Source: 'Cuban Would Love To Get Shaq'

   Shaq-to-the-Mavs? It’s both “The Deal So Big That It Probably Won’t Happen’’ and “The Rumor So Big That It Probably Won’t Go Away.’’ What I’m about to write is just sexy enough that I almost require you to read my DB.com Trade-and-Scoop Disclaimer as a way of helping you avoid hyperventilating:

    LATE-NIGHT SNACK 1: I cannot stress this enough – especially because I don’t want to wake up Friday morning and find a Mavs logo angrily burned onto my lawn: I’m not promising a Shaq deal or anything like it. The basketball world doesn't work that way anymore than the civilian world does. I’m simply reporting on the organization’s “Go For It’’ mode along with assorted verified trade talks, logical conclusions and a pinch of zany gossip.

    In recognition of the safe approach here (because predicting that no major trade will occur is, as always, the chalk bet), I give you Carlisle:

   “I am not anticipating a big trade,’’ the coach said late Tuesday afternoon. “I expect (the post-deadline roster) to look a lot like it does now.’’

    And there you go. The complete spectrum. From Cuban’s procurement passion to Carlisle’s deadline deadpan. And also possible in the next day-and-a-half is everything in between.

   LATE-NIGHT SNACK 2: I now return you to our regularly-scheduled frenzy. …

   Let’s set up what I still believe to be the NBA atmosphere (and again, one predicted by our David Lord weeks ago). Let’s do it with two scene-setting quotes almost as sexy as “Cuban would want Shaq’’:

    *A Chad Ford source: “if you're a GM that has an owner willing to spend, you're going to hit the jackpot this week. There are a lot of deals to be had if you're willing to take back salary.’’

   *A DB.com source: “Forget seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. About half the teams can’t even see the tunnel.’’

    No disrespect to Carlisle or anyone else who thinks the next day-and-a-half will be one of inactivity. But we’re sticking with our prediction: This is a market that can be absolutely pwned by a team in a position to rank talent and winning above dollars and cents. And there are at least 10 down-on-their-luck teams waiting to be pwned.

   LATE-NIGHT SNACK 3: Here’s the sort of dollars-and-cents squeeze the Suns find themselves in, according to a DB.com source with intimate knowledge of the Phoenix finances: Their operating budget for the year is based on making the playoffs and based on making $25 mil by being in the playoffs.

   That’s yet another reason why owner Robert Sarver is sweating this supposed “stand-pat’’ position. If he keeps Shaq – thus forfeiting the tax relief as we’ve detailed it plus locking himself into Shaq’s salary – and then DOESN’T make that playoffs? The “Valley of the Sun’’ while become an economic Grand Canyon.

   LATE-NIGHT SNACK 4: For what it’s worth, the Bulls’ basketball people much prefer Chris Bosh over Amare Stoudemire. And they salivate over a Bosh-Rose pairing that would keep them in contention for a decade. … with neither guy likely to ever land in prison or something.

   LATE-NIGHT SNACK 5: This is a sort-of word-on-the-street things from DB.com Boards: John Salmons is anticipating packing his bags for somewhere.    

   There. There's your "pinch of zany gossip.''

   LATE-NIGHT SNACK 6: What's funny about the Suns is that I wouldn't be surprised if, after scoring 140 million points against LAC on Tuesday, they change directions again.

   LATE-NIGHT SNACK 7: My “Tyson, Thunder, Tunnel’’ story isn’t meant to imply that if other West teams are dumping their way out of contention, the Mavs roster should remain unchanged. To the contrary: If there are suddenly only five or six legit West contenders rather than nine, that’s all the more reason to Go For It.

   LATE-NIGHT SNACK 8: For obvious reasons, Vince Carter to Houston doesn’t scare me at all. Vince Carter to San Antonio does, though.

   LATE-NIGHT SNACK 9: The Maloofs “are bleeding money,’’ one NBA brain tells me. “Where is all their money? It’s stuff like banking and real estate and entertainment – three areas most hard-hit by all this. If they can find a way to save $5 million on an investment that isn’t going (to the playoffs) anyway, they’re going to do it.’’

   One more NBA employee and keen Kings observer: “Nothing against (the Maloofs). But I have a feeling the shine is coming off their toy. It was a lot of fun when they were winning. But now it’s work. And it’s not fun.’’

   Good. Then trade us Salmons.

   LATE-NIGHT SNACK 10: I used the phrase “cronyism’’ in regard to the Suns front office. A staffer on a competing team helps me explain: “Sarver’s buddies with Kerr. Gentry is buddies with Sarver and Kerr. So somehow, as it’s all blowing up, everybody else gets the blame and those three guys survive.’’

The same source says a less nefarious sort of buddy system is the reason for talk of a Phoenix/Chicago/Toronto three-way.

   “Jerry Colangelo (former Suns majority owner) is still a force in Phoenix. His son (Brian) is running Toronto but they’re still connected at the hip. (Suns GM) Kerr and (Bulls GM) Paxton are tight. Vinny (Del Negro) got the Chicago (coaching) job in part on Jerry’s recommendation. And (Bulls boss) Jerry Reinsdorf and Jerry Colangelo are tight.’’

   LATE-NIGHT SNACK 11: Re the Hornets-Thunder trade and the Nets-Rockets talks: Each of those pairings played each other tonight. How convenient! Saves on phone bills when you can just yell across the court at each other.

  LATE-NIGHT SNACK 12: Old friend Antawn Jamison to the Cavs? With all the focus on Caron Butler maybe leaving D.C., that’d be a sly move – and maybe a championship move – by Cleveland.

  LATE-NIGHT SNACK 13: I have no source on this, and I haven’t spied into Sen. Kohl’s books. But I still believe Milwaukee will emerge on Wednesday as a desperate seller. Answer that phone, Mavs.

  LATE-NIGHT SNACK 14: Barkley’s TNT return. Just in time to make sense of all the trades.

  Just kidding. He won’t do that at all.

   But we'll continue trying ...

1059pm feb 17 2009