A 2 1/2-month mini-tournament is shaping up in the Western Conference for the final three of eight playoff spots, and the Suns and Blazers are in the thick of it with the Utah Jazz, Seattle SuperSonics and Los Angeles Clippers.

All are near the .500 mark and likely will battle it out for those final playoff spots or draft lottery balls.

The Arizona Republic reports that help could be on the way.

Talks continued Wednesday with the Warriors about a trade for Marc Jackson, a 6-foot-10, 270-pound center/forward who has been at odds with the Warriors since the off-season when he signed an offer sheet with Houston.

Sources said the Warriors and Suns still were haggling over a first-round draft pick that would have to be included in the deal. The Suns are likely to want protection if the pick they surrender should end up among the top picks in the draft this year or next.

As for players who would be involved, only a few fit the criteria reportedly sought by the Warriors - players whose contracts expire this summer.

The Suns are not likely to give up a key player in their rotation, which would rule out forward Rodney Rogers.

Forward John Wallace is likely to be included if a deal is made because Golden State wants a player whose contract ends after the season. A second player might have to be included to make the salary-cap numbers add up.

The Suns' chances may have improved when the deadline for a trade exception that Memphis hoped to use on Jackson expired Wednesday.

Rick Bucher writes for ESPN the Magazine.  He's a Peter Vescy wannabe and was the guy who floated the Karl Malone trade rumor earlier this year.  Here's his latest:

"Denver, Phoenix and Golden State have discussed a three-way deal moving former Nugget Rodney Rogers back to Denver, Marc Jackson to the Suns and Raef LaFrentz to the Warriors. The decision facing Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe is to move LaFrentz to clear cap space (Rogers' deal is up at the end of the season) or acquire cornerstone talent. Don't look for a decision until after the All-Star weekend, at the earliest."

On Saturday night, Robinson totaled 12 points, six rebounds and seven blocks, numbers that probably won't be good enough to get him named to the All-Star team, but more than enough to help the Spurs beat Golden State 90-82 in front of 18,328 at the Arena in Oakland.

Robinson's effort was a bit surprising considering he had played 40 minutes Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, most of which was spent with the 350-pound O'Neal leaning on him. What the picture didn't say: Robinson helped force O'Neal into missing eight of his final 10 shots to keep the Spurs within striking distance.