Insider article from today

[Admin]

The comatose NBA rumor mill just sat straight up from the operating table. With thunder and lightning reverberating in the background, someone just screamed "it's alive!"

After weeks of dead ends and rumblings that nothing was happening, Wednesday night's Chris Webber blockbuster makes you believe anything is possible ... right?

The trade, in which Sacramento sent Webber, Michael Bradley and Matt Barnes to the Sixers for Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Brian Skinner, materialized quickly, with the first serious call coming from the Sixers just before noon ET and the deal consummated about nine hours later.

The deal should remind us that one man's untradable contract is another man's savior. Twenty four hours ago, moving the contract of either Webber or Thomas seemed like Mission Impossible. That they were traded for each other, with each side claiming victory, is all you need to know about how unpredictable the countdown to the trade deadline can be.

The truth, as the Sixers and Kings have just reminded us, is that anything can still happen.

Between the Webber and Vince Carter deals, you wonder how many more former All-Stars might be swapped for a six-pack and postcards.

Here's what we're hearing as today's 3 p.m. ET deadline approaches.

Are the 76ers done dealing?

The 76ers still have the expiring contract of Glenn Robinson to dangle, and GM Billy King made it clear Wednesday night he wasn't done dealing. After clearly making a statement that the team wants to make a serious run at the playoffs this season, will the Sixers try to swap Robinson for an extra piece?

The trade could be as simple as sending Robinson to the Hornets for Jamal Mashburn and Rodney Rogers. Mashburn is expected to retire this summer, meaning the last year of his contract will be covered mostly by insurance. Rogers is the type of big, 3-point shooter head coach Jim O'Brien covets.

Or, the Sixers could do much better if they're willing to take back a player with more than one year left on his contract.

Who's ready to counter punch?

Will the other teams in Atlantic Division or the Eastern Conference react to the Sixers' latest move. The Nets had designs on the top spot in the Atlantic but are playing terribly of late. GM Rod Thorn said Wednesday night that nothing was imminent, but it makes you wonder whether the Nets now have to either respond or pull the plug.

The Celtics were leaning toward sitting out the deadline, in part because they were in first place. Now they are tied with the Sixers, have lost three of their last four and should find it difficult to keep up, especially if Philadelphia adds another piece today. Does that mean it's time to seriously consider trading Gary Payton now that it seems unlikely they'll need him for a playoff run?

The Knicks? Don't even go there. They were after Webber for weeks. We all laughed, claiming they really had nothing to offer the Kings in return. As it turns out, the Knicks potentially could have offered a better package than Philadelphia. That has to sting. Still, don't expect New York to do anything by the deadline.

As of Wednesday night, none of the East's other contenders sounded like they were planning to do anything. The Pistons don't really have any more assets to trade. The Pacers have been working on a few smaller things but haven't gotten close to making a deal. The Heat have been trying to pry Donyell Marshall away from Toronto but that deal is on the rocks. The Wizards could move Kwame Brown and get a significant piece back. However, GM Ernie Grunfeld sounds like he's sitting this one out too.

No Redd alert

The Michael Redd sweepstakes might have ended 24 hours early. Sources claim Redd, who will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, met with management and essentially promised the team he'd re-sign as long as the Bucks come up with a big offer in the summer.

Milwaukee GM Larry Harris already has the green light from owner Herb Kohl to spend whatever it takes to keep Redd, so is it safe to say Redd won't be traded? Redd thinks so.

"We had an in-depth discussion, and we both expressed that we want to be with each other and make it a long-term type thing," Redd said. "We knew coming into the season there were going to be rumors and the talk was going to come. But that doesn't change what we feel."

"I believe I'll be here. I'll say it again; I want to come back in the offseason. Milwaukee has made it clear that they want me back, so I can rely on it."

Coach Terry Porter, however, is still holding his breath.

"Am I totally convinced? I'm not totally convinced," Porter said when asked if he believed Redd wouldn't be traded. "Crazy things have happened. We want him. It's a tough call. But we've committed to Michael and he's committed to us. He's an important piece for us."

Unless the Bucks have some pretty damning evidence that Redd is lying to them, look for the Bucks to hold on to him.

That news could end up impacting what goes down in the final hours of the trading period. If Redd really is out of the picture, the Cleveland Cavaliers – who had hoped to sign Redd in free agency – likely will turn to either Ray Allen, Joe Johnson or Kyle Korver this summer.

That should make the Sonics, Suns and Sixers sweat.

The Sonics have been operating under the assumption that no team under the cap will make a big offer to Allen. That might have just changed.

The Suns, likewise, have been crossing their fingers that Johnson doesn't get a big offer this summer. They aren't sure they can afford to match it if the bidding gets out of control.

And the Sixers only have Korver's early Bird rights, meaning they can match a contract offer to him only up to the mid-level exception. In other words, Cleveland could offer Korver more, and the Sixers would be out of luck.

Do the Cavs have the leverage to make a trade now? Dealing with the Sonics would be the toughest. While the Cavs have a combination of expiring contracts and prospects that match Allen's salary, they would have to trade six players to make it work. That seems unlikely.

The Suns have stated they don't want to break up their team, and there's really nothing the Cavs have to make a deal worth Phoenix's while.

The Cavs could try to offer Luke Jackson or Sasha Pavlovic for Korver, but with the Sixers now making a playoff push, they will likely want to hold on to Korver and take their chances this summer.

Baron on the block

As we've been reporting for more than a week, Baron Davis is back on the block. Will he get moved before the deadline? Word leaked Wednesday night that the Hornets and Warriors are talking. The Hornets want Dale Davis' expiring contract and Mike Dunleavy in return for Baron Davis. The Warriors are countering with Dale Davis and Speedy Claxton.

Say this for the Hornets – they sure know how to cut payroll. If they somehow are able to pull off both the Golden State and Philly deals – both are still iffy, sources claim – they'll be roughly $15 million under the cap next summer.

A win for the Warriors?

If the Warriors actually do figure out a way to consummate the Davis trade, could it mean the team is actually serious about winning? If Davis is healthy, a backcourt of Baron and Jason Richardson is about as potent as any in the league.

Making that trade also would allow them to accomplish two other important goals. Mickael Pietrus could move into the starting lineup at small forward, and the Warriors would have more great trade bait in point guard Speedy Claxton, who likely would be the odd man out with Davis on board.

Then again, there might be a reason the Hornets are just giving Davis away. Given the Warriors' luck, Davis' knee will give out and the team will be stuck with his uninsured contract for the next four years.

Last-minute showcase

It was no coincidence that two guys rumored to be on the trading block, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Kwame Brown, were activated from the injured list Wednesday night.

A number of GMs told Insider they were "alerted" that both players would be "showcased."

Abdur-Rahim, who is coming off elbow surgery, had 16 points in 27 minutes off the bench. Brown, coming off a foot and ankle injury, had 2 points and 2 rebounds in 10 minutes.

Will either be moved by the deadline?

It's a no-brainer for the Blazers to move Abdur-Rahim. His contract expires this season, he doesn't sound like he'll re-sign, and he isn't a great fit on the team's current roster. With all of that said, it sounds like the only legitimate offer for him comes from the Wolves.

Should the Wizards trade Brown? He's a restricted free agent this summer. He's struggled in Washington. He'll likely command a deal elsewhere, with a team that will use him as a starter, that the Wizards might be unwilling to match. So far, the only deal that has been talked about is a Vladimir Radmanovic-for-Brown swap. However, sources indicate that the Sonics are leaning toward keeping Radmanovic and letting the season play out.

McHale standing pat

The Timberwovles have been one of the most active teams in trade talks for the last month. They've been shopping Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassell, Troy Hudson and even Wally Szczerbiak.

However, Wolves GM Kevin McHale did not sound optimistic Wednesday night that a trade was in the works.

"I anticipate this is the group we'll have for the rest of the season," he said. "I would say the chances of us making a trade are [low]. Everything is pretty quiet around the league right now. But, hey, sometimes everything is quiet and it explodes. We'll see."

Marshall not moving?

The Raptors, another team reportedly hot to make a trade, may be standing pat, too. Their hottest commodity, Donyell Marshall, told reporters Wednesday he's hearing he won't be traded.

"The way things are right now, it doesn't sound too serious," Marshall said. "I think it's just talk right now. I haven't heard anything different. Obviously, you hear your name out there, but I don't think there's anything really serious right now."

GM Rob Babcock says that's because the offers he's getting for Marshall are lousy.

"Most of the offers we have had for [Marshall] have been offers where we have to bring back a player who's got three to five years left on his contract and who is maybe a little younger than Donyell, but not as good a player," Babcock said. "That's not something that makes sense for us in the future."