Insider Rumours....

Despite extension, Thomas on the block

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Kurt Thomas
Knicks
? Sep. 29 - In March, the Knicks signed Thomas to a four-year contract extension. Little more than six months later, president Isiah Thomas is trying to find a buyer for the big forward-center, the Sept. 29 New York Post reports. Apparently, Kurt Thomas is not athletic enough for Zeke's picture of the Knicks' frontcourt.
Trading Thomas would leave the Knicks with a frontcourt featuring Nazr Mohammed, who had trouble earning starting time last season, and the rehabilitating Vin Baker, who receently had surgery to correct his rapid heartbeat. Also, the media is expecting Allan Houston to update the status of his arthritic knees on Wednesday.



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Ryan Bowen
Nuggets
Rockets? Sep. 29 - The Rockets are the winners of the Bowen sweepstakes, Denver newspapers reported Sept. 29. The defensive specialist chose the Rockets over the Heat, Sonics and Nuggets, his agent Guy Zucker told the Denver Post. The Timeberwolves and Kings reportedly were also in the running. Bowen's got a one-year contract with the Rockets worth $807,546.
"They mentioned that my name was on their list all summer," Bowen told the Post. "I met with them last week and was very impressed with coach Jeff Van Gundy and their owner, Carroll Dawson, was upfront. I'm definitely excited about the opportunity."



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Ron Artest
Pacers
Kings? Sep. 24 - On the eve of training camp, president Larry Bird and volatile forward Ron Artest put on happy faces, the Sept. 24 Indianapolis Star reports. Bird insisted the NBA's Defensive Player Of The Year was not being shopped around the league in wake of the team's reported unhappiness with his behavior. Artest apologized for missing a practice and the team flight prior to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Pistons last summer.
Artest insists that migraine headaches plagued him during the Pistons' series. But "I should have fought through it," he told the Star. "To win a championship, you have to be at the shootarounds, you have to be attentive, you have to have energy in practice and the games. You have to be perfect, you know?"



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Michael Jordan
None
Heat? Sep. 24 - There is no (third) comeback in the offing, Michael Jordan told Michael Wilbon, co-host of ESPN's "Pardon The Interruption", on Sept. 23. Jordan dismissed speculation that he was returning from a year's retirement and was interested in joining the Heat.
Jordan also denied that he had indicated intentions of comeback with calls to Heat center Shaquille O'Neal. "I don't know how this started. I haven't talked with Shaq. There's no comeback," Jordan told Wilbon. The Sept. 23 Miami Herald reported that O'Neal did not want Jordan as a teammate, and that his Heat teammates agreed.



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Vlade Divac
Lakers
Lakers Sep. 24 - Uh-oh. Divac, the 36-year-old Band-Aid on the Lakers' center position, is expected to be sidelined at least a month after an MRI exam revealed a herniated disk in his back, the Sept. 24 Los Angeles Times reported. Divac, signed as a free agent from the Kings to help replace the departed Shaquille O'Neal, will miss most if not all of training camp, which begins Oct. 5 in San Diego.
Divac suffered an injury during informal on-court drills this week. Without Divac, the Lakers might have to start Brian Grant -- the Heat power forward who has played out of position much of his NBA career --or career reserve Chris Mihm at center.



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Scottie Pippen
Bulls
Retirement? Sep. 23 - Scottie Pippen, Jordan's sidekick for the Bulls' glory years, is ready to retire, the Sept. 23 Chicago Tribune reported. Pippen, a 17-year veteran who won six NBA titles with the Bulls, might make his plans public before the team's training camp opens Oct. 4.
One factor in the seven-time All-Star's decision is whether he forfeits a portion of the $5.3 million he's owed on his contract. He's met with GM John Paxson to discuss details of his retirement. Pippen played in just 23 games last season, thanks mostly to sore knees.



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Gary Payton
Celtics
Celtics Sep. 20 - Gary Payton is alive and well and living in Las Vegas, the Sept. 19 Boston Globe reports. Well, that's agent Aaron Goodwin's contention, anyway. The rest of the Celtics have had pre-camp workouts in Waltham, Mass. without Payton, who apparently remains unhappy about the Lakers' summer deal sending him to the Celtics.
President Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers -- the latter of whom reportedly has been in contact with Payton -- expect Payton in camp come Oct. 5. Goodwin claims "we should have a solution in the next week or so." Does that mean that there is yet another trade of "The Glove" in the works?



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Vince Carter
Raptors

Heat?
Magic? Sep. 21 - Carter wants out of Toronto, but the Raptors' new GM says he has no plans to trade the team's disgruntled superstar. "It doesn't change anything with us," Rob Babcock told The Associated Press Sept. 16. "He's under contract with our team. We expect him to fulfill all obligations of the contract."
The Magic and Heat are not exactly interested, either. The Sept. 21 Orlando Sentinel quotes Magic GM John Weisbrod as saying "there just aren't many scenarios you could draw up where we'd be a better team in acquiring" Carter, given that the Raptors would demand newly-acquired All-Star Steve Francis in return. "I can say in no uncertain terms, we would not trade Steve Francis for Vince Carter."

Heat president Pat Riley told the Sept. 18 South Florida Sun-Sentinel that he's following Carter's situation in the news, but the Heat have not had any talks with the Raptors about the Daytona Beach native.



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Karl Malone
Lakers
Heat
Timberwolves
Lakers
Spurs
Sep. 19 - The Sept. 19 Los Angeles Daily News reports Shaquille O'Neal is ready to the Mailman by his side again. Making an appearance in Los Angeles for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, O'Neal told reporters: " I haven't talked to Karl yet, but I would like Karl to join me in Miami. So Karl, if you're watching, give me a call. And I'll bring you down to Miami as soon as possible. We got everything down there."
According to a Sept. 8 report out of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Timberwolves have joined The Mailman Sweepstakes. Coach Flip Saunders and Kevin Garnett reportedly will fly to Los Angeles to try to persuade free agent Malone, who also is said to be contemplating retirement.



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Ray Allen
Sonics
Sonics Sep. 9 - Depending on what report you take to heart, Allen's camp is either seeking a $100 million deal over a five-year contract extension -- about $30 million more than the Sonics are offering -- or neither side has submitted a proposal yet.
The Sept. 8 Tacoma News Tribune is the source of the Allen seeks $100M report; the next day, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported, citing multiple sources it did not name, that neither Allen nor team management has made a proposal. Neither Allen nor Sonics GM Rick Sund was available for comment.



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Peja Stojakovic
Kings
Kings Sep. 9 - Stojakovic, steaming after published criticism from teammate Chris Webber and the defection of close friend Vlade Divac, has calmed down and is not pressing his trade demand.
Stojakovic's agent told NBA Insider Chad Ford Sept. 8 that, after speaking with Kings owners the Maloof brothers, the sharpshooter knows the team has no intention of trading him.

That leaves Peja looking at two more years in Sacramento with Webber. But the agent indicates his client would love to extend his contract with the Kings, if "other changes were made." But Webber's contract is too heavy to move.



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Alonzo Mourning
Nets
Sep. 1 - Mourning, who underwent a kidney transplant last year, has been working out diligently in Miami with an eye toward joining the Nets for the 2004-05 season. The Bergen Record reported on Aug. 31 that Mourning could announce his return to the Nets as early as this week.
According to sources, Mourning's workouts have been going well and he's hopeful that he'll receive the medical clearance he needs to return to the NBA.

"He's heading down that road," one league source told Insider's Chad Ford. "I expect that if things keep progressing the way they have been, he'll be playing next season."



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Eddy Curry
Bulls
Grizzlies Sep. 1 - The Grizzlies, as Insider first reported last month, are still trying to pry Curry away from the Bulls. They're offering Bonzi Wells (who is in the last year of his contract) and Bo Outlaw for Curry and Eddie Robinson.
That hasn't been enough to get Bulls GM John Paxson to bite, but as the summer wears on, his hand may be forced. The Bulls know that Curry will be a hot commodity next summer in restricted free agency and don't want to get into the same situation they found themselves in with Jamal Crawford this year. The team is understandably reluctant to give Curry a big extension now with his weight issues. The fear is that the minute he gets the guaranteed money, he'll quit working on his conditioning in the summers.



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Zach Randolph
Blazers
Bucks? Sep. 1 - The Aug. 31 Oregonian reported Randolph, who might face criminal charges for misleading police investigating an Indiana shooting involving his brother, is rumored to be the center of a trade to the Bucks. The rumor: Randolph, swingman Derek Anderson and a 2005 draft pick might be exchanged for guard Michael Redd, swingman Desmond Mason and forward Marcus Haislip.
However, a league source told Insider's Chad Ford that there was no truth to the rumor and that the Bucks hadn't had any recent talks with the Blazers. That doesn't mean Blazers are done dealing. Sources close to the team concede that by the end of the summer one of their two big guys, either Randolph or Shareef Abdur-Rahim, will likely be traded.



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Michael Curry
Raptors
Nuggets Aug. 31 - Free-agent small forward Michael Curry visits the Nuggets on Sept. 1, The Denver Post reports. Curry averaged 2.9 points and 1.2 rebounds for the Raptors last season. Free agent Jon Barry works out with Curry in Georgia. "He gets himself ready," Barry told The Post. "He's a consummate pro. A good guy to have in the locker room."


WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Stromile Swift
Grizzlies
Grizzlies
Hawks
Bobcats Aug. 19 - Swift has drawn interest from a number of teams, but the Grizzlies have refused to do sign-and-trades and have told teams they'll match any offer for Swift. There are two teams with enough cap space to make an offer to Swift that the Grizzlies might not be willing to match. The Hawks have $7.6 million in cap space available and the Bobcats have $7 million in cap space. Both teams could use him. But will they be willing to pay Swift that much cash to pry him away from Memphis? Now that the Grizzlies have lost out on Erick Dampier and seem to be getting nowhere in their attempts to pry Eddy Curry away from the Bulls, they can't afford to lose Swift. They've been claiming all summer they'll match any offer. Maybe they will.


WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Rodney White
Nuggets
Nuggets
Heat
Hornets Aug. 17 - Money isn't the only thing for free-agent swingman White, who told the Rocky Mountain News that he wants to play. "I just really want an opportunity," White said. "I played 13 minutes a game last year. I would like to play some more minutes. Last year, I was a great team player. I was consistent with my play. I really believe I deserve an opportunity to show what I can do."
White became a free agent after the Nuggets decided not to pick up his $2.5 million option. Denver now has only $2.3 million under the cap, meaning White would have to take a pay cut to return. "That would be a little hard to do," he said. "I let my agent work all that out. I'm preaching more situation than money. When I get the playing time, hopefully 2.5 won't even be what we'll be talking about. I just want the best situation right now. I'm not looking for the max dollars."



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Jake Tskalidis
Grizzlies
Cavs Aug. 13 - The Cavs are looking for a backup center, and appear to have their sights set on the Grizzlies' Jake Tsakalidis, reports the Willoughby News-Herald. The Hawks' Scot Pollard could be a possibility for Cleveland.


WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Jon Barry
Nuggets
Hawks
Nuggets
Clippers
Retirement? Aug. 12 - Barry, a free-agent guard, told the Rocky Mountain News he is receiving interest from four teams, including the Nuggets, for whom he played last season. The Hawks, SuperSonics and Clippers are also possibilities.
Denver GM Kiki Vandeweghe said he has recently spoken to the 35-year-old Barry, but has no immediate plans to sign him. The Nuggets have $2.3 million in cap space remaining. Barry said last month he'd consider retirement if he doesn't receive what he considers an acceptable offer.



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Jason Kidd
Nets
Mavericks
Lakers Aug. 5 - The New York Post reports that the Kidd-to-Mavericks trade may be 60 days in the making. The Mavs will acquire Jason Terry from the Atlanta Hawks as early as today, meaning that Terry can't be moved for two months, according to NBA rules. But the Mavs may be using this time to better evaluate the physical condition of Kidd, who is coming off of knee surgery.
"You have to put yourself in position to make something happen," president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. "If you do the right things consistently with smaller moves, it's easier to do the bigger moves."

However, league sources claim that the Lakers, not the Mavericks, are the team Kidd really wants to play for. Look for the Kidd camp to keep pushing the Lakers to send the expiring contracts of Gary Payton and Rick Fox along with a young player like Caron Butler or Kareem Rush to the Nets in return for Kidd. The deal would give the Nets lots of cap relief along with a promising young player and give the Lakers the best backcourt in the NBA.



WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Blazers
Timberwolves Aug. 5 - The Blazers and Timberwolves continue to talk about a Shareef Abdur-Rahim-for-Wally Szczerbiak swap, Insider's Chad Ford reports. The issue right now is the other player the Wolves are willing to include in the deal to make the numbers work. Abdur-Rahim makes $14.6 million this season. Szczerbiak is due $9 million.
The Wolves really have only two options. They can either send center Michael Olowokandi or backup center Ervin Johnson back in the deal. The team is reluctant to part with either. Despite a slew of injuries, the team believes Olowokandi could be a force for them next season. Johnson is more expendable, but given Olowokandi's injury history, the team is worried about giving away Kandi's only back-up. The Blazers could include Vladimir Stepania in the deal to help the Wolves absorb the loss of Johnson and still make the numbers work.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Kurt Thomas
Knicks
?

not even any RUMORED interested teams? oh boy