HoopsHype.com Rumors

Marc Stein: Word is Knicks will be at front of line to try to sign Jermaine O'Neal if Phoenix consents to buy JO out to make room for Marcus Morris Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Jermaine O'Neal 

Brian Windhorst: Suns have to make roster move to make room for Morris deal. Teams have been expecting a Jermaine O'Neal buyout/release if not traded. Twitter @WindhorstESPN

Phoenix Suns, Trade, Jermaine O'Neal 

Other rumors involving Suns players have included the Toronto Raptors having interest in reserve point guard Sebastian Telfair, the Knicks sniffing around center Jermaine O'Neal and reports that the Suns are dangling center Marcin Gortat and swingman Jared Dudley in potential deals. Babby threw cold water on most of the existing rumors. "The high likelihood is we don't do anything," he said. The Suns president did say, however, that he's been involved in the game long enough to realize that things can change quickly. "Everything can change with one phone call," he said. "I don't know whether that phone call is going to come. Arizona's Sports Page

New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Marcin Gortat, Jared Dudley, Jermaine O'Neal, Sebastian Telfair 

Ben Golliver: Availability of Marreese Speights and Jermaine O'Neal has softened market for Blazers F/C J.J. Hickson, according to league sources Twitter @blazersedge

Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Jermaine O'Neal, Marreese Speights 

Phoenix has had talks with Atlanta about Smith, who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. However, the Suns have been engaged in discussions about their own role players in Sebasitan Telfair and Jermaine O'Neal. Toronto, looking for a backup point guard, has interest in Telfair, as well as Minnesota's Luke Ridnour and Oklahoma City's Eric Maynor. New York has strong interest in O'Neal. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Free Agency, Eric Maynor, Luke Ridnour, Jermaine O'Neal, New York 

Chris Broussard: Sources: Knicks showing strong interest in Phx's Jermaine O'Neal... Twitter @Chris_Broussard

New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Trade, Jermaine O'Neal 

O’Neal is having his best season in years, benefitting from finally being placed in the reserve center role that suits him better in his 30s and being healthier than he has been in years outside occassional back spams and an irregular heartbeat diagnosis. It still has not been easy for the 34-year-old center to go through playing for the worst team he has ever been on but that does not make being traded to a contender by Thursday a shoo-in for him, especially with his mind elsewhere. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Trade, Jermaine O'Neal 

O’Neal said he would like “to stay and fight with the boys” but did not dismiss the thought of joining a contender for the stretch run. He would be an upgrade at backup center in Oklahoma City and closer to his family in Dallas. The Lakers would benefit from him but the Suns could not afford to help the Lakers and risk the chance of losing a second lottery pick because they own the Lakers’ first-round pick without protection from the Steve Nash sign-and-trade deal. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Trade, Jermaine O'Neal 

After addressing his own heart issue, O’Neal now has his 13-year-old daughter’s heart to worry about. O’Neal has known for a long time about her heart’s leaky valve but he learned Tuesday that it needs surgery. “I have a tough situation coming up with my daughter,” O’Neal said. “She’s having heart surgery in Boston on March 5. She has a leaky valve that has to be corrected because her body is having to work too hard. She is having chest pains. “For me, it’s one thing after another. I haven’t even had a chance to think about that (trade possibilities). Every time I think about basketball, real life tends to talk to me a little bit. My focus is to finish my job and what I signed up to do. If they want to do something to help the team, I’m for it.” Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Jermaine O'Neal 

Paul Coro: Jermaine O'Neal said his absence was due to an irregular heartbeat that began Tuesday. He has medication & will join the weekend Texas trip. Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Jermaine O'Neal, Injuries 

But third-year Suns general manager Lance Blanks — who found himself dousing more flames this week after he had a heated argument with veteran Jermaine O'Neal — insists there's a plan in place that will pay off so long as there's some patience. "I feel, actually, great (about the big-picture)," Blanks said in a lengthy phone interview with USA TODAY Sports. "In this business, you can't wiggle your nose and manufacture success, or rub rocks together. You've got to roll up your sleeves and do the things that are necessary to be successful." USA Today Sports

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Jermaine O'Neal, Lance Blanks, Lindsey Hunter 

Will Suns let PF/C Jermaine O'Neal go and if they did would he still be the same without Phoenix's extraordinary training staff that has clearly rejuvenated him? No one thought he had something left for an 18th season, but clearly he does. A source says that his dispute with GM Lance Blanks was over the fact the Suns plan to diminish his role, something O'Neal did not want to see happen. With the array of teams that could use even the limited minutes O'Neal could provide as a rim protector and finisher -- including his previous team, the Celtics, along with the Heat and Sixers -- Jermaine assuredly would be snapped up if the Suns let him go. Sulia

Phoenix Suns, Jermaine O'Neal, Lance Blanks 

Blanks, whose team is 13-28 overall and has lost 13 of its last 15 games, said reports of his heated verbal argument with O'Neal in the coach's office Monday were overblown and in no way connected to the recent promotion of player development coach Lindsey Hunter to interim head coach. Former coach Alvin Gentry was, for all intents and purposes, fired on Jan. 18. "There's no acute issue," Blanks told USA TODAY Sports of the argument with O'Neal first reported by Yahoo! Sports. "Our interaction had nothing to do with the coaching situation. I can tell you that, with one hundred percent certainty. The time that any reporters are going to put into it is going to be wasted time – unless they're trying to create an issue for us. "But if they're coming at it in a fair sense of there being a story, there's no story. JO and I are two competitive guys who had an argument, and that was it. We walked out (of the coach's office where the argument took place) giving high-fives and brother hugs, and it's over." USA Today Sports

Phoenix Suns, Jermaine O'Neal, Lance Blanks 

Jermaine O'Neal: People should be ashamed of there selves for reporting things to the public that are absolutely not true! smdh! Twitter @jermaineoneal

Phoenix Suns, Media, Jermaine O'Neal 

Jermaine O'Neal: Altercation? False! Argument about a coaching change or coaching hire? Even more false! That's is not my position or job to determine that! Twitter @jermaineoneal

Phoenix Suns, Jermaine O'Neal 

Jermaine O'Neal: Lindsey hunter is now our coach and we will do anything and everything to support him and try to turn this season around! Twitter @jermaineoneal

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Jermaine O'Neal, Lindsey Hunter 

Jermaine O'Neal: Coach gentry will be missed but its also apart of the business in sports! We all had hands in on the 13-28 start not just the coach! Twitter @jermaineoneal

Phoenix Suns, Jermaine O'Neal 

Jermaine O'Neal: But coach hunter is our coach now and we fully support him! Twitter @jermaineoneal

Phoenix Suns, Jermaine O'Neal 

Jermaine O'Neal: And for the person that's leaking the B.S to the media at least have the balls to acknowledge yourself or at least get the info right!Damn Twitter @jermaineoneal

Phoenix Suns, Media, Jermaine O'Neal 

Jermaine O'Neal: For the people that support the suns, its 41 games left to turn this thing around and we ask for your full support! Let's go suns nation! Twitter @jermaineoneal

Phoenix Suns, Jermaine O'Neal