Caron Butler is moving on with mixed emotions. The Racine native was traded Saturday by the Washington Wizards to the Dallas Mavericks in a seven-player transaction. Butler, a two-time All-Star, said he's delighted to be joining a championship-caliber team in the Mavericks, who are hoping Butler is the missing piece to a title run. "I'm very happy to be headed to Dallas and having a chance to compete for a title,'' Butler said in a text message. "I've truly been blessed to play here in Washington.'' - Racine Journal-Times
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns are closing in on a deal that would send All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire to Cleveland, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. - ESPN
According to a team official, even though the Cavs are heavily involved in talks with several teams and are working hard to finalize trade packages, they have not yet decided to do anything. One of the biggest internal debates the Cavs are having, and that includes James, is whether they should pull the trigger on any deal. Team owner Dan Gilbert's checkbook is open, as the team will set a franchise record for revenue this season. But Gilbert is also said to be happy with the way the team is playing and isn't pushing for any change. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
According to sources, there’s a fear among some members of the Cavs’ organization that, while Stoudemire would be a good long-term pairing with LeBron, incorporating him on the floor with Shaq might present too difficult an adjustment for the rest of the season. In Phoenix, Shaq and Stoudemire were unable to make the low-post, high-post thing work – and that was with a world-class point guard, Steve Nash. With the Cavs, Shaq and Amar’e clogging the middle might frustrate LeBron and turn him into too much of a jump shooter. - CBS Sports
But the Wizards aren't necessarily looking to just move high-salaried players. One team insider told me that the Wizards would have to eventually consider breaking up the foursome of Andray Blatche, Nick Young, Dominic McGuire and JaVale McGee. - Washington Post
The Wizards (17-33) had begun the season aiming as high as a fourth-place finish in the East. Instead, the team has decided to "jumpstart summer right now by getting rid of a lot of dead wood," said a source close to the team on Friday. "When you do that now, you give the scars time to heal. Why hang on to everybody. It's quite obvious this group is pretty much done with themselves, as it's constructed." - Washington Examiner
The Lakers have tried to move Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic to shed some salary before Thursday’s trade deadline. One league source the Lakers have even had discussions with one of their Pacific Division rivals: the Blazers. The Blazers, the source said, seem more focused on landing a big man. - Yahoo! Sports
That source and another said the C’s have checked to see what Allen and his expiring contract are worth on the market. “It’s pretty clear from talking to them that they still think he can play - and not just this year,” said the latter. “Danny (Ainge) says he’s reluctant to trade him, and I believe him. But I think they know if they want to make something big happen they have to be willing to (talk) about Allen. So much of this is about contracts and when things expire.” Numerous reports said the Celtics have been trying to get 6-9 Antawn Jamison from Washington, but that does not appear to be the case. Multiple sources insist the Celts have never had such interest. - Boston Herald
Also, a team source confirmed that Celtics coach Doc Rivers and Bobcats coach Larry Brown have talked about how their teams possibly match up in a trade. The Bobcats have a surplus of point guards (D.J. Augustin, Raymond Felton) and are seeking a center or power forward. Brown has long been interested in Rasheed Wallace. - Boston Globe
Ric Bucher at the All-Star Game: "Joe Johnson's quiet nature has extended to his place in the 2010 free-agent class: most talent experts around the league consider him one of the three best shooting guards in the league, but his name generally hasn't been grouped with Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and the other superstars expected to be available this summer. Some of that could be because the belief around the league is Johnson will elect to re-up with the Hawks or go to the Knicks, where he has a chance to be the mega-star he -- again, quietly -- believes himself to be. It's a matter of comfort for Johnson, said one GM. - ESPN
The Knicks continue to pursue Thomas in a package that would send Al Harrington and his $10 million expiring contract to Chicago. Harrington’s movement-killing tendencies on offense are frustrating coach Mike D’Antoni, who believes Thomas’ length and athleticism would be a good long-term fit. In any event, D’Antoni would get to look at Thomas in his system for the rest of the season before deciding whether to retain him as a restricted free agent. - CBS Sports
The Heat has had trade discussions with Phoenix, Memphis, Houston, Portland, Charlotte, Sacramento and Boston, league sources said. Arison would not name players Miami has offered, but Miami has about $40 million in expiring contracts and as many as two first-round draft picks to barter. If Beasley is not in play, any major trade essentially would have to involve the expiring deals of center Jermaine O'Neal ($23 million), forward Udonis Haslem ($7 million) or swingman Quentin Richardson ($8.7 million). - Miami Herald
Although the Sixers have managed to stay out of the current trade-rumor mill, they're far from shut down as this trading deadline approaches. According to one source, they're progressing forward on a few options. Change is not necessarily likely, but possible. - Philadelphia Inquirer
With teammates Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo sitting courtside, Pierce used gamesmanship to disrupt the rhythm of his opponents. Pierce knocked a ball off the rack and pulled the velcro on one of Curry’s shoes when Curry had a chance to surpass Pierce in the final round. “My theme was I was trying to get in their heads over there,’’ Pierce said. “I was talking to them, unlacing their shoelaces, throwing the ball off the ball rack, anything to try to get an edge, it seemed to work.’’ - Boston Globe
Atlanta center Al Horford said he could understand why some Bucks fans were upset that he, instead of Bucks center Andrew Bogut, was chosen as a replacement player on the Eastern Conference All-Star game. "I can't control how the coaches feel and how they pick players,'' said Horford, the son of former Bucks center Tito Horford. "Bogut is having a great year. Bogut is a great player. "I feel my team is having a really good year and the coaches acknowledged that by picking me.'' - Racine Journal-Times
Seeing how their paths have split since that season is a lesson in how funny the league is. “I was fortunate to be in a great situation,’’ Rondo said. “Being drafted 21 was better than being drafted in the top three or four. I probably would have been on a team that wasn’t as good. Even though we weren’t good my first year, we made a change in one year and won a championship. “I was very, I guess you would say, immature, but I matured each year. I came in the league at 20 years old. I’m just trying to continue to learn more.’’ - Boston Globe
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns are closing in on a deal that would send All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire to Cleveland, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. - ESPN
According to a team official, even though the Cavs are heavily involved in talks with several teams and are working hard to finalize trade packages, they have not yet decided to do anything. One of the biggest internal debates the Cavs are having, and that includes James, is whether they should pull the trigger on any deal. Team owner Dan Gilbert's checkbook is open, as the team will set a franchise record for revenue this season. But Gilbert is also said to be happy with the way the team is playing and isn't pushing for any change. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
According to sources, there’s a fear among some members of the Cavs’ organization that, while Stoudemire would be a good long-term pairing with LeBron, incorporating him on the floor with Shaq might present too difficult an adjustment for the rest of the season. In Phoenix, Shaq and Stoudemire were unable to make the low-post, high-post thing work – and that was with a world-class point guard, Steve Nash. With the Cavs, Shaq and Amar’e clogging the middle might frustrate LeBron and turn him into too much of a jump shooter. - CBS Sports
But the Wizards aren't necessarily looking to just move high-salaried players. One team insider told me that the Wizards would have to eventually consider breaking up the foursome of Andray Blatche, Nick Young, Dominic McGuire and JaVale McGee. - Washington Post
The Wizards (17-33) had begun the season aiming as high as a fourth-place finish in the East. Instead, the team has decided to "jumpstart summer right now by getting rid of a lot of dead wood," said a source close to the team on Friday. "When you do that now, you give the scars time to heal. Why hang on to everybody. It's quite obvious this group is pretty much done with themselves, as it's constructed." - Washington Examiner
The Lakers have tried to move Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic to shed some salary before Thursday’s trade deadline. One league source the Lakers have even had discussions with one of their Pacific Division rivals: the Blazers. The Blazers, the source said, seem more focused on landing a big man. - Yahoo! Sports
That source and another said the C’s have checked to see what Allen and his expiring contract are worth on the market. “It’s pretty clear from talking to them that they still think he can play - and not just this year,” said the latter. “Danny (Ainge) says he’s reluctant to trade him, and I believe him. But I think they know if they want to make something big happen they have to be willing to (talk) about Allen. So much of this is about contracts and when things expire.” Numerous reports said the Celtics have been trying to get 6-9 Antawn Jamison from Washington, but that does not appear to be the case. Multiple sources insist the Celts have never had such interest. - Boston Herald
Also, a team source confirmed that Celtics coach Doc Rivers and Bobcats coach Larry Brown have talked about how their teams possibly match up in a trade. The Bobcats have a surplus of point guards (D.J. Augustin, Raymond Felton) and are seeking a center or power forward. Brown has long been interested in Rasheed Wallace. - Boston Globe
Ric Bucher at the All-Star Game: "Joe Johnson's quiet nature has extended to his place in the 2010 free-agent class: most talent experts around the league consider him one of the three best shooting guards in the league, but his name generally hasn't been grouped with Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and the other superstars expected to be available this summer. Some of that could be because the belief around the league is Johnson will elect to re-up with the Hawks or go to the Knicks, where he has a chance to be the mega-star he -- again, quietly -- believes himself to be. It's a matter of comfort for Johnson, said one GM. - ESPN
The Knicks continue to pursue Thomas in a package that would send Al Harrington and his $10 million expiring contract to Chicago. Harrington’s movement-killing tendencies on offense are frustrating coach Mike D’Antoni, who believes Thomas’ length and athleticism would be a good long-term fit. In any event, D’Antoni would get to look at Thomas in his system for the rest of the season before deciding whether to retain him as a restricted free agent. - CBS Sports
The Heat has had trade discussions with Phoenix, Memphis, Houston, Portland, Charlotte, Sacramento and Boston, league sources said. Arison would not name players Miami has offered, but Miami has about $40 million in expiring contracts and as many as two first-round draft picks to barter. If Beasley is not in play, any major trade essentially would have to involve the expiring deals of center Jermaine O'Neal ($23 million), forward Udonis Haslem ($7 million) or swingman Quentin Richardson ($8.7 million). - Miami Herald
Although the Sixers have managed to stay out of the current trade-rumor mill, they're far from shut down as this trading deadline approaches. According to one source, they're progressing forward on a few options. Change is not necessarily likely, but possible. - Philadelphia Inquirer
With teammates Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo sitting courtside, Pierce used gamesmanship to disrupt the rhythm of his opponents. Pierce knocked a ball off the rack and pulled the velcro on one of Curry’s shoes when Curry had a chance to surpass Pierce in the final round. “My theme was I was trying to get in their heads over there,’’ Pierce said. “I was talking to them, unlacing their shoelaces, throwing the ball off the ball rack, anything to try to get an edge, it seemed to work.’’ - Boston Globe
Atlanta center Al Horford said he could understand why some Bucks fans were upset that he, instead of Bucks center Andrew Bogut, was chosen as a replacement player on the Eastern Conference All-Star game. "I can't control how the coaches feel and how they pick players,'' said Horford, the son of former Bucks center Tito Horford. "Bogut is having a great year. Bogut is a great player. "I feel my team is having a really good year and the coaches acknowledged that by picking me.'' - Racine Journal-Times
Seeing how their paths have split since that season is a lesson in how funny the league is. “I was fortunate to be in a great situation,’’ Rondo said. “Being drafted 21 was better than being drafted in the top three or four. I probably would have been on a team that wasn’t as good. Even though we weren’t good my first year, we made a change in one year and won a championship. “I was very, I guess you would say, immature, but I matured each year. I came in the league at 20 years old. I’m just trying to continue to learn more.’’ - Boston Globe
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