Around The Rim

Teams are in hot pursuit of 76ers second-year guard Larry Hughes. The Heat was leading the derby with an offer of Jamal Mashburn, but Miami coach Pat Riley pulled back when he couldn't figure out which players he would have to waive to make the deal work. League sources say the Magic offered rookie Corey Maggette but refused to add a first-round pick. The Cavaliers also discussed a swap of Hughes and Matt Geiger for Shawn Kemp....

The Celtics continue to peddle talented but erratic forward Antoine Walker, who's a difficult sell because he's a base-year player. A team that trades for him must absorb $9 million against its cap but can give up players earning a total of only $4.5 million—Walker's base-year salary. Says one G.M., "Boston is trying to give him away"...

The Leon Smith saga continues. After jumping from high school to the Mavericks, Smith stormed out of a rookie-camp. practice, refused to go to a European or developmental team, tried to commit suicide and allegedly threatened his girlfriend. (He has a Feb. 3 court date.) With the help of the union he's negotiating a settlement with Dallas that would pay him his three-year, $1.45 million salary over a 10-year period. Smith has been working out with former NBA forward (and current players' association official) Purvis Short, who says, "There's no doubt he can play in this league."...

Here's why Kevin Garnett is our choice of the new generation: After a game he apologized to Karl Malone for leading him in the All-Star balloting.