Toronto?s Jalen Rose and Sacramento?s Mike Bibby today were named the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, February 22 through Sunday, February 27.

Rose helped his team to a perfect 3-0 week with wins over New Jersey, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Lakers.  He averaged 24 points (up 6.9 points from his season average) on .553 shooting (up nine percent) and added 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists.  He led his team in scoring with 30 points at New Jersey including 10 points in the fourth quarter and later in the week, had a team-high 26 points including 12 fourth-quarter points versus the Lakers.

Bibby averaged 26.5 points on .462 shooting, resulting in a 3-1 week with wins versus Atlanta, at Philadelphia and at Washington and a loss to Dallas.  He led his team in assists in all four contests and led the team in scoring in three of the four games.  In a 110-108 win at Washington, he scored 38 points and made five three-pointers.

The Raptors defeated the Lakers on Sunday by a final score of 108-102, remaining unbeaten following the All-Star break.

Jalen Rose scored 26 points and Donyell Marshall added 19, while Kobe Bryant scored 31 for the Lakers.

The Raptors made 13 3-point field goals, Marhsall made 5 of those 3-pointers.

Toronto had lost their previous six games to the Lakers.

The trade deadline is coming up and Raptors forward Donyell Marshall fully expects to remain a Raptor.

"The way things are right now, it doesn't sound too serious," the Raptors forward said yesterday when asked if he expects to be dealt before the NBA trade deadline at 3 p.m. today.

"I think it's just talk right now. I haven't heard anything different. Obviously, you hear your name out there, but I don't think there's anything really serious right now."

Many thought Marshall was a shoe-in to be traded however it appears the Raptors were not getting the types of offers for him that they originally expected.

"Most of the offers we have had for (Marshall) have been offers where we have to bring back a player who's got three to five years left on his contract and who is maybe a little younger than Donyell, but not as good a player," Babcock said. "That's not something that makes sense for us in the future."

According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Sonics might be willing to move the expiring contracts of C Vitaly Potapenko and SF Ronald Murray, with Toronto Raptors SF Eric Williams mentioned as the kind of player they might like in return.  

A trade of Vladimir Radmanovic to the Bulls for PF/C Tyson Chandler is also something that might be discussed.

Donyell Marshall told reporters from the Toronto Sun on Tuesday evening that his agent, Andy Miller, is trying to convince the Raptors to do a deal that would include Marshall and Milt Palacio for Austin Croshere, Anthony Johnson and James Jones.

The Pacers would like to acquire Marshall to improve their frontcourt that was depleted following the suspension of Ron Artest.

Marshall is in the last year of a contract that pays him about $5.3 million this season, which makes him appealing to other teams.

Peter Vecsey is reporting that the Toronto Raptors are interested in executing a trade for Hornets' point guard Baron Davis.  The Hornets would likely receive Rafer Alston, Donyell Marshall and Lamond Murray.  

The 76ers are also in the mix for Davis, who would love to insert him beside Allen Iverson in what would become one of the league's best backcourts.

As the New Jersey Nets prepare for the Toronto Raptors in the Meadowlands, former Raptor and surging Net Vince Carter insists there will be no hard feelings as he faces his old team for the first time since the trade.

"It's being blown out of proportion. It would be a bigger deal if there were hard feelings, or hatred. There's none of that," insisted Carter.

"Am I looking forward to it because it's the guys I know? Yes. Because it's the team I played with? Yes," he continued. "After that, I can't get caught up in it because I still have to report in the locker room and deal with (coach) Lawrence Frank. I have to bring my game and play the game he wants me to play and try not to do too much. That's why it's just another game."

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel is reporting that center Alonzo Mourning has passed his physical and the Heat have begun working with the former second overall pick, but with 15 players already on the roster the big question becomes who makes way for his signing?

Ira Winderman writes that the Heat will not ink Mourning to a contract until after the trade deadline, giving the team maximum leverage to possibly make a multi player deal to free up a spot for Mourning that way.

A prime trade target is thought to be Raptors forward Donyell Marshall, a 3-point threat who could help balance the floor when Eddie Jones or Damon Jones is out of the game.  The problem for the Heat though is creating a package attractive enough to the Raptors to accept while not destroying their nucleus.

Raptors GM Rob Babcock will be one general manager who is likely to be very active this trading season, even if a trade is not completed.

Donyell Marshall's agent is pushing hard for Babcock to trade his client.

"We're not going to do anything at all unless it helps our team long-term, not just the short-term fix on anything," Babcock said. "That doesn't make sense for us."

Another Raptor who is available is Eric Williams, who has expressed his desire to leave Toronto.

Alonzo Mourning and the Miami Heat are set on signing a deal which will allow the center to play for his former team.  While the Heat intend to sign him, there is no sense of urgency, as they will wait for a roster to spot to open up.

"It'll be fun to have me and him out there on the same court," Shaquille O'Neal told the Miami Herald.

Once he clears waivers, Mourning, who was released by the Toronto Raptors on Friday, will receive a $9 million settlement from Toronto from the $15 million remaining on a contract that ran through 2006-07.

"I can still play this game at a high level; I've proven that," Mourning told WTEM-AM radio last week. "Come in and use my skills to help contribute to the success of a team and make things a lot easier for them. ... I want to be home. I want to be close to my family. I want to be close to my foundation and my business interests."