HoopsHype.com Rumors

The trade deadline would be creeping up in a couple weeks and an avalanche of speculation would already be crashing down on the Mavericks. This year? Nothing. So when do we start hearing every realistic and unrealistic name in the league getting attached to the Mavericks? If you answered “it won’t happen,” you have learned well. Consider yourself capable of running your own fantasy team. The Mavericks “will not jeopardize our flexibility for this summer,” in the words of president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson. He also said Tuesday that while this team hasn’t clicked yet, it will get every opportunity to do so. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Trade, Donnie Nelson 

Larry Bird on the possibility of Bird ever leaving the Celtics (and touching on the Peyton Manning situation in Indy): "Red [Auerbach] knew I wasn't going anywhere. ... I would have never left Boston, unless they traded me. I like to see guys come in, especially the elite players, and stay in one place. I think it's very important for the city, because we don't have a lot of great ones come through here, and Peyton Manning is by far the greatest athlete to ever come through [Indianapolis]. If he's healthy, hopefully he stays and finishes out his career. "If you have an elite player come through, especially a small market, you've got to hold on to them players. They're not born every day." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Trade, Larry Bird 

Rajon Rondo. Note: “ball-handling guard” is triangle-speak for a point guard. Additionally, sources have told HOOSPWORLD that the Boston Celtics do have interest in Gasol for their All-Star point guard. HoopsWorld

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Pau Gasol 

The Celtics have shopped Rondo on a number of occasions. For a number of reasons, sources say Boston does not intend to rebuild their roster around Rondo. The drop off from Rajon to second-year player Avery Bradley (a capable defender but not as experienced as a playmaker) may not be as significant to the Celtics as the void in the middle that Gasol would fill. HoopsWorld

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo 

"I'm always frustrated," Bryant admitted when asked how long it would take before frustration set in. "I'm frustrated when we lose one game. But I believe we obviously tried to improve our team. They tried to make a move (for now-Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul), and it fell through. I'm sure they're working on other things as well. I'm not going to get bent out of shape, or hoot and holler, or lose my temper or whatever. I believe we're all on the same page, we know what we want to do. We know what the goal is." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Kobe Bryant 

Bryant also expressed confidence in the Lakers' roster as currently constructed, even while acknowledging the team's small margin for error. "We're going through a little tough patch right now, but we'll be all right," he said. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Kobe Bryant 

Pau Gasol, who had 16 points and 11 rebounds but shot 5 of 14 from the field vs. the 76ers, was nearly traded by the Lakers for Chris Paul before the season. Asked Monday night if the Lakers might make changes if this trip doesn’t go better, Gasol was stoic. “That might occur, regardless,” Gasol said. “I don’t know. It’s totally out of my power. But there’s always a sense that if something was going to happen before, something might still happen until probably we get to the (trade) deadline. We won’t know for sure. We’ve just got to try to forget about that, put that aside, and try to continue to play as well as we can without being affected by any of that.” Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Pau Gasol 

Kobe Bryant said Monday he believes the Lakers have the makings of a championship contender. A trade isn't necessary to transform them from ordinary to something special if they play to or above their potential the rest of the way. "We can (contend)," Bryant said. "We have to play very solid, near-perfect basketball, particularly with our second unit, which we have in the past. We're capable of contending. Our margin is just not as great as some of the other teams." Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Kobe Bryant 

Lakers coach Mike Brown agreed. "That's Mitch's job, to continue to find ways to improve the team," Brown said, referring to Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak. "His track record speaks for itself. He's more than capable of doing that. Having said that, if we don't do anything to this team, I'm excited about this roster. "I think this roster can contend for a championship. I do agree with what Kobe says. We're an injury away, like we are now, from having to rely on rookies to help get us through and that's a tough situation when you start talking about championships. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Mitch Kupchak, Mike Brown 

Brian Schmitz: CEO Alex Martins won't deal with Dwight Howard's agent after training-camp meeting/demand. Only GM Otis Smith speaks with Dan Fegan now. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard 

An Internet report last week asserted Kobe Bryant presented a sales pitch for the Purple and Gold to Dwight Howard, who was so turned off by Bryant’s effort it curdled the Lakers’ chances of signing Howard long-term should they be able to acquire him this season from the Magic. Scooter the Recruiter’s proposition: Come here and be the third offensive option behind me and Pau Gasol and be our “Tyson Chandler.” Supposedly, Kobe also made it clear Los Angeles would be Howard’s, “but only once he [Bryant] decided he was done playing.”All that was missing was, “Hurry, offer ends at midnight tonight.” None of what the author claimed came out of Kobe’s mouth sounded like it’d been transmitted from his cerebrum. New York Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

So, I decided to eliminate the middle man, pass the savings on to the consumer and go right to the source — only one of two that actually exist — and ask the horse. “Please separate truth from fiction for me re: Howard stuff,” I emailed Kobe several days ago. “As far as what? I have no clue what’s even being said. I have a lot to deal with as it is,” he replied. That was extremely revealing in itself. In other words, L.A.’s media, especially the Lakers’ beat writers, felt the story lacked such credibility, nobody even bothered to ask Kobe about it. New York Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

I sent Kobe the story and asked him to confirm, deny or both depending on the paragraph. “omg! I’m not getting mixed up in this kiddy drama spit, bro. too old for that spit,” Bryant responded via email. “How do you think I feel at my age having to chase down this stuff,” I answered. “I understand your position. But if it’s untrue, any of it, and allowed to circulate throughout the league, which already is happening, I would think you’d want to say it’s not.” “It’s not true,” Kobe responded. New York Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

On Saturday, the Hornets announced that Kaman would return to the team just one week after it advised him to stay away while it tried to consummate a trade that would send Kaman and his expiring $14 million contract elsewhere. On Monday, Kaman shied away from talking specifics regarding his exile. “They put out a press release, and that pretty much explains the extent of it and where it’s at,” Kaman said of the Hornets’ Saturday missive quoting General Manager Dell Demps, who said, “For a number of reasons, including the team’s decision to give more time to younger players, we had thought it best for Chris to work out on his own at the Alario Center as we made efforts to trade him.” “The most I can say is I’m going to come out and play hard and do what I’m supposed to do and go from there,” Kaman said. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Trade, Chris Kaman 

Though he criticized the way in which the Clippers had managed his trade to New Orleans, Kaman said Monday he had no qualms with the way the Hornets dealt with his situation last week. “You know what, it wasn’t a big issue. I was asked to leave; I think they thought they might have had a trade or something. I’m not sure. I don’t know the situation,” Kaman said, adding that he’s never been in such a position before. “I did what I was asked. They asked me to come back, and that’s kind of the extent I know about it. They’ve been pretty straightforward with me, and I have no complaints there.” New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Trade, Chris Kaman 

The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers have contacted the Houston Rockets about acquiring Jonny Flynn, according to league sources. No deal is imminent with either team, but both clubs are in desperate need of a point guard and have Flynn on their radar. ESPN.com

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Trade, Jonny Flynn 

The Knicks have shown the most interest, sources say, and discussed a possible deal involving Renaldo Balkman and Mike Bibby. The Rockets were not interested. Bibby, who was signed as a free agent before the season, can't be traded before March 1. ESPN.com

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Trade, Jonny Flynn 

Chris Palmer: Suns open to trading Steve Nash. How about for Derek Fisher and Metta World Peace? Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Trade, Derek Fisher, Steve Nash, Metta World Peace 

The Hornets' unusual step of publicly acknowledging they were shopping Chris Kaman creates a buyers' market for the 29-year-old former All-Star. With Kaman's agent, Rob Pelinka, working on potential deals as well, New Orleans won't lack for potential suitors. It also helps that the Hornets have recalibrated their initial demands of an expiring contract, a young player and Draft picks for Kaman. NBA.com

New Orleans Hornets, Trade, Chris Kaman 

League sources indicated this weekend that the Hornets -- and, by extension, the NBA, which owns the team -- now realize they'll have to at least take some salary back for Kaman. But New Orleans is still looking for a first-round pick, and Lottery-bound teams that might be interested in Kaman aren't going to give up those kinds of picks. That would leave good teams at the bottom of the first round as more likely trading partners. (Also keep in mind that Kaman, having been dealt to New Orleans on Dec. 14, can't actually be traded under the CBA until Feb. 14.) NBA.com

New Orleans Hornets, Trade, Chris Kaman