info FRI NBA

[spreadman]

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A nice recap and comentary of all 14 trades from the last few weeks can be found here:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insid...eGrades-080221

http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/200...committee.html
Devin Harris (sprained ankle) traveled with the team to Indy.
http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/730964.html
PG Tyronn Lue (left calf strain, questionable)
http://torontosun.com/Sports/Basketb...67537-sun.html
T.J. Ford, who has missed the past two games with an abdominal strain, worked out yesterday at the ACC, but did not practice with the team. Ford, who missed 24 games because of an arm stinger before returning to action on Feb. 4 against Miami, travelled with the team yesterday to New York, but likely will not play. He may be able to play on Sunday when the Knicks visit the ACC.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02222008...mark_98740.htm
During All-Star festivities in New Orleans, Colangelo told The Post he would be interested in interviewing for the Knick job if it became open. Stern said in the Big Easy he was "optimistic" about the Knicks' fortunes for next season.
Meanwhile, Dolan appears shell-shocked. According to a source who attended the technology summit in New Orleans Saturday, Dolan was asked his feelings on the state of the Knicks as he was walking from the panel. Dolan said, according the source, "I'm not commenting on the Knicks and I'm not commenting for a long time."
Dolan has even stronger reason to can Thomas now with the deadline over, especially after the incompetence reached new heights in their 40-point loss in Philly Wednesday night. But if Dolan doesn't make a move this week, then it's clear he is trying to make Thomas suffer through this and earn the money on the contract extension he mistakenly gave Thomas a year ago.
Thomas would've loved to add a playmaking point guard to the roster yesterday but he can't add significantly to the payroll. Thomas feels the lack of leadership from the PG position was the primary reason for the Knicks' awful season.
The Knicks did not practice yesterday and Thomas did not talk to the media. Earlier this week, Thomas said he didn't want to "blow up the team."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...022002914.html
All-star forward Caron Butler, who has missed six straight games with a strained left hip flexor, was limited to light shooting at yesterday's practice. He expects to practice today and will be a game-time decision for tomorrow's game at Cleveland.
Butler practiced on Monday but woke up with pain and stiffness Tuesday morning and he sat out Tuesday's loss to the Knicks.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.asp?b...&dept_id=46370
Cavaliers point guard Daniel Gibson suffered a left high-ankle sprain in Indiana on Wednesday and will miss four to six weeks.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...id=46370&rfi=6
The Cavs blew up their team when they acquired forward/center Ben Wallace and power forward Joe Smith from the Chicago Bulls, and guard/forward Wally Szczerbiak and point guard Delonte West from the Seattle SuperSonics.
None of the four traded players will be available for tonight's game against Washington. They have 48 hours to report after the trade. Also, they must still get their physicals.
The Cavs have six players available for the Wizards. Ferry said he'll likely sign a couple players from the National Basketball Development League for tonight's game. Varejao, Pavlovic and guard Daniel Gibson are injured and unable to play

[Kaptain]

thanks

[checkers]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/5561196.html
With the ink barely dry on two trade deadline deals, the Rockets on Thursday began moving toward two more players they hope to add.
The Rockets plan to begin pursuit of guard Brent Barry, who was dealt to the Seattle SuperSonics on Wednesday but will be released, a person with knowledge of the Rockets' intentions said Thursday. The Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, who included Barry in the deal that landed them Kurt Thomas, also are expected to chase Barry.
The Rockets also plan to sign former Washington and Denver guard/forward Bobby Jones to a 10-day contract. Jones was waived by the Nuggets on Jan. 7. Signing him would provide a 6-7 defender for matchups in which the Rockets would be small off the bench after trading Bonzi Wells, along with Mike James, to New Orleans for guard Bobby Jackson.
To make room for Jones, the Rockets will release guard Adam Haluska, who was acquired with Jackson in a deal agreed upon Wednesday night.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/new...blazers-green/
Linas Kleiza did not practice Thursday but was hopeful of playing tonight.
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune....,4353103.story
A safe guess is Gooden and Hughes will make their Bulls debuts Sunday in Houston, otherwise known as Game No. 2 of the 2007-08 Development Era. That's because shortly after defending his signing of Wallace, Paxson clearly stated youth would be served for developmental and analytical purposes.
In other words, this won't be Paxson's last deal.
"This is not the ending of how I see things going," Paxson said. "What we've done is cleared an opportunity for Joakim [Noah] and Tyrus [Thomas] to get experience. That is so important for us moving forward in making the right decisions.
Mavericks
The Mavericks should get a little healthier tonight with the return of Jerry Stackhouse, who's missed most of the last month with a strained right hamstring.
Stackhouse went through Thursday's full practice, which was long and filled with scrimmages that had a defensive slant to them.
"We need to get better," Johnson said. "We want to win and all that. But we've got to get better and get a feel for each other. We had 15 different issues to solve. You can't do them all at one time. So you pick the most important.
"And some of the stuff we're going to have to do on the fly."
Josh Howard also practiced but said his lower back remains sore.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...-230804942511/
Mike Miller is day to day with back spasms
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/b...icleid=1075249
Kevin Garnett has gone 21 and 31 minutes, respectively, in his first two games back from an abdominal strain. And he’d like an even heavier workload.
Asked about keeping his playing time down, he said, “I don’t know. That’s (up to coach) Doc (Rivers). The more I play, the better. I’m sure he’s probably being a little cautious because of everything. At the beginning of the season he told me he’s going to watch those minutes. I think I get into a better flow if my minutes go up, but that’s my own personal (feeling).”
As for his progress, Garnett said, “I’m trying to get into a rhythm. Those things are established from Day 1 when you come into camp. So I’m trying to re-establish that right now but at the same time trying to bring an intensity and an energy to the defensive end.”
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns...22.html?&wired
Needing to fill the vacant 13th roster spot by today, free agent Linton Johnson will arrive today to sign a 10-day deal that leaves Phoenix the flexibility to pick up a player who is bought out by another team. The viable candidates are Brent Barry, who was traded to a Seattle team that is two players over the roster limit, and Philadelphia's Gordan Giricek, another shooter who rarely has played since a trade from Utah

[checkers]

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695255402,00.html
Power forward Carlos Boozer did not practice Wednesday or attend an autograph session that evening due to a sore lower back that he said "flared up" on him in Tuesday's home win over the Warriors. But he did practice Thursday and said he would not miss tonight's game.
"I had to take care of my back, but I'll play though. I'm not going to miss games," said Boozer, who acknowledged the back had bothered him for a couple of weeks. "It caught up to me a little bit. It's fine now," he said.
Matt Harpring, who re-sprained his left wrist in a fall during Tuesday's game, practiced Wednesday and Thursday and expected to play tonight.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/sportsupd...he_win_is.html
Brandon Roy missed critical free throws in the fourth quarter and endured an unsightly air ball down the stretch.
Roy, who played with a viral chest infection, finished with 19 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and five assists
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm..._trade221.html
League rules allow Marshall, Newble and Griffin 48 hours to report to Seattle to undergo physicals, and they could make their Sonics debut Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...15_soni22.html
Carlesimo started Johan Petro in place of veteran Kurt Thomas, who was shipped to San Antonio in a move that brought former Sonic Brent Barry and little-used post Francisco Elson to Seattle. Elson has passed his physical and is eligible to play, but Carlesimo doesn't believe that he will tonight against the Blazers.
Newble, Marshall, and Griffith are expected over the weekend.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...iglance22.html
Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo said his "menu" doesn't change in that he's going to use the final 29 games to evaluate the younger parts of his roster. For instance, center Johan Petro made his first start of the season Thursday.
Sonics C Robert Swift left in the second quarter due to a right knee sprain and will be re-evaluated today.

[checkers]

Jazz F Andrei Kirilenko (12 ppg; flu) is listed as a game-time decision tonight.

Clippers G Sam Cassell (13 ppg; wrist) is not expected to be in tonight's starting lineup, as he is doubtful to even be in uniform.
02/22/08
03:45 PM Lineups NBA Clippers C Chris Kaman (16 ppg; shin) will play tonight according to local reports.
02/22/08
02:21 PM
Pacers G Jamaal Tinsley said he'll be out for "three weeks, right now" with his knee injury.
02/22/08
11:12 AM Info Alert NBA Brent Barry was waived by the Sonics after Thursday's trade, and will reportedly be pursued by the Spurs, Suns and Rockets.
02/22/08
11:11 AM Lineups NBA Kurt Thomas will report to the Spurs sometime this weekend, meaning he's not likely to play before Monday's game.
02/22/08
11:10 AM Coach's Call NBA Beno Udrih will start at point guard for the Kings the rest of the season according to Coach Reggie Theus.


Hawks G Mike Bibby (heel) and G Acie Law (wrist) missed practice, but Bibby hopes to play tonight while Law is out.
02/22/08
11:07 AM Lineups NBA Bonzi Wells and Mike James could make their debuts for the Hornets on Friday, although it will be off the bench.