Despite reports that a deal to sell the Detroit Pistons to billionaire Tom Gores was near completion, some close to the negotiators say that no agreement is imminent.

After two months of exclusive negotiation between Gores and Karen Davidson, widow of long-time Piston's owner Bill Davidson, one source close to Davidson said that she feels as though she has lost control of the process, causing her to feel frustration and fatigue.

Part of her concern is that Gores continually requires more information, yet too few details of the agreement are in place.

Grant Hill hopes to re-sign with the Suns this offseason.

"It'd be nice to come back and prove that we can be better than we were this season," Hill said Tuesday. "Let's just hope and pray we have a season first and foremost and then we'll see what happens. Hopefully, it works out and we can improve and get better."

When Hill was most recently a free agent, he had seven interested teams and narrowed his choices to Phoenix, Boston and New York but did not enjoy the drawn-out process.

"I'm too old for all that," said Hill, 38. "Depending on what happens, for all free agents, if there's a work stoppage and if we miss some of the season, there will be a mad dash or scramble to get everyone signed. You have a new labor agreement that you have to understand and interpret. I anticipate it being a lot different than it was two years ago. Let's say the lockout hypothetically ends in November. Going off what happened 12 years ago (for the 1999 lockout), we're starting a week later. There will be a lot going on. It will be kind of a frenzy."

Houston general manager Daryl Morey pursued a trade for Carmelo Anthony, but now that the team has played so well without a big star, owner Leslie Alexander is less willing to make that type of move.

"Definitely, the way our players are playing," Alexander said. "Daryl and I always fight about this. It's all give and take. I think our guys have shown they are capable of winning a championship if we add a couple pieces to them. I don't want to give them away for some other player.

"We are young. (Patrick) Patterson. (Kyle) Lowry's just 24. Chase (Budinger), Courtney (Lee) and Jordan Hill. You can go on and on and on. Chuck Hayes (28) is not that old. Yao (Ming) is only 31. There is no reason he can't have five or six more years."

The Rockets are 12-4 since the break.

"I had dinner with Chuck Hayes," Alexander said. "He mentioned, 'We all know what we're doing now. We all know what to do; we're doing the right thing at every part of the game, which makes us a very tough team to beat.'

"I definitely think we have a bright future. If we gain a couple of pieces, I think we can be a very good team."

Al Jefferson left Monday's overtime loss with 54 seconds remaining in the third period and Tyrone Corbin never reinserted him into the game.

Corbin was asked if there is an issue with Jefferson, but the Utah coach said he believed the younger group had earned the right to finish the game.

“The young guys were playing well,” Corbin said. “They played hard and I thought they deserved to be on the floor.”

But Jefferson clearly isn't happy at the moment. In the four past games, Jefferson has issued three no-comments to reporters and also was ejected on Saturday.

Jefferson left the arena without speaking to reporters following the game.

Chauncey Billups may not be guaranteed his $14.3 million payday for the 11-12 season after all.

When Billups was traded to the Knicks, Donnie Walsh declined agent Andy Miller's offer to reach agreement on the final guaranteed year, which has become a better move in hindsight.

The Knicks could Billups out at $3 million and use cap space to pursue a big man such as DeAndre Jordan or Marc Gasol, two players Walsh has identified. Because of New York's struggles, Billups could conceivably be more amicable to becoming a free agent to sign elsewhere.

The recent struggles of the Knicks have confirmed to Donnie Walsh that the roster still needs significant work.

"There was work to do before. There's work to do now. We were missing pieces before the trade. We're still missing the same pieces."

The Knicks are 1-9 in their last 10 games and Walsh admits the trade for Carmelo Anthony has not made things easier for Amar'e Stoudemire.

"What I see is I still got to get players to put around him to help him," Walsh said.

"He can do what he can do great, but we've asked him to do what's beyond him. I know what I have to add to this team. We need bigger people on the team. We need more of them."

Re-signing Kris Humphries is a Nets’ priority this season, and his chances of staying have improved.

The Nets reportedly were interested in the Hornets’ David West, but he tore his ACL on Thursday. It’s doubtful they will take a chance on West if he opts out of his contract.

The other big power forward who could be a free agent, Zach Randolph, is said to be close to signing an extension with Memphis.

All along, Humphries, who is averaging 10 points and 10.3 rebounds, has said he wants to stay, and Avery Johnson has said he wants the hard-working power forward to be a part of his "program." Of course, they will have to agree on a figure after the new collective bargaining agreement is reached.

It's rumored that the Raptors are open to moving center Andrea Bargnani, who has been anything but an impact player since entering the league in 2007 as the No. 1 overall pick.

They reportedly want to build the team around rookie big-man Ed Davis and second-year guard DeMar DeRozan.

Michael Beasley has deactivated his Twitter page one night after retweeting a post that wished Kurt Rambis would let Beasley "play his game".

Rambis said before Friday's game that he hadn't heard about Beasley's posting.

Beasley told Minnesota's media relations staff that he retweeted the post accidentally from his cell phone.

Beasley said after the game that Rambis hasn't restricted his freedom.

"Kurt has given me all the opportunity in the world to grow as a player, as a leader. I really don't have anything against Kurt and my game."

General manager Chris Wallace is confident the Grizzlies will reach an extension with Zach Randolph before the June 30th deadline. Randolph will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.

Wallace also expects the Grizzlies to be able to re-sign restricted free agent Marc Gasol.

The Grizzlies will enter an important offseason to secure their starting power forward and center one summer after signing small forward Rudy Gay to a max contract.