Tomorrow, most of the players who signed this offseason become eligible to be traded, and NBA scribes have been busy today rounding up rumors of potential moves. We've passed along pieces from Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN, Marc Stein of ESPN.com and HoopsWorld's Bill Ingram, and now Ken Berger of CBSSports.com checks in with a quarterly report on the season thus far along with his weekly Friday 5 discussion with fellow CBSSports.com scribe Matt Moore. The highlights from both pieces concern Pacific Division teams, and we'll round them up here.
- Berger says sources confirm earlier rumors of an impending shakeup for the Suns, and he also notes the disconcerting struggles that this year's first-round pick Kendall Marshall is having during his stint in the D-League. He agrees with Stein that Alvin Gentry is safe this season, citing owner Robert Sarver's lack of willingness to pay two head coaches, but Berger doesn't think Gentry will be back next year, predicting that he'll wind up on Mike D'Antoni's staff with the Lakers.
- Not surprisingly, Berger tabs Pau Gasol as the league's biggest trade chip, believing the Lakers have little else to offer teams, and that they may have to accept the short end of a deal if it means bringing in players who are a better fit.
- Berger details the frustration Dwight Howard's feeling as the Lakers struggle, and reminds readers that a trade to L.A. wasn't Howard's first choice.