The New York Knicks are getting closer to reaching the Houston Rockets’ demands for Tracy McGrady and his $23 million expiring contract, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Knicks and Rockets have designed the framework of a deal that would unload New York’s Jared Jeffries Jordan Hill and either Al Harrington or Larry Hughes for McGrady, Joey Dorsey and Brian Cook. - Yahoo! Sports
What's important in the McGrady situation is that there are some members of the Knicks organization who think McGrady can still play, others who want to go to Tim Grover's gym and take a closer look. As of last week, the Rockets hadn't granted anyone permission to inspect T-Mac in Chicago. - ESPN
They had reportedly offered center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, promising young power forward J.J. Hickson and another player to the Suns for Stoudemire. The source said judging from the changing winds of the NBA, it's not totally out of the question that the Cavs could still make a deal for Stoudemire. - News-Herald
Sources say chances remain strong that the Cavs land either Jamison or Stoudemire by Thursday as they try to add one more piece to fortify LeBron James for a championship run. Speaking after the All-Star Game Sunday night, Stoudemire fondly recalled having played with James on the 2004 Olympic team, and the possibility of a reunion with James and Shaquille O'Neal -- Stoudemire's former teammate in Phoenix -- dominated the All-Star story lines. - CBS Sports
As the Portland Trail Blazers make trade proposals around the league, one name keeps popping up: Steve Blake. This time, Blake has been offered with Travis Outlaw to the Los Angeles Clippers for center Marcus Camby, a league source told Yahoo! Sports. It’s also believed that the Blazers will add cash to the bid. All three players have expiring contracts, so it would likely take an additional ingredient – cash and or a second-round draft pick – to convince the Clippers to give up Camby for this package. - Yahoo! Sports
The San Antonio Spurs’ front office is working with Roger Mason’s agent to trade the veteran guard to a team where he can have a significant role. “Roger had a terrific season last year after the Spurs had a bunch of injuries, and now that everyone is back healthy and his minutes are limited, the Spurs are trying to do the right thing and find a good spot for him,” Mason’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, told Yahoo! Sports on Monday. - Yahoo! Sports
The Miami Heat is heavily involved in trade discussions with multiple teams, but it is not inclined to deal forward Michael Beasley before Thursday's deadline. Heat owner Micky Arison confirmed Saturday that Miami is in the middle of numerous proposals, but he denied that Beasley is being shopped in any of the deals being discussed. - Miami Herald
Celtics president Danny Ainge has said it's "unlikely" that his team will pull off a deal before the deadline. But numerous GMs around the league say Boston has been active in trying to make things happen. To quote one general manager who spoke with Ainge in the past 48 hours, "I get the feeling Boston's getting desperate." - ESPN
As I mentioned in today's live chat, the Washington Wizards are not done dealing. And their next priority is moving $2.6 million in salary to get below the luxury tax line. For practical purposes, that means they are trying to include Mike James and his expiring $6.47 million contract in a package with Antawn Jamison ($11.6 million) and/or Mike Miller ($9.8 million), and they'd do a lopsided trade that favored the other team if it got them under the tax. - ESPN
Portland is the team out there seeking a big man, but they are not offering a lot. I am told the best offer they make for Brendan Haywood was Steve Blake and the rights to Petteri Koponen. I'm sure they could get Diop for less, but he is owed nearly $21 milion over the next three years, so I don't see Portland or anyone else having much interest. - ESPN
The word out of the All-Star Game late Sunday had the Lakers recruiting the Portland Trail Blazers as a third team in trade talks with the Bulls. According to one source familiar with the discussions, the Lakers would get Hinrich, the Bulls would get Adam Morrison, Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw and Juwan Howard, and the Blazers would land Tyrus Thomas and Sasha Vujacic. Such a deal would lessen the amount of money the Lakers would be adding to their payroll next season. - ESPN
Yahoo! Sports reported that the Denver Nuggets are interested in Wallace, and several other teams could use a rebounder/defender of Wallace's stature. Yahoo! Sports reported that the Denver Nuggets are interested in Wallace, and several other teams could use a rebounder/defender of Wallace's stature. - Detroit News
The Chicago Bulls have re-signed forward Chris Richard to a second 10-day contract, the team announced on Monday. Richard originally signed a 10-day contract with the Bulls on Feb. 5. The 6-foot-9, 256-pound forward has averaged 2.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game with the Bulls. - ESPN
Chris, Do you buy Stern's woe is me tales from the owners and losing $400M. Would think that if this was true, more owners would be trying to sell so they wouldn't lose more money. Sounds like "fuzzy math" to me. I always take David at his word. The union does not, and the union doesn't believe Stern when he throws that number around. That general atmosphere of mistrust will be a key factor as this labor situation moves ahead. I have a column on the subject that'll be up on the ESPN.com main NBA page later today, so please go give it a read. - ESPN
“We can dream, can’t we?” said Wade provocatively, no doubt looking forward to the possibility of James joining him on South Beach to dominate the league. James was more subdued about the possibility. “[Wade]’s a great player,” said James. “You love to play alongside guys as great, guys that want to win, guys that compete at a high level every night. So we’ll see.” - ESPN
Although the biggest names of the impending free-agent class are LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, the player involved in the most speculation is Chris Bosh because it's assumed he'll leave the Toronto Raptors at the end of the season. ''It doesn't bother me,'' Bosh said of the speculation. ''I think it bothers the people of Toronto more so. I'm just curious as to why. Everywhere I hear, 'He's gone, he's gone,' and I just want to know why people say that.'' - Chicago Sun-Times
If there’s one trade offer that would be likeliest to usurp the Cavs’ proposal, it would be the Philadelphia 76ers softening on their stance that they won’t include Andre Iguodala with Sam Dalembert in a package for Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa. The Suns had been receptive to that deal, despite the belief of some in the league that Phoenix owner Robert Sarver doesn’t want to take on future contracts, just shed them. - Yahoo! Sports
While multiple league sources indicated there are other suitors for the Suns' talented big man, signs continue to grow that Stoudemire will be moved and that the Cavs are the leading candidate to land him. James, who scored 25 points in the Eastern Conference's 141-139 win over the Western Conference in the All-Star Game, said he's waiting on word that the deal has been finalized. "I'm aware of the talks just like everybody else," James said. "I don't get caught up into it until I hear from the GM that the deal has actually happened." - Cleveland Plain Dealer
The Miami Heat desperately want Stoudemire to play with Dwyane Wade, but don’t have a combination of young players, expiring contracts and picks that appeal to the Suns. The Heat are trying to find a third team to give the Suns an acceptable young player, but one league source involved in the process said, “It will have to include a piece I would be shocked to see them obtain.” - Yahoo! Sports
A follow-up question asked James if he would like to play with Stoudemire and whether he had talked to him this week. "Didn't talk about it at all this week with him," James said. "I think Amar'e has been hearing the trade rumors all season. That's the last thing I wanted to bring up with him about being traded or having -- being a teammate as he is. He's one of the premier athletes that we have in our game, but you know, we'll se if it happens. But it's all speculation. There's a lot of speculation that goes on. The only deal that has gotten done is between Dallas and Washington that we know for usre. Other than that, everything else is just talk." - Arizona Republic
If Cleveland and Phoenix are unable to work out a deal, the Cavaliers reportedly have agreed to acquire Indiana forward Troy Murphy for Ilgauskas and Hickson. The team that picks up Ilgauskas would probably waive him, allowing him to go back to Cleveland in 30 days while providing salary-cap relief. - Los Angeles Times
The Suns and Stoudemire camps exchanged contract extension proposals Friday in Dallas with the Suns offering an additional two years beyond Stoudemire's $17.7 million player option for the 2010-11 season. The Suns' main immediate basketball benefit in the mentioned trade scenario appears to be Hickson, a good pick-and-roll player who the Suns liked for his work ethic and toughness when he was in the 2008 draft and was taken 19th by Cleveland. The 21-year-old North Carolina State product has averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in about 21 minutes per game this season, including a 20-point game Thursday against Orlando. - Arizona Republic
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.” - Boston Herald
Nevertheless, here are two developments to watch with Thomas: Several league executives suggested the Minnesota Timberwolves could be a sleeper for him. Minnesota general manager David Kahn has been researching Thomas and has plenty of assets – three 2010 first-round picks, multiple second-rounders and a host of expiring contracts – to make it happen. Once the Timberwolves trade Al Jefferson this summer, they can re-sign Thomas and plug him into the frontline with Kevin Love. Jefferson is expected to be traded for a talented, young small forward. - Yahoo! Sports
Terry, the league's Sixth Man of the Year last season, moved into the starting lineup last month after struggling and has since regained his shooting touch. Terry said he talked with coach Rick Carlisle over the weekend and agreed that that the Mavericks are better off with him coming off the bench. "I've been there," Terry said after playing wounded soldier Sgt. William Moleon in a game of EA Sports NBA Live that was broadcast on the massive video screens at Cowboys Stadium. "Why would you make a guy like that come in and make a huge adjustment? He's already making an adjustment to a new city. We want to make him as comfortable as we can to make the process as smooth as we can." - ESPN
What's important in the McGrady situation is that there are some members of the Knicks organization who think McGrady can still play, others who want to go to Tim Grover's gym and take a closer look. As of last week, the Rockets hadn't granted anyone permission to inspect T-Mac in Chicago. - ESPN
They had reportedly offered center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, promising young power forward J.J. Hickson and another player to the Suns for Stoudemire. The source said judging from the changing winds of the NBA, it's not totally out of the question that the Cavs could still make a deal for Stoudemire. - News-Herald
Sources say chances remain strong that the Cavs land either Jamison or Stoudemire by Thursday as they try to add one more piece to fortify LeBron James for a championship run. Speaking after the All-Star Game Sunday night, Stoudemire fondly recalled having played with James on the 2004 Olympic team, and the possibility of a reunion with James and Shaquille O'Neal -- Stoudemire's former teammate in Phoenix -- dominated the All-Star story lines. - CBS Sports
As the Portland Trail Blazers make trade proposals around the league, one name keeps popping up: Steve Blake. This time, Blake has been offered with Travis Outlaw to the Los Angeles Clippers for center Marcus Camby, a league source told Yahoo! Sports. It’s also believed that the Blazers will add cash to the bid. All three players have expiring contracts, so it would likely take an additional ingredient – cash and or a second-round draft pick – to convince the Clippers to give up Camby for this package. - Yahoo! Sports
The San Antonio Spurs’ front office is working with Roger Mason’s agent to trade the veteran guard to a team where he can have a significant role. “Roger had a terrific season last year after the Spurs had a bunch of injuries, and now that everyone is back healthy and his minutes are limited, the Spurs are trying to do the right thing and find a good spot for him,” Mason’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, told Yahoo! Sports on Monday. - Yahoo! Sports
The Miami Heat is heavily involved in trade discussions with multiple teams, but it is not inclined to deal forward Michael Beasley before Thursday's deadline. Heat owner Micky Arison confirmed Saturday that Miami is in the middle of numerous proposals, but he denied that Beasley is being shopped in any of the deals being discussed. - Miami Herald
Celtics president Danny Ainge has said it's "unlikely" that his team will pull off a deal before the deadline. But numerous GMs around the league say Boston has been active in trying to make things happen. To quote one general manager who spoke with Ainge in the past 48 hours, "I get the feeling Boston's getting desperate." - ESPN
As I mentioned in today's live chat, the Washington Wizards are not done dealing. And their next priority is moving $2.6 million in salary to get below the luxury tax line. For practical purposes, that means they are trying to include Mike James and his expiring $6.47 million contract in a package with Antawn Jamison ($11.6 million) and/or Mike Miller ($9.8 million), and they'd do a lopsided trade that favored the other team if it got them under the tax. - ESPN
Portland is the team out there seeking a big man, but they are not offering a lot. I am told the best offer they make for Brendan Haywood was Steve Blake and the rights to Petteri Koponen. I'm sure they could get Diop for less, but he is owed nearly $21 milion over the next three years, so I don't see Portland or anyone else having much interest. - ESPN
The word out of the All-Star Game late Sunday had the Lakers recruiting the Portland Trail Blazers as a third team in trade talks with the Bulls. According to one source familiar with the discussions, the Lakers would get Hinrich, the Bulls would get Adam Morrison, Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw and Juwan Howard, and the Blazers would land Tyrus Thomas and Sasha Vujacic. Such a deal would lessen the amount of money the Lakers would be adding to their payroll next season. - ESPN
Yahoo! Sports reported that the Denver Nuggets are interested in Wallace, and several other teams could use a rebounder/defender of Wallace's stature. Yahoo! Sports reported that the Denver Nuggets are interested in Wallace, and several other teams could use a rebounder/defender of Wallace's stature. - Detroit News
The Chicago Bulls have re-signed forward Chris Richard to a second 10-day contract, the team announced on Monday. Richard originally signed a 10-day contract with the Bulls on Feb. 5. The 6-foot-9, 256-pound forward has averaged 2.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game with the Bulls. - ESPN
Chris, Do you buy Stern's woe is me tales from the owners and losing $400M. Would think that if this was true, more owners would be trying to sell so they wouldn't lose more money. Sounds like "fuzzy math" to me. I always take David at his word. The union does not, and the union doesn't believe Stern when he throws that number around. That general atmosphere of mistrust will be a key factor as this labor situation moves ahead. I have a column on the subject that'll be up on the ESPN.com main NBA page later today, so please go give it a read. - ESPN
“We can dream, can’t we?” said Wade provocatively, no doubt looking forward to the possibility of James joining him on South Beach to dominate the league. James was more subdued about the possibility. “[Wade]’s a great player,” said James. “You love to play alongside guys as great, guys that want to win, guys that compete at a high level every night. So we’ll see.” - ESPN
Although the biggest names of the impending free-agent class are LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, the player involved in the most speculation is Chris Bosh because it's assumed he'll leave the Toronto Raptors at the end of the season. ''It doesn't bother me,'' Bosh said of the speculation. ''I think it bothers the people of Toronto more so. I'm just curious as to why. Everywhere I hear, 'He's gone, he's gone,' and I just want to know why people say that.'' - Chicago Sun-Times
If there’s one trade offer that would be likeliest to usurp the Cavs’ proposal, it would be the Philadelphia 76ers softening on their stance that they won’t include Andre Iguodala with Sam Dalembert in a package for Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa. The Suns had been receptive to that deal, despite the belief of some in the league that Phoenix owner Robert Sarver doesn’t want to take on future contracts, just shed them. - Yahoo! Sports
While multiple league sources indicated there are other suitors for the Suns' talented big man, signs continue to grow that Stoudemire will be moved and that the Cavs are the leading candidate to land him. James, who scored 25 points in the Eastern Conference's 141-139 win over the Western Conference in the All-Star Game, said he's waiting on word that the deal has been finalized. "I'm aware of the talks just like everybody else," James said. "I don't get caught up into it until I hear from the GM that the deal has actually happened." - Cleveland Plain Dealer
The Miami Heat desperately want Stoudemire to play with Dwyane Wade, but don’t have a combination of young players, expiring contracts and picks that appeal to the Suns. The Heat are trying to find a third team to give the Suns an acceptable young player, but one league source involved in the process said, “It will have to include a piece I would be shocked to see them obtain.” - Yahoo! Sports
A follow-up question asked James if he would like to play with Stoudemire and whether he had talked to him this week. "Didn't talk about it at all this week with him," James said. "I think Amar'e has been hearing the trade rumors all season. That's the last thing I wanted to bring up with him about being traded or having -- being a teammate as he is. He's one of the premier athletes that we have in our game, but you know, we'll se if it happens. But it's all speculation. There's a lot of speculation that goes on. The only deal that has gotten done is between Dallas and Washington that we know for usre. Other than that, everything else is just talk." - Arizona Republic
If Cleveland and Phoenix are unable to work out a deal, the Cavaliers reportedly have agreed to acquire Indiana forward Troy Murphy for Ilgauskas and Hickson. The team that picks up Ilgauskas would probably waive him, allowing him to go back to Cleveland in 30 days while providing salary-cap relief. - Los Angeles Times
The Suns and Stoudemire camps exchanged contract extension proposals Friday in Dallas with the Suns offering an additional two years beyond Stoudemire's $17.7 million player option for the 2010-11 season. The Suns' main immediate basketball benefit in the mentioned trade scenario appears to be Hickson, a good pick-and-roll player who the Suns liked for his work ethic and toughness when he was in the 2008 draft and was taken 19th by Cleveland. The 21-year-old North Carolina State product has averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in about 21 minutes per game this season, including a 20-point game Thursday against Orlando. - Arizona Republic
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.” - Boston Herald
Nevertheless, here are two developments to watch with Thomas: Several league executives suggested the Minnesota Timberwolves could be a sleeper for him. Minnesota general manager David Kahn has been researching Thomas and has plenty of assets – three 2010 first-round picks, multiple second-rounders and a host of expiring contracts – to make it happen. Once the Timberwolves trade Al Jefferson this summer, they can re-sign Thomas and plug him into the frontline with Kevin Love. Jefferson is expected to be traded for a talented, young small forward. - Yahoo! Sports
Terry, the league's Sixth Man of the Year last season, moved into the starting lineup last month after struggling and has since regained his shooting touch. Terry said he talked with coach Rick Carlisle over the weekend and agreed that that the Mavericks are better off with him coming off the bench. "I've been there," Terry said after playing wounded soldier Sgt. William Moleon in a game of EA Sports NBA Live that was broadcast on the massive video screens at Cowboys Stadium. "Why would you make a guy like that come in and make a huge adjustment? He's already making an adjustment to a new city. We want to make him as comfortable as we can to make the process as smooth as we can." - ESPN
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