MORE TRUTH & RUMORS: MLB | NFL | NHL/Soccer

The Sixers are confident that injuries won't be a problem with Chris Webber. David Sherman/Getty Images

Chris Webber has had knee problems throughout his career. He underwent left knee surgery before the start of last season that kept him out of 50 games, and the knee has been known to give him trouble. He has missed eight games this season due to injury. Sixers GM Billy King said the knee had been a concern but "we did a lot of homework on it and we felt comfortable with it."
-- Philadelphia Inquirer

In retrospect, Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie must not have believed this current model of Kings was capable of winning a title this season and has begun planning for the future. The Kings have become deeper up front. Thomas is a versatile scorer who can use his quickness offensively much better than defensively. Corliss Williamson is a solid low-post scorer who adds toughness. Brian Skinner is the best defender of the three and a good rebounder, but he has been slowed by injuries this season.
-- Sacramento Bee

The Kings parted with the player who sparked the turnaround of their franchise. Much to Webber's dismay, the Kings became experts of the Game 7 bow-out, losing in the finale of a playoff series each of the last three seasons. Coming just hours after the unsettled future of the franchise took a step backward with news that a North Natomas landowners group won't pursue a new arena for the Kings, which might force the basketball team to leave the city, the trade was part of a dire day for fans of Webber and the Kings.
-- Sacramento Bee

Contract talks between the Sonics and Ray Allen have broken down. The Sonics are reportedly exploring the possibility of sending Allen to the Celtics for a package including Paul Pierce.
-- Toronto Sun

While Gary Payton's pronouncements of affection for the Celtics have been met with some skepticism in light of his stated desire to play for the Western contender, the veteran point guard is prepared to put his signature where his mouth is. Payton's agent, Aaron Goodwin, has spoken to the Celtics about a two-year contract extension.
-- Boston Herald

The Celtics are looking to move Jiri Welsch to loosen up their logjam at the wing position.
-- Boston Herald

Michael Redd has professed loyalty to the Bucks, saying he would like to play his entire career for the NBA franchise. All the public statements from Bucks management and Redd have pointed to him staying with the team, despite his looming status as an unrestricted free agent this summer. One team that might be willing to make a trade with the Bucks is Portland, which has three expiring contracts to dangle in front of other teams. Forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim ($14.6 million) and guards Damon Stoudamire ($12.5 million) and Nick Van Exel ($11.8 million) all could be shopped by the Trail Blazers.
-- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Drawing the most attention on trade deadline day is Redd. The Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Nuggets, Rockets and Blazers have all shown intense interest, but unless Denver decides to deal Nene even up, Portland appears to have made the most intriguing salary cap relief offer.
-- New York Post

There were rumors out of the Bay Area that the Warriors might be interested in swapping the expiring contract of 13-year center Dale Davis ($10.06 million) and third-year forward Mike Dunleavy, who earns $3.5 million, to the Hornets for Baron Davis.
-- New Orleans Times-Picayune

The injury-prone, attitude- and weight-challenged Davis also has attracted all sorts of attention from Toronto, Philadelphia and Atlanta, despite owning $63M in guarantees over the next four seasons.
-- New York Post

Look out if the Sixers can pry Baron Davis away from New Orleans for Glenn Robinson. A backcourt of Allen Iverson and Davis (if he's healthy) would be fairly potent.
-- Detroit News

It's doubtful the Sixers could come up with enough to satisfy the Hornets, especially if Samuel Dalembert and/or Willie Green aren't part of the package.
-- Trenton Times

There were indications that New Orleans was attempting to clear the contract of injured forward Jamal Mashburn off their books to create more room under the salary cap for the offseason. The Philadelphia 76ers appear to be the prime candidate for a swap. Philadelphia can offer the expiring $13 million contract of injured forward Glenn Robinson in exchange for Mashburn's remaining contract of $9.3 million this season and $10 million next.
-- New Orleans Times-Picayune

Donyell Marshall's 3-point shooting/rebounding/free agent status makes him exceedingly desirable. There's no telling where he'll wind up (Philly, New Orleans, Chicago, Indiana, Miami, Portland, New York), but it's a foregone conclusion he's played his last game with the Raptors.
-- New York Post

Marshall does not think he has played his final game in a Raptors uniform.
-- Toronto Sun

Center Scot Pollard is the Pacer most often mentioned in trade rumors. Utah, among other teams, has shown interest. President Larry Bird acknowledged talking with Toronto about Marshall but doesn't believe the Raptors will trade him.
-- Indianapolis Star

The Heat has been linked to trade scenarios regarding Marshall and Charlotte guard Steve Smith, but neither appears to be serious.
-- Palm Beach Post

Today's trade deadline is the next big test for Raptors GM Rob Babcock, and while there have been plenty of rumors flying, even players in the team's dressing room are wondering whether Babcock is suffering from self-doubt now that the time has come to pull the trigger on his next deal. "He's a scared man," was how one Raptors player put it.
-- Globe and Mail

Heat president Pat Riley said he doesn't expect the team to make any significant trades before today's deadline. The team has spoken with the Bobcats about the possible acquisition of Steve Smith and continues to have discussions with Wesley Person about a possible buyout of his contract, which includes a player option for next season.
-- Miami Herald

Jason Kidd will remain in New Jersey, despite his reported wishes and requests to be in Minnesota with Kevin Garnett. The Nets are not moving Kidd, and they won't be forced into moving him.
-- Bergen Record

Kurt Thomas has been voted The Knick Most Likely to Be Traded for about seven years now, or ever since he joined the team. Names also making the rounds are Antoine Walker, Jalen Rose and Abdur-Rahim, none of whom are expected to become Knicks today for the usual reasons: the salary cap and the lack of expiring contracts the Knicks have to offer until this summer.
-- Newsday

It appears Knicks president Isiah Thomas stands pat today and will wait until season's end to start his coaching search that will begin with Phil Jackson. Then Isiah will dive head first into his likely lottery pick, in the running for 7-foot Australian center Andrew Bogut, and attack July's free agency with a vengeance when young free agents such as Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Vladimir Radmanovic, Eddy Curry and Michael Redd hit the market.
-- New York Post

Though he didn't come right out and say it, Chris Wilcox made it clear Wednesday that if the Clippers don't plan to give him more playing time he'd rather they send him elsewhere before today's noon trade deadline.
-- Los Angeles Times

Will the Wolves team that left for California on Wednesday be the same team that suits up tonight for their game against the Clippers? Kevin McHale, the team's VP of basketball operations and head coach, said more than a few that he thought it would be.
-- Minneapolis Star Tribune

The Timberwolves have tried hard to trade point guard Sam Cassell but have been limited to just a few teams because of his contract status, and those teams haven't been interested. Moving Cassell has been the Wolves' only serious trade consideration. Rumors persist that Timberwolves assistant coach Randy Wittman is headed to alma mater Indiana if Mike Davis isn't retained as the Hoosiers' coach.
-- St. Paul Pioneer Press

If Magic GM John Weisbrod makes a deal before today's NBA trading deadline, it will be to acquire future draft picks. Weisbrod refuted reports that the Magic turned down an offer from the Nuggets for point guard Steve Francis.
-- Orlando Sentinel

Among those deals being discussed by Dallas are for Marshall (Toronto) and Thomas (New York).
-- Fort Worth Star-Telegram

It appears the deadline will pass without the Mavs making any moves.
-- Dallas Morning News

Former Lakers assistant coach Tex Winter said he spoke with former coach Phil Jackson, but didn't know if he would return to coach Lakers. "As everybody knows, Phil is very unpredictable," Winter said. "I've talked to him and he's indicated to me that when he gets back from Australia and New Zealand and Bora-Bora, if his health is real good, if the right thing comes along, he might be interested. He indicated that it would be the Lakers or anybody else. That's kind of the way I sized it up. And if he doesn't feel up to it, why, he won't attempt it." -- Riverside Press Enterprise

Mark Cuban denied reports that he has interest in former Minnesota coach Flip Saunders, who was fired this month.
-- Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Nuggets coach George Karl might eventually have the power to pick more than his coaches. He might one day relatively soon be picking his own GM. You know, someone who makes him feel more comfortable.
-- Denver Post

Although it seems doubtful the Nuggets will make a deal before today's trade deadline, they would consider adding a good shooter. Despite past overtures, forward Nikoloz Tskitishvili said he doesn't want to be traded.
-- Denver Post

One other persistent rumor had the Lakers still talking about a deal to send Lamar Odom's versatile talents to Sacramento for hot-shooting Peja Stojakovic. "They've denied it, but that's a nice deal for both teams," the high-ranking Eastern Conference executive said. "If Sacramento throws in [injured guard] Bobby Jackson, it's a heck of a deal."
-- Newsday

Today's deadline could come and go without the Hawks making any noise, but that doesn't mean changes aren't coming, Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. Contract extensions or new deals for veteran players with expiring contracts, such as trade-deadline rumor darling Antoine Walker, won't be discussed before the summer.
-- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

For the last time, here is Bulls operations chief John Paxson's response to today's NBA trade deadline: "We're not in the market."
-- Chicago Sun-Times

MORE TRUTH & RUMORS: MLB | NFL | NHL/Soccer