This is a real photo...seriously, Larry Brown actually wore this...

Trade Rumour: Nets send SG Vince Carter to the Pacers for SF Ron Artest and PF Austin Croshere…

Please let the Raptors get Ron Artest…I can’t wait to see Sam Mitchell and Ron Artest in the same locker room…the over under on the number of days until the 1st scrap would be around 2 days…

Canseco milkshakes anyone? An NBA scout who recently saw Oklahoma State play remarked that Cowboys' 6’7” SF Mario Boggan, had made some huge gains in muscle mass from last year…how huge? Try 34 lbs. Of muscle in 6 months…

Chucker…Notre Dame junior SG Colin Falls has taken 53 three’s and 11 two’s and no free throws over the first 6 games of the season…

If you like NBA apparel, and you know I do, you’ll love this link…http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/051215

Alonzo Mourning’s kid is huge…at nine years old, he weighs 120 pounds, wears a size-9 man's shoe and he's already 5-foot-3…

Fin-Dog…Michael Finley scored 21 points, including the last six for the Spurs, to help San Antonio hold off Minnesota 90-88. Tim Duncan had 13 points and nine rebounds, missing four of his seven free-throw attempts. Duncan has been horid from the free throw line lately going 5-for-20 from in the two games.

Yao Ming…Yao Ming Yao Ming Yao Ming….Yao Ming….Yao Ming…repeat….went for 30 and 16 and T-Mac had 34 opints, 8 assists and 6 boards including 6 threes as the Rockets won their 5th straight game, 104-98 over the SuperSonics last night.

Uncle Cliffyis still old…New Jersey Nets forward Clifford Robinson, the Portland Trail Blazers' second round pick in the 1989 draft, is the longest serving active player with 17 seasons in the league. And he isn't thinking about retiring. "I haven't really said when I'm going to give it up," Robinson says. "I may have another year or two in me. It's been in the back of my mind to get to 20. It's a matter of getting in the right situation. We'll see. At this point, I still feel good. I don't see myself retiring anytime soon." If Robinson reaches the 20-year mark, he will be in select company. Robert Parish (21) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (20) are the only players to reach that milestone. Nets president Rod Thorn sees no reason for Robinson not to continue playing. "He's a very talented player," Thorn says. " He's a great defender, and defenders are at premium, especially at his size. "As long you're his size, you want to play and you're healthy, there's no reason he shouldn't play."Robinson plays 23 minutes a game as a backup and averages 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds.

Growing Boy…Laker C Andrew Bynum has grown an inch since the team drafted him this summer, putting him at 7’1”.

1) Tim Legler of ESPN.com with his awards for the quarter season:

One-quarter of the NBA season is over. Let's hand out some awards based on the 20-odd games in the books:

Rookie of the Quarter: Chris Paul, Hornets guard. He's playing the most demanding position in the NBA, requiring the biggest transition from college, and he's doing it very well for a team coming off a horrendous year. He's extremely tough, and has an NBA body now. Runners-up: Channing Frye, Knicks; Andrew Bogut, Bucks.

Coach of the Quarter: Mike D'Antoni, Suns. He lost my preseason MVP, Amare Stoudemire as well as Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson. Yet they still get off to a 12-5 start. Hardest team in the league to defend, most relentless. Everybody on that roster is getting better looks, and players like Eddie House, Leandro Barbosa benefit. Runners-up: Mike Dunleavy, Clippers; Byron Scott, Hornets.

Most Improved Player of the Quarter: Mo Williams Bucks guard. Coming in, he was generally regarded as backup point guard who brought a change of pace because he's so quick. But he's been so good, coach Terry Stotts is starting both T.J. Ford and him together. Stotts can't keep him on the bench. His fourth-quarter point production has been impressive. Runner-up: Alonzo Mourning, Heat.

Defensive Player of the Quarter: Mourning, Heat center. His performance was the reason the team wasn't 6-15 when Shaq came back. I didn't know he had this much left in the tank. Runner-up: Andrei Kirilenko, Jazz, despite time missed.

Best Sixth Man of the Quarter: Ben Gordon, Bulls. There aren't a lot of sixth men who are guaranteed to play for the entire fourth quarter. He's their certain go-to guy in the fourth. Not a lot of sixth men can say that. Runner-up: Donyell Marshall, Cavs.

Quarter MVP: Steve Nash, Suns. He's had to pick up his scoring, and he's been dominant as scorer, and he's still the best at always making the right decision, getting the ball to right guy. They have six guys averaging in double figures, two guys in 8-10 ppg range, and they lost 60 percent of last year's starting lineup. Amazing. Runners-up: Allen Iverson, Elton Brand.

Biggest Disappointment of the Quarter, Team: The Nets, based on last year's success, should be better. I thought they improved their bench with Marc Jackson and Jeff McInnis, but instead they're a sub.-500 team in the worst division in basketball. They DO NOT play hard. Just too casual out there.

Biggest Disappointment of the Quarter, Player: Ron Artest, Pacers. As dumb as it sounds, I thought a year being taken away from him would change his perspective. It hasn't.

Worst Haircut of the Quarter: Chris Kaman, Clippers. That 'do just plain scares me.

Worst Throwback Uniform of the Quarter: Bulls. Those red and blue outfits looked exactly like the Harlem Globetrotters'. At first I thought it was an NBDL team when I turned on the game.

Best Throwback Uniform of the Quarter: None. I hate throwbacks.

Best Upset of the Quarter: Hawks over Spurs. You can't just show up and beat the bottom feeders of the NBA. No mail-it-in games.

Best Moment of the Quarter: The dunk by Vince Carter on Mourning (Nov. 7) was one of the top five in NBA history.

Best Shooter of the Quarter: As long as Ray Allen is playing, there should be no discussion. (He ranks 25th in FG percentage among shooting guards; statistically, Gerald Wallace leads the way). But I will say that Dirk Nowitzki is the greatest 7-foot shooter, ever.

2) Peter Vescey of the New York Post thinks Ron-Ron to the Knicks is ridiculous:

RON MAKES ISIAH AR-TESTY

BEFORE commencing with today's communiqué, excuse me while I laugh in the faces of pretenders whose "sources" claim Isiah Thomas and Ron Artest had a solid relationship in Indiana . . . heckle the hoodwinked who fail to grasp the Knicks' president's phone call to Pacer CEO Donnie Walsh regarding his screwy swingman was nothing more than a pantomime performance to sidetrack a full-court press and appease fans . . . and mock the oblivious advocating the acquisition of the splattered meteor, period, forget about at any cost. I can't decide which is more offensive to my senses: Artest's recent stream of unconsciousness or the fountains of misinformation spewing from squawking heads and media mannequins whose line of reasoning on all of the above is decorated in early emptiness. Yeah, right, let's connect Larry Brown's and Ron Artest's dots. Who among the even moderately sound of mind honestly believes that "Love Connection" would have any chance of lasting longer than the first episode of "The Honeymooners"? May I remind the promoters of that relationship this is the same Larry Brown who branded David Robinson a "coach killer" in his Spurs' infancy; the same Larry Brown who accused Dan Issel of having no heart; traded Bobby Jones for George McInnis; and wanted to trade Reggie Miller when success curdled in Indiana. And those were his most coachable players. If Next Town Brown had problems with the exceptional, what makes any lucid philosopher conceptualize a misfit like Artest will be an exception? If Brown couldn't endure the flaws of the easiest guys to control, imagine how fast Artest's idiosyncrasies would have him scurrying like a toad to his next dream job. On second thought, Artest is so Joe Don Looney he could turn Brown sane. Fact is, we've never been distantly in danger of stirring that discovery process, much less studied it to see whether it's humanely possible. Their mixed marriage was never anything but a dead issue, though they do share at least one common denominator: Artest regularly takes leave of his senses, whereas Brown regularly takes leave. Still, as repeatedly as Isiah Thomas starts afresh or breaks bread with those who've tormented, tortured or turned on him, the notion of reuniting with Artest is so unappealing he wouldn't give up Frederic Weis straight up. I make this statement emphatically knowing what I know about their year-and-a-half Pacers association. Thomas found Artest so unmanageable, so disorderly, so inclined to do the opposite of what the situation called for, he seriously considered excluding him (and Ron Mercer) from the playoff roster in '02-03. A late season superior recital at the Garden forced him to change his mind, but not his opinion or a scheme to get rid of him. Thomas and Jermaine O'Neal were very tight. As far as I know, they still are. Thomas always told his franchise player everything he wanted to hear and saved the negative evaluations for the ears of others. He also manipulated him to do his dirty work. That summer O'Neal became a free agent. Before he re-signed, I wrote a column that charged him with trying to use his leverage (in conjunction with his distaste for Artest's irresponsibility, disruptive behavior and aloofness) to pressure management to trade Artest, Mercer and Jamaal Tinsley. It was clear who put him to it; Jermaine is too nice a person to pull such a Machiavellian stunt. O'Neal was furious the story got out and denied its accuracy. Meanwhile, I got a frantic call from Thomas. He implored me to call O'Neal and convince him that he wasn't the source, which is true. I had no problem with that. I called the number Thomas gave me but O'Neal never called back. I know I'm naive; but it seems to me anybody who'd go to that extreme to deport Artest and two others (Thomas' mistreatment of Tinsley is a sordid story for another day) from Indiana has no intention of importing him to New York, Don't get me wrong! I absolutely concur with Thomas' position for all the obvious reasons. A day or so after Artest's starring role in the Malice at the Palace, I called Thomas to get his take. "That's what I'm talking about," he said. "You could see this coming. It was just a matter of when." That's why half the NBA is petrified to add Artest to their mix despite a relatively inexpensive outlay. The Pacers know they can't get equal value, thus they're willing to accept a young talent or two vs. an established veteran in hopes of getting a deal done swiftly. Nobody's blaming Thomas for not wanting Artest. I just wish he'd come out and tell us what's really on his mind instead of making a grandstand call to Walsh, then have one of his flacks leak it to the press. Thomas not only admitted reaching out to the Pacers, but talked about his untouchables. This doesn't strike people as unusual, an executive publicly discussing the particulars of a trade? That's how much grief Thomas must be getting throughout the city's corners and cubbyholes as a result of the Knicks' 6-15 eyesore of a record.
Again, it would've been infinitely more meaningful and manly had Thomas simply announced he wanted nothing to do with the compulsive-repulsive-impulsive Artest. Instead he made believe he tried to get someone habitually undependable. "I know you had to make the call," said Walsh, the guy who hired him and didn't object when Larry Bird fired him three years later. "I'm not prepared to trade any of my young players for Artest," Thomas remarked. "Well, I don't want any of your other players," Walsh replied. "What else do you want to talk about?" This was the extent of the enthused trade conversation between Thomas and Walsh.

3) Bill Walton is crazy, for ESPN.com:

For the children

It's the saddest of tales, really and the toughest part of our jobs. When Stan Van Gundy said "ENOUGH" earlier this week and stood down so that he could spend any time at all with his family, he answered the hardest question that each of us face every day. It was even tougher that nobody seemed to believe that any of it was true. But when you make the decision to commit to this life you really have no idea whatsoever the scope of what you're getting into. And every time you walk out that door to leave for who knows how long and have to say goodbye to the children left behind, you also have no clue how much pain and heartache is involved as the youngsters develop reflex mechanisms of their own to block out the struggles they face of a life without their Dad. They always tell you that it's okay that you can't be home for dinner, their school functions, their doctor's appointments, their games and anything and everything else. They tell you that it's all right that you're not going to be there to put them to bed at night or there to get them up and off in the morning either. But after doing it over and over, day after day, for seemingly forever, you know full well that it's NOT OK! Even though the children try their best to hide their disappointment, it truly is something that affects them forever. When we find ourselves out there fighting the daily battles of our own lives and jobs, always asking ourselves why and is it all worth it? Stan Van Gundy finally found the strength and courage that the answer with this current lot, is that it is not worth it for him and his family. The same answer that so many of us wish we could come to when we're out there on the front lines, never getting home, never having a life. Like when you're sitting at that airport struggling with yet another flight delay or cancellation or you're behind someone at the security line who absolutely seems to always be taking their first flight or maybe it's the hotel check-in clerk who always seems to be on their first day on the job. Maybe it's the red-eye flight that drops you off at dawn in the middle of nowhere and the hotel says the room will not be ready for at least another couple of hours. Maybe you'll get to the game and one of the teams turns out to be the Atlanta Hawks or it's the likes of an Erick Dampier coming through with another “performance" that makes you wonder why you should care anything at all about this when he obviously doesn't and all the while your children are there at home wondering why Dad can't be there for them too. Stan Van Gundy finally did something about it when he told all of us to take this job and shove it. Everybody claims balderdash except those young smiling faces who now get to find out who their Dad is and get to enjoy him. Maybe it's just me, as I opened my own eyes to the disturbing news that Ron Artest now wants to be set free from the team that gave him everything including the home and positive environment that this dazed and confused soul so obviously craves. While he points out his dislike for the coaching style and abilities of Rick Carlisle, Artest really has condemned the entire franchise, and all those who have faced the same tough choices for decades that Stan Van Gundy stared down on his own daily basis. Artest has always been a handful both on and off the court and for all these years of his nonsense, good, decent hardworking people like Stan Van Gundy have sacrificed their lives and the hopes and dreams of their children so that one day their Dad could be there for them. Now, once again, Artest has spit in the faces of those who have done so much to help him and it is only reasonable that these people now ask themselves: why and for what? Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird have spent vast amounts of their own personal capital, credibility and integrity to convince all of us that Ron Artest and all the rest of this is so worth it. They have now come to the same conclusion that a lot of others have when it comes to not only Artest, but those of the same cloth: Latrell Sprewell, Terrell Owens, Shawn Kemp, Isaiah Rider, Bonzi Wells, the list goes on and on. And yet there will always be the next sucker who thinks that they can be the one who will get through to these lost souls. They feel that as soon as Artest or any of these other slackers gets on their team that everything will be cool. One of the many problems here is that Artest has really never done anything to warrant this optimism. Wherever he has been it has always been nothing but an endless litany of problems unlike Dennis Rodman, there is nothing that you can point to with Artest and say, WOW, he really came through for us this time and made all the craziness worth it. Who in today's game would have the personal capability to ride herd on Artest the way that Michael Jordan did with Dennis during those few but fleeting days and all this time Artest looks at us with those wide, blank eyes seemingly asking us, what's wrong? Some NBA teams will ask themselves the same questions that Stan Van Gundy finally answered this week, particularly, is this all worth it. The desperate ones (New York and Miami) will say yes and live to regret it down the line. The solid ones (San Antonio and Detroit) will remember their own travails with Rodman and quickly pass. The ones in the dreaded middle still grappling with whether the means might justify any possible positive end might roll the dice only to realize too late who could really win here and what the true costs are. Granted, Artest is a uniquely talented, yet tormented enigma. While it is unfair to everybody to try to compare Ron to anybody ever, my experience is that it is always much better to play against the likes of the Artests of the world rather than with him. Which is really the same decision that Stan Van Gundy made this very week and now that Stan is finally home and at peace with himself, he will quickly find out how truly special it is when those bright, clear, young eyes of his loved ones look up at him and say, DAD, THANKS FOR COMING!

4) Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reports on some strange goings on in the Knicks locker room showers:

Malik-Nate fight over football bet

The Knicks continue to downplay the shower-room altercation between Malik Rose and Nate Robinson after Wednesday's blowout loss to Orlando, still claiming it was simply over towels and soap. But Rose came clean yesterday, admitting that his welshing on a bet prompted the dust-up. The two were OK with each other yesterday. When the media were let into the team's Greenburgh training facility, Rose was shagging rebounds for Robinson at the end of free throw drills. Rose won't divulge what he owes Robinson for seeing his Eagles lose to the Seahawks two Monday nights ago, and the rookie did not make himself available to the media. But Robinson apparently showed the kind of toughness that Isiah Thomas loves when he went into the shower to collect on the wager. "Nate tried to jump on me when I was naked, thinking he had the advantage that way," Rose said. "He just got on my nerves, trying to get his money, and I'm not giving it to him. It was a couple of dollars." The way Rose said "a couple of dollars," a couple of zeroes might be part of the bet. Also as part of the payoff, Rose has to wear a Seahawks jersey and hat. Rose admitted that he tried to get out of the bet during the game when the Eagles' Michael Westbrook was injured. "All bets aren't good until halftime," he claimed. "When Westbrook went down, I didn't want to bet no more and Nate won't let me out of it. I don't think I should have to pay because all of my guys were injured." This isn't the first tangle between Robinson and a teammate. Earlier this season, he and inactive center Jerome James had an altercation in practice.

5) Chad Ford of ESPN.com with his draft watch:

Draft watch: Duke curse?

Another week of great college and international hoops, another update of our Top 100. No. 1? Duke has the No. 1 college basketball team in the country ... and two college player of the year candidates in J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams. The Blue Devils also just smoked the No. 2 team in the country, Texas -- a team that had two players, LaMarcus Aldridge and Daniel Gibson, ranked in the top 10 of my NBA draft prospect list. So, my readers asked, why was neither Redick nor Williams in the top 10? Why was Josh McRoberts, a role player on the team, the highest-ranked Duke player? Am I a believer in "the Duke curse" (the urban legend that Coach K produces only NBA role players)? Good questions. Five answers: One, I'm not a believer in the Duke curse. Last time I checked, Elton Brand, a former Blue Devil, was an early favorite to win the league MVP award. Two, we all know by now that success at the college level doesn't always translate at the NBA level. Redick is having an amazing season. However, does anyone remember a guy named Steve Alford? He averaged 22 ppg for Indiana, shot 53 percent from 3-point range in his senior season and won an NCAA title ... and went on to average 4.4 ppg in four seasons in the NBA. Redick is bigger and tougher than Alford, and a better athlete, too. Still, he is undersized for his position, will be a defensive liability at the next level and will struggle to do some of the things he does well in college in the pros. Scouts have noted that Redick seems to have diversified his game greatly this season, but they wonder seriously whether he'll be able to get to the rim and create his own shot off the dribble at the next level. He has learned how to do it at the college level, but on the surface it doesn't appear as though he has the tools to do the same thing at the next level. Although a few NBA execs continue to insist that Redick could be a lottery pick, the majority of them see him in the 18-30 range in the draft. That's a big improvement from when he started the season, but I don't think you'll see him budge much more unless he grows three more inches, increases his vertical by six inches or proves to scouts he could be a point guard in the league. Three, Williams has cracked the top 10 ... so be patient. He was impressive offensively in that Texas game. His game is still about rebounding, shot blocking and scoring near the basket, but he has improved his offensive game. That's important because his ability on that end of the floor was the biggest knock scouts had on him at the start of the season. Scouts wish he were a little taller and a little more athletic. But rebounding and shot blocking tend to translate from college to the pros. Although he'll probably never be an 18-ppg player in the league, he could be a 10 rebound, 2.5 blocks per night type of power forward. Given the dearth of big men in the upcoming draft, that could be enough for him to crack the top 10. Four, the best NBA prospect on the Duke team is McRoberts. He's not ready now. But he has the skills to be a lottery pick. Then again, as "Duke curse" believers could tell you, scouts thought just as highly of Christian Laettner, Danny Ferry and Mike Dunleavy Jr. ... Finally, despite the loss, the best NBA prospect on the floor was Aldridge. He really had no trouble scoring against Williams, and numerous scouts came away from the game impressed with how he handled such a high-profile matchup against a stronger, more physical defender. Aldridge is the total package. He's long (some claim his wingspan is 7-5), athletic, skilled, and active on both the offensive and defensive boards. His ability to score inside and outside makes him especially attractive at the next level. His only problem is persuading his teammates to give him the ball. Aldridge isn't demanding it the way he should, which has concerned some scouts, but I think it's probably a bigger knock on Gibson, whose stock continues to sink after another shaky performance against a top team. Although there's nothing wrong with Gibson's offensive game, he struggles to run a team. Scouts continue to question seriously whether he can be a full-time point guard at the next level. High riser: We briefly mentioned Villanova combo guard Randy Foye last week. His stock continues to climb with a string of strong performances for Villanova. Through Wednesday, he's averaging 22 ppg, 5 rpg and 3.6 apg, and shooting 49 percent from the field and 43 percent from the 3-point line. Foye is aggressive, gritty and very athletic, which is a nice combination for any guard. He's a warrior with great competitive instincts. His shot has improved dramatically over his four years at Villanova and he possesses enough ballhandling skills to be a part-time point guard in the pros. To top it off, scouts claim he's one of the best perimeter defenders in the country. Several scouts compared him to Luther Head this week. Head, if you remember, wasn't considered much of a prospect heading into his senior season, but his stock continued to rise throughout the season and the draft workout process once scouts saw his combination of skills. Both guys are a little undersized to play the two, but their versatility helps them overcome that question mark. Foye has moved way up the charts the last two weeks and is currently ranked No. 36 on our board. If he continues to play at this pace, he easily could crack the first round by the end of the season. College kids: Scouts can complain all they want about Ronnie Brewer's unsightly shot. The bottom line is that, for the second straight year, it's going in the basket. Brewer's shot evokes memories of Shawn Marion's ugly J every time he lets it fly. But Brewer, for the second straight year, is shooting 39 percent from 3-point country. He's no J.J. Redick, but I think it's time to stop saying the kid can't shoot unless you're referring to his dismal free-throw percentage. Freshman forward Julian Wright is starting to get more regular minutes for Kansas, and scouts are coming away impressed with the results. Wright is averaging 12.6 ppg and 5 rpg and shooting 63 percent from the field in 20 minutes per game. That's pretty impressive when you consider that head coach Bill Self isn't running any plays for Wright. The up-and-comer is getting all his points off putbacks and breaks. Scouts still aren't sure exactly what Wright's game is offensively, and the early comparisons to a young Kevin Garnett might be a little extreme, but overall, scouts continue to tout Wright as the best freshman prospect in the country -- though I'm sure UNC's Tyler Hansbrough might disagree. If Wright continues to improve, Kansas is in serious danger of losing Wright, C.J. Giles and Brandon Rush to the draft this spring. USC combo guard Gabriel Pruitt finally had his breakout game of the season, scoring 36 points and grabbing seven rebounds against Loyola-Marymount. It looks as though he's still trying to find his comfort level in head coach Tim Floyd's system. And Floyd doesn't have Pruitt playing much point guard. His average of 2.9 assists per game (vs. 3.3 turnovers per game) is hurting his draft stock. Taquan Dean is putting up big numbers for Louisville this season, but his draft stock is still up in the air. Averages of 20.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg for a 6-3 combo guard are impressive (though some scouts say he's closer to 6-2). But, as with a lot of these combo guards, scouts want evidence he can play the point, at least part time, in the pros. They also like smallish combo guards to possess great athleticism. Dean hasn't shown either. And for a guy who has a rep of being able to shoot the lights out, what's up with that 40 percent shooting percentage from inside the arc and 39 percent from outside it? Put Louisiana Tech's Paul Millsap down as one of the most intriguing sleepers in this year's draft. Millsap is one of college basketball's best scorers (especially in the low post) and rebounders, and he's proving this year that he can put up those numbers against top competition. Millsap had 21 and 11 against Alabama and 29 and 14 against Texas Tech on the road. He has a terrific body and uses his strength to knock heads. Millsap's consistency has impressed scouts, but the key factor for him will be determined in Chicago at the pre-draft combine. He's listed at 6-8, 243 pounds, but scouts say the height listing is fairly generous. International man of mystery: The hot international player at the moment is Brazilian forward Marcus Vinicius Viera de Souza. Vinicius (he's dropping the Viera de Souza from his name) has been on NBA scouts' radar for a long time. He declared for the draft last season, but withdrew his name after not getting a first-round promise. This year, scouts are warming up to him as a legitimate NBA prospect, for several reasons. His agent, Michael Coyne, hired Bob Donewald (a former Cavs and Hornets assistant coach under Paul Silas) to oversee Vinicius' training and coaching in Brazil. Donewald has Vinicius lifting weights every day and is teaching him pro offensive and defensive sets in an effort to prepare him for the NBA. The results, according to both Donewald and a few NBA scouts who have seen him play, have been significant. Vinicius is averaging 19.5 ppg and 4.5 apg in 35 mpg this season for Sao Carlos, but has been scoring at a much higher clip lately, since Donewald took over. He had a 32-point, nine-rebound, six-assist game Nov. 29 and a 32-point, eight-rebound, seven-assist game Nov. 13. Vinicius has the skills to be an NBA player. He's a long, athletic small forward with a great jump shot. He has excellent ballhandling skills. In fact, his handle has improved to the point that he's playing point guard full time for his team in Brazil. According to Donewald, Vinicius is especially difficult to handle in the open court. Several scouts, after seeing him in Brazil, are projecting him as a potential point forward in the pros. Scouts remain concerned about his lack of strength and some major defensive shortcomings. In previous seasons, his lack of strength affected his ability to play in the paint and finish around the basket. Although Vinicius has bulked up from 190 to 215 over the past year, he's still at least 10 pounds away from being strong enough to play in the league. That said, Donewald thinks he's a legitimate candidate for the first round. "He's legit," Donewald told me in a phone interview. "I'm amazed at how talented he is. He's really improved his strength, which was something that's held him back in the past. The game comes easy to him. I have him initiating the offense and running NBA sets, and he's picking it up quickly. He's almost unstoppable in the open floor. And his defense has improved a lot over the past few months. He has all the skills to be a great defensive player, he was just never taught how to play it before. He's picked up everything quick." With Donewald teaching Vinicius pro offensive and defensive sets, letting him play point guard, and getting him on a strength and conditioning program, everyone's interest is piqued. Although he's a second-rounder at the moment, he has the potential, with strong workouts and continued improvement, to move into the first round. He's fallen ... can he get up? Temple's Mardy Collins came into the season ranked as one of the top point guard prospects in the country. Scouts loved his size, versatility and defensive ability. He was considered a legit first-round prospect after his junior season, but opted to return to Temple for his senior year, hoping to move his stock into the lottery. Things got off to a slow start this summer at the Under 21s, where Collins didn't do anything to really impress scouts. Now Collins is having a shaky senior season. His numbers are down across the board: He's shooting only 37 percent from the field (23 percent from 3-point range) and averaging just 3.3 apg. If the numbers continue to tumble, not only is the lottery out of the question but Collins could slide right out of the first round.

6) Tony Mejia of CBS SportsLine.com looks at the trade possibilities:

Offseason duds could become trade-target studs

Unlike most of us, who begin shopping in earnest after Thanksgiving, most of the NBA waits until Dec. 15, the earliest day players signed in the offseason can be dealt. Consider it open season. Players envisioned as quick fixes who haven't panned out can expect to be swapped, as can those clamoring for more playing time. Here's a list of players who could find themselves with new teams in the coming weeks, although this only includes players who signed more than 90 days ago. If those 90 days aren't up, the wait for a new beginning continues.

Matt Bonner, F, Toronto: The Raptors fan favorite has the right salary slot to accompany Morris Peterson and a No. 1 pick out of town if Indiana decides to banish Ron Artest from the country.

Antonio Daniels, G, Washington: He signed a lucrative five-year deal with the Wizards and was in the starting lineup opening night. But he has since fallen out of favor due to an inability to find his shot. His minutes are sporadic, and he's in danger of falling out of the rotation altogether. This might be a good time for someone to sneak in and lay claim to him, hoping he'll snap out of the slump. He's a solid ball-handler and strong defender.

Juan Dixon, G, Portland: He was hoping to have a larger role with the rebuilding Blazers, but Dixon is essentially doing the same thing he did in Washington -- coming off the bench and scoring in bunches. With Nate McMillan expected to make more of a commitment to rookie Martell Webster, perhaps a playoff contender can come in and grab the former Final Four MVP. He plays well in big games, had a solid playoffs last season and is the type of shooter who can change the complexion of a game.

Chris Duhon, G, Chicago: Fat chance landing him after what has thus far been a breakout season, but you have to give the Raptors credit for signing him to an offer sheet in the offseason. Even more kudos go the Bulls' way for keeping him and reaping the spoils.

Dan Gadzuric, C, Milwaukee: The Bucks re-upped with him for six years over the summer, so he won't come cheap, but it will be interesting to see whether any team has become enamored enough with his progress to come knocking. The Bucks love the depth they have up front with Jamaal Magloire, Andrew Bogut and Gadzuric, so it would take something very enticing for them to consider a shakeup.

Eddie Griffin, F/C, Minnesota: His role on the Timberwolves isn't concrete, with his minutes fluctuating depending on the matchup. One of the league's leaders in blocks per minute, Griffin also has the ability to extend defenses from the perimeter, making him a unique asset. Of course, he has slumped from outside of late, but considering he seems to have shed the off-court baggage, a team willing to be patient and help his talent flourish would be smart to swoop in with an offer.

Othella Harrington, F/C, Chicago: He has been a fixture in the Bulls frontcourt rotation lately, showcasing his skills for anyone in the league in need of a solid big man who hustles and bangs off the bench. If the Bulls make a play for a bigger name, expect him to be part of the deal.

Jerome James, C, New York: Larry Brown believes moves will be made fairly quickly after Dec. 15, and it would make sense if James is part of the shuffle. Originally signed for five years, $30 million to be the Knicks' starting center, he lost that gig as soon as Eddy Curry came on board and has been banged up and disinterested since. New York would love to move him, and there is always a market for 7-footers, regardless of their value.

Brevin Knight, G, Charlotte: He might be the Bobcats' most dependable figure so far, but his role is ultimately to mentor Raymond Felton and groom him to take over. Could anybody come up with a package sweet enough to force Charlotte to deviate from its plans? Lead guards of Knight's caliber -- he continues to improve with age -- are in high demand.

Arvydas Macijauskas, G, New Orleans: The Lithuanian sharpshooter signed with the Hornets specifically because he felt he'd contribute there from the get-go, but that hasn't happened. He hasn't played more than eight minutes in a single game and has yet to knock down even one of his staple shots -- the 3-pointer. Anyone care to bail him out?

Scott Padgett, F, New Jersey: A strong outside shooter and decent glue guy, he's not big enough for what New Jersey really needs: another big man. Speculation out of Jersey is that he's expendable.

Stromile Swift, F, Houston: The Rockets aren't thrilled with his development, as they were hoping he'd make more of an immediate impact, but he's slowly learning the system. If he concentrates on boards and defense, forgets about scoring, and gets Yao Ming's back, his venture in Houston will be a success. New Jersey has reportedly come in with an offer of Marc Jackson -- another offseason signee -- and a No. 1 pick.

Nikoloz Tskitishvili, F, Minnesota: After a superb preseason, Skita hoped he'd be part of the T-Wolves' plans, but aside from keeping a seat on the bench warm, that hasn't happened. He hasn't played a single minute this season, has asked to be traded and makes a marginal salary that would allow him to land with a team dangling a second-round pick and a pastrami on rye.

Earl Watson, G, Denver: This marriage hasn't worked at all, which is why it's almost a foregone conclusion the Nuggets will part ways with Watson with the first realistic offer they get. He's stuck behind Andre Miller and Earl Boykins in the rotation and could offer one of his many suitors his contract in exchange for a shooter. Watson is a tempo stabilizer who plays the right way on both ends of the floor.

Players still ineligible for trade (Date of eligibility): Seattle's Vladimir Radmanovic (Dec. 20) and Ronald Murray (Dec. 26); Portland's Steve Blake (Dec. 27); Charlotte's Keith Bogans (Dec. 29); Miami's Jason Kapono (Jan.1); Seattle's Reggie Evans (Jan. 2);