Updated Thursday trade rumors

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Trading Spree out of control

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Latrell Sprewell

Knicks

Raptors, Sixers, Mavs, Spurs? Feb. 20 - The Knicks have tried almost every conceivable deal out there, including talking to the Spurs about a swap that would've reunited Spree with P.J. Carlesimo.

How desperate is Scott Layden getting? Now comes word that the Raptors and Knicks have been talking about a swap that would send Spree and Othella Harrington to Toronto for Antonio Davis and Morris Peterson. Now that would've been a blockbuster.The Newark Star Ledger is reporting that the Raptors said that they'd consider it if the Knicks substituted Kurt Thomas for Harrington. They didn't. It was dropped, revisited and dropped again.

There was also talk Wednesday of a three-way deal that would send Spree to Miami, Brian Grant to Philly and (here we go again) Keith Van Horn to the Knicks. And, a repackaged Latrell Sprewell-Keith Van Horn deal with Indiana involved. The Knicks would get Van Horn and Austin Croshere, the Sixers would get Sprewell (and presumably a draft pick), and Indiana would receive Charlie Ward. Of course, if the Knicks really shot forms of this trade down the first time, don't you think they'd do it again?

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Eddie Jones

Heat

T-Wolves, Bulls Feb. 20 - After some hot and heavy Eddie Jones trade talk on Tuesday, it looks like trade discussions cooled significantly for the Heat on Wednesday. Talks between the Bulls and Heat, according to several league sources, ended Wednesday afternoon. The Bulls and Heat were discussing a Jones-for-Marcus Fizer-, Jamal Crawford-and-Eddie Robinson swap.

The T-Wolves were still trying to get the Heat to accept a Terrell Brandon-for-Jones deal, but Wolves coach Flip Saunders doesn't sound optimistic that the Heat will agree to pull the trigger. "He could help [us], but I just don't think that's a viable option," Saunders told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "When you look at Pat [Riley], no matter what, he wants to win. It would be pretty tough to convince him to take somebody who's not going to play ... and say, we'll wait a year, and then he'll get off the books next [February] so not this summer but the next summer we can sign somebody. Well, what are you going to do in the meantime?"

Unfortunately, for the Heat, they might not have a much better option. If they don't move either Jones or Brian Grant, they'll be stuck with the same cap issues for the next four seasons.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Brian Grant

Heat

Mavs, Sixers Feb. 20 - The other prominent Heat trade talk, mentioned on Insider Wednesday, has the Heat and Mavs talking about a Grant-for-Nick Van Exel-and-Travis Best trade. So did the Mavs or the Heat initiate the trade talk? It depends on who you ask.

Sources in Miami claim that it's the Mavs calling the Heat. A source in Dallas claims that the Heat are the ones making a push to get a trade done. While some league sources insist that this is a trade that could happen, consider this: Neither side is convinced that the trade will really help them. If that's the case, why do it?

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Alonzo Mourning

Heat

??? Feb. 20 - We know Miami is facing serious cap issues this summer. Is trading Alonzo Mourning and his $20 million expiring contract the answer to all of their problems? The team is still trying hard to move either Brian Grant or Eddie Jones. According to several league sources, the Heat have decided against trading Mourning even if they can't move Jones and/or Grant.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Erick Dampier

Warriors

Magic, Pacers, Knicks, Hornets?, Blazers? Feb. 20 - Several league sources told Insider late Wednesday night that the Magic were still working the phones, looking for a center. The Magic are interested in swapping Andrew DeClercq and Steven Hunter for Adonal Foyle. However, the Warriors would prefer to rid themselves of Dampier. To make that deal work financially, the Magic would have to give up Darrell Armstrong and DeClercq.

The concern on the Magic's end is that the team would struggle to make the playoffs without a solid backup for Jacque Vaughn. Armstrong is also one of the most popular players on the team. It would be a major blow to lose him. It's possible, however, that the Warriors would agree to waive Armstrong after the trade. That would allow the Magic to re-sign Armstrong after he cleared waivers.

Despite the Warriors' winning ways of late, Dampier wants out of Oakland in the worst way. After Sunday night's loss to the T-Wolves, Dampier ripped into coach Eric Musselman. Dampier loudly referred to his coach as "Mussel-head" in the locker room after the game and then challenged Musselman's coaching strategies. The Warriors would love to move Dampier, but his contract is much tougher than Foyle's to dump. Dampier makes $6.9 million this season and has three years and over $24 million remaining on his contract.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Elden Campbell

Hornets

Magic, Sonics, Spurs Feb. 20 - The Hornets are pretty confident that they won't move Elden Campbell by the deadline, but it won't be for a lack of interest. In the last few days the Spurs have offered Steve Smith, the Magic have talked about a combination of Andrew DeClercq and Darrell Armstrong for Campbell, the Warriors would be willing to swap Erick Dampier straight up and the Sonics have offered Kenny Anderson according to the Tacoma News Tribune. What's the attraction? Campbell is in the last year of his contract.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Jason Terry

Hawks

Lakers? Feb. 20 - Remember when the Hawks were supposed to be the team most likely to make a deal before the deadline? GM Pete Babcock said it looks like Terry and the rest of the Hawks are staying put. "No one we've talked to once wants to add payroll," Babcock told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "They want to reduce it. Teams are afraid of the luxury tax; they don't want to spend more money."

The biggest rumor still out there has Jason Terry and Nazr Mohammed heading to the Lakers in return for cap space, Kareem Rush and some future No. 1s. That's a great deal for the Lakers. Not so sure what it does in the long run for the Hawks.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Derrick Coleman

Sixers

Warriors, Sonics, Heat, Hawks Feb. 20 - The Warriors are also still holding out hope (though it looks pretty slim right now) that the Sixers will still pull the trigger on a Coleman-for-Foyle-and-Fortson (or Sura) trade. If they could get both of those trades to happen, the team would clear enough cap room to make a significant offer for Gilbert Arenas this summer. The Tacoma Tribune is also reporting that a the Brent Barry and Vitaly Potapenko to Philadelphia for Coleman deal is also on the table.

Unfortunately, Sixers coach Larry Brown sounded like the Sixers were no longer willing to deal. "If you had asked me two weeks ago, I would have said definitely [about the likelihood of making a trade]," Brown told the Philadelphia Daily News. "Now, I'd say it's doubtful. I don't want to do it for the sake of doing it."

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Austin Croshere

Pacers

Knicks, Lakers, Warriors, Sonics Feb. 20 - According to several sources, the Pacers, who are desperate to move Croshere, were the team initiating the discussions on a five-team trade involving the Warriors, Knicks, Sixers, Magic and Pacers. The trade would've sent Croshere to the Knicks and the Pacers would've gotten Charlie Ward, Brian Skinner and Mark Pope in return.

The Pacers are also praying that the Knicks will agree to swap Ward straight up for Croshere. However, if Layden's no longer able to take on bad contracts (the only thing he's ever done really well), there's no way the Knicks can pull the trigger.