Stephen A. Smith of ESPN again spoke about the possibility of Kevin Durant signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Keep in mind this, one of the biggest reasons I'm told, that Kevin Durant may have the Lakers at the top of his list, is because the Lakers have been led to believe, by whom specifically I do not know, but the Lakers have been led to believe that it is a very good chance that the following year Russell Westbrook is coming," said Smith.

Westbrook grew up in Los Angeles and will become a free agent in 2017, one season after Durant.

"Make no doubt about it, Russell Westbrook doesn't have a problem being in L.A."

The Boston Celtics have inquired about the availability of Al Horford and Jeff Teague.

The Celtics have a considerable number of trade assets to facilitate a trade.

"Atlanta, I've been told, is ready to turn the page, to give the team to Dennis Schroeder, their young point guard,who is ready to step up and be a starter," Mannix said. "Teague is available because Teague has some value. He has another year left on his contract, about $8 million per year, and teams across the league are looking to get him.

"I've heard that Boston's inquired about several players with Atlanta, Teague and Al Horford. Teague might seem like a weird fit with this team because they already have point guards but he is an asset, he's someone the Celtics could be interested in. Horford, a little more difficult. It would be a gamble going after Al Horford because Al Horford is in the last year of his deal and he's going to command a salary north of $20 million next year. But as we know and as I just said, Danny Ainge is a gambling GM. He could make a move like that too."

The Sacramento Kings have received trade interest on Marco Belinelli.

Belinelli signed a three-year, $19 million deal with the Kings in July.

Belinelli has struggled to find his place with the Kings, but teams still are high with his track record.

The offers the Kings have received have been far lower than they'd accept.

The Orlando Magic have signed Keith Appling to a second 10-day contract.

Appling has appeared in two games for the Magic averaging 3.0 ppg. in 7.5 minpg. Prior to joining the Magic with his first 10-day contract, he played in 17 games this season with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, averaging 16.8 ppg., 5.6 apg., 4.1 rpg. and 2.12 stlpg. in 31.3 minpg.

The Memphis Grizzlies are gauging trade interest in both Jeff Green and Courtney Lee.

Green and Lee are both set to become free agents this offseason.

The Grizzlies would like to keep the rest of their core together, at least for now.

The Detroit Pistons would like to acquire Ryan Anderson, who they see as a great fit in their system.

But the Pistons would prefer to pursue Anderson in free agency when they wouldn't have to give up any assets.

Anderson is in the final season of his contract he signed with New Orleans upon leaving the Orlando Magic where he was previously playing for Stan Van Gundy.

If the Los Angeles Clippers have to break up their Big 3, Doc Rivers reportedly would prefer to trade away Blake Griffin.

Griffin is entering the later stages of his prime and his game may not age well unless he eventually develops a three-pointer.

Griffin would also give the Clippers the strongest return.

The Clippers are 22-9 without Griffin over the past two seasons and 13-3 since he's been out this season.

Pat Riley denied insinuations that LeBron James tried to have Erik Spoelstra fired as head coach of the Miami Heat during his tenure with the franchise.

"Not from him to me, ever," Riley said Thursday of James, who left the Heat two seasons ago in free agency to return to Cleveland. "So a lot of stuff is following him out the door. Whether it's right or wrong, it's just the nature of it. But as far as that goes, no, he never, ever walked in and said anything."

Riley's comments come on the heels of Israel-based reports earlier this week in which Heat limited ownership partner Raanan Katz suggested James was largely responsible for David Blatt's firing and he tried to do the same with Spoelstra.

The rumors James has dealt with actually remind Riley of his own experiences leaving the Lakers and the Knicks.

"I've been in that situation twice," said Riley. "I left Los Angeles, and a lot of stuff followed me out the door to New York. A lot of stuff followed me down here to Miami. It took almost 10 years to sort of get out of that storyline."

The New York Knicks have signed forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo to a 10-day contract.

He was a second round pick in the 2014 draft.

The New York Knicks have spoken with the Atlanta Hawks about a trade for Jeff Teague.

The casual discussions have been ongoing for several days.

The Knicks have a limited number of tradeable assets to offer.

New York could build an offer centered around Jose Calderon and Langston Galloway or Jerian Grant, while also unloading a big man such as Kevin Seraphin or Kyle O'Quinn.