What has changed since last week? Not much, other than Cleveland trading away almost half their team, Jason Kidd becoming a Mav, and the Shaq trade already looking like a bust. Read on as we track the NBA's best, worst, and most notable for the coming week...
 

   Quick Hitz  
    In the PAINT...
    On the SHELF...
    Best and WORST...
    Three-POINTERS...
    Quick ANALYSIS...
    And the final WORD...


  On the SHELF... 

- Trail Blazers' shooting guard Brandon Roy is day-to-day after aggravating a sore ankle. He should be back soon, but until he is look for Jarrett Jack, Martell Webster, and Travis Outlaw to play more.

- Wizards' combo guard Gilbert Arenas has backed off earlier claims that he will try to be back in action by March 2, telling the Associated Press he needs longer to get back into game shape.

- Clippers' power forward Elton Brand (Achilles) is practicing but still hasn't started into full-contact drills, according to the Los Angeles Times. That means he could be a few weeks away from returning to game action.

- Bobcats' forward Gerald Wallace has a fairly serious concussion that may keep him out for a few weeks. Expect Jared Dudley and Nazr Mohammed to see more playing time.

- Clippers' center Chris Kaman is day-to-day because of a shin and back soreness. Aaron Williams should fill in as the team's starter.

- Grizzlies' swingman Mike Miller is day-to-day because of a sore back, but the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reports it's not serious. Juan Carlos Navarro will likely start in his place in while Miller is out.

- Warriors' swingman Stephen Jackson is day-to-day due to a sore ankle, opening the door for Mickael Pietrus, Kelenna Azubuike, and Brandan Wright.

- Warriors' center Andris Biedrins could be out up to two weeks (but maybe less) after needing surgery to remove his appendix. That should mean more action for Chris Webber and Brandan Wright.

- Clippers' point guard Sam Cassell has been sidelined lately by a sprained wrist, and even when he is ready to return he may have been bought out by the team so he can join a contender. Either way, look for Brevin Knight and Dan Dickau to fill in.

- Cavaliers' point guard Daniel Gibson is out for up to six weeks because of a sprained ankle, but the Cavs recently picked up Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West in trades.

- Timberwolves' center Theo Ratliff is back in action lately after sitting out three months with a knee injury. Expect him to keep coming off the bench until he proves he's ready to start.

  Best and WORST... 

TOP 3 TEAMS (SEASON-TO-DATE)

1. Los Angeles Lakers (Western Conference)
They've won the most games in the West (39), which is saying something. Gasol has been even better than advertised.

2. San Antonio Spurs (Western Conference)
With Parker back now and with Kurt Thomas in the lineup, they have to be seen as favorites for another title.

3. Boston Celtics (Eastern Conference)
Their recent three-game skid is a little worrisome, but they still have the NBA's best record and best trio.

BOTTOM 3 TEAMS (SEASON-TO-DATE)

1. Memphis Grizzlies (Western Conference)
Let's review again: why did they trade Pau Gasol? Really; why? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

2. Minnesota Timberwolves (Western Conference)
Any team with just 11 wins that gives up on Gerald Green without giving him a chance is a team on the fast-track to purgatory.

3. Miami Heat (Eastern Conference)
With Marion and Wade they should be winning at least half their games. Instead they've won none with Marion and lost 11 in a row overall.

TOP 3 PLAYERS (SEASON-TO-DATE)

1. Chris Paul, PG, Hornets
He has led his team into legitimate title contender status in just his third NBA season. He's probably the best all-round point guard in the world right now.

2. LeBron James, SF, Cavaliers
The addition of Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, and Joe Smith will only make him better. Maybe Wally World can help LeBron with his shooting stroke.

3. Dwight Howard, C, Magic
The most dominant big-man in the game is still only 22 years old. That's a scary thought for the rest of the NBA.

BOTTOM 3 PLAYERS (SEASON-TO-DATE)

1. Stephon Marbury, PG, Knicks
He's probably done for the season, but no player this season was more of a bust this season.

2. Boris Diaw, G/F/C, Suns
He has the talent to be an All-Star but has played like he's been lost all season.

3. Darko Milicic, C, Magic
It used to be a bit unfair to call him bust, but not anymore. Now he's lost his starting job to another bust, Kwame Brown. Yikes.

  Three-POINTERS... 

ON THE RISE

- Lamar Odom, F, Lakers: He takes a lot of heat in Tinseltown but lately Odom has been the Lakers' best all-round player. In February he's averaging 15 points, 12 board, five assists, and almost a block and a steal per game.

- Tyrus Thomas, PF, Bulls: The trade of Ben Wallace and Joe Smith to Cleveland allows Thomas to become a starter. He's capable of big things if he can stay focused.

- Travis Outlaw, F, Trail Blazers: He's been scratching the surface of stardom all season, and lately really lighting it up for the Blazers. Expect more of the same down the stretch.

ON THE DECLINE

- John Salmons, G/F, Kings: After a stellar start to the season he has really fallen back to earth. Over his past six games, the most points he has scored in a game are four.

- Eddy Curry, C, Knicks: He has scored 20 points in just one game this month and his playing time remains completely unpredictable.

- Fabricio Oberto, C, Spurs: He's still starting for the Spurs, but that won't last long with newly-acquired Kurt Thomas around.

DEFENSIVE DEMONS

- Rasheed Wallace, F/C, Pistons: Say what you will about his attitude, 'Sheed can be a true stopper. Last month he averaged 2.1 blocks and 1.2 steals per contest.

- Zydrunas Ilgauskas, C, Cavaliers: Tough to say how the addition of Ben Wallace will affect him, but over the past month Big Iggy has averaged 2.4 blocks and 10 boards per outing.

- Ronny Turiaf, PF/C, Lakers: Despite losing his starting gig to Pau Gasol, Turiaf has remained a productive stopper. He is averaging 1.6 blocks and six boards per game despite averaging just 19 minutes per contest.

BURIED ON THE BENCH

- Shelden Williams, PF/C, Kings: He was buried on the bench in Atlanta, and now that he's with the Kings he's still stuck on the pine. Which is a shame, because he can dominate.

- Marco Belinelli, SG, Warriors: He looked like Manu Ginobili in summer league play, but Belinelli is stuck at the end of coach Nellie's bench in Golden State.

- Julian Wright, SF, Hornets: Of the top 15 players of last year's NBA Draft, Wright probably sees the least regular action. But that may be because the Hornets are doing so well with their regulars.

SIXTH SENSE 

- Larry Hughes, G, Bulls: Since being traded from Cleveland (where he was a starter) Hughes appears to be settling in as the Bulls' Sixth Man. Tough to say how the move will affect his production, but don't expect a high field-goal percentage.

- Bonzi Wells, SF, Hornets: His move from Houston to New Orleans should mean a bigger role for Bonzi, an erratic player who nonetheless has shown that he can be a very valuable contributor.

- Bobby Jackson, G, Rockets: Shifting from the Hornets to the Rockets will likely increase Jackson's playing time, especially now that he's reunited with head coach Rick Adelman (for whom he played in Sacramento).

ROOKIE LOOKS

- Joakim Noah, C, Bulls: After the Bulls' big goodbye to Ben Wallace and Joe Smith, Noah becomes the de facto starting center in Chicago and should put up some solid rebounding numbers, at least.

- Jeff Green, F, Sonics: After Seattle's recent purge of veterans, Green should see a lot more minutes for the Sonics and can be a reliable scorer and rebounder.

- Jared Dudley, F, Bobcats: With Gerald Wallace out the next few weeks with another concussion, look for Dudley see some starts for the Bobs. He's a pretty dependable producer.

  Quick ANALYSIS... 

D-LEAGUE CORNER 

- After trading almost half their team this week, the Cavaliers signed F Kaniel Dickens and G Billy Thomas from the Colorado 14ers. Dickens, 29, was averaging 20.4 points per game and Thomas was third in the D-League in steals per game at 2.2.

- The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Heat rookie Daequan Cook might be headed to the D-League soon. If it happens, Cook will report to the Iowa Energy. He's currently averaging 7.2 points per game for Miami.

- Lately forward Kasib Powell is heating up for the Sioux Falls SkyForce. He was named last week's D-League Performer of the Week, and has risen to seventh-overall in the league's scoring race at 20.5 points per game.

COACH'S CORNER
So how does Mike D'Antoni make the Shaquille O'Neal trade work in Phoenix? Maybe a better question is, WILL D'Antoni make it work? After three games with the Suns, the aging Shaq has looked like a steam-roller trying to keep up in a Nascar race, and his inability to run with Phoenix is affecting Steve Nash's production too. The team is 1-2 since he suited up, and tougher times may be ahead.

EXECUTIVE SUITE
After a summer of being very, very conservative with its own free agents, the Cavaliers and GM Danny Ferry made the biggest splash at the trade deadline. And what a splash; he traded six of his players (almost half the roster) to bring in four key pieces to help out LeBron James: center Ben Wallace, swingman Wally Szczerbiak, point guard Delonte West, and power forward Joe Smith. We'll see if it can get the Cavs past the Celtics in the East.