The Arizona Republic (Paul Coro) reports: Nothing has changed in the past two weeks as far as the free agents Phoenix is targeting for its 13th man vacancy. Linton Johnson and Bobby Jones still top the list. The Suns are holding off because they have the time to do so, given that the 13th spot does not have to be filled until Friday, and because they are still exploring trades through Thursday’s deadline. Denver’s Yakhouba Diawara and Seattle’s Mickael Gelabele are among the names being mentioned.
Day: February 20, 2008
Spurs may want Kurt Thomas
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Gary Washburn) reports: Former 76ers general manager Billy King of NBATV is reporting the Sonics and Spurs are working out a deal for Kurt Thomas. The Sonics likely would take back former favorite Brent Barry and perhaps Francisco Elson, another impending free agent.
Antoine Walker, Gerald Green want trade
The St. Paul Pioneer Press (Rick Alonzo) reports: The NBA trade deadline passes at 3 p.m. ET Thursday. It remains to be seen whether Antoine Walker and Gerald Green will still be on the Wolves’ roster. Both have expressed frustration with their lack of playing time, to the extent that they want to be traded. “He would love to be traded,” Walker’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said today. “He likes everything about the Wolves, the guys, the coaches. But they’re rebuilding, and he’s in the prime of his career here and wants to play. We understand there’s a divergence in the directions of where he’s going and where the Wolves are going.”
Mike Miller, Kyle Lowry available
The Memphis Flyer (Chris Herrington) reports: We’re about 24 hours from tomorrow’s trade deadline and the odds look pretty good that the Grizzlies could make at least one more deal, with Mike Miller and Kyle Lowry the most likely players to be dealt. People I’ve talked to who are connected with the team tend to think a deal is a 50-50 proposition at this point, but also say that there’s very little tangible information floating around the team offices.
Caron Butler interview on being hurt
Here’s what Caron Butler said to local media today:
Caron Butler on his state of mind after missing his sixth straight game with a left hip flexor strain: “I’ve just been thinking about yesterday’s game, and thinking about the games coming up on Friday and Saturday, and I’m just trying to remain optimistic about getting out there. I just have to see how I feel. It’s a day-to-day thing, and hopefully I’ll feel physically up to it.”
Caron Butler on what it will take for him to return from this injury: “I need to feel good in practice. Pain free. I’m not going to go through a situation in which I step back on the court and the same thing occurs like it did in Philadelphia (on February 5th). Then I will be of no use to the team. I want to come back at 100% so that we can make a push.”
Caron Butler on watching his teammates in his absence: “I just want to get back out there on the court. Yesterday was a game that I felt we could have got, but we fell a little short. The guys really worked their tails off, but something was missing. I felt that if I was out there, we probably would have gotten over the hump. But that’s all speculation, and I still tip my hat off to the guys for working so hard. I’m just frustrated. I want to be out there more than anybody.”
Caron Butler on what he can offer from the sideline: “I’m trying to stay in everyone’s ear as much as possible, but it is different coming from the sideline. That’s why the coaches always emphasize the point that they need a voice on the court. They can be the voice off the court on the sidelines, but you need a voice on the court. Right now, I can’t do that. I can give encouraging words, but it hurts not to be out there.”
Devin Harris out 1-2 more weeks
The AP reports: The New Jersey Nets will probably have to wait at least two weeks before they can begin to gauge how well they made out in Tuesday’s eight-player deal with Dallas. Point guard Devin Harris, who will take Jason Kidd’s place in the Nets’ lineup, said Wednesday the ankle injury that has kept him out for the last three weeks will sideline him for up to two weeks more.
Shaq to play tonight
The Arizona Republic (Paul Coro) reports: Suns center Shaquille O’Neal proclaimed tonight’s home game against the Los Angeles Lakers a new chapter in his career. “The fourth and final chapter,” O’Neal said after this morning’s shootaround. The plan still is to start O’Neal and have him play short spans of time, totaling 20 to 25 minutes. O’Neal has been limited to four games over the past eight weeks by a hip injury that is no longer painful.
Sixers, Mo Cheeks agree to contract extension
Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that the team has agreed in principle to a contract extension with Head Coach Maurice Cheeks. Per team policy, terms of the agreement are not disclosed.
“Since my arrival, I have been evaluating every aspect of the organization and I believe that Coach Cheeks deserves a great deal of credit for developing our players, putting them in a position to succeed and showing improvement every day,” Stefanski said. “Coach Cheeks has done a very good job of installing an up-tempo brand of basketball that puts this team in a position to succeed on a nightly basis and we are excited about the future under his direction.”
Cheeks was named the 21st head coach in franchise history on May 23, 2005 and has posted a 96-122 (.440) mark during that span and has a career record of 258-261 (.497). Prior to joining Philadelphia, he posted a mark of 162-139 (.538) in three-plus seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, helping them reaching the playoffs in each of his first two seasons there. Cheeks spent seven seasons as an assistant coach for the Sixers, working under head coaches John Lucas (1994-96), Johnny Davis (1996-97) and Larry Brown (1997-2001), with whom he helped guide the Sixers to a 56-26 (.683) record and an Eastern Conference title.
Bobcats shoot 28.2 percent vs Spurs
The Charlotte Observer (Rick Bonnell) reports: One bad foot and 11 bad shooters. That sums up the Charlotte Bobcats Tuesday. Their marksmanship was off by record proportions. They shot an all-time low 28.2 percent, leading to an 85-65 loss to the reigning-champion San Antonio Spurs. Forward Gerald Wallace was worst of the worst, missing all nine of his shots, but at least there were circumstances; Wallace was just back from missing five of the previous six games with a strained right foot. He said the injury didn’t affect him physically, but it clearly infested his head.
Ilgauskas to play in Olympics
The Akron Beacon Journal (Brian Windhorst) reports: For years, Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ head and his feet said no. Now he’s able to give the answer he always has had in his heart: Yes. After a few months of thinking about it, Ilgauskas has told the Lithuanian National Team that he will play for it this summer at the Beijing Olympics, a move that has created a lot of excitement among his countrymen. ”I’ve always wanted to do it before I get too old,” said Ilgauskas, who will turn 33 in June. ”I feel like I have a lot of basketball left in me and I can help, and this is probably my last chance.”