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Sunday, March 7

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The Knicks, according to sources, will make a strong push for Marcus Camby, who 11 years ago played a significant role in helping the Knicks reach the NBA Finals. Walsh has tried for two years to acquire the 7-foot Camby and last month lost out again when the Clippers traded him to Portland. New York Daily News

"He only has great memories of New York," Camby's agent, Rick Kaplan, said on Friday in Toronto. "But he's having a great time in Portland. He really enjoys that team." New York Daily News

The Knicks' interest in Camby is a clear sign that management is convinced David Lee can't continue to play out of position at center. Although Lee's quickness gives him an advantage over most centers, his lack of size and girth under the basket have hurt the Knicks all season. New York Daily News

The looming NBA labor battle makes it possible that no such maximum deal would be available next year, which helps explain Durant's willingness to sign a deal now. But even on a gorgeous southern California day, while surrounded by luxury and sunshine and the reality that the any team would kill to have him, he insists he's comfortable making history in the nation's 45th TV market. "When I was growing up, I said I wanted to be in the NBA. I never said I wanted to play for New York or Los Angeles or D.C.,'' Durant says. "I just want to be in this league -- its a privilege -- and I can't be picky about a market. I want the opportunity to win, and we have that right here. It's not about market or money to me. We're all blessed to be getting the money we're getting, so there's no need to be greedy. This is the perfect team for me. Trying to get to a bigger market is the last thing I'm thinking about.'' FanHouse

Miami Heat guard Rafer Alston has been suspended indefinitely, the team announced after Saturday night's victory over Atlanta. Sources close to the situation said Alston, who did not attend the game, is considering retirement. The Heat initially announced that Alston missed the Atlanta game for "personal reasons." But later revealed Alston has not made himself available to the team by anything other than text message since losing his starting spot at point guard before Thursday's overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers. ESPN.com

"Rafer Alston, while having made contact with the team via text message, has made himself otherwise unavailable to the team. As a result he has been suspended indefinitely," the team said in a release. Alston could not be reached for comment. He did not immediately respond to an e-mail message. ESPN.com

Asked after Saturday's victory over the Hawks whether he had a confrontation with Alston, who has been known for a fiery temper, Spoelstra said he had not. Alston was visibly disappointed by his inactivity in the games leading to the latest absence. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

A. Sherrod Blakely: It's official. Finley has signed with the Cs for the remainder of this season. Will suit up tomorrow night against the Wizards. Twitter.com

Two sources close to the Warriors told The Chronicle that when the club rejected a trade-deadline deal that would have sent Monta Ellis to Memphis for O.J. Mayo and Hasheem Thabeet, Nelson wasn't even consulted. It's not clear who made the decision, but it was news to Nelson, who hadn't even heard the Grizzlies' proposal. Not only that, the two sources said, but Nelson would have made the deal. "In a heartbeat," said one. San Francisco Chronicle

But a source close to the Celtics said – while the Kings showed no motivation to move Martin – Boston would have taken the long-term contract of Nocioni and perhaps even that of point guard Beno Udrih (through 2013) in a deal that would have sent Ray Allen to Sacramento. A third team could have been involved to help satisfy the Kings' desire for a formidable big man and maybe to discuss draft picks, but talks between the Kings and Celtics never progressed. Sacramento Bee

Initially, Warriors guard Raja Bell planned to adhere to the "if you ain't got nothing good to say" adage when asked about his return to the Charlotte Bobcats, with whom he played 50 games bridging two seasons. "I don't have anything very positive to say about it," he said before his first game in his former home arena. "I don't have anything very negative to say about it." Contra Costa Times

But when pressed, he couldn't stop the regret and frustration from spilling out. "I did not like the way things ended here with the Bobcats," he said. "I felt like I was used a little bit. They played on the fact that I am a guy who wants to play and wants to please and they played on that and, uh, it cost me my season." Contra Costa Times

Jonathan Givony: Mark Cuban: the NBA is as much a mental game as it is a physical game. The reason why we made some of the trades we made this year. Twitter.com

Just listening to Gary Moore, Iverson's business manager and the person he trusts most, they may be doing so very soon. Allen Iverson is in trouble, folks, deep trouble. The combination of alcohol and gambling - and a once-promising career in tatters because of the first two - won't culminate in anything short of disaster if help does not arrive in short order. Philadelphia Inquirer

Iverson's wife, Tawanna, having hired some high-powered Atlanta attorney and filed for a divorce last week, does not help matters. Nor does it help that she's already separated from her husband, with custody of their five kids and seeking both alimony and child support. When you consider Iverson's well-known penchant for alcohol and his banishment from casinos in Detroit and Atlantic City, if disgust and sadness don't come to mind, at least one question does: Where is Pat Croce when you need him? Or Iverson's coach at Georgetown, John Thompson? Where is the person with the ideal combination of compassion and toughness who would shelter Iverson at the same time he's holding his feet to the flames? Someone whose vested interest is in Iverson's well-being, someone who doesn't need his money or cachet? Philadelphia Inquirer

In other words, someone he does not have in his camp right now. Or someone who has an impact, and needs to utilize it. "I think there's one guy, and his name is John Thompson," said former Temple basketball coach John Chaney, noted for saving souls as much as winning basketball games throughout his illustrious career. "John is the one guy who'll have a chance of slowing this train wreck down, who could wrap his arms around Iverson and have an impact, because clearly it has not been done. But there's still this one question: Will [Iverson] listen? Philadelphia Inquirer

Talk to anyone remotely associated with Iverson and they can't deny that he is ill-prepared for a post-basketball career. His cohorts still look to him as that mercurial box-office star who won four scoring titles and a league MVP award, not as someone who simply dreams about those days right now. The one advantage Iverson acknowledged having all of these years was a wife about whom he publicly said, "I'd die for her. . . . I'd die without her." Now, she essentially has said, "Go right ahead." No wonder Moore said, "Pray." Philadelphia Inquirer

If numerous NBA sources are telling the truth - and there's no reason to believe they'd do otherwise in a situation of this magnitude - Iverson will either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away. Moore, ever the protector, would never admit as much, of course. But that's part of the problem, isn't it? Philadelphia Inquirer

For starters, it's never a good sign when the entire team said Iverson's influence was felt mostly off the court. "I think he helped the guys out a lot, just being at ease," Sixers forward Andre Iguodala said. "Not just from a basketball standpoint, but going through rough times. It can be really frustrating, losing a lot of games. He did a good job bringing his personality to us, as far as even on the plane or the bus, guys just having a chance to laugh. It wasn't all negative. He brought a positive side." Courier-Post

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Kobe Bryant provided reporters with only a few scant words about what he said, though he still seemed annoyed as he sat on the bottom step of the bleachers at tiny Rollins College, ice bags on each knee. Did he talk to his teammates, as he pledged to do in the wake of an embarrassing 98-83 loss Friday in Charlotte? "A little bit," Bryant said. How was it perceived? "I don't give a …" Was he kind? "Always." (Said with sarcasm.) What was your message? "That's for my teammates." Los Angeles Times

Some Celtics fans have buyer's remorse when it comes to Rasheed Wallace, who signed as a free agent in the off-season. Wallace is averaging a career-low 9.7 points and shooting career lows from the field and from 3-point range, where he is below 30 percent. But Wallace is shaking it off with his usual wit. "Like my mom said, 50 percent of the people are going to love you, and 50 percent are going to hate you," Wallace said to the Boston Herald. "You can't please everybody. That's pretty much how I play. I don't sit out there and worry about what the next person is thinking at all. 'Oh, he's got too many techs [technical fouls] and he shoots too many 3s.' I don't worry about that." The 3-point volume is what really gets under some fans' skin. Wallace often settles for outside jumpers instead of going into the post where he often is still hard to defend. But he's got a way to explain that, too. Cleveland Plain Dealer

"You know, I don't show my whole package during the beginning of the season. If you do, then that's what's going to be in the scouting report on me," Wallace said. "So now, come money time, it'll say that I'm going to go to the turnaround. Yeah, I'm going to turn around, but I'm going to go by you left, by you right, come with the jump hook. I told my buddy to look at it like a kung fu teacher. I might teach you the lotus and I might teach you the tiger, but I'm not going to teach you the crane, because the crane can beat both of them." Cleveland Plain Dealer

In the hallway outside the Orlando Magic's locker room after the Magic beat the six-win New Jersey Nets, 97-87, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy voiced his displeasure at the way his team won. "All year losing the lead is how we play," Stan Van Gundy said. "Give us a lead and we will play poorly at both ends of the floor. I have absolutely no idea how to fix it." Orlando Sentinel

But it was a win, so Magic players laughed and joked with each other inside the locker room. "He's always upset," Rashard Lewis said. "No matter if we win by 50 or if we win by one. He's going to stand on the sideline, he's going to be mad, he's going to be upset. You make one turnover he's going to be mad. They make a basket he's going to be mad. That's just Stan Van Gundy getting us prepared for the playoffs." Orlando Sentinel

Maurice Williams: I apologize to all my fans and Cavs fans for a shitty performance to say the least. I will get past this a get better, stay with me pls. Twitter.com

Brian Mahoney: Any #NBA conspiracy theorists wonder if Brown resting LeBron vs. Bucks means he'd rather see Milwaukee in playoffs than Bobcats? Twitter.com

The impotent Nets, the NBA's lowest-scoring team, shredded them in what became the Nets' largest margin of victory. The Knicks, meanwhile, clinched their ninth straight non-winning season. "It was bad, as bad as it can get," said D'Antoni, who got outcoached by a non-coach in Kiki Vandeweghe. New York Post

The Nets exploited the Knicks' lack of size and heart to enjoy a satisfying 113-93 victory before a Garden crowd that spent much of the second half booing the home team. "We just didn't have any kind of oomph or push," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. New York Post

After the game, Richardson spent more time talking about Beasley's breakthrough than his own improved play. It's an indication of how the team has rallied around Beasley during his struggles. ``(Wade) kind of got on him, was just screaming at him a little bit,'' Richardson said of Wade's call for urgency from Beasley and the rest of the team. ``I think the message got through, definitely with Beas.'' Wade didn't intend to punch Beasley but said he was glad he got the point. ``It just got to a point where I felt, as a leader, I had to get in his face a little bit,'' Wade said. Miami Herald

"I'm still 21, and I'm enjoying being 21,'' (Durant) says. "I talk to a lot of veterans, and they say this time goes by fast. So I'm going to enjoy it, take it all in. I didn't have to be in this position. Someone else could be in my shoes. I know as quickly as big games come around for me, I can have a bad game -- four or five in a row, 10 in a row -- and all of that (adulation) goes away. I know I'm not going to go out and play well if I don't tell myself to stay humble and work hard every day.'' FanHouse

He and James continue to jockey for the lead, and given his remarkable consistency, Durant has every opportunity to pull off an incredible achievement. Not that he's gunning for it, of course. "I don't think it has anything to do with anything," says Durant, who went for a now-ordinary 32 points and nine rebounds Friday night. "Coming into this league, I didn't say, 'I want to win the scoring title to get more money.' I just want to be a champion. If winning a scoring title brings a championship, then I'll be happy to do it.'' FanHouse

For the last two games Stevenson has been sporting a sweat band around his lower calf with Jason Terry’s number 31 on it. I first noticed it on Saturday night, but I went back and looked at pictures from Friday night’s game against Sacramento and Stevenson was wearing it then as well. Angry Trey's Blog

Rodney Stuckey was released from the Cleveland Clinic on Saturday afternoon and is returning to Detroit. The Pistons announced Saturday that all medical tests completed on the guard at the Cleveland Clinic returned normal. Stuckey will undergo further tests upon returning to Detroit. The Pistons said Stuckey never lost consciousness during Friday night's incident when he suddenly collapsed on the bench in the third quarter against the Cavaliers. Detroit News

Coach John Kuester and some players either talked to or texted Stuckey at the hospital. "We had good conversation, he was very alert," said Kuester, who talked to Stuckey before Kuester boarded the bus back to the Cleveland airport. "I made sure he was doing OK, and I told him we're concerned and to make sure he took care of himself." Kuester said there's no timetable for Stuckey's return to the team. It's doubtful he'll play Sunday when the Pistons host Houston. "It'll be up to the doctors and what they determine," Kuester said. Detroit News

While Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin awaits test results that will determine when — or if — he can return to the court this season, the Nuggets remain optimistic that their current roster is championship-worthy. "Of course," forward Carmelo Anthony said. "We have a similar team that we had last year with a couple of big pieces that we picked up in the offseason that will help us out a lot. We had a chance to make some moves before the trade deadline, but it didn't work out, or whatever the case may be or excuse may be, we just didn't do it." Denver Post

He had an MRI on Friday on a knee that had become just too painful for him to play on. "If they tell me that it's something more serious than I think it is and I've got to get surgery, then I'll have to do that," Martin said. "But if they say I can rest and it will heal and I can play, then I'm going to do that. "I'm not speculating anything. I'm not getting too up, too down about it. Of course I want to play; that's the frustrating thing about it. I never liked sitting out. I want to be out on the court with these guys. There's nothing like seeing the guys out there struggling and I can't help. That eats at me more than anything." Denver Post

Kenyon Martin is one of the toughest guys in the NBA. But there are limits to what he can play through. The Denver Nuggets forward has fought through a very sore knee the past month. But it remains be seen whether he can continue to do that. "You can play through some of the pain,'' Martin said Saturday. "But when it becomes chronic, then you've got to listen to your body ... I've just been trying to do all I can to help this team win ... It just came to a point where it ain't no fun going out there in warm-ups and you're in pain.'' FanHouse

The Nuggets announced Saturday results of Martin's MRI will be reviewed though the weekend and there will be consultation Monday with Martin and doctors. A plan for when Martin might return then will be formulated. "Just trying to stay optimistic that it ain't nothing serious," Martin said. "I'm just waiting to hear what (doctors) got to say. Then we're just going to come together and whatever the best course of action will be, whether it's rest, whatever the case may be. "If they tell me that it's something more serious than I think it is and I got to get surgery, then I got to do that. But, if they say I can rest and let it heal and I can play, I'm going to do that ... I ain't thinking the worse. I don't know. I'm just trying to stay level-headed." FanHouse

Such is life in the spotlight, when a simple illness turns into an old-fashioned game of "telephone" where a bug became some debilitating affliction instead of the ho-hum episode it really was, a spell that caused far more concern than it should have. "I had texts from everywhere because I guess they said I was in the hospital and everybody from all over the world was texting me," Bosh said of the reaction to a simple illness that felled him Friday. "They said 'rushed' (to hospital). No, I wasn't rushed. I guess just with the words, some of my family and everybody got a little antsy and wanted to check up on me." Toronto Star

Take a deep breath, he's okay. He was sick but not nearly as sick as it was made out to be. "I just know from my point of view it was hurting from time to time, it wasn't like that the whole time, but I guess I had to crunch over a few times," he said. "I was just hurting, so everyone just took the necessary precautions." Toronto Star

Miami Heat center Jermaine O'Neal has been sidelined with an injury to his left knee, and it's uncertain how long he'll be out. O'Neal was hurt in the second quarter of Saturday's game against Atlanta, although it wasn't clear how the injury happened. The Heat announced the injury late in the quarter, and O'Neal did not return. ESPN.com

The Nets probably will be without starting power forward Yi Jianlian for some time. Yi left the building in a walking boot after suffering a high left-ankle sprain in the first quarter when he stepped on Wilson Chandler's foot. Yi is out indefinitely. "I've got to see how it feels," Yi said. "It's hard to tell right now. I don't know how many days." Bergen Record

Kentucky's John Wall is drawing the kind of special attention you'd expect for the player seen as a lock to go No. 1 overall in the June draft. No fewer than five NBA agents have been knocking on his door during his freshman season. Ohio State's Evan Turner hasn't gotten the same attention, but he's raised his play and has worked his way into a top-three pick. New York Daily News

Virginia guard Sylven Landesberg has been suspended for the remainder of the season for "failure to live up his academic obligations." He might have played in his final game in a Virginia uniform. Throughout the season, there's been speculation Landesberg will leave early for the NBA. "Definitely considering it," said a source with direct knowledge of the situation. Washington Post

"This is a very difficult decision," Virginia Coach Tony Bennett said in a statement released by the university. "Sylven is a fine young man who I deeply care about, but our players need to take personal responsibility for their academic obligations. There are standards and expectations that Sylven and every player in this program now and in the future must uphold. When they are not upheld, there are consequences. "It's important for our current and future players players to understand it's a privilege to compete in the ACC and attend one of the finest institutions in the country. My hope is through this action it will help Sylven and the other young men in our program understand the value of a degree from the University of Virginia and the opportunities it provides for life after basketball." Washington Post

Having endured injuries to his ankles, left foot and hip this season, and seeing a decline in his play, Spurs guard Tony Parker is considering making the ultimate sacrifice: skipping the World Championships this summer. A fixture on French national teams since before his pro career started, Parker is finally coming to the conclusion that playing year-round is starting to catch up with him. New York Daily News

The Grizzlies are still working toward a contract extension for coach Lionel Hollins, two months after team owner Michael Heisley initiated negotiations. "It's in my hands," Heisley said when asked about the status of contract talks. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Hollins, though, didn't sound concerned when asked about the situation Saturday night before the Griz hosted the San Antonio Spurs. "I talked to Mike when I was in Chicago. I think it'll get done," Hollins said while taping The Lionel Hollins Show, which posts today on gogrizzlies.com. "Everybody has their initial offer and then there's somebody's bottom line, and we've got to work towards it." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Filling up a few pages of a yellow legal pad with notes, former Nets coach Lawrence Frank took in Orlando's shootaround at the Izod Center last Friday morning as a guest of Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. Since being fired after Thanksgiving, Frank has visited a handful of NBA teams to watch practices, including the Knicks. He also watched the University of Kentucky as a guest of coach John Calipari. As for Frank's plans, he is sticking to a no-interview, no-comment policy. New York Daily News

Sources say plans are advanced to re-sign Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry and promote him to team president. Assistant GM Chris Grant will be elevated to the top spot. New York Post

According to league officials, Johnson put almost $400 million into the Bobcats since the NBA granted him the expansion franchise in 2003. He bought it for $300 million and spent another $90 million during his tenure as the league's first solo minority owner. While speculation had Jordan's purchase for a fire-sale price of $175 million, one source insisted that it went "in the mid-200 million to high-200 million" dollar range. "Bob lost money on the deal," the source said. "He knew he would, but he felt it was time to move on. He had his fun." New York Daily News

What kind of owner will Jordan be, other than showing up at practice, as he did last week, to challenge his players to a game of H-O-R-S-E? He needs to show he'll pour money into the operation, but also has to be willing to put in the long hours required to keep the franchise going in the right direction. "Will he have the commitment to do it? That's always the question with him," said one league executive. "Michael enjoys living the good life. He loves playing golf, hanging out with his posse, with (Charles) Barkley, and going to the casinos. The big thing is whether he's going to change and if he is going to work at it." New York Daily News

Nets president Rod Thorn has met twice with incoming Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov. That's two more meetings than GM-interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe has had with the Russian billionaire. Vandeweghe knows he might be looking for a new job at season's end. "Situations change," he said. "We'll see what happens." Once Prokhorov is approved by NBA owners, as early as this week, he might reach out to Jerry Colangelo, the former Suns owner who is interested in running the Nets. Unless, of course, he's settled on Thorn. New York Daily News

Ben Golliver: Adam Silver attributes NBA rules changes to fan demand for less fighting: "Our fans didn't want to see... physical might over finesse." Twitter.com

Jonathan Givony: Mark Cuban: "all 30 NBA teams want better play by play data, tracking deflections and such. Frustrating that the NBA won't do it." Twitter.com

Jonathan Givony: Morey: "We won't pay millions extra for 'clutch performers.' No one has shown that that stays consistent. Cuban interjects: "We will" Twitter.com

Ben Golliver: Biggest uncharted territory for NBA stat analysis? @MCuban: "referees." Twitter.com

Jonathan Givony: Mark Cuban: "There's a ref we know who refuses to call offensive 3 seconds. So what do you think we do?" Twitter.com

Ben Golliver: Mark Cuban on Gerald Green: "He just doesn't understand the game of basketball." Twitter.com

Artest shared via Twitter with fans his Saturday night haircut and dye job from personal barber “Boogie” at the Lakers’ team hotel in Orlando. It left him with a gold head except for purple messages to stress “defense” in Hebrew, Japanese and Hindi, he wrote. Orange County Register

The former San Antonio Spur accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl is out of jail. Bexar County Jail authorities tell News 4 WOAI that Alvin Robertson posted bond late Friday night. News 4 WOAI was there Friday night as Robertson was escorted by Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputies into Magistrate’s Court. He was extradited from Arkansas where he was arrested last week. WOAI.com

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