready. "I'm in Miami," he told a gaggle of reporters at All-Star weekend. "This is where I want to be." But he did not just leave it there. "I want to make sure," he added, "that we do everything we can to make sure we build a winning program. We do that ... I'm satisfied." - ESPN
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame today named an elite list of players, coaches and teams as finalists to be considered for election to the Hall in 2010. Gaining the honor of being named a Hall of Fame finalist is one of the true highlights of a career in the sport of basketball. This year’s list includes two-time NBA MVP, 14-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz and Scottie Pippen, a six-time NBA champion as a member of the Chicago Bulls and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, both first-time nominees. They will be considered along with previous finalists, such as legendary high school coach Bob Hurley of St. Anthony’s in Jersey City, N.J., and Cynthia Cooper, who helped the Houston Comets win four WNBA titles and aidied the U.S. to Olympic gold (1988) and bronze (1992) medals. - InsideHoops
Mainstays Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton have been rumored to be on the trading block since the season began. But season-long injuries have not only affected their production since returning, but also their trade value. While it would appease Piston fans to make a trade before next Thursday's deadline, the best deals won't come Joe Dumars' way until after the draft lottery on May 18, when every team is in play and the Pistons' pick is known. - Detroit News
Ronnie Brewer will be a free agent at season’s end and the Jazz would have to tender him a $3.8 million qualifying offer just to keep him a restricted free agent. They might have to match an offer sheet with an even bigger number from another team to hold onto Brewer. - Salt Lake Tribune Blog
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