Few grand conclusions can be drawn from February NBA games. But in this
case, the Celtics' latest disappointing loss only underscored what has
been a poorly kept secret among NBA executives for weeks: Ray Allen's
time in Boston is likely coming to an end.
Thanks to a non-competitive third quarter, the Celtics fell to Orlando
96-89 on Sunday, dropping them to third in the East behind the Cavs and
Magic. The struggling Celtics still have three games against Cleveland
to prove they haven't fallen from elite status. But after going 1-3
against Orlando and 0-4 against Atlanta, the Celtics have reached a
crossroads in their bid to milk one more championship banner out of the
Allen-Paul Pierce-Kevin Garnett era.
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The NBA's Feb. 18 trade deadline is less than two weeks away.
Not sufficiently close enough to prompt teams to make their best offers
... but obviously close enough to merit another round of the latest
chatter from the NBA grapevine as passed along by various league
executives, coaches, players, scouts, insiders, etc.
Amar'e Stoudemire should be content if he's playing at all after the Feb. 18 trade deadline, never mind for which team.
That was a terrible date for the Phoenix forward last season, as he was
poked in the eye during a game against the Clippers and would require
season-ending surgery to repair his retina. It was an anticlimactic end
to his hectic trade season, as the Suns strongly considered moving him
then, just as they are now.
Few grand conclusions can be drawn from February NBA games. But in this
case, the Celtics' latest disappointing loss only underscored what has
been a poorly kept secret among NBA executives for weeks: Ray Allen's
time in Boston is likely coming to an end.
Thanks to a non-competitive third quarter, the Celtics fell to Orlando
96-89 on Sunday, dropping them to third in the East behind the Cavs and
Magic. The struggling Celtics still have three games against Cleveland
to prove they haven't fallen from elite status. But after going 1-3
against Orlando and 0-4 against Atlanta, the Celtics have reached a
crossroads in their bid to milk one more championship banner out of the
Allen-Paul Pierce-Kevin Garnett era.
Trade Rumors: Nuggets had eyes for Jazz's Williams
By Benjamin Hochman
At the NBA All-Star Game next weekend, George Karl will coach Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony.
That could have been an everyday occurrence if fate hadn't detoured.
The Nuggets coach said Saturday that back in 2005, Denver had a trade
on the table with Atlanta, which had the No. 2 pick in the draft. The
plan was for the Nuggets to draft Williams, now an all-star for the
Jazz.
I can't tell you I hear everything, but I do hear some things. We all
have "sources;" some are more reliable than others. I have a handful
that I trust implicitly. Still, I can't guarantee the information is
totally pure, but here is some of it:
While the speculation revolving around Iguodala has been most prevalent
lately, one of my sources who is familiar with the situations of the
Sixers and the Houston Rockets suggests that the Sixers "are not
prepared to break up their team."
Trade Rumors: Jamison headed to Miami. . .for Super Bowl
But should Wizards follow Memphis' lead and move him to Cleveland?
Antawn Jamison wasn't necessarily upset that the Wizards were unable to
get out of Orlando this weekend. Sure, he would've loved to make it
back to Washington and play the Atlanta Hawks at Verizon Center last
night. But since the game was postponed, Jamison had a much easier
commute to Miami, where he plans on watching the New Orleans Saints and
Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl.
Bobby Simmons, away from the team because of a family emergency, is
expected back for Tuesday’s game in Cleveland. But the veteran forward
may not be a Net all season.
Simmons is glued to the Nets’ bench. He has been inactive 13 times this
season and hasn’t played since Jan. 5.
Phoenix's All-Star center, Amare Stoudemire, says the presumption he
will opt out of the final season of his contract with the Suns is
decidedly premature.
It is hard to argue the merits of bypassing a guaranteed $17.7 million.
Trade Rumors: Trade talk follows Dallas Mavericks to West Coast
EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Mavericks got out of town Saturday evening, and the wild
rumor of the day was that their plane to the Bay Area had been equipped
with ejector seats.
The players, a few of them anyway, know they could be jettisoned at any
moment. The Feb. 18 trade deadline is fast approaching, and with four
losses in the last five games and a 9-10 record since Dec. 31, everybody
is on edge.
Trade Rumors: With trade rumors swirling, Butler has best game
Michael Lee
Caron Butler's name has been mentioned in trade rumors for almost a
year, and the talk has only intensified with the Feb. 18 trade deadline
less than two weeks away. He's been rumored to be headed to Dallas, to
Houston, to the Los Angeles Clippers, to New Jersey, to Portland, to
Phoenix.
NEW ORLEANS - The latest trade talk circulating around 76ers swingman
Andre Iguodala has him going with teammate Samuel Dalembert to the
Phoenix Suns for star power forward Amar'e Stoudemire and, possibly,
guard Leandro Barbosa.
Feature Article: Bulls could go from marginal to marvelous by playing their cap right
Ken Berger
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
At the United Center in mid-December, when the Bulls were busy going
through the motions in losses to the Celtics and Lakers, it appeared to
me that Vinny Del Negro knew. He knew it was only a matter of time.
Thorn’s Nets are among the teams hoping to lure at least one of the
three stars this summer. The New York Knicks and Miami Heat – Wade’s
current team – also figure to be among the top bidders. In addition,
the Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder,
Minnesota Timberwolves and perhaps even the Dallas Mavericks will have
(or potentially have) significant salary-cap room to spend on a
free-agent pool that could also include Amar’e Stoudemire, Dirk
Nowitzki, Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer, Rudy
Gay, Shaquille O’Nealand David Lee(notes).
