On the whole, the Jazz would rather not be in Philadelphia.
   
Consider the reality that Utah's basketball team confronted Thursday, once the players awakened after a middle-of-the-night arrival.

Tyronne Hill was a key member of the Sixers team that went to the NBA Finals two seasons ago, but was then traded to the Cavaliers for forward Matt Harpring (now with the Jazz).  While the trade hurt Hill, he might soon be back in the Sixers fold after his wish to be waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers was granted yesterday.

The player who might play a major role in getting Hill back in Philadelphia may be Monty Williams, coach Larry Brown distressed at his decision not to dress for the game.

Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News writes that Williams, in uniform earlier in the evening, decided against playing because of recurring problems with his surgically repaired left knee. He has appeared in just seven games all season; he played 5 minutes in the first half of Sunday night's victory over Cleveland after having three tubes of fluid drained from the knee.

"I don't think we can go much longer like this," Brown said. "It's not fair to the team, it's not fair to Monty. If he's going to come one day and want to give it a try and then the next day can't go, we can't overcome that. We've got to just figure this thing out. It's been this way all year with so many different people."

Other teams in the hunt for Hill's services include New Jersey, Dallas, San Antonio and the Lakers.

"Tyrone and I will talk about it and make a decision about what he wants to do, probably sometime [today]," Bartelstein said. "He has great feelings for Larry Brown, [general manager] Billy King and the players there, but it's a tough call."

The Sixers? Todd MacCulloch has battled foot problems all season and may now be battling for his career. The 7-1 center has been diagnosed with a disease that weakens his legs and disrupts his balance. Doctors say that it is unlikely that he will play basketball again.

MacCulloch has a genetic disorder called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. In most cases, patients with CMT lose normal use of their feet and legs slowly as their nerves stop working properly and their muscles deteriorate.

"It's a progressive disease, and at this time there is no treatment,'' said Dr. Carlos Garcia, a professor of clinical neurology at Tulane. "Sometimes surgery can help, but I don't believe you can play basketball once you have these types of problems in your feet and your hands.''

If the diagnosis is accurate, doctors said that the symptoms would only worsen over time.

"The likelihood of him returning would be low,'' said Dr. Shawn Bird, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. "An athlete who has already had to miss games because of the onset of symptoms might able to play for a bit while longer, but not at the same level.''

The trade deadline may have passed but the fun certainly hasn't, with some of the close-but-no-cigar scenarios coming into the public.

Chris McCosky of The Detroit News writes that the San Antonio Spurs inquired on the status of Knicks guard Latrell Sprewell, hoping that he could have been acquired cheaply.  If acquired Sprewell would have been re-united with assistant coach PJ Carlesimo, whom he choked while the duo were in Golden State.

A three-team deal was briefly discussed: Steve Smith and Malik Rose would have gone to the Sixers, who would have sent Keith Van Horn to the Knicks, with Sprewell going to the Spurs.

The Spurs cooled on the idea quickly when Popovich realized that by trading Rose, he would be left with Kevin Willis and Mengke Bateer as his backups to Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

The deal would have also voided their cap room that they are hoping to use on Jason Kidd during the offseason.

Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News reports: Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Tyrone Hill wants out so he can sign with a playoff team.

Hill sounded dissapointed that a deal could not be made at Thursday's trading deadline.

"I'm not hurt, I haven't been hurt," Hill said. "This is a decision they made. I was prepared [to move on]. If they don't want me here, why am I here?"

Due to Cleveland's youth movement, Hill has not played in the Cavs' last seven games and has appeared for a total of 10 minutes since Jan. 10.

Hill hopes to get released by March 1st so that he can sign with a playoff team.

However, Hill, citing the business aspect of his profession, said he was not interested in giving back some of his remaining salary to facilitate his release.

Philadelphia is one of the teams likely to be courting him.

"I love Tyrone," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. But, "Why would they release him?"

The Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers would be among the other teams interested in Hill's services if he is released.

ESPN's David Aldridge reports: The Magic and Sixers are talking trade.

According to sources, the Magic have discussed a possible deal that would include both Philadelphia's Keith Van Horn and Orlando's Grant Hill.

However, the trade is not likely to happen due to insurance issues concerning Hill's contract.

If Hill cannot play any more after this season because of his injured ankle, the team holding his rights would not currently be able to have his salary deferred by insurance. Up to 80 percent of an injured player's salary is normally covered by insurance.

Hill has only played 29 games this season due to his ever-injured left ankle.

Magic management recently conceded that his career could be over.

It is unknown what other players, if any, would be included in the deal.

According to Marc Berman, Knicks GM Scott Layden will not join the club on their six-game 11-day Western trip that began last night vs. the Suns. He'll be by his desk at 2 Penn Plaza trying to help the Knicks for the future at Thursday's trading deadline.

Sixers GM Billy King has confirmed he's still interested in Latrell Sprewell, but the Knicks aren't jumping at any Keith Van Horn deal, feeling they need more. If Sprewell does go - and chances are growing slimmer - Layden wants a first-round pick included and the Sixers don't even have one this season. Larry Brown reportedly has Othella Harrington and Charlie Ward on his radar, so a Sixers' deal would probably include multiple parts and teams.

According to a source, Philly is seeing if they can include 7-1 center Stanley Roberts as a throw-in piece in a package via sign-and-trade. The Sixers have until Monday - the end of the 30-day window - to sign him to a contract or he becomes a free agent.

Layden has set his sights higher than Van Horn, notably toward Memphis center Pau Gasol. But getting Gasol seems a huge longshot. Every team is lining up at Memphis' door since word got out Grizzlies GM Jerry West is at least listening to offers for Gasol. Supposedly, West likes Poland's raw and rarely used 7-2 prospect Cezary Trybanski so much, he's exploring a Gasol trade. Layden's edge is he has among the best relationships with West and they talk frequently.

The Grizzlies have looked for a point guard and several teams think the Knicks' second-rounder Milos Vujanic is the real thing. Would a package of Kurt Thomas, Vujanic and the second-round pick they got from Denver - a definite asset the Knicks are shopping - even be enough to pry away last season's Rookie of the Year?

Chris Broussard of the New York Times reports: With the trade deadline approaching, Knicks Coach Don Chaney is not thrilled about what his team is being offered.

"As far as trades are concerned, there's been talk all year," Chaney said. "There hasn't been a big change. If a new name is thrown in there, I would probably be surprised. But it's been the same teams calling, trying to get a deal, trying to get a bargain."

For months, Dallas has been trying to engage the Knicks in discussions about a Shawn Bradley/Nick Van Exel trade for Latrell Sprewell and Kurt Thomas, and one Western Conference official said he believed Dallas would be desperate to make a trade before the deadline because of its recent mediocre play.

New York has shown no interest in the Dallas purposal.

The Knicks have also had discussions with Philadelphia about a Sprewell-for-Keith Van Horn swap but that deal broke off because the Knicks wanted more than just Van Horn.

The Sixers could not include any first-round picks in the near future because they already have traded their first this year to Boston (Top-13 protected) and another one to Denver that can first be taken in 2005.

However, two league officials said the two sides were still talking.

It is also stated that Philadelphia might have some interest in Charlie Ward and Othella Harrington.

All in all, Sprewell appears to be staying put. "I wouldn't be surprised if we made a deal, but I would be surprised if we traded Sprewell," one Knicks official said.

Ashley McGeachy Fox of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports: With Todd MacCulloch's health concerns and Monty Williams ailing left knee, the Sixers are looking to make a deal.

Although coach Larry Brown reiterated yesterday that he does not want to make a trade simply for the sake of making a trade, the latest NBA rumors involve the Sixers and Golden State, New York and Orlando.

One scenario would see Derrick Coleman, under contract through this season for $9.5 million, and another Sixer sent to the Warriors for Foyle, a 6-foot-10 center, and another player. A second scenario would see Keith Van Horn sent the Knicks for Sprewell, a 6-5 swingman. Still another would see at least one Sixer sent to the Magic for Miller, a 6-8 swingman.

General manager Billy King confirmed last night that the Sixers are exploring trade options involving Foyle, Sprewell and Miller, and after the team went through a light practice yesterday, Brown said that it is shopping.

"I've been saying since day one we'd do anything to try to improve our team, you know, if we were fiscally responsible," Brown said. "But we're not going to make moves to make moves.

Todd MacCulloch has no answers. The Sixers are perplexed as well. Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that Sixers coach Larry Brown has decided to shut down MacCulloch indefinitely until answers can be found for his foot problems.

MacCulloch was diagnosed with a disease of the peripheral nervous system that, at different times, has caused pain, weakness, tingling and numbness in his hands and feet. Treatments have been unsuccessful thus far.

"I think my feet felt about the same, but the way my coordination is I'm not having a lot of success putting the ball in the hole, getting elevation on my jump shot," he said. "Everything that was easy is far from that right now. It's frustrating that I can't be effective with how hard things are now [for the team]. I feel like I'm not helping."

For now, the 7-1 center will remain on the active roster. The Sixers already have the maximum of three players on the injured list. They hope to activate Monty Williams soon, but soreness in his surgically repaired knee has prevented that.