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Thursday, January 23
 
Who wants to make a midseason deal?

By Mitch Lawrence
Special to ESPN.com

With the NBA trading deadline a month away, here's a team-by-team shopping list:

ATLANTIC DIVISION
New Jersey Nets
Don't be surprised if the Nets stand pat. They made all their moves in the summer and still haven't seen what Dikembe Mutombo or Chris Childs can do. They're open to adding frontcourt depth because they'll need another big body if they make the Finals again and have to go up against Sacramento, Dallas or the Lakers. They called about Denver's Marcus Camby but are all too familiar with his history of injuries.

Boston Celtics
When the Celtics recently brought Grant Long out of mothballs, that told you a few things: a) Vin Baker has been a flop, b) they can't find a big man via a trade who can get a rebound and score close to the basket and c) they're desperate. They've been looking for a lead point guard for some time now, to no avail.

Derrick Coleman
Derrick Coleman, left, has been mentioned in most of the 76ers' conversations.
Philadelphia 76ers
According to one Eastern Conference general manager, the Sixers have been "real active on the phone," and just about every call involves offering Derrick Coleman, who hasn't worked out like Larry Brown had hoped. In the final season of his contract, Coleman would be attractive to a team looking to cut an additional $9.5 million off their cap this summer.

Washington Wizards
How do the Wizards expect to get to the playoffs if they can't get a defensive rebound? Patrick Ewing isn't coming back, either. Michael Jordan wants no part of it. Injuries to Jahidi White and Jared Jeffries have depleted the frontcourt, yet they're still looking to move Kwame Brown, who's been a disappointment in his second season. The latest offer for Orlando's Mike Miller made no sense. Why bring in another scorer?

Orlando Magic
The Magic are looking for size. They were weak at the "four" and "five" before they ran Horace Grant out of town after his flap with Tracy McGrady and Doc Rivers. And as they've discovered, Shawn Kemp isn't going to give them more than backup minutes. Another Doc Rivers move that didn't pan out.

New York Knicks
Again, the Knicks are shopping Latrell Sprewell hard. But as one GM noted, "Who wants Spree, at his money?" Sprewell makes $12.375 million, with several seasons to run. For that matter, who likes any of the Knicks, most of whom are overpaid. The one player who is seen as a good deal: Kurt Thomas ($5 mil this season, $5.4 mil next). They have talked to Dallas about Raef LaFrentz, but the Mavs don't like anyone on the Knicks' roster.

Miami Heat
The Heat are trying to unload Brian Grant or Eddie Jones, and take back a player on the last year of his contract to get far enough under the salary cap to make a run at Jason Kidd or Tim Duncan this summer. Right now, they couldn't offer max money to either. Recently, they talked to the Bulls about a Jones-for-Jalen Rose deal.

CENTRAL DIVISION
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers made a blockbuster deal a year ago, clearing out Jalen Rose and Travis Best in exchange for Ron Artest, Brad Miller and Ron Mercer. This winter, they'd love to add a point guard who has a better assist-to-turnover ratio than Jamaal Tinsley. When you also realize that his backup, Erick Strickland, is a shooting guard, you can see why this is their Achilles heel.

Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are last in the league in rebounding (28th in offensive and 20th in defensive), so they're shopping for a board man who can take some pressure off Ben Wallace, the only rebounder on the roster. Finding one is going to be tough. Tyrone Hill is available, but Joe Dumars and Rick Carlisle are big on quality "character" guys who will fit in with teammates and work hard.

New Orleans Hornets
Paul Silas is in hot water, again, because of the Hornets' recent fourth-quarter collapses, caused in part by the offense's predictability along with the lack of proven bench scorer. "They need a veteran shooter who can come in off the bench and give them eight to 10 points a night," one Eastern Conference scout said. "Stacey Augmon can't do that." The Cavs' Jumaine Jones could be the answer, or even Dallas' Walt Williams, who became available with the Mavs' signing of Antoine Rigaudeau.

Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell, right, may be the next member of the Bucks' old Big Three to be traded.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are looking to rid themselves of veteran contracts as they try to get younger. Sam Cassell, Anthony Mason and Jason Caffey are all candidates to hit the road. With six point guards expected to be taken in the first round of the 2003 draft -- and the Bucks already sending out signals they'll use their pick on a playmaker -- Cassell move might be moved around the June draft.

Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks changed coaches and now want to change chemistry. They're very active in trying to move Glenn Robinson, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and/or Jason Terry. "Those three all need the ball and when they have it, they don't pass," one GM said. "That's not a team that shares the ball." Abdur-Rahim's contract is scaring off many clubs. "He's a good player, not a max-money guy," the GM added.

Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have talked to Miami about a Jalen Rose-for-Eddie Jones deal. It works cap-wise, with Jones ($11.2 million) and Rose ($12 million) making comparable salaries. The big need: A veteran point guard to show Jay Williams the ropes. What? He's supposed to learn how to run an NBA game from watching Jamal Crawford? Jerry Krause needs to deal Crawford.

Toronto Raptors
While he waits on Vince Carter and Antonio Davis, GM Glen Grunwald can expect to start fielding calls for Alvin Williams. The Pacers, looking for a distributor at the point, might have interest in Williams, who's a scoring threat and a good defender on the ball.

Cleveland Cavaliers
GM Jim Paxson finally canned John Lucas. Now he has to address a bad mix. Dajuan Wagner, Darius Miles and Ricky Davis can't co-exist. Ty Hill is available and could be a good addition for a playoff team looking for a veteran board man. "If he gets on a winning team, his attitude should improve considerably," one scout said.

MIDWEST DIVISION
Dallas Mavericks
Sacramento exposed the Mavs' lack of frontcourt toughness, so what does Dallas do? Add another scorer in Italian League product Antoine Rigaudeau. "We know we're still soft," one team official said. "But with enough gunners, we think we can compensate for that." Don't be shocked if the Mavs make a run at Miami's Brian Grant, a tough rebounder who has been through the Western Conference playoff wars.

Brian Grant and Kurt Thomas
Brian Grant, left, would give the Mavericks some low-post toughness.
San Antonio Spurs
You can't go into playoffs with Steve Kerr as your backup point guard. The Spurs need someone who can spell Tony Parker.

Utah Jazz
Matt Harpring has been a solid addition, but his range is limited. The Jazz are looking for another perimeter shooter. Center continues to be a weakness, with Tony Massenburg logging extended minutes.

Houston Rockets
The Rockets can afford to be patient because they're well ahead of schedule with Yao Ming. The power forward spot (with Eddie Griffin and Maurice Taylor) will have to be addressed and upgraded at some point. They've been looking for a quality backup at center -- where Kelvin Cato doesn't do much -- for a long time.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Wally Szczerbiak is back to take the scoring load off Kevin Garnett. But how long until his next injury? Other than Garnett, they're too small up front, with Gary Trent and Joe Smith, to do any damage in the West.

Memphis Grizzlies
With the Grizzlies turning it around under Hubie Brown, Jerry West still wants to make moves. Anybody want Stromile Swift? Shooting guard remains a weak spot. Gordan Giricek is effective when he can get his shot off. But he has troubles scoring against quicker twos.

Denver Nuggets
Already having traded off a player the Nuggets didn't want to pay in the future (James Posey), GM Kiki Vandeweghe is looking to deal Marcus Camby -- and anyone else on his team with a long-term contract -- in hopes of working down his salary cap for this summer's free agent market. He's targeting Michael Olowokandi and two other Clippers who will be restricted free agents, Elton Brand or Andre Miller. Camby is a tough sell and not just because he makes $7.25 million. He hardly plays (he's never played more than 63 games) and he's brittle.

PACIFIC DIVISION
Sacramento Kings
The Kings are standing pat. With this roster, wouldn't you?

Phoenix Suns
Amare Stoudemire, the surprise of this rookie class, finally gives them size. The Suns need more in the middle, where the two Jakes (Voskuhl and Tsakalidis) still don't give them enough muscle against the West's best teams.

Damon Stoudamire
Damon Stoudamire, left, remains stuck on the Blazers' bench and trading block.
Portland Trail Blazers
Anybody want Damon Stoudamire? He's been available forever, but his contract ($12.374 million this season, with $28 million remaining) is a major obstacle. If he's not dealt, he says he's heading for the injured list. "Portland is the real wild card," one GM said. "With the depth they have, they could make moves."

Los Angeles Lakers
They've dangled Robert Horry, at the end of his contract, but don't expect any significant moves from the three-time defending champs.

Seattle SuperSonics
The Sonics are fielding calls for Kenny Anderson, who's attractive to teams because of his $9.2 million come off the books this summer), but they won't move the unhappy playmaker unless they get a young player in return. Despite their struggles (4-9 in games decided by five points or less), don't look for a shakeup. That might not please Gary Payton. But after overachieving last season with a young team and young coach, they didn't think they could play as well again.

Golden State Warriors
They sorely need a starting point guard, first and foremost. Earl Boykins and Gilbert Arenas aren't front-line players. Jiri Welsch, a first-round pick projected to play the point, hasn't done anything.

Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers lead the league in disgruntled players, but why would Donald Sterling deal any of them off? Expect plenty of action in July, when Michael Olowokandi walks, and when other teams (notably Denver) look to get Elton Brand or Andre Miller by overpaying on offer sheets and counting on Sterling not to match.

Mitch Lawrence, who covers the NBA for the New York Daily News, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.





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