Shaq, T-Mac and Ray Allen.  Where will they go?

The Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers.  How will these two teams revamp their rosters?

These are some of the big questions of the coming months in the NBA, an off-season that is rich with free agents and promises to be rife with intrigue and player movement.

The article also discusses the impending labor discussions.  With indicators of popularity and revenues on the rise again, the NBA owners still want to roll back player salaries.  But one official is confident that no obstacle will be too big this time around:  "This isn't the NHL," said one league source. "I still think we'll get it done."

The two sides will talk throughout the month of July.

Last week the Pacers were informed they were on Shaq's wish list, today they have apparently been deleted. Peter Vescey reports from one of Shaq's friends that he now desires a team with warm weather, particularly the southern or southwest franchises with guaranteed good weather.

The Pacers Al Harrington has been an often rumored player to be moved.  In his exit interview, he reportedly asked to be traded to a team where his role would expand.  Harrington is only 24 years old and could instantly become a second scorer, even on a playoff team.  The most logical fit for Harrington would likely be Cleveland.  Harrington would fit nicely with Lebron James and Carlos Boozer and the Cavs would send the recently drafted wingman from Oregon, Luke Jackson, who Larry Bird is very high on.

Warriors center Erick Dampier, according to ESPN.com, has elected to opt out of the final two years of his contract.  Dampier now becomes a competent consolation prize to any team seriously in the Shaquille O'Neal sweepstakes.  Dallas and Indiana (Dampier's first team) would likely be two of the more aggressive teams in play for his services.  Also, if O'Neal is dealt, the Lakers would likely be in contention and of course the Warriors will be able to offer the most money.

The emerging Al Harrington would fit nicely into the Knicks' offseason plans.

But could Knicks president Isiah Thomas call Pacers president Larry Bird to try to work such a deal?

"I would do business with Indiana," Thomas said. "I would have no problem making a trade or doing business with them."

Larry Bird told the media that the Indiana Pacers made a better offer for Tracy McGrady than the package offered by the Houston Rockets which includes Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley.

``My personal opinion is they might have got a better deal from us,'' Bird said.

Bird and Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh have not heard back after they spoke with Magic general manager John Weisbrod late last week.

``Obviously they didn't like the players we put out there and really, we didn't get down to details. We just asked them what they would like and they threw some names out there and the price was really too high for us.''

Interest around the league is high for Al Harrington.  The Pacers are not eager to part ways with the outstanding sixth man but he asked for a trade if he is not going to start next year.

``We're not really shopping Al. I wish Al was happy here and everybody else was happy, but sometimes a change of scenery will do both teams some good.''

Bird indicated that the Pacers may not be able to reel in the two top commodities on the market, McGrady and Shaquille O'Neal, but with their great depth, Indiana will be in the middle of any prominent trade discussions.

``We have a lot of guys with a lot of talent,'' Bird said. ``We can put packages together to go after these guys.''

It appears the blockbuster done deal may not be so done after all.  Just 24 hours after it was leaked that the Orlando Magic and the Houston Rockets had reached an agreement which would swap stars Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis, the New York Times is reporting that the deal may have it a snag.

Steve Francis, the Rockets All-Star guard, had made public his displeasure about the potential trade to Orlando, leading to the Magic reconsidering the deal.

Francis is under contract for several years and has no veto power over trades, meaning if traded to Orlando he'd have no choice but to play.  This is why, according to the New York Times, several league executives and player agents were baffled by Orlando's hesitation.

"John Weisbrod is setting a bad precedent by caving in to this guy," one agent said, referring to Orlando's general manager and speaking on condition of anonymity.

Looking elsewhere, the Magic entered into serious discussions with Phoenix yesterday, and the Suns are offering Shawn Marion, the up-and-coming Joe Johnson and this year's first-round pick (seventh over all), for McGrady. That would give Orlando an All-Star small forward in Marion, a potential All-Star shooting guard in Johnson and the first and seventh picks in tomorrow's draft.

Indiana has also shown major interest in McGrady offering anyone with the exception of Jermaine O'Neal, but the Magic has not been moved by any of its offers.

Many league executives believe the trade will still go through with Houston because of McGrady's wishes, but Orlando may move Francis on without him ever wearing a Magic jersey.

"Indiana was as talkative as any club yesterday, and among its discussions was a deal to send Al Harrington to Cleveland for the Cavaliers' first-round pick, the 10th over all. The Pacers would use the pick to take the Oregon swingman Luke Jackson, who is believed to be a favorite of Larry Bird, the team's president of basketball operations. Several general managers said Indiana was also looking to trade Ron Artest, its All-Star small forward, but Donnie Walsh, the Pacers' president, denied that."

"We've got a lot of offers for different people," Walsh said. "People are calling us about Ron, but we're not shopping him."

This means that Indy will be looking to make some major moves sometime soon and that CLevelad is looking for immediate help.

As the Rockets reportedly near the major acquisition of Tracy McGrady and the Charlotte Bobcats expansion draft is held tonight, NBA team front offices are buzzing with activity on many fronts.

The Knicks are trying to make a trade for Antoine Walker by creating a deal where the Bobcats select him and trade him to New York for beneficial contracts.  But it seems the Knicks may not have enough of those to make this happen.

There are some rumblings that the Pacers are shopping Ron Artest but the Indiana front office denies it.

"We've got a lot of offers for different people," Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said. "People are calling us about Ron, but we're not shopping him."

Also, the Bobcats may take Emeka Okafor with the second pick in the Draft since it now appears that Dwight Howard will go at the top with McGrady's exit from Orlando.

In coaching news, Rudy Tomjanovich appears to be the frontrunner to replace Phil Jackson as Lakers head coach.

Sam Smith says the Orlando Magic want to revamp and save money, so trading the unhappy Tracy McGrady is job one of that mission.

He speculates that Houston may be high on the list of bidders but that McGrady's aversion to practice may not sit well with practice-heavy head coach Jeff Van Gundy.  The Pacers may have the roster to make a T-Mac deal work, and the Suns will have an attractive offer (Shawn Marion and the number 7 pick).

Smith also discusss the possibility of the Bulls swapping picks with the Sixers this week and getting center Samuel Dalembert in a trade that includes Tyson Chandler.  This would open the door for an Eddy Curry trade.

Meanwhile, Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun told a Connecticut newspaper that he wouldn't be surprised if the Bulls pick Ben Gordon at No. 3. "I keep getting calls from GMs saying what an incredible athlete he is," he said. "And Chicago is a team that seems to have the most interest."