Now, while the Nets hope they can keep their new All-Star long-term and turn him into a face-of-the-franchise player the way Jason Kidd was years ago, small-market teams are left to wonder what the future holds for them.
Is there something the NBA should do to protect teams from losing their stars?
"I think this is a relatively recent phenomenon, but one that I believe is being watched very closely," Jazz CEO Greg Miller said after trading away his All-Star point guard in exchange for rookie Derrick Favors, point guard Devin Harris, two first-round draft picks and cash.
"I can only speak from the Jazz ownership perspective in saying that I'm not interested in seeing a congregation of star players on a handful of teams throughout the league. I don't think it does the teams any good. It doesn't do the fans any good. It doesn't do the sponsors any good.
"I would like to see as much parity as there can be in the league. Beyond that, it's all just speculation."
The trend started in the summer of 2007 when the Boston Celtics made a blockbuster 7-for-1 trade with Minnesota that gave them 10-time All-Star Kevin Garnett. The Celtics with the Big Three of Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce went on to win the NBA title in 2008.
Last offseason, the Jazz lost power forward Carlos Boozer to the Chicago Bulls, Phoenix star Amare Stoudamire signed with the New York Knicks, and league MVP LeBron James ditched Cleveland for Miami's beaches and a star-studded Heat lineup that featured Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
On Tuesday, the Knicks finalized a deal with the Denver Nuggets that sent All-Star Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups to the Eastern Conference.
It all left King James boasting that his prediction of a shift of power to the East was coming true.
The Jazz chose to combat it the only way they could — by being proactive with the Williams trade and getting as much as they could now even if it created more turmoil just 13 days after Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan abruptly retire after clashing with Williams.
Utah's front office said it had no definite indication from Williams that he wouldn't re-sign after 2012, but it also had no indication he would.
"We had an opportunity to replace ambiguity with a high degree of certainty," Miller said.
In weighing the decision, Miller tried to put himself in Williams' shoes, as a player trying to earn as much money as he could in a short window of opportunity.
"Deron probably felt like he could attain those objectives in bigger markets," Miller said. "If that's the way he felt, I wouldn't want to hold him here against his will or have him be unhappy. If our franchise couldn't offer Deron things he needed, then it was best he go somewhere he can get those things."
Complicating matters was the prospect of an NBA lockout next season, which could have left Williams as a free agent outright heading into the 2012-2013 season.
While Williams' trade caught many by surprise, including Williams, who heard it as he watched TV before a shootaround Wednesday morning in Dallas, the Nets have been trying to wheel-and-deal since last year.
They couldn't get James as a free agent, and then saw Anthony go to the Knicks.
The Nets and Jazz had talked weeks earlier, Utah general manager Kevin O'Connor acknowledged. But the timing was right to pull the trigger on the best deal the Jazz could secure.
"Nobody likes to lose their star player, a marquee player," Miller said. "This deal allows the Utah Jazz to preserve our assets and control our destiny."
The Nets, meanwhile, got the All-Star they have so coveted — one they hope signs an extension this summer to become the face of their franchise when they move to Brooklyn in 2012.
"I feel Deron Williams is the best point guard in the NBA," Nets General Manager Billy King said. "I spoke with Deron and he's excited about it. He understands where we are and where we want to go. In this league, you win with point guards."
The 6-foot-3 Williams was selected third overall in 2005 out of Illinois, and he's averaged 17.3 points, 9.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds for the Jazz. Williams has been even better in 44 postseason games, with averages of 21.1 points, 9.6 assists and 1.2 steals.
Jazz teammates said Williams was disappointed at first upon hearing the news, especially with a pregnant wife and a home in Utah.
"Everything happens for a reason," Williams later told Jazz team broadcasters. "I had a great five-and-a-half years in Salt Lake. The fans have always been great for me. I'm going to miss them."
He also said he'd miss his teammates.
"I wish I could have (done) a little more, win a championship, brought that to Utah," Williams said. "I still hope they get a championship."
If the Jazz are to win one, they'll have to blend together even more new faces while mired in a horrid losing streak.
The Jazz have lost 14 of their last 18 and are 0-4 under new coach Ty Corbin following Wednesday night's loss in Dallas.
"We're going to keep the faith, stay positive and try to fight," said Jazz forward Paul Millsap, who has to take on more of a leadership role now with Williams gone.
Jazz brass hinted that they may not be done dealing before Thursday afternoon's trade deadline.
For now, Miller insisted he would not be driven by finances but rather a desire to remain competitive. That meant taking a hit on the luxury tax.
"We're in the fifth-smallest market with the sixth-highest payroll in the league, so we're pushing the envelope as hard as we can to be aggressive and attract talent to this team," Miller said.
No player is sacred if it means improving the team.
Asked how he would be able to market a team in Salt Lake City without a star, Miller said with "classic Jazz basketball."
"It's lunch pail, work boots," he said. "And who knows? We may have a star player before any of us realizes it."
Harris, a former All-Star point guard, and Favors, the No. 3 pick in the draft, were part of the package the Nets had been offering the Nuggets for Anthony.
Miller hoped Jazz players would continue to improve, and some of their first-round picks would blossom. He said the identity would remain the same, even if the faces are rapidly changing.
"I hope our identity will continue to be toughness and being a scrappy ball team that never quits," Miller said. "Those have always been the hallmarks through 23 years that Jerry was here. It wasn't really glamorous. It was just get out there as hard as you can to make things happen."
The Nets have a part of that in Williams.
"Very rarely are you able to trade for someone who is arguably the best at his position," Nets coach Avery Johnson said. "We had to give up a lot, but when you get a chance to get him, you go for it. It wasn't a planned trade. This wasn't a plan B. He's a plan A guy."
ATLANTA (AP) — The struggling Atlanta Hawks acquired guard Kirk Hinrich from Washington in a five-player trade Wednesday, upgrading their backcourt for the playoff run.
The Hawks also received forward Hilton Armstrong in exchange for guard Mike Bibby, rookie guard Jordan Crawford, swingman Maurice Evans and a first-round pick in this year's draft.
After the trade was announced, the short-handed Hawks lost 105-97 at Phoenix for their fifth defeat in six games. They are fifth in the top-heavy Eastern Conference and trying to hold off the New York Knicks, who closed within four games of Atlanta with a win over Milwaukee in their first game since acquiring Carmelo Anthony.
"Those guys are like brothers to me," Hawks forward Josh Smith said of his now-former teammates. "At the same time, we know this is a business. These things happen. The guys at the top felt like a change needed to be made."
The 32-year-old Bibby had lost a step defensively and was no longer the creative force he was in his younger days. Hawks coach Larry Drew had hoped second-year player Jeff Teague would take on a larger role at the point, but he was averaging less than 12 minutes a game.
"We have been searching for a point guard, someone who can come in and run this club," Drew said. "I am not saying that Mike didn't do a good job. There just comes a point with the team where a change has to take place. With Kirk he brings toughness at that position. He is a heady guy, a smart guy and can make shots, all the tangibles we were looking for."
Hinrich should be an improvement over Bibby at both ends of the court. He was averaging 11.1 points and 4.4 assists as on off-and-on starter for the Wizards, frequently playing alongside rookie star John Wall.
"We felt we had a good opportunity to improve our ballclub by adding Kirk and Hilton," Hawks general manager Rick Sund said. "Kirk is a well-rounded player that gives us options at both guard positions. In addition to being a solid and hard-nosed defender, he is a good shooter who can also distribute the ball. His resume includes significant playoff experience as well. Hilton can play both center and power forward, and will add frontcourt depth."
Bibby was averaging 9.4 points and 3.6 assists. The Hawks gave up some depth on their bench by dealing Evans (4.5 points a game) and Crawford (4.2), but felt it was worth the expected improvement at the crucial point position.
"We have to wait and see what happens," Atlanta All-Star Joe Johnson said. "We let three good guys go who I have become really good friends with. At the same time, we understand the business aspect of it and this is the profession we chose and trades happen. You have to deal with it. Getting Kirk and Armstrong they are definitely going to help.
"Kirk is very defensive minded and a guy who can really knock down the open shot, penetrate and make plays."
It was clear a deal was imminent when Hinrich was scratched from the Washington lineup just before a game in Philadelphia. He and Armstrong watched the first half from the bench, but neither came out for the second half of a 117-94 loss.
"It was a pretty tough thing to hear," Wall said. "Kirk's a veteran guy who taught me an awful lot about NBA basketball. I'll really miss him. And Hilton was a good friend, too. I wish them both well."
The Wizards, going through another dreadful season, are focused on building for the future around Wall. While Bibby and Evans add experience, the team should reap more long-term benefits from landing a prospect such as Crawford and adding another first-round pick to its haul.
"We were able to acquire a proven, clutch leader in Mike, a hard-nosed veteran in Maurice, and an intriguing prospect in Jordan, as well as a first-round draft choice to add to our own first-round pick this summer," team president Ernie Grunfeld said. "This trade continues our plan to build with draft picks and prospects, develop our young players and stay financially flexible."
The Wizards had a woeful second half against the 76ers, losing their third in a row.
"When word got around, guys kind of lost their concentration," Washington coach Flip Saunders said. "I think when the deadline is over, guys will have a sense of relief."
Wall said he looks forward to working with Bibby.
"He's a veteran, so I'm hoping he'll be able to teach me, too," the rookie said.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Hornets and Kings agreed Wednesday on a trade sending forward Carl Landry to New Orleans in exchange for shooting guard Marcus Thornton and cash.
The deal gives the playoff-contending Hornets depth in the front court, but at the cost of a popular former LSU star who can score in a flurry.
It also upset at least one NBA owner — the Dallas Mavericks' Mark Cuban — who questioned the fairness of the NBA allowing a league-owned team to absorb more salary while at the same time sending cash to the other club involved in the trade.
"It's cash out of pocket right now — cash out of my pocket," Cuban said before the Mavericks hosted Utah. "You want to trade players for quality of players, no problem. You want to trade apples to apples, no problem. You want to take on salary using my money? You're kidding."
The NBA took over the Hornets in December from founder George Shinn, who was having cash-flow problems and wanted to unload the club quickly.
Thornton, a second-year pro who was drafted in the second round in 2009, is being paid about $762,000 this season, while Landry is making $3 million. Because of league rules designed to prevent straight-up trades of players with vastly different salaries, the Hornets included cash in the deal to make it work.
"That is so far wrong, that's not even close," Cuban said. "There's so few teams in the league who could afford that, yet we're allowing a team that's owned by the league to do that?"
The Hornets defended the deal as equitable for both clubs involved.
"This is a trade that benefits both teams as Carl is a player we have looked to acquire for a long time and we hope to be a big part of our long term success," Hornets general manager Dell Demps said. "Carl is a high character person that will add a scoring punch to our front court while providing toughness and the ability to make plays. In order to get a good player, we had to give up a good player."
The 6-foot-9 Landry, a fourth-year pro out of Purdue, has averaged 11.9 points and 4.8 rebounds this season. He was acquired by the Kings in the middle of last season but has started only 16 games this season while vying for playing time with rookie DeMarcus Cousins.
The 6-4 Thornton is averaging 7.8 points in 16.2 minutes per game in his second NBA season.
Thornton's more memorable performances this season included a 22-point outburst in the Hornets' 92-89 overtime victory over Orlando on Jan. 12, and his 17-point outing — in only 22 minutes — in a 103-102 overtime win over Memphis on Jan. 19.
"He brings a scorer's mentality to our team and will certainly add an offensive threat to the backcourt with his ability to shoot from the perimeter," Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said. "He'll improve the look of our team offensively and we're really excited about having him in Sacramento."
Hornets coach Monty Williams never played Thornton as many minutes as Hornets fans seemed to want, based on their calls for him at home games. Still, the coach said he liked Thornton and appreciated his ability.
"To me, Marcus and I have had a great relationship since Day One," Williams said. "He's improved in areas that don't show up in the stat sheet. To me, I feel good about that — him moving forward. There were some defensive lapses, but he wasn't the only one. ... Marcus is a guy who has value around the league and is going to play for a long time."
Apparently, the value Williams spoke of is what made the Hornets feel compelled to part with him in order to improve their play inside behind starting power forward David West. Williams said having Landry on the roster also will allow him and West to play together at times, with West playing some at center.
"Our backup bigs certainly needed a lift and it's just one of those situations where you have to give up some talent to get something," Williams said.
Williams also said the Hornets' bench "has been one of the worst benches in the league. ... It puts a lot of pressure on our starters to get leads, maintain leads and try to pull out games."
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — First came a trade for Deron Williams. Then came a little bench boost and some salary cap space for comfort.
Hours after completing a blockbuster deal that landed All-Star point guard Deron Williams, the New Jersey Nets bolstered their bench with two backup big men while sending Troy Murphy and a 2012 second-round draft pick to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
The Nets acquired the expiring contracts of Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric, whose deals are worth about $11 million combined this year, close to the same for Murphy. The Warriors are expected to buy out Murphy's contract if they can't move him in another deal before Thursday's NBA trade deadline.
"We are very pleased to add Dan and Brandan to our roster," Nets general manager Billy King said. "Dan is an NBA veteran who will add depth to our frontcourt rotation, while Brandan is a young player who we feel has significant room to grow and develop in our system."
This will hardly be a Bay Area reunion for Murphy.
He was taken by the Warriors with the 14th overall pick in the 2001 draft. Then he was dealt to Indiana in 2007 and traded to New Jersey before this season, never panning out. Golden State has no plans to keep him and was working to buy out the final year on Murphy's contract.
The 6-foot-11, 245-pound center will likely draw strong interest from playoff teams who are looking for another big man, such as Orlando, Miami and Dallas. Murphy has averaged 11.8 points and 8.5 rebounds in his career, but has played only 18 games because of injuries this season.
The Warriors had been fielding calls all season hoping to land a big name. They'll have to settle on trying to stockpile draft picks, a formula new owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber have said is a priority for a franchise that is used to trading them away.
"Our draft-pick situation could use some help. There's no doubt about that," Warriors general manager Larry Riley said. "So that's one of the things we actually are trying to address. We're trying to acquire draft picks. We're not going to be foolish about it. But whenever we have an opportunity to acquire a draft pick within reason, we'll do that."
NEW YORK (AP) — Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan says reports that Isiah Thomas was involved in the pursuit of Carmelo Anthony were "a fiction in somebody's mind."
Dolan also praised the work of Donnie Walsh and said during Anthony's introductory press conference Wednesday they would discuss the team president's job status sometime after the trade deadline.
Dolan met with Anthony last Thursday in Los Angeles during the All-Star break, and there were reports he had taken control away from Walsh — with former team president and coach Thomas advising him — and offered more than Walsh was prepared to.
The Knicks released a statement Sunday saying Dolan, Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni were on the same page, and the owner repeated that Wednesday, insisting they were "completely coordinated throughout this process from start to finish."
"The idea that we were not in agreement is simply not true," Dolan said. "We had multiple meetings and discussions, some good debating, but in the end we were all in complete agreement."
He saved his strongest words for the speculation that Thomas had a role.
"I would also say this very directly. While Isiah Thomas is a friend of mine, a very good friend, he was not at all involved in this process," Dolan said. "He wasn't advising me or telling me what to do in any way, and any reports that imply that he was doing that are simply untrue and a fiction in somebody's mind."
Dolan hasn't picked up the option on Walsh's contract for next season, even after his moves over the first two years have the Knicks in position for their first playoff appearance since 2004. There has even been speculation that part of the reason Dolan hasn't committed to Walsh beyond this season is because he is considering bringing back Thomas.
But Walsh has said now isn't the time to think about his future, and Dolan said they agreed it would be discussed after Thursday's deadline.
Nuggets attempt to put pieces together after trade
DENVER (AP) — George Karl lost his star, his leader and nearly a third of his roster in the blockbuster deal that dismantled and disrupted his perennial playoff team.
The Denver Nuggets coach hasn't lost his exuberance. Karl is relishing the thought of figuring out on the fly just how to put the pieces back together following the three-team swap that sent All-Star Carmelo Anthony and floor leader Chauncey Billups to the New York Knicks.
In spite of the shakeup, Karl vigorously insists the Nuggets can remain in the thick of the playoff hunt over the final 24 games of the season.
"I might be crazy, but I think we can make the playoffs and I also think we can be a threat to win in the playoffs," said Karl, who ducked out of Wednesday's first practice with his new cast early in order to make an appointment. "I'm sorry. I just think our guys are good enough to grow up fast and to learn quick and to get excited about playing the game."
Karl has been spending plenty of time in the film room since the 13-player deal, not scouting upcoming opponents but getting to know the players he inherited.
To mesh this team together, Karl needed to see just what he was receiving from the Knicks in Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Timofey Mozgov. Denver also acquired Kosta Koufos from Minnesota, and the center attended practice Wednesday as well.
No longer do the Nuggets have that bona fide scorer, a superstar such as Anthony who averaged 25 points a game. And gone is the leadership skills of Billups, a hometown hero who was only reluctantly included in the trade.
Now, the team has an abundance of wing players and size. The trick will be quickly integrating the newcomers into the mix. To facilitate that, Karl is even contemplating using a lineup of all the Knicks players Thursday night against the Boston Celtics, just to give them a degree of familiarity. A good idea?
"Maybe so. Just to get comfortable with each other, get comfortable with the system," Felton said. "But we still need to play with some of the other guys, too, though."
Karl scoffed at the notion the Nuggets need a big-time scorer to make their eighth straight postseason appearance. Give him the pieces and he'll find the points.
"If we keep winning, someone will become a star," Karl said. "I've always said that, been amazed by agents and players that think that statistics get you paid. What gets you paid, and gets you in a good place, is winning."
The former Knicks received a sneak preview of their new team when they arrived at the Pepsi Center in the second quarter Tuesday and watched the short-handed Nuggets cruise past the Grizzlies.
After the game, they greeted their teammates and settled into their new locker room, peacefully reclining in swivel chairs with all the drama wrapped up.
"It's been pretty nuts, getting lots of phone calls, hearing all the rumors, I'm just glad all the mess is over," Felton said. "It was a whole bunch of nonsense for the last month dealing with that in New York. I'm glad that craziness is out of the way."
The work on the floor has just started. Gallinari & Co. went through their inaugural practice Wednesday, huffing and puffing up and down the court in the thin air.
"That (altitude) got into me pretty good," Gallinari said. "I've got to get used to it."
Felton and Mozgov showed their burgeoning chemistry, combining on several alley-oop passes during the 90-minute practice session.
Chandler turned in some nifty moves, too. He's a player that's been referred to as "Melo Light," a label he shrugged off.
"Melo's an All-Star player, an elite player. I can't fill his shoes," Chandler said. "I can just do my best, try to do what I can for the team."
The reshaping of this team has started. So has the reselling of the team to the fans.
Nuggets executives Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri said they didn't have much of a chance to change Anthony's mind on splitting town. He simply preferred the Big Apple to the Mile High City.
However, Kroenke and Ujiri attempted to orchestrate a deal that didn't include Billups, a Denver native and fan favorite. It didn't work. And for that, Kroenke apologized.
"Ultimately, I had to make the most difficult decision of my life," he said. "I apologize for the process. It was done to preserve our future. I know it's going to be tough not seeing Carmelo and not seeing Chauncey out there.
"I think that our fans will hopefully be pleasantly surprised with the guys we're bringing in because I think not only are they valued by us, but a lot of teams around the league as well."
Wade going back to Chicago, and bringing some help
MIAMI (AP) — More now than ever, Dwyane Wade has a bit of a love-hate relationship with Chicago. He loves his hometown. His hometown, well, does not feel the same way. At least, those who root for the Chicago Bulls don't feel the same way.
Games in Chicago still have extra meaning for the Miami Heat guard, and the matchup on Thursday night is particularly significant. When Wade and the Heat visit Derrick Rose and the Bulls, it's a game that could go a long way in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.
Miami entered Wednesday percentage points behind Boston for the East's best record. Chicago started the day 2½ games back, and could sew up the season-series tiebreaker with the Heat — if necessary — with a win on Thursday.
So this time, he's bringing some extra help.
LeBron James was injured and did not play in the Jan. 15 meeting between the clubs, where Wade nearly stole a Miami win. The Bulls led by as many as 14 before Miami roared back, and when Wade made three 3-pointers in a span of 54 seconds — and appeared to get fouled on one of them — the Heat had a 96-95 lead with 37 ticks remaining.
They wouldn't score again, Kyle Korver's 3-pointer swung momentum back Chicago's way, and the Bulls held on 99-96. Not only was James not there, that was also the game where Heat forward Chris Bosh got tumbled into and fell awkwardly, spraining his left ankle.
A painful night all around.
"I really wanted that game," Wade said. "There's not many games that I necessarily came in and said, 'I want this game.' But I really wanted that game, especially because we were a man down and we had lost a couple in a row at that time. So maybe I wasn't thinking too much about anything. I was just playing basketball and that allowed me to play better."
The Heat and Bulls — who went head-to-head last summer in the pursuit of Wade, James and Bosh — are remarkably alike in some areas this season.
Miami leads the NBA in field-goal percentage defense, with Chicago second and Boston third. In points allowed, Boston leads the NBA (91.2) with Chicago second (92.4) and Miami sixth (94.1).
Given that, James already expects Thursday to be a grind-it-out sort of night.
"We look forward to the challenge," James said. "We look at the defensive standings, you include Boston and we're all one, two and three in a lot of major categories. It could be an offensive struggle for both teams."
Miami's Big 3 is healthy this time around. So, too, are the Bulls — Joakim Noah is back for Chicago after missing two months with a torn ligament in his right thumb.
"That's good," Bosh said.
The Heat are acutely aware of one of the stats that naysayers like to throw around when discussing Miami's season. Against the NBA's elite this season — for purposes of argument, say that group includes Boston, Chicago, San Antonio, Dallas and the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers — Miami is 1-6.
Winning on Thursday won't completely turn that record around, but it at least will provide some sort of extra cushion over the Bulls in the East.
"We're looking forward to it," Bosh said. "For one, they're one of the best teams in the East, really the league for that matter, and they're playing well. We feel that we dropped a game when we played them in Chicago. We weren't at 100 percent. They weren't at 100 percent. Now it's a different circumstance."
Thursday opens a daunting 13-game stretch for the Heat — with 12 of those games against legitimate playoff hopefuls.
Over barely more than a three-week span, Miami plays Chicago twice, the new-look New York Knicks on Sunday, Orlando, San Antonio twice, Portland, the Lakers, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Atlanta and Denver. The only game between now and March 19 against a team that already figures to be out of the playoff mix is Friday against Washington.
"There's a lot of teams that are putting themselves in position for this opportunity," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "You've got to respect all of that."
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Randolph stood tall in front of a pack of cameras, recorders and reporters outside Minnesota's locker room as he talked about his new team and his fresh start.
The 21-year-old, traded for a second time in his three-year NBA career, barely smiled and spoke softly as he answered questions about his potential, his conditioning and his expectations.
But the 6-foot-11 Randolph insisted he's eager for this opportunity, after being sent by the New York Knicks to the Timberwolves as part of the Carmelo Anthony megadeal.
"It was hell sitting on that bench, just watching a game I love to play," Randolph said before Wednesday's game against Memphis.
He scored 35 points over 17 games with the Knicks.
"I've got a lot of rust to shake off. It's been a while," Randolph said.
The 14th overall pick in the 2008 draft by the Golden State Warriors after one season at LSU has been a project in every sense of the word since turning pro, but the Timberwolves have been acquiring plenty of those in recent years as they rebuild.
Coach Kurt Rambis stopped short of an open-armed welcome but reiterated what basketball boss David Kahn said about Randolph's high ceiling as a center or at either of the forward spots with a team that wants to run.
"We were just very very intrigued by his size, his height, his length, his versatility, his age," Rambis said. "Adding another young guy to this team was not my ideal situation, but he is a very very intriguing ballplayer."
Rambis said he wasn't sure if Randolph would play against the Grizzlies, let alone how much time he'll see the rest of the season.
"We'll see how all the pieces fit together," Rambis said.
On a conference call with reporters on Tuesday night, Kahn said he doesn't expect much from Randolph this season.
"He still is too thin. He will obviously develop over the years, but one of the things I'm very eager to see when he arrives is what he weighs now and his body fat, and what we might be able to do through him immediately and then going forward to help put some additional girth on him," Kahn said of Randolph's 225-pound frame.
Randolph said his goals for the time being are just to rebound, block shots and hustle as much as he can until he figures out the offense and where he'll fit on the roster. He said he's not discouraged by being relocated again.
"We get paid a lot of money to play a game that we love," Randolph said. "So it's just a part of it. You've just got to come out there with a smile on your face that you get to do something that not a lot of people are blessed to do."
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy returned from injury Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The three-time All-Star had not played since Dec. 15 because of soreness in both knees. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on Jan. 17.
Coach Nate McMillan says that initially Roy will be limited to 15 minutes per game, coming off the bench. He will not play in back-to-back games.
Roy came in with 2:21 to go in the first quarter to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at the Rose Garden. He is averaging 16.6 points in 23 games this season.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Baron Davis has been scratched from the Clippers' lineup for Wednesday night's game against New Orleans because of lingering swelling and soreness in his left knee.
Davis' knee has been bothering him since before the All-Star break, but the starting point guard has usually played through the pain. He even played a role in teammate Blake Griffin's victory in the NBA slam dunk contest during All-Star weekend, tossing an alley-oop pass from the sunroof of the car that Griffin jumped over on his winning dunk.
Clippers officials say Davis, who is averaging 12.8 points and seven assists, will be listed as day-to-day. Rookie Eric Bledsoe has moved into Davis' starting role against the Hornets.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Hornets starting center Emeka Okafor is out for Wednesday night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Okafor has been sidelined by a strained left oblique muscle which has now forced him to miss 10 straight games. Okafor was hoping to return to action following the All-Star break and has practiced this week, but Hornets coach Monty Williams says he's not yet ready to return.
Okafor, who has averaged 11.1 points and 10.1 rebounds in 49 games this season, remains day-to-day and could return when New Orleans plays at Minnesota on Friday night.
Original basketball rules to be displayed in K.C.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — James Naismith's original rules of basketball are going on display in Kansas City just in time for the NCAA tournament.
The rules were first thumb-tacked to a gymnasium bulletin board in December 1891 at a Springfield, Mass., YMCA where Naismith had been instructed to come up with a new indoors activity for gym class. Naismith moved to Lawrence, Kan., in 1898 and became the first basketball coach at the University of Kansas.
Kansas alum David Booth and his wife, Suzanne, bought the rules in December at a Sotheby's auction for $4.3 million. The rules will be on display at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City from March 5 through May 29. There is no admission charge for the museum or the exhibit.
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