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 Thursday, February 24
Who's goin' where, how, why, what it means
 
ESPN.com

 Rumors, rumors, rumors. We can't look into the future to see what trades are going to happen, but so what? The fun is in what we don't know, hypothesizing on who could go where and for which players. Now that's fun.

So far, there's been only one deal in February, and it was the Kukoc-Hughes-Starks trade. Here's the latest on the NBA trade rumors that we hear:

WHO WHERE WHY & HOW
Jason Caffey
Jason Caffey, Warriors
Bucks
This one's easy: The Bucks must, must get some interior help. Caffey has always had the ability to be a force up front and he is a presence. And he was there on Wednesday when Donyell Marshall embarrassed the Bucks with 37 points and 21 rebounds. The rumor is Caffey and Adonal Foyle for Tractor Traylor and J.R. Reid. Problem with it is that Caffey, who was once a Bull, doesn't want to leave the Bay for the Midwest. But the Bucks should be a playoff team and the Warriors aren't. He may change his mind.

WHO WHERE WHY & HOW
J.R Rider
Isaiah Rider, Hawks
Heat
If other teams are interested, they aren't admitting it. The Hawks certainly don't want him, and they may just flat-out release him. Pat Riley needs to do something now that he's fallen into second place. The Heat lost to Chicago and Jersey last week. Bottom line on Rider: The guy has game, so if you have a winning team and, a la Rodman, can put up with him, he can help you. Few two guards can match him when Rider's on.

WHO WHERE WHY & HOW
John Starks
John Starks, Bulls
Heat
Wolves
John Starks in a Bulls uniform? Knicks fans can't believe it. Neither can we. Starks was sent to Chicago not because the Bulls want him, but because he's a free agent after the season and he's decent trade bait. Pat Riley's been looking at his old friend for awhile in Miami. The Timberwolves have no three-point shooting, so they're interested. Starks, who doesn't want to be in Chicago, will help facilitate a deal. Will Voshon Lenard and/or Mark Strickland be enough?

WHO WHERE WHY & HOW
Danny Fortson
Danny Fortson, Celtics
Lakers
Bucks
Pistons
Knicks
Sonics
How was that short stay in Toronto, Danny? Well, here's what we heard about the failed Fortson to the Raptors for Alvin Williams deal. When Celtics fans found out that Fortson, who was acquired for Ron Mercer, only got the team a backup point guard in Williams, they went nuts. So thanks to Williams' tricky knee, which scared Portland away a few years back, they made up the thing about the failed physical. So how does Fortson react now? Boston can't keep him, and they obviously don't want him. And it looks like Pitino doesn't care what he gets for him. The Knicks are a darkhorse here, as they may be after Fortson and Kenny Anderson.

WHO WHERE WHY & HOW
Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo, Hawks
Suns
The Hawks are putting everybody on the block -- except the best defensive presence in the game. But the fact is the team has a long way to go, and dealing Dikembe might help the rebuilding process. According to Jeffrey Denberg of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "there is no way Mutombo will be moved." The Hawks will not take any players who have contracts past this season. Phoenix was reported to be offering Tom Gugliotta, Luc Longley and others, the thinking being the Suns are just a big, defensive center away from a long playoff run. But it doesn't look like this deal, or any other with Dikembe, will happen.

WHO WHERE WHY & HOW
Shawn Kemp
Shawn Kemp, Cavs
Lakers
Kemp brings big numbers wherever he goes, but he also brings a huge contract. Who can afford a $15-20 million balloon payment over the next few years and $70 mil over four years? Kemp is also struggling to shoot more than 40 percent, which hurts his value, and the Cavs stink. Rumors have a Rice-for-Kemp deal, because the money is close to working. Any team that needs size -- and we mean size -- would look at Kemp. Rumors have the Lakers interested, with Glen Rice and Robert Horry being the bait. Hey, it works financially. But don't bet on it.

WHO WHERE WHY & HOW
Brevin Knight
Brevin Knight, Cavs
Raptors
Mavs
Celtics
There's suddenly a lot of talk about this guy moving on, especially with every game that rookie Andre Miller has 20 points and seven assists. Knight's future looks bleaker in Ohio. He has a relatively new contract, which would appeal to suitors, since it's not excessive and he's locked up for awhile. But Miller is the future in Cleveland, not Knight, who doesn't shoot well.

WHO WHERE WHY & HOW
Ike Austin
Ike Austin, Wizards
Jazz
Lakers
Bucks
Pistons
Nets
The Pistons now look like the leading contender to land Austin, but the Jazz are in it as well. Karl Malone wanted the guy years ago, but the team didn't ante up. Now it looks like a three-way with the Jazz, Wizards and Pistons, involving Bison Dele and Greg Ostertag. Utah needs a big man who can score, and Ostertag could be heading to Detroit. Washington, which would get Detroit's first-round pick, doesn't care about Dele and whether or not he comes out of retirement.

WHO WHERE WHY & HOW
Glen Rice
Glen Rice, Lakers
Bulls
Heat
Raptors
The guy once averaged nearly 27 points a game for an entire season, so he has game. He's been playing very good ball over the past week, so he's probably not going anywhere. Rice wants to be paid the maximum $14 million next season, which makes it harder to deal him. If the Lakers could get a Charles Oakley type for Rice, they'd jump at it. Maybe P.J. Brown? Rumor had it that Philly, desperate for a second scorer, wanted him, but not now, with Kukoc there.

WHO WHERE WHY & HOW
Mo Taylor
Mo Taylor, Clippers
Pistons
Magic
Taylor, a scorer and an emerging rebounder, will be a free agent after the season. Negotiations with the Clippers, who keep nobody, aren't going well. Taylor has said he doesn't want to be dealt, so the Clips can get nothing in return in the offseason when he leaves. The Michigan native would love to go to the Pistons, who could use the inside presence, but Eric Montross plus Jud Buechler isn't exactly a sweet package in return. Add Derek Anderson to this rumor.

WHO WHERE WHY & HOW
Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing, Knicks
Wizards
With Marcus Camby out, there is absolutely no chance Patrick can be moved. Even with Camby, it was unlikely. But sources say Jeff Van Gundy and the Knicks did explore the Ewing-to-D.C. rumors. With Charlie Ward hurt, the Rod Strickland rumors should begin again, but it would be shocking if Ewing was involved.

WHO WHERE WHY & HOW
Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady, Raptors
Heat
Wiz
Magic
Well, you can scratch Philly and Golden State off the list now. Chicago could still get him, but not until the offseason. And now we hear MJ wants him in Washington. McGrady's game is big now, bigger than before, and it's making Toronto think twice about dealing him. The main issue here is the Raptors don't know if they can re-sign him, which is why he's on the block. The NBA universe is pretty much in agreement that the kid is a future All-Star. McGrady wants a lot of money. Pat Riley would love to get the kid, and may part with Tim Hardaway, the point guard Toronto needs. And Golden State didn't think Doug Christie was enough for Mookie Blaylock, but McGrady may be. Bottom line: We think Toronto wises up, keeps McGrady, and he and Vince go on dunking for the next decade.

WHO WHERE WHY & HOW
Robert Traylor
Robert Traylor, Bucks
Wizards
76ers
Tractor hasn't really made it in Milwaukee, and George Karl might just move him for whatever he can get. Washington and Philly may not be all that interested -- then again, not many NBA teams are. Traylor has a lot of potential, but plays sporadically and needs to lose weight. Like Gary Trent, who moved around before achieving success, perhaps Traylor would be helped by a change of scenery.


 


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Bulls send Kukoc to Sixers in three-way deal