Ian Thomsen's Fast Break

THE HOTLINE

Drawing from its network of NBA insiders--including scouts, coaches and front-office personnel--Fast Break picked up these bits of chatter from around the league.

"For Tim Thomas to sit at home and realize that the Bulls feel they're better off without him and with no team dying to trade for him, that has to be a wake-up call. If he's willing to change his approach, then he's worth taking a look at." ... "I'd take Paul Pierce over Tracy McGrady right now. Aside from McGrady's health issues, I think Pierce is the better competitor." ... "I wouldn't be surprised if Greg Oden [the 7-foot senior at Lawrence North High in Indianapolis, above] is considered for the '08 Olympic team. He's the best big man we've had in years with an innate feel for the game. And on top of all his talent he's a really good teammate, which is what we're trying to emphasize this time around."

WHO IS ANDRAY BLATCHE?

Few careers have gotten off to a more turbulent start than that of 19-year-old Blatche, a 6'11" forward from South Kent ( Conn.) Prep who was picked 49th by the Wizards. Blatche was shot during an attempted carjacking in suburban D.C. last September. After recovering from bullet wounds to his chest and right wrist, he bounced between the NBA and the D-League before Jan. 11, when he had 9 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in 17 minutes against the Hawks. Though he does his most significant work in the privacy of team practices--at week's end he was averaging just 2.1 points and 5.2 minutes--at least one Wizard believes that Blatche (above, left) has the potential to be an All-Star. "Not too many guys have that kind of vision and talent to be that good on both ends on the floor," says Washington forward Antawn Jamison. "It's phenomenal to see the energy he brings."

How soon will Blatche fill Washington's desperate need for a big man? "He's like a colt, just all over the place," says an Eastern Conference scout. "He's got the physical tools, but he doesn't have a game. To me, he's the perfect D-League guy--you stick him down there, and in two years he's going to be a player."

BUZZER BEATERS

3 My Eastern Conference All-Star team: Ben Wallace, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups (starters); Shaquille O'Neal, Rasheed Wallace, Dwight Howard, Paul Pierce, Richard Hamilton, Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas (reserves).

2 For the West: Marcus Camby, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash (starters); Tim Duncan, Elton Brand, Pau Gasol, Shawn Marion, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker, Chris Paul (reserves).

1 Toughest to omit (from most to least): Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Michael Redd, Zydrunas Ilgauskas (East); Tracy McGrady, Ray Allen, Jason Richardson, Mehmet Okur (West).