Several teams including the Knicks are still scrambling to make a deal with less than two hours to go before the league trade deadline. Here's the latest:
The West-leading Hornets answered previous moves by the Lakers, Spurs and Suns by getting Bonzi Wells and Amityville's Mike James for guard Bobby Jackson. Houston, which gets under the luxury tax by unloading the contracts of Wells and James, also gets rookie Adam Haluska and a second-round pick, pending league approval.
A person with direct knowledge of Ron Artest's situation shot down an online report today that the Suns are making a play for the Queensbridge native. The Kings are desperately trying to unload Artest because he has announced his intention to opt out of his $8.45 million contract this summer. The Nuggets are still in the mix, with word today that they may be softening their stance on including sharpshooter Linas Kleiza in a deal.
Golden State also wants to join the Western Conference teams who are reloading for a playoff push, continuing to dangle Mikael Pietrus and his $3.5 million expiring contract. Jermaine O'Neal and Elton Brand have been mentioned as targets for Warriors GM Chris Mullin.
I told you in yesterday's paper that the Nets aren't trading Vince Carter before the deadline, so it should come as no surprise that Rod Thorn has gone on the record with it. Nor should it come as a surprise when Carter is still a Net at 3:01 p.m.
Brian Windhorst of the Akron Beacon Journal, a friend of the blog, is reporting on his own blog that the Cavs are mulling a blockbuster deal to address their point guard situation, but mum's the word on what it might be. Windhorst says the deal could be so complicated, it would require Cleveland GM Danny Ferry to consummate a separate, complementary trade to make it work.
The Knicks continued to be the wild-card in all of this. They are desperately trying to unload Zach Randolph, as Newsday first reported on Feb. 7. The one name that Isiah Thomas could toss into such a deal that would make it palatable is David Lee. But Mark Bartelstein, Lee's agent, said on the phone this morning that he's been given no indication that Lee is on the block and that he doesn't believe the Knicks will move him.