This is just funny…and holy crap, Barry Bonds is HUGE…http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2348706

Here’s a list of the NBA players on Team USA's training camp roster, keeping in mind that Shaq has a standing offer to join at his leisure:

PG’s:
Chauncey Billups, Detroit
Chris Paul, NO/Okla. City
Luke Ridnour, Seattle

SG’s:
Michael Redd, Milwaukee
Paul Pierce, Boston
Joe Johnson, Atlanta
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
Dwyane Wade, Miami
Gilbert Arenas, Washington

SF’s:
Josh Howard, Dallas
Carmelo Anthony, Denver
Shane Battier, Memphis
Bruce Bowen, San Antonio
LeBron James, Cleveland
Antawn Jamison, Washington
Rashard Lewis, Seattle
Shawn Marion, Phoenix

PF’s:
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix
Chris Bosh, Toronto
Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers

C’s:
Dwight Howard, Orlando
Brad Miller, Sacramento

Declined to play were Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal, Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. And it’s expected that Gonzaga's Adam Morrison, Duke's J.J. Redick and Indianapolis high school star Greg Oden will also be invited.

If Tyson chandler could catch it would have been a Triple-double: Bulls PG Kirk Hinrich had 30 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists in the Bulls 111-100 win over the Timberwolves.

NCAA: Although Adam Morrison had 34 points, but Montreal born SG Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes knocked down a trey with one second left to lift Gonzaga past San Francisco 75-72 on Tuesday night.

Yawn…Tim Thomas will sign with Phoenix by the end of the day…

1) Kelly Dwyer of Si.com thinks McHale has McScrewed KG:

A record that speaks for itself - McHale's moves have squandered Garnett's top years

Sick of hearing about those overmatched Suns and that hotter-than-Milla monstrosity they call Dwyane Wade? Tell them to stop making little girls squeal and grown men pant with their derring-do and disarming (yet intriguing) candor with the local press.

Chumps - Timberwolves GM Kevin McHale didn't come close to trading Kevin Garnett last week; he probably politely declined all discussions regarding his 7-foot superstar, while continuing to tinker with what he considers to be a playoff contender. But the Timberwolves aren't a playoff contender, dangit, they're seven games below .500 and haven't had a winning month since a 7-6 November. The squad is 5-10 since McHale made a late grab for the West's eighth seed, sending Michael Olowokandi's expiring deal with Wally Szczerbiak to Boston for Mark Blount's bloated contract (and sense of self-worth) and Ricky Davis. Meanwhile rumors abounded that the Wolves bossman was in the hunt for all-world headcase and dribbling fanatic Steve Francis. Lovely. McHale's time has passed. He's presided over a team that went from the Conference finals to two straight lottery appearances while boasting the finest all-around player of the times. He's bungled nearly every draft he's been a part of, lost the rights to draft participation with boneheaded (and, lest we forget, illegal) moves, while throwing huge gobs of money at players such as Terrell Brandon, Szczerbiak, Olowokandi, Trenton Hassell, Troy Hudson, and the disappointment that remains Marko Jaric. Worst of all, he's squandered the prime of a brilliant, transcendent player. Carp at me all you want with pointless hyperbole -- about how Garnett should "pull his team up by the bootstraps," or, "take that team on his shoulders to the Finals." Please. He's been carrying this overmatched franchise for years, guarding five players, running the offense and doing everything short of setting out the plates for the postgame buffet. Many observers delight in pointing out that KG has been out of the first round just once in his 11-year career; I like to point out that some of the second-best performers in those first-round losses have been Anthony Peeler, LaPhonso Ellis, Malik Sealy and Chauncey Billups. Oh, yeah, McHale let the last one get away.

Portland's had a rough season. They've lost six straight and are stuck at 18-38 right now, as the owner squawks about heavy financial losses (you don't say?) and the promising kids take their sweet time figuring things out. Our biggest issue with the Trail Blazers, though, is the surfacing they cover their court with, or whatever it was that caused former Blazers malcontent (and then good citizen, and then born-again malcontent) Damon Stoudamire to slip and tear his patella tendon in a game late last December. Damon's team, the 31-26 Memphis Grizzlies, have gone 13-16 in the weeks since. Stoudamire's out for the year, and though replacement guard Chucky Atkins is putting up solid stats, he's not the answer. The guy can't defend anymore, and his backup (Bobby Jackson) is in danger of tearing something anytime he rips off the warm-ups. Memphis will have to warm itself with thoughts of a smoother March. Eight out of their 16 games (nine at home, seven on the road) will come against potential playoff teams, but all are winnable. The best team they'll take on will be the Clippers, both in Los Angeles and in Tennessee, but beyond that it's a series of squads who are barely over .500.

Champs - We've been hot on the Suns all season, mainly because they've figured out a way to speak to our many conditions. Though they're not the league's most efficient offense, they're easily the most entertaining, flinging treys and finding cutters all at a breakneck pace. They've also improved considerably from the mediocre defensive team they were last season into one of the NBA's five-stingiest, reminding us of the way Scottie Pippen and Ron Harper used to dare the charges they'd been assigned to defend into chucking prayers over their outstretched arms. Even more impressive is the fact that the Suns have been able to craft a 38-17 mark without the services of all-world big man Amaré Stoudemire, a mere four games off the 62-win pace they ran last year. The Suns lost but once in all of February, by two, to the Timberwolves. They won by an average of 14 points per game over the course of month, while also allowing less than 100 points per game despite a blistering pace. Shawn Marion, as usual, has been an all-around beast. The All-Star averaged 21.2 points and 13.9 rebounds in February, with 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He shot 54 percent from the floor, missed four free throws all month and made 38 percent of his 3-pointers. Helping out has been foermer Hawk Boris Diaw, who has averaged a little more than 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists over his last five games, allowing Steve Nash (19 points and 11 assists on the year) to remain south of the the 40-minute barrier all month. March brings 27 games, 20 road contests, and the return of Stoudemire. They'll also have to slog through without Kurt Thomas, who will probably be out until the end of the regular season with a stress fracture in his right foot. Heady times, indeed.

No, the Miami Heat won't do anything of import during the playoffs, and no, Shaquille O'Neal's last two dominant games (29 points on 81 percent shooting, 10 boards, 3.5 assists, 3.5 blocks) hardly mean he's set to return to 1999-00'ish form. Still, their little six-game winning streak has been nice to watch. It's come during Washington's best stretch since early November, as the Wizards have won 8 of 11 in a last drive for the Southeast title (and that second seed in the playoffs). The Heat probably weren't shakin' and quakin' at the thought of the Wiz mounting one last run, but any bit of motivation helps for this veteran group. As usual, Wade's been the man. Already the game's best pound-for-pound player, the former Marquette product staked his claim as the game's best overall performer after a brilliant February, in which he averaged 29.8 points per game on 56 percent shooting from the floor, 6.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.9 turnovers.

2) Chad Ford of ESPN.com looks at who will go number 1:

Looking forward: the three-way battle to be No. 1

A rather intense disagreement is emerging about the 2006 NBA draft. Unlike three years ago, when LeBron James was clearly the best choice, for the third straight year there is no consensus on the biggest question of the draft: Who's No. 1? The best NBA prospects are thought to be Texas sophomore LaMarcus Aldridge, UConn sophomore Rudy Gay and Gonzaga junior Adam Morrison. Almost the only thing the three have in common is their position: Each is a forward, but they appeal to NBA scouts for very different reasons. Hence the debate. Scouts believe that Gay has the most potential of any player in the draft. He's a 6-9, super-athletic forward with a freakishly long wingspan. Gay is the prototypical small forward and does just about everything well. He can slash to the basket, pull up for the mid-range jumper and even hit the NBA 3-pointer. But while the talent is there, scouts wonder whether he has the intangible qualities that make physically gifted player into stars. Two questions seem to hang over Gay at the moment: One, will he develop an in-between game? For someone so skilled he spends too much time hanging out on the perimeter. He needs to continue working on putting the ball on the floor and creating his own shot. Two, can he take over games? So far, by failing to show a consistent ability to do that, he's raising serious questions about his assertiveness and leadership ability. Aldridge is the one big guy in the draft who gets people excited. He projects to be primarily a four in the NBA. While he still needs to add muscle to a fairly lanky frame, that's the only real knock against him right now. On offense, he is deadly both facing the basket and with his back to the basket. He's extremely difficult to guard in transition and he's a dominant force on the glass. Morrison is the sentimental favorite. Not only is he the most dominating college player to come along in some time, but his quirky nature and similarities to Larry Bird have led to lots of intrigue, even among scouts. The last college player to come into the league with as much hype was Carmelo Anthony. Morrison is a crafty scorer who can light it up from everywhere on the floor. He also has the intangibles down cold: He is a fierce competitor who shows up for the full 40 minutes every night. There are two concerns that keep him from being the runaway favorite for the No. 1 pick. First, he's average at best athletically. While it doesn't seem to bother him too much on offense (though it might at the next level), he doesn't get it done on the defensive end in college -- so you can imagine the problems he's likely to have in the pros. Second, he has diabetes. While he seems to have it under control right now, how will the rigors of an NBA season affect him? Right now, there isn't a good answer. So which one is No. 1? In a situation like this, with three highly rated players who have no clear advantage over each other, teams usually look for the best fit. Over the past week, Insider talked to scouts or executives from every team projected to be in the draft lottery in an effort to determine what each would do with the No. 1 pick. Some were open, some refused to answer. Here's Insider's take on where each team stands in the Gay vs. Aldridge vs. Morrison debate.

Charlotte Bobcats - Current odds of winning the lottery: 25 percent. The good news for the Bobcats is that two of the three top players in the draft fit a need. The Bobcats could use another swingman, preferably a big small forward who can stroke the ball. That narrows it down to Gay vs. Morrison. Gay's athleticism would be a great fit next to the big, relatively earthbound front line of the Bobcats. GM and head coach Bernie Bickerstaff is also a stickler for defense, which would give Gay the edge. Morrison, however, provides two things the Bobcats could really use. One, he would provide a much-needed scoring boost and give the Bobcats a dangerous long-range threat. Two, he's more marketable than Gay. Given some of the attendance problems the Bobcats are experiencing, adding a popular figure like Morrison could help at the gate. his is a very close call... Edge: Gay

Chicago Bulls - Current odds: 19.9 percent. GM John Paxson is voting for Knicks president Isiah Thomas as executive of the year. Not only did Thomas take Eddy Curry and his heart concerns off Paxson's hands, he gave the Bulls what could be the No. 1 pick in the draft this year (and possibly the No. 1 pick next year, as well). The Bulls seem to be set at small forward with Luol Deng and Andres Nocioni both coming along nicely. What they do need is some height and scoring in the frontcourt. Aldridge appears to be a slam dunk for them if they draw No. 1. Edge: Aldridge

Portland Trail Blazers - Current odds: 15.6 percent. This is a tough one, because the Blazers have players of the future at both the three (Darius Miles) and the four (Zach Randolph). What to do? After drafting high school players the last three years and seeing few dividends, it might be time to go with a guy who has a more proven track record. Drafting a nearby star like Morrison would inject some life into a pretty listless franchise and give the Blazers a pretty serious trading chip on the open market in Miles. Edge: Morrison

Atlanta Hawks - Current odds: 11.9 percent. If history tell us anything, it's that Billy Knight will fall in love with either Adam Morrison or Rudy Gay and, for the third consecutive year, draft a small forward with his lottery pick. In 2004, he grabbed Josh Childress and Josh Smith. In 2005, it was Marvin Williams. This year, a source in Atlanta says Knight is in love with Gay's length, athleticism and upside. But he drafted a similar player last year in Williams, so maybe he'll go with a guy who can help Atlanta in an area of need. Unfortunately, the draft is thin this year at the Hawks' two biggest areas of need, point guard and center. So they might have to settle for adding some frontcourt depth. With Al Harrington hitting the free-agent market, having Aldridge around as security would be nice. Edge: Aldridge

Toronto Raptors - Current odds: 8.8 percent. The Raptors could really use a center or a starting two guard. They're trying to build around Chris Bosh and Charlie Villanueva, which would appear, on the surface, to preclude them from drafting any of the top three. However, Morrison's dynamic scoring ability would be a hit in Toronto, and Villanueva, who's really a four masquerading as a three anyway, would make great trade bait in an attempt to land a legit starting center. Edge: Morrison

Orlando Magic - Current odds: 6.3 percent. Here's another team that I think will have a pretty clear preference. Orlando appears to be set in the frontcourt with the combination of Dwight Howard and Darko Milicic, and the Magic have a young emerging backcourt player in Jameer Nelson. With Grant Hill nearing the end of his tenure, it will be time to start thinking about a long-term replacement. Trevor Ariza is a nice player, but he doesn't hold a candle to either Gay or Morrison. I think the defining factor for the Magic will come down to two things: One, while the frontcourt shows a ton of defensive potential, offensively neither Howard or Milicic is outstanding, so adding some firepower to the frontcourt will be important. Two, the Magic are still trying to find an identity. Morrison brings both things to the table. Edge: Morrison

Seattle Supersonics - Current odds: 4.3 percent. This one's a no-brainer. Even though Aldridge fits the team's biggest need on the court, Morrison fits their biggest need off the court -- an identity. Ever since Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp left town, the Sonics have been a team searching for a fan base. Morrison is wildly popular in Washington and would draw fans back to the arena. What would happen to Rashard Lewis? His trade value has never been higher. The Sonics could easily turn him into a much-needed frontcourt player. Edge: Morrison

Boston Celtics - Current odds: 2.8 percent. The Celtics are set at the four and they already have Morrison -- his name is Wally Szczerbiak. That leaves Gay, who just so happens to be the kind of player Danny Ainge likes: young, long and athletic. Edge: Gay

Golden State Warriors - Current odds: 1.7 percent. The Warriors already have two young small forwards and two young power forwards, so need won't be the issue. The key is which player is the best fit for the franchise. Morrison wouldn't make much sense. He's a scorer who would never touch the ball as long as Baron Davis and Jason Richardson are controlling it. Gay would be a good option, though they seem high enough on Mickael Pietrus to warrant giving him another year to develop. That leaves Aldridge. They obviously love Ike Diogu, but Aldridge is bigger, more athletic and better suited for the up-tempo game the Warriors play. Besides, he's used to playing with guards who never pass him the ball. With Troy Murphy reportedly on the block, Aldridge makes even more sense. Edge: Aldridge

Minnesota Timberwolves - Current odds: 1.8 percent. The Wolves are trying to rebuild around Kevin Garnett. Their biggest need will probably be at the small forward position. Adam Morrison may be too much of a Wally Szczerbiak clone for their taste. That leaves Rudy Gay. He could be awesome on the front line with Kevin Garnett. Edge: Gay

Chicago Bulls - Current odds: 0.9 or 1.0 percent. This is the Bulls' own pick. They actually have two chances to win the lottery. They could even wind up with the first two picks, though the odds are against it. See Chicago comment above. Edge: Aldridge

Houston Rockets - Current odds: 0.7 percent. The Rockets seem to have plenty of holes to fill, but I'm not sure there's anyone in the draft who can fill them. They need a tough defensive presence in the post to complement Yao Ming, but no one at the top of the draft fits the bill. They also could use a sweet-shooting two guard with range, but that doesn't apply to any of the top three guys. Aldridge might make the most sense. He's a local kid who can score with his back to the basket. Edge: Aldridge

Sacramento Kings - Current odds: 0.6 percent. The Kings just made a major investment for Ron Artest at the three. While Shareef Abdur-Rahim is doing a good job at the four, Aldridge is bigger and more athletic and has a higher upside. Edge: Aldridge

Utah Jazz - Current odds: 0.5 percent. Utah's real need is at the two, and the word on the street is that J.J. Redick is the man for the Jazz if he's still on the board when they pick. If they beat all odds and win the lottery, the likely pick would be Morrison. The team needs a go-to scorer who can shoot with range. Morrison best fits the bill. Edge: Morrison

3) Paul Forrester of SI.com hands out the mid-season grades:

NBA Stretch Run Report Card

D Atlanta Hawks - Imagine the Hawks had drafted Chris Paul last June. Imagine the Hawks had dealt Al Harrington over the summer instead of risking his departure with nothing in return. Imagine the Hawks had made more of an effort to sign a big man such as Samuel Dalembert, Tyson Chandler or Eddy Curry instead of spending the summer fighting over the Joe Johnson deal. Imagine the Hawks remembered that they played in the NBA and that a team dedicated to the memory of the Flyin' Illini of the late 1980s was destined for failure.

C- Boston Celtics - Don't you get the feeling this team's been stuck in limbo since ... oh, a guy named Jim O'Brien was heave-hoed out the door? One minute team president Danny Ainge seems dedicated to rebuilding through the likes of kids such as Al Jefferson, Delonte West and Gerald Green. The next, Boston is reluctant to part with Paul Pierce for fear it won't win enough without him to appease the fans. Here's a thought: Pick a plan and stick with it. If you're going to rebuild, dump Pierce already and demand that Doc Rivers play the kids. Not all of them will become stars, but at least you'll find out who has the potential to make a mark in the league. And if the Celtics are really that fearful that one of the NBA's most loyal and knowledgeable fan bases will jump ship on a team with a losing record, deal some of the kids and hire a coach who knows something about X's and O's, not a man born to be a television analyst. Either way, it's better than spinning your wheels, which will alienate fans.

D Charlotte Bobcats - The 'Cats are a reflection of coach-GM Bernie Bickerstaff: some solid if unspectacular talent, a respectable effort every night, but ultimately limited in how far they/he can go. After putting together a promising roster of talent -- Emeka Okafor, Primoz Brezec, Gerald Wallace and Brevin Knight -- in its debut year, Charlotte slipped in last June's draft in hedging its bets with two Tar Heels who carry a distinct odor of "second unit." The pass this club has gotten while trying to find its sea legs will expire this summer, though, when the Bobcats are expected to invest some heavy dollars in free agents.

C Chicago Bulls - It's been a weird season for last year's darlings of the playoff set. After claiming to be concerned for the health of center Eddy Curry (who missed last year's playoffs after being diagnosed with a heart ailment), the Bulls somehow made peace with their collective conscience enough to deal the 21-year-old 7-footer to the Knicks just before the season for some power forwards and a slew of draft picks. The whole messy affair left the team flailing about early this season as it tried to learn how to play without the benefit of a consistent low-post offensive threat. While coach Scott Skiles seemingly has settled on a lineup to calm the waters (after first roiling them with some curious, and offensively inept, rotations), the Bulls likely won't find the road to the playoffs as accommodating this season. But with those Knicks picks over the next two years, Chicago may yet get the better of a deal that looks like a loser at this time.

B Cleveland Cavaliers - With the season seemingly up in smoke in Indiana, the Cavaliers might be the third best team in the conference, which either goes to show how much Cleveland has improved or how weak the East is. As much as LeBron James' offensive assault garners press, the Cavs have also learned to play a little defense under coach Mike Brown, a key in keeping the team afloat with Larry Hughes sidelined through the rest of the regular season. In the long run, this Cavs' immediate fortunes are tied to how well they involve Zydrunas Ilgauskas in their game plan. Wing players who can torch the nets are increasingly plentiful; 7-footers who average 15 and 8 aren't. But let's be honest: The entire goal for this franchise is to keep LeBron happy enough to re-up with the team when he's a free agent. That means you can't boo the guy, Cleveland fans; and we don't care if he shoots 0-for-the-game. Do we really need to remind anyone how fun winning only 17 games was four seasons ago?

A+ Dallas Mavericks - Haven't we seen and heard this before? The Mavericks, tired of getting shoved out of the playoffs when their "first to 120 points wins" philosophy eventually grinds to a halt against a better defensive team, finally make a commitment to defense and are hailed as legitimate Finals contenders. And indeed, the Mavs have one of the league's top 10 defenses. But when your best player defends opponents with a matador's cape instead of quick footwork, well, that smells like another pre-June exit. But maybe the Li'l General will surprise us. Maybe the Mavs really are devoting their efforts to stopping other teams from scoring. Maybe this team has what it takes to get to the Finals. Maybe -- whoa -- see how easy it is to envision the Mavericks as an NBA champ, and we didn't even get an angry e-mail from Mark Cuban.

B Denver Nuggets - Wasn't it only a year ago that the Nuggets were a juggernaut in the making? Sure enough, they lead the Northwest Division, but cracks are everywhere. The Kenyon Martin-Marcus Camby frontcourt is downright dainty in its ability to weather a full season. The shooting guard spot is now manned by a career 41.8 percent shooting point guard. And the team's best clutch player is a 5-foot-5 journeyman. Further, the Nuggets' defense has been middling, at best, this season. Still, Denver is light years away from where it was three years ago, which makes the notion that GM Kiki Vandeweghe may be allowed to leave at season's end all the more puzzling. Coach George Karl may have enough stroke with owner Stan Kroenke to make Vandeweghe a lame duck, but he also has a history of grinding on his players' nerves before too long. That could make for a small window of title opportunity.

A+ Detroit Pistons - The league has Larry Brown to thank for the can of whoop-ass the Pistons have opened up on the NBA this season. As if the Pistons weren't a formidable enough bunch already, Brown engineers his way out and gives the Eastern champs motivation: 1) to prove that he was almost superfluous to their success 2)that his controlling nature chained their offensive talent and 3) that any man would be a fool to leave the two-time defending Eastern Conference champs to take over the dysfunctional Knicks. Think a 46-9 start to the season has Brown rethinking his maneuvers of last June? The Pistons have the look of those well-oiled Bulls and Lakers (modern edition) teams that often toyed with opponents, as if they need to create a challenge to overcome.

C- Golden State Warriors - Every time a college coach breaks his NBA maiden, the spin is always the same: basketball is basketball, college or pro. And if coach -- oh, let's call him Mike Montgomery -- could build a Division I winner, he can do the same in the NBA. The first year usually isn't pretty, but our rookie coach gets a pass as he "learns the players" in the league. A trade or two and a new season brighten hopes. But soon it becomes clear in Year 2, to the coach, the team and the players, that basketball isn't basketball anymore, that the NBA requires as much psychological strategy as it does chalkboard strategy. Before you know it, the players are running the show, the team is described by media everywhere as one of the season's biggest disappointments, and Seton Hall has a new, NBA-seasoned coach.

C+ Houston Rockets - As much as we're inclined to rip Jeff Van Gundy for his inability to come up with an offensive scheme or to find a way to use Stromile Swift more than Juwan Howard, it's impossible not to give the Rockets a bit of a break when three starters (Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming and Rafer Alston) have all spent significant time on the bench nursing injuries. Still, this team didn't race from the gate strongly, and that was when everyone was healthy. And after three--plus years, isn't it about time Yao won a few games rather than just played a complementary role? That's what No. 1 draft picks who get more All-Star votes than anyone on the planet should do.

B Indiana Pacers - If only this team could keep the players who were supposed to be on the floor on the floor? Imagine a team humming with Jamaal Tinsley directing the offense? Imagine a team with an equally potent post game anchored by Jermaine O'Neal blocking shots and hitting turnarounds in the paint? Imagine a team capable of shutting down an opponent's top weapon by siccing Ron Artest on him? That sounds like the type of team that could compete for a title. Instead, Tinsley and O'Neal have spent the bulk of the season sidelined by injury, Artest weasled his way to Sacramento and Indy's championship dreams have gone poof quicker than a Peyton Manning playoff start. With Rick Carlisle's superb coaching, Peja Stojakovic's infusion of offense and the growing game of Danny Granger, there's enough talent here to keep the Pacers on the fringe of the postseason, but this team was built to win a title, which isn't going to happen this season.

A- Los Angeles Clippers - One of these days we'll all look back and wonder how a guy who's helped lead nine teams to the playoffs in 12 years only made one All-Star appearance. Yes, he's cocky and mails it in when he's not happy, but when he's motivated (i.e., the playoffs or contract time), he makes his teams better. And the Clippers are nothing if not better this season with Sam Cassell running the show. Of course it helps when you have a spry Elton Brand -- another player often forgotten at All-Star time -- driving past his slower counterparts to put up MVP-worthy numbers. No matter the reasons, Clippers fans should enjoy the ride this season, because you know owner Donald Sterling won't let the good times last.

B Los Angeles Lakers- We're not so impressed by Kobe Bryant's conscienceless shooting as we are stunned at the Lakers who are enabling him. Lamar Odom once was one of the league's most versatile players, a smart rebounder, an unselfish passer and a solid scorer. Now he might as well be holding Kobe's umbrella for him as he gets off the team bus. Equally puzzling is the transformation of Phil Jackson from Kobe antagonist to member of Kobe's posse, blatantly allowing Bryant to defile his beloved triangle offense with nary a word of rebuke. Wasn't Jackson brought back to improve the Lakers? How is letting Bryant use his teammates as little more than bowling pins making the Lakers better for the long haul? Jackson should have enough wins in the bank to blow a few games while getting his team to play like, well, a team, not as a fan club. I guess for $10 million a year, though, Jackson can do as he damn well pleases. But we don't have to like it.

B+ Memphis Grizzlies - Amazing what playing your most talented players for more minutes than your less talented players will get you. Pau Gasol's breakout season is a breakout only in that he is playing "starter's minutes." Give Mike Fratello credit for gradually shifting the Grizzlies' rotation to afford more minutes to the likes of Gasol and Shane Battier, subtly turning the page on Hubie Brown's rigid spread-the-minutes approach, which had reached its limit of effectiveness last season. As uninteresting as it often is, Fratello needs to keep this team plodding along and limit the spasmodic shooting of Bobby Jackson and Chucky Atkins, who have yet to see a shot they didn't feel like launching.

A- Miami Heat - Every few years some team loads up its bench with aging All-Stars in the hopes that overwhelming amounts of talent will trump any potential locker-room clashes over minutes, shots, sneaker deals, groupies, etc. And every few years that same team walks off the court after its final game with heads bowed, fingers pointed and journalists shaking their heads. Cliché as it may be, chemistry counts. It's knowing that if you pass the ball into the post, the ball will come back to you for an open 3. It's spending an extra second on the defensive boards rather than sprinting out to lead the break. And it's the difference between last season's Heat team and this year's model.

B Milwaukee Bucks - GM Larry Harris has done a fabulous job of putting together a top-to-bottom roster of solid, above-average players that is on the fringe of a playoff race few thought it would even be close to. Yet without a superstar, the kind to draw defenses and, just as important, referees' whistles, the Bucks are destined to lose to the Dwyane Wades and Vince Carters of the NBA world. The league and its referees can deny it all they want, but when LeBron James comes careening into the teeth of the Bucks' frontline in the closing seconds of a close game, does anyone think a whistle won't blow? Jump-shooting off guards such as Michael Redd don't get those types of calls, even if they make $90 million. But this team is on its way. What way that is, though, won't be clear until Harris makes his next move.

C Minnesota Timberwolves - We've been racking our brains for hours now, and we can't think of a deal GM Kevin McHale has made that hasn't been a) wrong from the start or b) made wrong by a subsequent move. Giving up five first-round draft picks to sign Joe Smith to an illegal contract? Signing Michael Olowokandi to any sort of contract? Shipping off Sam Cassell prior to a season in which he was going to be playing for a contract? McHale has done all of that and more. Sure, his intentions have been good. Sure, he's only been trying to provide Kevin Garnett with support. But at a certain point people have to understand their limitations, that maybe they aren't cut out for certain jobs, that maybe as good a power forward as they were, they really aren't cut out for this GM thing -- right, Mr. McHale?

B+ New Jersey Nets - There's something missing with this squad, but it's difficult to put a finger on it. They lead the Atlantic, but the Atlantic stinks. Jason Kidd runs the Nets with the efficiency of a Greek diner, yet he appears a step slow with disturbing regularity. And Vince Carter is finally playing with the aggressiveness and panache that once captured the fancy of an entire continent -- unless he finds the defense a little too stalwart and reverts to being nothing more than a jump-shooter. It all makes for a club that, minus a trade for a beast in the low post, is destined for yet another abbreviated playoff appearance. There's no shame in that, but you have to wonder if that's what Kidd imagined when, as a free agent three years ago, he chose to stay in the Jersey swamps rather than join the modestly successful club in San Antonio.

B+ New Orleans Hornets - For all of the ink Rookie of the Year lock Chris Paul has deservedly received, it's stunning how little attention power forward David West has received. All the former Xavier product has done after spending the bulk of his first two seasons on the bench (as a rookie and then with a knee injury last year) is shoot 50 percent from the floor and clean the boards to the tune of almost eight rebounds a game. Quietly, West has become a very productive straight man to Paul's point-guard-of-the-future act. West isn't alone. Byron Scott has proved, maybe definitively, that with a little talent to coach, he's not too bad a motivator, sort of a competent Doc Rivers. Scott's tough guy act will likely wear thin in time, but for a young team searching for legitimacy, Scott and his title rings as a player and title appearances as a coach offers that.

F New York Knicks - If one were to read the New York papers, the Knicks have been either on the cusp of becoming an Eastern Conference juggernaut or on the cusp of oblivion. Such is a life lived in the tabloids. The truth, of course, is somewhere in the middle. On the bright side, Eddy Curry, Channing Frye, David Lee and Nate Robinson may not all become stars, but they all are young enough and have flashed enough talent that one need not squint too hard to see the core of a promising young team. However, this team in this season is absolutely lost. Players are shuffled in and out of the lineup -- and the locker room -- as if they're playing cards. Money is being thrown around like rice at a wedding and no one seems to care enough about the state of the club to yell "Stop!" While the likes of Stephon Marbury carry their share of the blame for undermining coach Larry Brown's leadership, Brown, team president Isiah Thomas and owner James Dolan have allowed the bulk of the water into this sinking ship. Between Brown's inability to clarify his players' roles (and his willingness to none-too-subtly rip his players in the press), Thomas' inability to acquire a player who offers any sense of cohesion and Dolan's inability to say no to any contract, the Knicks are headed in three different directions (four if you include the players) at once. And that's something everyone can agree on.

D Orlando Magic - If I'm an Orlando Magic fan, I'm tired of reading about how dedicated Grant Hill is to making another comeback. I'm tired of reading about what a good guy Grant Hill is. I'm tired of reading about how Grant Hill collects art and supports his wife's recording career. In short, I'm tired of reading about Grant Hill. Check that -- I'm tired of Grant Hill. His arrival and quick (and numerous) departures from the Orlando lineup sank the Tracy McGrady signing, hamstrung the team's philosophy and salary-cap space and helped pave Detroit's path to two straight Finals appearances. Enough is enough. It's time to end the charade of "If Grant's healthy ..." Magic brass, it's time to buy Hill out of his contract, make him an offer he can't refuse, whatever. Turn the page on this sorry chapter in your history. Dwight Howard deserves it. So do your fans.

B- Philadelphia 76ers - How did the Sixers expect this to go? Combine the game's most unapologetic player with perhaps the league's most sensitive psyche, add a dash of overpaid, talent-limited role players and mix in a coach whose primary asset -- being nice -- plays directly into the worst aspects of a league culture accustomed to taking advantage of that trait, and you get the 2005-06 Sixers. When Philly allowed Allen Iverson to essentially handpick coach Maurice Cheeks, it fell into the same trap so many teams flailing for direction do, hoping a happy star will quiet criticism enough that players and fans don't realize how in need of an overhaul the team is. The best organizations make their decisions with little more than a nod to a star's -- or the fans' -- desires. Everyone might grumble, but when the wins come, everyone has a way of shutting up quickly. When you try to placate everyone but the scoreboard, mediocrity follows, creating the type of middling team just good enough to keep people buying tickets but not good enough to be anything more than first-round playoff fodder. In other words, you create these Sixers.

A Phoenix Suns - Why can't people just agree on things once in a while? At least on the obvious stuff: Starbucks is a rip-off, a CEO shouldn't make 300 times more than the 9-to-5 grunts and Steve Nash was, and is, the MVP. The Suns won 62 games last year (as compared with 29 games pre-Nash), lost three fifths of their starting lineup and are still on track to win the Pacific Division this season. What's to argue? Shaq last year? He hasn't given his all in the regular season since his first year under Phil Jackson. Chauncey Billups this season? Because he's scoring more on a team coming off back-to-back Finals appearances? No, Nash was, and is, your man. He's done it without Amaré Stoudemire and he's done it without Joe Johnson. Who else could make a dogged defender like Raja Bell into a feared offensive weapon? Who else could make Kurt Thomas effective in a fast-break offense? You know the answer, so stop arguing.

F Portland Trail Blazers - What in the name of Clyde Drexler has become of the Trail Blazers? It wasn't all that long ago that this club was the best team no one paid attention to, its core of quiet stars lost in the glow of the more glamorous Lakers. Wonder if the Portland brass enjoys the attention this team has generated lately? Players cursing out coaches, missed practices, brushes with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, an owner questioning the financial viability of the franchise -- all have come to characterize Blazers basketball of late. But owner Paul Allen has no one but himself and his checkbook to blame for this state of affairs. Still, we're already hearing rumblings for a new arena, which is little more than an attempt to place a Band-Aid on a festering sore that could have been prevented with smart decisions, not dollars. Hiring Nate McMillan was a good start toward healing the wound, but Portland has a long way to go to get back to being the underappreciated but successful club it once was.

C Sacramento Kings - Oh, to be a Maloof brother. Your listless team struggles out of the gate? Why worry? You're young, rich and own one of the hottest casinos in Las Vegas. Your sharp-shooting forward goes into a two-season funk on and off the floor? Why worry? You're young, rich and own one of the hottest casinos in Las Vegas. You tie your team's fortunes to the league's most unpredictable -- and possibly destructive -- players? Why worry? You're young, rich and own one of the hottest casinos in Las Vegas. The city your team calls home is dragging its feet on a new arena? Why worry? You're young, rich and -- oh, you get it by now. So, yeah, the Kings may be going nowhere fast. Why worry?

A San Antonio Spurs - Deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you know the truth. You know that for as much as you are supposed to appreciate the selfless, successful play of the San Antonio Spurs, as much as you are supposed to laud Tim Duncan as the best player in the league, this team is absolutely killing the popularity of the game. Can you ever remember a time when you had to get home to catch the Spurs game? Sorry, but Duncan banking in jumpers from 15 feet or Bruce Bowen draping himself over Vince Carter like an octopus doesn't get our blood flowing. But that's the Spurs' plan -- to play fundamentally sound ball on offense and make the game ugly on defense. And no one does fundamental better, more consistently, than the Spurs. And why not? That plan has won three titles in five seasons. But it's also a lot like eating dry, white toast. It gets the job done, but, man, is it dull.

D- Seattle SuperSonics - So let's get this straight. The Sonics want a new taxpayer-funded arena because the team imbues the city with a sense of civic pride? So said Seattle owner Howard Schultz to SI.com's Ian Thomsen recently. The civic-pride argument owners regularly make has always rung hollow -- even more so now, with the economy wheezing one oil-price spike away from recession. But let's play devil's advocate for a second. Let's assume the people of Seattle eschew road improvements, schools and police enforcement to bestow the owner of Starbucks Coffee with a spanking new home. What do the fans get? More pride than a Seahawks Super Bowl appearance? More bragging rights than a Mariners playoff series? No, they get a team that allowed a beloved and competent coach to bolt for a conference rival. They get Bob Weiss -- 'nuff said. And they get a team that plays defense as though it's allergic to it. Who wouldn't be proud of all that?

D Toronto Raptors - It only took one transaction for interim GM Wayne Embry to prove a better steward of the Raptors' future than deposed GM Rob Babcock. Unlike the Babcock-engineered Vince Carter dump for Alonzo Mourning and spare parts, Antonio Davis at least showed up after Embry shipped overpriced, over-ego'd Jalen Rose to New York for him. Davis won't offer much help this season outside of some tabloid fodder courtesy of his wife, but he will offer $13 million in salary cap relief when his contract expires at the end of the season, which will go a long way toward helping keep Chris Bosh awash in loonies. Keeping Bosh should be the Raptors' (and new full-time GM Bryan Colangelo's) sole purpose in life, or else Las Vegas' association with the NBA won't long be limited only to hosting All-Star Games. To that end, we're starting to reassess our opinion of coach Sam Mitchell's role in the Raptors' future. For all his badass demeanor, Mitchell has Toronto playing disciplined, inspired basketball, save one night against a certain Kobe Bryant. Some more of that and a re-signing of Mike James might just be enough to wash the bitter taste of Carter and Babcock out of everyone's mouths.

C Utah Jazz - The Jazz seem to exist to prove that my mother was right: Life isn't fair. Is it fair that Karl Malone and John Stockton formed the most devastating pick-and-roll combo in league history, took the Jazz to the playoffs 15 consecutive years and don't own championship rings? Is it fair that Jerry Sloan has coached the same team -- successfully -- for 22 years, in a place few free agents will wander, through the tragic loss of his wife to cancer, with a sometimes loopy owner shooting his mouth off at exactly the wrong time, and has yet to win a title? Is it fair that Carlos Boozer can shaft a blind man, sign a $70 million contract and then shaft his new team with an array of injuries? No, no and no. Which, of course, means that Sloan is destined to retire having never wrapped his hands around the trophy while Boozer wins three rings off the bench with the Spurs. Life isn't fair.

B Washington Wizards - Think Michael Jordan ever ponders the irony that is the Gilbert Arenas era? Of all the new-generation stars, no one is more -- we'll say it -- Jordan-like than Arenas. Unburdened by expectations, playing second fiddle to a Hall of Fame center or living down "Stop Snitching" videos, Arenas not only has the ability to create motivation (being a second-round pick, being left off the All-Star team by the coaches) but the arrogance that Jordan thrived on -- and never found in his teammates when No. 23 were in Washington. Of course, if MJ was still calling the shots, he probably would have signed the likes of Mike Dunleavy instead of Arenas. But we digress. Save the Pistons, there aren't any teams in the East this Wizards club can't beat come playoff time, and we'll stake Arenas' reputation on it.

4) Mike Kahn of Foxsports.com with his 10 things weekly column:

10 things we learned in the NBA this week

Clouds are forming in the Valley of the Sun despite their six-game winning streak and the simple fact that they are almost a lock for the second seed in the Western Conference as the Pacific Division champions. Sure, Steve Nash is playing at the same MVP level as last season and Shawn Marion is averaging a spectacular 37.5 points and 19.5 rebounds since the All-Star break. But with All-Star Amare Stoudemire still weeks away from actually playing basketball for the first time this season on his surgically repaired knee, Kurt Thomas went down for at least six weeks Saturday with a stress fracture in his right foot. And there is more.

1. Item: The end of the Colangelo era with the Suns, which began with the franchise inception in 1968, is over as team president Bryan Colangelo has accepted the general manager position with the Toronto Raptors. What this really means: Since his father Jerry held the job of general manager, coach, president, owner and chairman of the team all these years, the sale of the team to Robert Sarver prior to last season left dad and son Bryan with only one more year guaranteed after this one. The growing ruminations of problems between the younger Colangelo and Sarver led everyone to believe that Bryan — the reigning NBA executive of the year — would exit. Although Jerry Colangelo has one more year on his contract as CEO and chairman, he would remain what effectively would be chairman "in the masthead only", with no power. With Wayne Embry running the show in Toronto and a four-decade relationship with Jerry — not to mention a guaranteed deal for what is believed to be three times the money — there seemed to be no reason to stay in Phoenix, other than Bryan's lifelong tie to the community. Besides, the sale of the team, which included a minority ownership for retired Steve Kerr — an NBA analyst for TNT — has left everyone to believe that Kerr would become the team president after the three-year period. Now that the change has happened, it will be interesting to see the effect on the marvelous team chemistry fostered by the younger Colangelo and coach Mike D'Antoni. This is a changing of the guard that shouldn't be underrated considering the impact the Colangelos have had on the NBA in general and the city of Phoenix in particular.

2. Item: Now that the laughter has faded in New York and the reality of the ludicrous $125 million payroll has sunk in, let's consider the addition of Steve Francis next to Stephon Marbury in the backcourt — along with Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Jalen Rose and Quentin Richardson. What this really means: OK, maybe Larry Brown really did encourage Isiah Thomas to make the deal. So what? This isn't going to work. They're 0-2 since the trade, losers of nine of 10, and 2-19 since beating Atlanta on Jan. 13. The saddest part is that almost immediately after the deal, the spin-doctoring began out of the front office saying they were just gathering chips to make a run at Kevin Garnett or Jermaine O'Neal in the off-season. That's even more pathetic than the deal itself. Do they honestly believe that trading the horrible maximum contracts of Francis or Marbury will get them All-NBA power forwards like those two guys? That's not to mention the dramatically overpaid deals that Crawford, Richardson and Jerome James have. This is a mess and at some point in time, the other Cablevision board members are going to call Jim Dolan on his amusement with the way Thomas is throwing away money on the Knicks. It matters little to the fans or the media what kind of luxury tax they are blowing. They'll be over the salary cap into the next millennium anyway. But what matters is the haphazard collection of players thrown together who have no interest in playing for Brown. At what point do you stop collecting players and contracts and start getting serious about winning?

3. Item: The Detroit Pistons have come out of the break the same way they entered it — determined to retain the best overall record for the remainder of the season. They extended their winning streak to five games — and their record to 46-9 —by stomping all over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday. What this really means: The Pistons have the confidence and consistency to keep playing over .800 ball and get into that 68-win area. But they really could use another point guard to backup All-Star Chauncey Billups besides 35-year-old Lindsey Hunter — he of the freakish long arms, quick hands and tendency for the bad shot. It sounds like they have a decent shot at landing veteran Tony Delk, who was released by the Atlanta Hawks. Delk is a great streak shooter, but he doesn't defend like Hunter or anybody else on this team. As Joe Dumars said, unless Billups is healthy, a backup won't matter. But doesn't it make a lot more sense to have somebody to cut back his minutes a little bit to avoid one of those lingering ankle sprains that come from being overtired? We'll see how it goes. Dealing Darko Milicic was certainly the right thing to do, but shipping out point guard Carlos Arroyo in that same deal for Kelvin Cato may not have been such a hot idea.

4. Item: Gilbert Arenas poured in 46 points to lead the Washington Wizards to a 21-point win over the Knicks Saturday night. Arenas was a stunning 13-of-16 from the field, 7-of-10 from 3-point range and 13-of-14 from the free throw line. What this really means: The Wizards have gone from being out of the top eight in the East to fifth and to within one game in the loss column behind the fourth-place Cavaliers. They've gone 11-4 to get over .500 for good and regained the momentum and confidence from last season's second-round appearance. Coach Eddie Jordan finally settled on Jared Jeffries and Caron Butler as Arenas' wing players, and Antawn Jamison seems healthier than he has been in quite a while. But this thing all hinges on Arenas, who was initially snubbed for the All-Star game until NBA commissioner David Stern stepped in and named Arenas to replace injured Jermaine O'Neal. The guy has been sensational, averaging a career-high 28.7 points. He's exceeded 20 points 13 times during the 11-4 run, 30 points seven times, and Saturday was the third time he's had more than 40 points. Not bad for the fourth-leading scorer in the league — who just happens to be leading his team to the playoffs for the second year in a row — and a second-round draft choice.

5. Item: The Denver Nuggets finally added depth up front when they acquired Ruben Patterson (plus a reserve guard) from the Portland Trail Blazers and Reggie Evans from the Seattle SuperSonics in a deal that also included the Sacramento Kings. What this really means: The Nuggets dealt Earl Watson and Bryon Russell to the Sonics, Voshon Lenard to Blazers, and none of that really matters outside of the Nuggets. Oh, the Kings have a shot at the playoffs, but it's doubtful. This deal was all about the Sonics' and Blazers' continual player dump, and the Nuggets solidifying their front line. Evans gives them defense and tireless rebounding, while Patterson is the prototype energy guy off the bench — pressuring the ball on defense, relentless on the offensive boards and flying up and down the floor. Now is the time the Nuggets will pull away from the rest of the weak Northwest Division and hope to gain some momentum heading into the playoffs. The karma hasn't quite clicked for coach George Karl and the team all season. But with Kenyon Martin welcoming Patterson — his former University of Cincinnati teammate — plus Earl Boykins rekindling his boyhood friendship with Patterson from Cleveland, this should rejuvenate them and ease some of the lingering tension that has developed between Karl and Martin. In a season held together by an amazing array of game-winning shots from Carmelo Anthony, perhaps now they can run off some wins to gain some breathing room ... finally.

6. Item: Allen Iverson poured in 38 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a six-point win over the Chicago Bulls Saturday night. Kyle Korver added 19 points, serving as a significant scorer for the second consecutive win, and third overall for the Sixers. What this really means: The Sixers moved one game over .500 for the first time in three weeks for coach Maurice Cheeks. Andre Iguodala threw in 20 points in the win over the Bulls and for the umpteenth time it is beginning to look like they are beginning to get comfortable playing with Iverson. But will it last? Korver, in particular, has a defined role as the designated shooter, but he hasn't put the ball in the hole with the same regularity as last season. All the talk about Iverson getting traded heading into the deadline was overblown. Sure, the Sixers need to look at everybody, even Chris Webber, who certainly looks untradeable at this late juncture of his career. But maybe, just maybe, if president Billy King would stick with one coach and one set of players for more than six months at a time, the team could grow together. Has anybody considered that as an alternative to all the hand-wringing that continues to go on?

7. Item: Joe Johnson scored 40 points and doled out 13 assists — including a 3-pointer at the buzzer of regulation to send the game into overtime — to lead the Atlanta Hawks to an overtime win over the Indiana Pacers Friday night. What this really means: It extended the Hawks record to 3-0 over the Pacers this season — an advantage that hadn't happened this century until now. It was an indictment of the Pacers the way Peja Stojakovic and Fred Jones blew free throws down the stretch of regulation — not to mention letting Johnson (5-for-5) get open for a 3-pointer — but even more gave another indication of what a special player Johnson really is. Sure, the Hawks gave up too much (two first-round draft choices and Boris Diaw) to Phoenix for him, but he would look even better if they didn't have a bunch of teenagers around him who are too selfish to understand that this team has a chance to make some noise. Johnson may not be the greatest leader in the world, but the man is smooth in every aspect of the game. Still only 24 himself, Johnson needs to help coach Mike Woodson slap some sense into the heads of youngsters Salim Stoudamire, Josh Smith and Marvin Williams before Woodson loses it himself. That's the scary thing about having a team so young, the coach ends up being more involved in classroom management than teaching. And if it sounds like elementary school, well, so be it.

8. Item: You've got to love the approach of the Sonics, now that they've given the boot to Evans, Vladimir Radmanovic, Flip Murray and Vitaly Potapenko and Danny Fortson has announced his knee will keep him out for the rest of the season. The claim is now they've got everything together and they're shooting to finish the season 25-0. What this really means: Even if they did finish 25-0 (which in reality means if they can finish 13-12 it would be a huge accomplishment) they'd still probably miss the playoffs. This is a team so preoccupied with money and egos — from ownership through the coaching staff to the players — that they couldn't possibly perform with any consistency. Of course adding Watson helps. And maybe Chris Wilcox will give them more on a regular basis than Radmanovic did — with at least some effort. But that's not enough.
They don't have chemistry. There's been so much upheaval around the organization, which is on its third coach in less than a year, plus the non-stop talk about money and their bad arena lease, that the players are talking about it. In the fifth year of Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz's five-year plan (he said they'd win a championship but then amended it to be an elite team), they're in no better shape than when he started and have shot holes into a loyal fan base. In other words, you can't have your cup of coffee and drink it too — even if you are the chairman of the board.

9. Item: David West scored 22 points to lead the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets to a 13-point win over the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday. It was their second win in a row after losing two while West was with his wife during the birth of their baby. What this really means: With all the talk about rookie Chris Paul this season, the consistency and improvement of West has largely been overlooked. The former first-round pick out of Xavier in 2003 is a top candidate for most improved player. At 6-9, 240, he not only has raised his productivity from 6.2 points and 4.3 rebounds to 17.0 points and 7.8 rebounds, but has been a primary ballhandler in a variety of situations. When both Paul and Speedy Claxton were injured in the same game, he often served as point guard. Now if coach Byron Scott can clean up the mess that he fostered with young J.R. Smith, this team has a chance to battle its way comfortably into the sixth spot in the West. That's not to say they're going to win a playoff series, but considering the circumstances of their hasty move after Hurricane Katrina and wholesale changes to the roster, the last thing Scott should do is allow a spoiled kid like Smith be disruptive to the success of this team.

10. Item: Kevin Garnett was ejected from the Timberwolves' win over the Grizzlies Sunday when he tossed a ball into the stands out of frustration and it struck a fan. This comes just days after he grabbed a television camera and pointed it toward general manager Kevin McHale when a reporter persisted on asking him how to improve the team. What this really means: Finally, KG has blown a gasket out of frustration. He is an astoundingly talented basketball player who has shown loyalty and class the way he's handled the pathetic management of the Timberwolves. Obviously they paid him ludicrously exorbitant amounts of money over the past 10 years, but that hasn't precluded the inept manner in which Kevin McHale has mismanaged the talent around him. Meanwhile, a constant buzz by the media has inferred the Timberwolves will be willing to trade their "Big Ticket" this summer. That would be a travesty of justice for the fans of Minneapolis, who have a chance to be one of the rare fan bases in America to watch their superstar begin and end his career there. In fact, we're also considering Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant as superstars who very well could stay in one place. So let's hope KG mends the fences, owner Glen Taylor doesn't lose his head, and the other guys stay put as well. It's time the NBA started setting standards like these instead of destroying them — basketballs flying into the stands notwithstanding.