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Updated Trade Rumors - did not include previous


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Thursday, February 6 Updated 9:24 AM EST

Andre Miller about to get Clipped?

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Andre Miller

Clippers

just about everyone Feb. 6 - Coach Alvin Gentry feels his players have given up on team basketball in order to pursue personal agendas to increase their value on the free-agent market this summer. "Well, I would say we have now," Gentry said. "Obviously, we've shown we can't win with this group [of starters]. The only thing left is to try the other guys."

Genty's wrath has known no limits, but the focus of his frustration has centered on Miller. After putting up all-star-caliber numbers in Cleveland last season, he has just been awful since the New Year. Miller's ineffectivness, combined with the strong play of rookie Marko Jaric and third-year guard Dooling, continues to fuel speculation that Miller could be gone by the Feb. 20 trade deadline.

Several teams, including the Jazz and Nuggets plan on making a run at Miller this summer when he becomes a restricted free agent. Will a capped out team like the Knicks, Wizards or Magic try to beat them to the punch?

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Shareef Abdur-Rahim

Hawks

Spurs?

Sonics

Lakers

Bulls

Heat

Nuggets Feb. 6 - Numerous GMs around the league now claim that everyone on the Hawks' roster is available. And they mean everyone. Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff, Jason Terry, Nazr Mohammed, rookie Dan Dickau and even the newly acquired Glenn Robinson all have been attached to at least one trade rumor this week. Last week the hot rumor had the Hawks talking to the Spurs about Abdur-Rahim for Steve Smith and Danny Ferry.

However, Spurs coach Gregg Popovitch said the team doesn't want to make any deal that would compromise the salary-cap space they have cleared to sign free agents this summer. "We're not giving it up," Popovich told the San Antonio Express News on Thursday. "We're not." Popovitch said the team is unwilling to take on his contract as long as they believe they have a shot at landing free agent Jason Kidd this summer.

Of course other teams, without as much cap room this summer may still be interested. The Lakers, who have roughly $11.3 million in salaries, could also make a deal. So could the Sonics, who could send a package of Kenny Anderson and Vladimir Radmanovic. The Sonics almost dealt Gary Payton for Abdur-Rahim two seasons ago. Could they get him for much less now? The Bulls have been searching for veteran help and have plenty of young players -- Jamal Crawford, Marcus Fizer -- to trade. If the Cavs really want to start winning now, a combination of Tyrone Hill and Darius Miles from the Cavaliers could jump start the process.

And don't forget the Heat and Nuggets. Abdur-Rahim is better than almost any free agent those teams could land this summer. The Heat have Alonzo Mourning's salary they could use to acquire Abdur-Rahim. The Nuggets have Juwan Howard's. If these teams were willing to take on another unwieldly contract (like Henderson's or Mohammed's) and throw in a prospect or a draft pick, would the Hawks do the deal?

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Brian Grant

Heat

Sixers Feb. 6 - The Philadelphia Daily News is reporting that in addition to Theo Ratliff and Latrell Sprewell, the Sixers have at least internally shown interest in Heat forward Brian Grant.

Coach Pat Riley is trying to find a new home for either Grant or Eddie Jones. The Heat need to move one of the two players to get far enough under the cap to make a run at a top tier free agent this summer. The Sixers could offer power forward Derrick Coleman, who's in the last year of his contract. That would allow the Heat to clear an additional $10 million in cap room next summer. If Riley can't make a move, the Heat are looking at only $4 to $5 million in cap space next summer.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Austin Croshere

Pacers

Lakers

Warriors

Sonics

Sixers Feb. 6 - The Pacers are working the phones trying to find a home for Croshere or Ron Mercer. They need to get at least one of those salaries off the books to have a realistic shot at signing Jermaine O'Neal, Reggie Miller and Brad Miller this summer. They'd prefer to move Croshere, who has struggled to get playing time because of the team's depth at forward. O'Neal, Artest, Al Harrington and Bender are eating up all of his minutes right now and the Pacers would love to clear that logjam. They'd also love to dump the five years and $38 million remaining on his contract. If the Pacers could move Croshere this fall, they'd clear an additional $7.6 million from the cap.

The Indianapolis Star, quoting an Eastern Conference GM, said the Pacers and Warriors have been talking about a Croshere-for-Danny Fortson swap. That's surprising, considering the Pacers have been trying to dump Croshere in return for a player with an expiring contract.

The Lakers appear to be the other team most interested. Ideally, the Lakers would love to add a young, athletic power forward and point guard to the roster. However, Mitch Kupchak and company are fond of Croshere. Croshere has his real breakout series against the Lakers in the 1999-2000 Finals. Since then he's gotten the rep as a "Laker Killer." The Lakers are remiss to give up Robert Horry, but they probably don't have to. While the Pacers would prefer to land Horry for their own playoff run, a combo of Walker, Murray and Mark Madsen would be enough to get a deal done. That gives the Pacers the cap relief they're looking for and adds another solid player to the Lakers rotation. The Sixers, Rockets and Sonics have also shown some interest in the forward.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Theo Ratliff

Hawks

Sixers

Raptors

Magic Feb. 6 - The Sixers are still trying to re-acquire Ratliff, but they may have run into a snag. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, Sixers ownership would allow the team to acquire Ratliff and the remaining two years, $21 million on his contract only if another major contract (read Keith Van Horn's) was subtracted.

That makes things much, much tougher. According to the Daily News, the Sixers did have interest in swapping Van Horn for Knicks swingman Latrell Sprewell several weeks ago, but nothing ever came of it. The Knicks, who are in lockdown mode concerning taking on extra salaries, aren't in any position to swallow Van Horn's contract either.

That means the Sixers may play it safe and just let power forward Derrick Coleman's salary come off the books this summer. Doing so would put the team out of the luxury-tax threshold and give it a payroll of around $48 million, excluding draft picks, next season.

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