Stars with opt-outs might be better off where they are

	Mike Bibby (left) could decide to stay with the Kings rather than opt out of the last two years of his deal after the season. David E. Klutho/SI
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Also in this column:
• Mavs pass on Reggie Miller
• Saluting the Sixers' effort

Vince Carter. Chauncey Billups. Rashard Lewis. Mike Bibby.

Those are some of the big names who could exercise options in their contracts to become free agents this summer.

But will any of those stars actually change uniforms? Not necessarily.

Only five teams -- the Bobcats, Magic, Hawks, Bucks, Grizzlies -- are expected to have the kind of significant cap room to make a serious run at a big-time free agent.

Would Carter really leave $16 million on the table in New Jersey to sign with one of those teams when the Nets can offer him more than anyone else and are apparently interested in extending him?

Billups almost certainly will opt out of the final year ($6.8 million) of his contract. But would he really leave Motown for one of those other cities if the Pistons offer him anything close?

Lewis will be in demand, but even he might find his options limited. As for Bibby, he has apparently seen the writing on the wall. His agent, David Falk, recently told the Kings that his client will not opt out of the final two years and $28 million on his deal.

Of course, all these players might be able to get the deal they want through a sign-and-trade, but the larger point remains that they may be better off staying put.

"It happens every year. There are players who find out the market isn't what they thought it would be," said one Eastern Conference GM who wished to remain anonymous. "It will probably happen again this year, too."

Mavs: No Miller Time

Reggie Miller to the Mavs?

It's not going to happen, and not just because owner Mark Cuban once ripped Miller's work as an analyst on TNT.

"If we do something, it's going to be more of an insurance piece," Mavs GM Donnie Nelson said, shooting down rumors that Dallas might pursue the retired former Pacer.

"At this point things are going pretty good and we've got to be careful. We don't want to disrupt the balance or what's going on in the locker room."

Miller would not only need time to get acclimated, Nelson said, but would also likely cause a media storm that the team doesn't need. The same situation would apply to Scottie Pippen, who has expressed a desire to come out of retirement.

"I think the guys in the locker room have earned the right to finish the job," Nelson said. "We're doing something right. At this point we absolutely don't want to do something to detract from it.

"I've been answering questions for the last two days about guys who aren't even on the team. What's going on out on the court is where the story should be."

Stand up for the Sixers

Philadelphia's 99-94 win over Phoenix on Wednesday night has to be considered one of the year's biggest upsets, even if the Suns were minus starters Shawn Marion (bruised hand, quad) and Boris Diaw (back spasms). The Suns had won their first 14 games on the road against the East and were one victory away from becoming the first team in history to sweep the opposite conference on the road. The lowly Sixers, meanwhile, are still learning to play without Allen Iverson and Chris Webber.

But the Sixers blitzed Phoenix with a 35-point outburst in the first quarter and never let go of the rope. The Suns did come back to tie the game at 84-all, but Andre Miller, Kyle Korver, Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert managed to make enough plays down the stretch to win it. It marked the first time all season the Suns did not lead in a game. The Sixers outrebounded the Suns 50-37 and sank all 18 free-throw attempts.

While Phoenix's injuries clearly played a part in the outcome (Steve Nash also twisted an ankle, though he stayed in the game), it shouldn't detract from Philadelphia's performance. The Sixers actually have played hard and unselfishly for the most part since the Iverson/Webber breakup. Wednesday night's victory at least gives them a much-needed morale boost heading into the home stretch.

"They tied the game, but we stayed strong,'' Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks told reporters after the game. "We talked about progress all year long and this is one of those things we were looking for.''