NBA players must obey certain rules and often face fines if they do things they aren’t supposed to do.

So, just joking around here, but what would the fine be if a player:

1) Pulled a cellphone out while on the court during a game.

2) Started posting on his blog and on Twitter

3) Demanded a trade, while criticizing the refs

4) Then used his cellphone to strike another player

The Phoenix Suns today traded swingman Alando Tucker, a future conditional second-round pick and cash considerations to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for guard Jason Hart, the team announced.  The Suns have waived Hart.

“We want to thank Alando for his service to our organization,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr.  “He is a high-character person who has been a good teammate and a hard worker since arriving in Phoenix and we appreciate all of his efforts.  We wish him well in Minnesota.”

“I want to thank Jason Hart for being a consummate professional with us,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “This was a very hard trade to make precisely because Jason has been so helpful to our team both on and off the court. We wish him well… “We are eager to have Alando join us this week. Everything we know about him is that he is a hard working young man who has not had the opportunity for significant playing time.”

The 6-6, 205-pound Tucker was originally selected by the Suns with the 29th overall pick (first round) in the 2007 NBA Draft.  In two-plus seasons in Phoenix, the Wisconsin product has appeared in 47 games with the Suns, including 11 appearances in 2009-10 in which he averaged 3.9 points in 6.5 minutes. The Lockport, Ill.-native owns career NBA averages of 4.3 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.5 minutes.

Coming off a 15-point win over the NBA-leading LA Lakers, the Suns (20-12) return to action Wednesday night, hosting the Eastern Conference-best Boston Celtics (23-7) at US Airways Center at 7 p.m. Phoenix time.  The game can be seen locally on FOX Sports Arizona and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.

Read fan reaction and share your own opinion in this forum topic.

In a pair of roster moves, the Portland Trail Blazers waived forward Anthony Tolliver and assigned guard Patty Mills to the NBA Development League’s Idaho Stampede, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

Tolliver appeared in two games for the Trail Blazers, grabbing a rebound in four minutes. He was called up from the Stampede on Dec. 17 after the NBA awarded Portland a hardship exemption.

Mills, selected by the Trail Blazers with the 55th overall pick in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft, will join the Stampede on Wednesday. The Australian national fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during an NBA Summer League practice session July 9. He underwent surgery on July 13 and recently completed a successful rehabilitation.

The Trail Blazers’ roster now stands at 15.

The Houston Rockets are actively seeking a trade for guard Tracy McGrady, who will remain inactive until it happens.

Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey issued the following statement today regarding the team’s agreement with McGrady to seek a trade: “After multiple conversations with Tracy and his representatives, we have agreed to look into trade opportunities and have granted him an indefinite leave from team activities.”

After playing just 66 games in 2007-08 and 35 last season, McGrady in 2009-10 has logged just 45 minutes in six games.

Houston has also been without injured center Yao Ming this season.

Despite their two top stars not being on the court, the Rockets have an 18-13 record. If the regular season ended today, they’d be the Western conference 7th seed for the playoffs.

McGrady is the highest paid player in the entire league this year. His contract is expiring, so if the Rockets can’t find a suitable trade that actually helps their team, it’s quite possible T-Mac simply remains inactive all season.

It’s also possible that the team doesn’t find a trade for McGrady and the two sides someday make amends. Perhaps we’ll still actually see McGrady on the court wearing a Rockets jersey weeks or months from now.

But for now, the team will actively seek a trade — but only one that helps them, of course.

– Jeff Lenchiner

Fans have been discussing the T-Mac ordeal in this forum topic.

The Phoenix Suns yesterday assigned rookie forward Taylor Griffin to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr.

The 6-7, 238-pound Griffin will spend his second stint in Iowa after he was originally assigned to the Energy on Dec. 7, starting both games he appeared in and averaging 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals in 37.0 minutes before being recalled Dec. 14.

Griffin was selected by the Suns with the 48th overall pick (second round) of the 2009 NBA Draft and has appeared in two games this season for Phoenix.

Coming off a 15-point win over the NBA-leading LA Lakers, the Suns (20-12) return to action Wednesday night, hosting the Eastern Conference-best Boston Celtics (23-7) at US Airways Center at 7 p.m. Phoenix time.  The game can be seen locally on FOX Sports Arizona and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.

The Sacramento Kings and Maloof family today signed President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie to a multi-year contract extension.

According to the Sacramento Bee, “after earning approximately $4 million this season, the NBA’s longest-tenured executive will make $1.2 million, $1.4 million and $1.5 million – absorbing a massive financial hit in his desire to remain with the organization.”

“First of all I want to thank Joe, Gavin and the rest of the Maloof family for the ongoing opportunity to grow our exciting young team,” said Petrie. “We all are looking forward to a brighter and more successful future. Secondly, I want to thank our entire management staff for the hard work and support they have committed over the years. We also have been a team and will continue to be one. Finally, a hat’s off to Paul (Westphal) and his staff for the professionalism, knowledge and experience he has brought to the Kings.”

A two-time NBA Executive of the Year award winner, Geoff Petrie has been a key figure behind the success of the Sacramento Kings over the past 16 years.

“Geoff is like a member of the Maloof family,” said Joe Maloof. “We’ve known him for all of these years. He’s someone we can depend on and someone we can trust and look to for advice and guidance. We’re pleased to have someone as talented as Geoff lead this organization.”

Under Petrie’s direction, the Kings have qualified for the NBA Playoffs in eight of the past 11 campaigns and nine of the past 14 years overall, while winning Pacific Division titles in 2001-02 and 2002-03 and advancing to the 2002 Western Conference Finals. Between 2000-01 and 2004-05, Sacramento joined San Antonio and Dallas as the only teams in the league to register 50-plus wins in each of those years.

“Kings fans can rest assure that the future of this franchise is secure with Geoff Petrie leading the way,” explained Gavin Maloof. “He has a good eye and special ability to pick talent. We are pleased that Geoff will be with us for many more years. We’re all looking forward to seeing this young, talented team rise.”

When Petrie was named The Sporting News NBA Executive of the Year following the 1998-99 campaign, he became the first person to win both the league’s executive and rookie annual awards. Petrie shared the 1971 NBA Rookie of the Year award with Boston’s Dave Cowens. Following the 2000-01 season, Petrie was named The Sporting News Executive of the Year for a second time.

Additionally, the contracts of Wayne Cooper and Mike Petrie were renewed as each received promotions. Cooper was promoted to Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager while Petrie was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Basketball Operations.