Darius Miles could return to Clippers?

Former Clippers forward Darius Miles worked out for the team on a scheduled off day Tuesday, one day after the Clippers dropped to 4-17, faltering in the fourth quarter against Orlando. “We have an extra roster spot,” Clippers Coach and General Manager Mike Dunleavy said Wednesday. “He is starting to work out for teams. And so, we’re just looking into the situation.” Based on what they have seen and what they need, the woefully lacking-in-depth Clippers would jump at signing the 6-foot-9 free agent Miles, who was close to making the Celtics in training camp. The thought is that Boston wanted to keep Miles, 27, but a roster spot simply wasn’t available. – LA Times

Wizards almost landed Larry Hughes?

The Wizards have the NBA’s least-productive back court and have been looking to improve it all season. In fact, according to several league sources, the Wizards and Chicago Bulls nearly had a deal worked out in October that would have sent Daniels and Etan Thomas to Chicago as a part of a package for Larry Hughes, a former Wizards guard. The deal collapsed after Hughes injured his shoulder. – Washington Post

Nets Williams hasn’t asked for a trade, yet

Sean Williams has every physical attribute an athlete can ever want, including excellent eyesight. So rest assured, he can see the writing on the wall: “I think we know there ain’t going to be many minutes coming my way anytime soon,” the Nets’ center said Wednesday night. Actually, “Nets center” is no longer an adequate job description for the second-year high-wire act. Because he is actually going to be their fourth-string center very soon, or the moment Josh Boone shakes off the rust and gets his uniform back. … Actually, his only alternative is to request a trade, which neither he nor agent Charlie Grantham have done. But Grantham doesn’t dismiss it as a possibility down the road. “I think he’s done everything they asked of him,” Grantham said of his client. “He’s worked hard. We just have to see how things unfold. They’ve got a large number of up-front players, and if Sean continues to work, things may change. It’s early to forecast.” Asked whether he would seek permission to broker a deal, Grantham replied, “To this point, we have not engaged in that discussion. But it’s December. That’s not to say that won’t happen.” – Newark Star-Ledger

Wade: I’m having MVP numbers

Dwyane Wade is not shying from the statistics. “My play is MVP caliber,” he said. But the Heat guard also is not overstating the standings. “Would I say my team record should be at the top of MVP discussion?” he added. “No, there’s other guys that their team is great and they’re playing great.” At 12-9, the Heat is far ahead of where it was at last season’s quarter pole, when it stood 6-15. But Wade said he is not where LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or Kevin Garnett are, at the top of the standings, in a position of league dominance. “I know I’m playing as well as anybody in the league, that’s no secret,” he said. – South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Rockets forward Artest likely to sit out road trip

The Rockets’ revolving door for injured players took another spin Wednesday, likely putting Ron Artest out for two games but possibly bringing back Tracy McGrady. Artest is not expected to accompany the Rockets on their two-game road trip this weekend in order to rest his sore and swollen right ankle, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. Morey, however, indicated McGrady is planning to travel with the team and is questionable to play. McGrady has missed the past seven games because of a sore left knee. “Ron will likely not travel with the team in order to rehab his right ankle,” Rockets athletic trainer Keith Jones said. “Nothing has changed with regard to Ron’s medical condition from last night. “While our medical staff agrees that the ankle injury is fine to play on, Ron is understandably frustrated that the pain has not subsided as he had hoped, so he wants to try sitting out the two-game road trip in order to see if the pain recedes.” – Houston Chronicle

Lakers star Bryant: ‘It’s Boston that’s our barometer’

“Our goal is to win a championship. That’s why everyone is still … edgy, because that’s our goal.” Kobe Bryant spoke those words plainly, bluntly after the Lakers struggled to defeat the shorthanded Phoenix Suns 115-110 on Wednesday night at Staples Center, improving their record this season to 18-3. Asked if it’s a championship or bust, Bryant said, “I’m cool with that. That’s better than, ‘Damn, I hope we make the playoffs.’ It’s exciting because you have an opportunity to win a championship. Having seen the other side of that, I’d much rather have this situation than the other one.” He has made similar comments during the season, but never quite as candidly. Plus, his words went a long way toward explaining the Lakers’ recent public dissatisfaction with their play. They know they must play better and more efficiently than they have recently in order to achieve their goal of winning a championship. “We’ll beat the good teams,” Bryant said. “It’s Boston that’s our barometer. That’s the team that beat us. They’re the standard. They’re the benchmark. That’s the team that beat us, so that’s how it’s going to be.” – LA Daily News

Woodson: Hawks have to be mentally tougher

Now that his team is finally all grown up in the experience department, Hawks coach Mike Woodson insists that they do the same with their actions on the court. He’s seen too much inattention to detail lately, and it’s cost his team during this road trip, where they’ve dropped two games in the late stages because they couldn’t maintain their focus long enough to finish off the Dallas and Houston. “It’s like [Tuesday night in Houston], Josh Smith hit that 3-pointer to put us up eight and everybody is so happy and they just stop playing,” Woodson said. “And you saw the stretch to the end the game — it was crazy. Instead of playing the way we did to get back in the game, we just went crazy. And it’s all related to the dumb stuff we’re doing. “We’ve got to be mentally tougher in terms of doing the things we’re supposed to do. Because when I can watch film and we come out of a timeout and don’t execute the things we’ve been taught to do, I know we’ve had some slippage.” – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Patrick Ewing Jr. to Knicks roster?

The Knicks are planning to waive Mobley today to open up a much-needed roster spot. Signing Patrick Ewing Jr. is an option, but not the only one. Walsh may wait to see if he can use one of his trade exceptions to land a shooting guard or make a 2-for-1 trade. Ewing is a small forward. Walsh could take a week before deciding. – NY Post

Wolves McHale learned how to coach from Celts legend

Kevin McHale said most of what he knows about coaching he learned from playing for those championship Celtics teams. “You get to the point where as opposed to running a play, if you want to run two guys in the screen-and-roll, you just say, ‘Hey, I want to go at this guy on the defensive end and whoever that guy is guarding, I want the ball in his hands and I want you to attack him,’” McHale said. “I never understood putting their two top defenders in the screen-and-roll. You put them somewhere on the weak side and tuck them as far away from everything as you can possibly get. “You go at their two worst defenders. I learned a couple of things from Red Auerbach: Go at their bad defenders and go where they ain’t on offense. And those two things seem to work.” – Minneapolis Star Tribune

Suns Nash drained after trade of best friend Bell

Excuse Steve Nash if he can’t share the glee. It cost him his best friend, Raja Bell. Just like Nash was separated from Dirk Nowitzki by Dallas owner Mark Cuban’s unwillingness to match a Suns offer in 2004, Nash has been split from his basketball buddy again by a basketball decision. The Suns traded Bell, Boris Diaw and Sean Singletary on Wednesday to Charlotte for Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley and a second-round draft pick. Before Nash said a word about how he felt about the trade, his flat play with a dead expression said it all during the Suns’ shorthanded 115-110 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. “It’s tough,” Nash said after a big exhale. “While I’ll welcome my new teammates with open arms, it’s tough when you lose your best friend. It’s tough when you lose two of your best buddies. It’s tough and it hurts. It’s tough.” – Arizona Republic

Spurs Duncan’s relishes long 1,000th night

By the time Tim Duncan finished his Wednesday night’s work at AT&T Center he probably felt he had compressed about 900 of his 1,000 career games into two nights. Duncan’s 1,000th NBA game — regular season and playoffs, a combined figure the league does not officially recognize for statistical comparables — required 35 minutes and 12 seconds against two of the league’s better young big men, Atlanta’s Josh Smith and Al Horford. Coming 24 hours after he played 50 minutes and 21 seconds in a double-overtime victory in Dallas, Duncan acknowledged the extra portion of fatigue he felt as he exited the arena. “Looking for a good night of sleep,” he said. “Obviously, we’ve got another game in a day-and-a-half. We have to regroup, and hopefully feel good on Friday.” – San Antonio Express-News

Pacers Ford: no problems with Raps Jose Calderon

T.J. Ford was the center of attention Wednesday following the Indiana Pacers’ morning shootaround. The Toronto media asked Ford if he had a problem with point guard Jose Calderon after Raptors management traded Ford because it wanted Calderon to start at the point. Ford openly coveted that position. “It’s nothing personal,” said Ford, who spent two seasons with the Raptors. “I don’t have any personal agenda or anything personal to say about Jose or his character.” – Indy Star

Ray Allen: Rajon Rondo best point guard in East

There might not be enough statistics to go around to qualify more than three Celtics for the All-Star Game. But if measured by quality rather than quantity, Rajon Rondo could have a chance to be named to play in the Feb. 15 game in Phoenix. “He’s the best point guard in the Eastern Conference,” Ray Allen said of his teammate yesterday. “He’s been fun to watch, and the record of the team supports it.” Said Paul Pierce, “[Rondo] is playing like an All-Star; he’s one of the top point guards in the NBA. He’s full of confidence; coming off a championship does that to young players. I hope he continues to get better - it’s only his third year - and that he doesn’t get complacent and he continues to grow.” The Celtics take a 20-2 record into tonight’s visit to Washington, and Rondo has been a driving force as they have shifted into a higher gear. But Rondo’s numbers - 10.3 points and 7.6 assists per game - would be low for an All-Star selection. Allen, Pierce, and Kevin Garnett, who dominate the Celtics’ stat charts, performed in the All-Star Game last year and are strong candidates to repeat. “If I don’t make it, it’s not a big deal,” Rondo said. “My goal is to be on the All-Defensive team and win a championship. – Boston Globe

Josh Boone benching is Nets’ big surprise

Josh Boone lost a lot more than his starting job when he bruised his left ankle on Nov. 14. He also lost his spot on the Nets’ active roster, at least for one night - but maybe more. Boone, who had spent about a year as the Nets’ starting center before injuring himself in a game at Indiana last month, was inactive for Wednesday night’s game against the Knicks. Even though Lawrence Frank had been evasive about Boone’s status in recent weeks, his decision was still a surprising one, especially to Boone. Boone was cleared to play on Monday and had been talking as if he had accepted the fact that rookie Brook Lopez would hold onto the starting job since the 20-year-old 7-footer had played well in the 12 games before Wednesday night’s. But Boone also was under the impression that he would be coming off the bench, not nailed to it. – NY Daily News

Orlando’s Howard expects to play Friday despite strained oblique

On a night when Dwight Howard struggled because of a strained oblique muscle — he expects to play Friday — the Magic refused to concede the night. – Orlando Sentinel

Mike Miller’s absence starting to hurt Wolves

Mike Miller’s sprained right ankle is hurting the Timberwolves in more than the scoring column. With Miller sitting out his fourth straight game and Corey Brewer lost to a season-ending knee injury, Wolves coach Kevin McHale had no defensive answer for Denver forward Carmelo Anthony on Wednesday night when Ryan Gomes picked up his fourth foul with 7:23 to play in the third quarter. “Not being able to be able to even bring in some size with Mike Miller and just some more size after Gomes went out,” McHale said. “That’s unfortunate, but that’s where we’re at right now with Mike Miller not playing and Brew hurt.” Anthony scored 33 of his 45 points during the third period, tying an NBA record and breaking the team mark, in leading the Nuggets to a 116-105 victory. Rashad McCants got his second straight start at shooting guard in place of Miller, who remains day to day. Asked if Miller is getting closer, McHale said, “He better be.” – Pioneer Press

Mobley tells Knicks he’s done

Cuttino Mobley, a Knick less than three weeks who never played a minute for the team, has decided to retire because of signs he has a potentially life-threatening heart disease, according to three people familiar with the situation. Mobley, a 12-year veteran with a career 16-point scoring average, will announce his retirement at a press conference today. The 33-year-old, who played most of his career with Houston and the Clippers, met with Knick president Donnie Walsh yesterday and informed him of his decision. After reviewing a battery of heart tests across the past two weeks, Mobley has been convinced he has symptoms for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the disease that killed Hank Gathers and Reggie Lewis. – NY Post

Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro takes Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah to task

Publicly, at least, Vinny Del Negro has criticized players about as often as Michael Jordan passed up last-second shots. Del Negro’s positive, upbeat approach has sugar-coated most personnel matters publicly, sometimes to eye-rolling effect. That changed dramatically after Wednesday’s practice when Del Negro responded to fairly benign questions regarding the recent minutes of Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas with the most pointed words of his brief tenure as coach. – Chicago Tribune

Chris Kaman back with Clips around Xmas?

Already, the Clippers don’t have a lot of flexibility because of the extended absences of center Chris Kaman and swingman Ricky Davis. Kaman (strained left arch) said he thought he might be out until Christmas, but the healing process of his foot could be speedier. “Maybe a little bit before, maybe a little bit after Christmas,” Kaman said. “It’s just a slow-healing thing. Obviously, I’ve got to wait till it’s healthy. I don’t want to come back early and keep dealing with this all year. I’m not going to rush into it. “I’ve got to stick this out, just wait. I’ll probably be a little bit out of shape when I come back.” – LA Times

Juwan Howard still headed to Bobcats

By trading two players for three, the Bobcats ate up their spare roster spot Wednesday. However, general manager Rod Higgins told the Observer he still plans to sign free agent forward Juwan Howard Friday. That will require cutting someone else, an issue Higgins didn’t address. However, a source close to the team said center Dwayne Jones is in jeopardy of being waived, in part because his contract isn’t fully guaranteed. – Charlotte Observer

Nelson: Maggette will help Warriors

Corey Maggette missed his second consecutive game Wednesday with a strained right hamstring, but coach Don Nelson said he expects the forward to have an impact when he’s healthy. Maggette is averaging 19.1 points and just 1.8 assists and has been known over his career more as a scorer than a passer. Nelson has been stressing ball movement and more passing during the last week. “We definitely will call his number and his favorite plays enough that he’ll be a factor,” Nelson said. “I think Maggette has made statements to me that he’ll do whatever it takes to make the team go and do whatever I want. “I have no complaints with him really. It’s just breaking old habits as much as anything.” – SF Chronicle

Swift injury sets up Boone in Nets lineup?

Nets coach Lawrence Frank had settled his center position. Brook Lopez was staying as the starter and Stromile Swift was staying as the backup. Josh Boone, the starter for seven games before injury struck, would have to earn back his time. Then Swift, who took the job away from Sean Williams, went out and sprained his right ankle last night. So depending on the severity, Boone may be back as the top sub. – NY Post

Laker and Clipper players own part of LA night spot

Lakers forward Trevor Ariza and Clippers guard Baron Davis own part of the Conga Room club, which opened Wednesday at L.A. Live, across the street from Staples Center. – LA Times

How About That?

The Pacers and Raptors went into Wednesday’s game having played the two toughest schedules in the league. The Pacers’ opponents have a .643 winning percentage this season, while Toronto’s have a .589 winning percentage. – Indy Star

Stephon Marbury going on vacation to LA, Mexico and Hawaii

Stephon Marbury, still banned from the Knicks, said he’s leaving Sunday for a two-week respite from the cold weather, heading west for a vacation to Los Angeles, Mexico and Hawaii. Marbury likely will be in L.A. when the Knicks face the Lakers there on Tuesday. It’s unclear if he would be in violation of his ban if he attends the game at Staples Center as a courtside fan. – NY Post

Did You Know?

It’s been 38 days since the Thunder has won a game in the Ford Center. Riding a 10-game home losing streak, the drought will last at least 44 days. Oklahoma City’s next home game isn’t until Tuesday against the Los Angeles Clippers. – Oklahoman

NBA asst coach ’stars’ as Obama in BBC bio profile

Pete Myers, a Bulls assistant coach, was tabbed Wednesday to be filmed for a biographical profile on President-elect Barack Obama that will air on BBC-TV in England on Inauguration Day. Though the station intended the footage to be used as artistic background pegged to Obama’s love for basketball–commonly called “B roll” in the TV business–several Bulls teased Myers for being Obama’s stand-in or body double. “Can you believe that?” Myers said, laughing. As if the sight of Myers in Bulls practice gear wasn’t humorous enough. – Chicago Tribune

Darryl Strawberry at Knicks game

Darryl Strawberry attended the Knicks-Nets game as did Stephon Marbury’s longtime friend, rapper Fat Joe. – NY Daily News

Ben Maller can be heard weeknights on “The Third Shift on Fox” via the vast Fox Sports Radio Network. The show is broadcast live Monday-Friday from 2am till 6am (est). Check your local radio listenings for the FSR affiliate in your town, listen to XM Satellite Radio Channel No. 142 or via live streaming audio online at FoxSports.com/Radio. Say hi to Ben at myspace.com/benmaller. Interact with Ben’s fans and talk sports on Ben Maller’s forum Questions, comments and news tips can be sent to Ben via e mail at BigBen@Foxsports.com or Ben@BenMaller.com.

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