|  | | Michael Jordan probably won't wag his tongue in Atlanta. |
Who belongs in the 2003 All-Star Game? Not a certain 39-year-old who'd rather rest up for the season's second half than be a backup. Despite the outcry to make room for Michael Jordan on the East roster, there'll be plenty of other chances to thank MJ for all the memories.Chat: ESPN.com's Marc Stein, noon ETAdvice for LeBron | Warriors' little big man
| COAST TO COAST |
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| Webber |
The questions were posed to Chris Webber with Sacramento in the midst of piling its routs over the Nets and Mavericks onto their Christmas Day victory in L.A. Won't this get boring, Chris? Won't it be hard to stay focused for 40 more games when the big regular-season games are this easy? "All I have to do," Webber told us, "is say Game 7 and guys want to fight each other in the locker room." Memo to Webb: It might be time for the Game 7 speech. For it looks as though the Kings -- getting no push from the Lakers or anyone else lately when it matters -- have become a little Laker-ish. The Lakers of the last couple seasons, mind you. Sacramento is snoozing, in other words. Since swamping the Nets in Jersey by 36 points on Jan. 9, the Kings are 5-4 ... with back-to-back losses in Atlanta and Toronto over the weekend. Sacramento is 2-4 on the road in that span, with the wins coming at Golden State and Memphis. Having won two games in Dallas in the second round last spring, the Kings don't figure to get too worked up about homecourt advantage. But they can't argue that it's better to have homecourt than not have it, and Dallas -- sputtering itself lately -- still has a three-game lead over Sacto.. ... Click for more on the Mavericks' mediocrity and Yao Ming's fatigue.
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| SLAMS AND DUNKS |
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| Payton |
Multiple general managers report that Seattle is indeed open to moving Gary Payton as soon as the Feb. 20 trading deadline, provided that the team GP goes to also takes on either Calvin Booth or Jerome James in the transaction. The Sonics are only interested in deals that would either net certifiable young studs in or create a sea of a salary-cap space to go after Jason Kidd. Ridding the payroll of either little-used (but handsomely paid) center would set them up for some major roster renovation. Even in the latter case, though, it'd still be hard for the Sonics to make a deal now. A hypothetical swap centered around the acquisition of a large, expiring contract (like, say, Scottie Pippen's in Portland) would be a boon to the Sonics' future salary-cap flexibility but an extremely difficult PR sell. Payton is the Seattle athlete most synonymous with the city post-Ken Griffey, and casual fans aren't likely to embrace the idea that their beloved Glove was moved for cap room, even if it's the right basketball move. That's one more variable to make a summer sign-and-trade the more likely vehicle for Payton's departure. ... Click for more on what's wrong with the 76ers, why Amare Stoudemire wasn't taken higher in the draft, what's revived Pau Gasol and why Blazers GM Bob Whitsitt deserves some credit.
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Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. Also, send Stein a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.
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| STEIN SIDELINES |
MALE OF THE WEEK
 Vince Carter
It was only one game, but let Public Enemy No. 15 have his moment. For all the bashing this season, Carter deserves to enjoy his 22-point comeback and a birthday upset of Sacramento.
E-MAIL OF THE WEEK
 Now that John Lucas has been fired by the Cavaliers, is there any chance of Cleveland hiring Jeff Van Gundy for next season? He would be the perfect man for this team.
Thomas O'Neill
Nova, OhioSTEIN: The line for Van Gundy forms to the left, since he'll be the No. 1 coaching free agent in the league this summer. The Cavs have no shot, though, unless owner Gordon Gund either sells the team or changes his bottom-line policy. GM Jim Paxson has been dumping salaries at Gund's urging, which isn't the best message to send to prospective coaches. I wouldn't expect Gund to be willing to pay Van Gundy money even if JVG was willing to come.
Send Stein a question
SPEAK OF THE WEEK
 "We both have won the same number of championships, so I don't know that we are behind them."
— Mavericks owner Mark Cuban "We've used Raja Bell and Adrian Griffin as starters at times, and Raja and Griff couldn't make Sacramento's team."
— Mavericks coach Don Nelson
STAT OF THE WEEK
.441
Jason Kidd is taking more shots than he'd like to, which generally isn't a great sign for the Nets, but at least Kidd's improvement from the field is holding up. His career shooting percentage, entering the season, was .403 ... and down to .391 last season.
STAT OF THE WEAK
13.6
Tim Thomas is averaging more than 12.6 points per game for the first time in his career, but only by a point. That's a disappointment, considering Glenn Robinson is in Atlanta, so the Bucks are grateful Michael Redd and Toni Kukoc keep producing. |
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