Parker likely first of '07 free-agent signees to be dealt

Guard Smush Parker's tenure with the Heat will be a short one. Doug Benc/Getty Images

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Saturday marks the first day that most of last summer's free-agent signees are allowed to be traded, making it something of an unofficial tip-off to the trading season. But don't look for anything major right away.

Other than Heat guard Smush Parker, very few names among last year's free-agent group have been mentioned as likely trade targets.

"Sometimes things start to heat up [on the date]," Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard said. "It starts the process moving, and then there's a ripple effect.

"But right now, it seems pretty quiet out there to me. I think a lot of teams are still trying to figure out what they are."

Parker is one guy who might want to keep his cell phone handy starting Saturday. The fifth-year guard, who signed a two-year, $4.7 million deal with Miami last summer after spending the previous two seasons with the Lakers, has been rumored to be on the trade block for weeks after running afoul of both Heat president/coach Pat Riley and the law in Miami.

Parker reportedly showed up out of shape for training camp (at least by Riley standards) and averaged just 4.8 points (on 31.5 percent shooting) and 1.7 assists in 20 minutes over his first nine games. He then allegedly got involved in an incident with a Miami parking valet late last month, with the woman accusing him of injuring her arm. The Heat promptly put Parker on the inactive list until the legal situation could be resolved.

Parker almost certainly will be moved at some point in the days ahead. It might just be a matter of whether the Heat unload him now in a minor transaction, or hang on to him in hopes his contract helps serve as ballast in a bigger package down the road. Either way, his days in Miami are numbered.

Pacers standing by Tinsley -- for now

The Pacers are backing point guard Jamaal Tinsley after last week's late-night incident in which the veteran point guard's Rolls Royce was shot up outside an upscale downtown Indianapolis hotel. Tinsley was uninjured, but Pacers equipment manager Joe Qatato was shot in both elbows as he sat in the back seat. He is expected to recover, though he might have permanent nerve damage in one arm, according to Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh.

"Jamaal didn't do anything to cause the incident," Walsh said. "The [perpetrators] followed him ... and he drove to a public place in the city. They still shot at his car.

"I guess the answer is that athletes can't go out in public anymore."

Another answer, of course, is for athletes to hire trained and licensed security guards to travel with them. Tinsley, in fact, says he now plans to do so.

While the Pacers stand by Tinsley publicly, few around the league would be surprised if this latest episode led to his departure from Indiana. Tinsley has now been involved in three late-night incidents since October 2006, and is awaiting trial on one felony count of intimidation for his alleged role in a bar fight. The Pacers traded away Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson in recent years after similar disruptions, and there is a belief that the Pacers are concerned about the fan base getting fed up with such off-court episodes. Judging by the open seats at Conseco Fieldhouse -- Indiana's average announced attendance of 12,323 ranked 28th in the league through Thursday -- they might be onto something.

Reality bites

After suffering a chipped tooth when he took an inadvertent elbow from Carlos Boozer late in the first half of the Suns' victory Friday over the Jazz, Steve Nash made like one of those hockey players from his native Canada. He handed the piece of tooth to the Suns' trainer, then went out and finished with 29 points and 11 assists.

"I get to spend some of my day off at the dentist," quipped a gap-toothed Nash, looking like an NBA version of Alfred E. Neuman.

Nash's dental misadventure is an underrated occupational hazard of NBA life. I recall once asking Chris Webber if he'd ever lost a tooth while playing hoops and he answered instantly, even though the incident had occurred 10 years prior.

"Eric Riley," Webber said of his 7-foot former Michigan teammate. "During practice. Yep. He got me good. I can still remember it."

A couple of Webber's teammates standing nearby shook their heads in understanding. Makes you wonder why more guys don't wear mouthguards.

Speaking of which, strictly off the top of my head, here is the NBA's All-Mouthguard Team -- with extra credit given to those who have been known to throw one in anger:

C-Jeff Foster
F-Udonis Haslem
F-Dirk Nowitzki
G-Kirk Hinrich
G-Chauncey Billups