Harden Has A Problem: James Harden did not make Wednesday's media availability session in New York; instead he had to make a last minute visit to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Harden, who is likely one of the first ten players taken, got some bad news Tuesday when the Washington Wizards traded their #5 overall selection to Minnesota, a selection that was promised to Harden according to sources. Harden is hoping for some draft luck that Ricky Rubio comes off the board before the #3 pick with Oklahoma City, because he is apparently the second name on their board just below Ricky Rubio. The Thunder have retained a Spanish law firm in the event they land Rubio to help expedite his release, so Harden may find himself without a floor at this point. Harden's camp was deliberate in some of the teams he would work out for - if Minnesota passes on Harden, things could get interesting. It's unlikely a talent like Harden slides too far and it's hard to argue he's not a perfect fit in the new Wolves lineup.

Knicks Getting Another Pick: The New York Knicks are angling to acquire another first round draft pick - word is the pick will be the #28 overall selection from Minnesota that may be bought outright for cash. The Wolves are denying a deal is done, but it's believed it will get done as picks start coming off the board. There is also a belief that the Knicks are closing in on a trade that would land them Darko Milicic in exchange for Quentin Richardson. The deal would clear roster room for Memphis' expected selection of Hasheem Thabeet if they retain the #2 overall selection. For the Knicks, acquiring Darko would be about dealing away the $8 plus million owed Quentin Richardson in 2010, and gives the Knicks another big body to play at center. The framework is in place and sources on both sides say the deal is contingent on the Grizzlies keeping the 2nd pick, something they were still working on last night when Grizzlies brass met to discuss final options.

Nivens Has Suitors: St. Joe's Ahmad Nivens has been very busy of the past few days, and is drawing a lot of interest. There is belief that Nivens may sneak into the bottom of the first round as teams are jockeying to try and grab him. The surprise candidate may be the Los Angeles Lakers, who recently saw Nivens and were more than intrigued. The Lakers may, however, be dealing their first round selection today opening up room for another team to swoop in and land Nivens. Nivens may still be be an early 2nd round selection, but sources close to the situation say that of the team that really wants Nivens, one may have to trade into the first round to get him.

Daye Going in The Teens?: Gonzaga big man Austin Daye was a green room invite and is still cautiously optimistic about here he could land, telling HOOPSWORLD last night that it could be anywhere from "11 to 16". In this class more than any other it is nearly impossible to accurately chart where teams are really going with more than a handful of agents saying there was a lot of misdirection out there. Daye, who as one Eastern Conference coach said during the pre-draft process "could have the best upside of anyone in the class," looks to be an earlier pick than most people are expecting, but even he's not sure where he'll be tomorrow.

Williams Going Higher Than Expected: Louisville's Terrence Williams could be the surprise of the first 13 picks. Word is Williams could be going #11 overall to New Jersey, but he may not stay there. Williams is something of an enigma; he comes off as open and honest as anyone in the class, but there are questions about his maturity. One executive called him "Ron Artest-Light," but almost no one questions his game. The Nets are rumored to have the framework of a deal with Chicago that would land Chicago the #11 pick in exchange for the #16 and the #26 pick. Sources in New York have said the deal seems to be in place, it's ultimately up to the players Chicago covets actually falling to #11 and that may or may not happen.

Celtic president Danny Ainge recently was on Boston's WEEI, openly challenging Rondo and labeling him as immature saying "he needed to grow up", acknowledging that Rondo was fined for being late to playoff games (he tries to avoid the media), and ultimately Ainge said he did not feel Rondo was a "MAX contract player" apparently responding to initial extension talks with Rondo's camp.

MORE BY STEVE KYLER

NBA AM: Dwight Calls Out Stan: Magic center Dwight Howard sat head coach Stan Van Gundy down and asked...

---

NBA AM: The HEAT After Iverson Too?: The New York Knicks may not be the front runners for Allen Iverson's...

---

Courtside: Magic Handle The Thunder: The Orlando Magic handled the Oklahoma City Thunder from the very start of ...

---

View Steve Kyler Archive 

According to Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, the same source that revealed to him that Terry Porter was being fired during All-Star weekend is saying that the Suns may have an additional deal in the works that would land them Tracy McGrady, Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry in exchange for Leandro Barbosa and Amar'e Stoudemire.

Given the insane deals we have seen triggered over the past few days, this deal is not any more insane than the others that got done; what makes this report even more interesting is the fact that Houston GM Daryl Morey told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle that he's received an enormous amount of interest in McGrady's expiring contract.

"We're getting a lot of interest on Tracy, and I do have to listen," Morey said. "It's my job to make this team as ready to win the title as possible. I think the reason we are going to have a pretty high bar on moving him is because he still provides exactly what coach (Rick Adelman) and I thought we were missing, which was a guy who can get a high-quality shot at the end of the game.

"That said, we want to position ourselves for the playoffs, it looks like it's going to be hard for Tracy to be here for a good chunk of the year, so if we can get a talented player who helps us all season, I think we have to look at it."

Houston desperately wants to acquire a pick in the middle of this draft and with word that the Suns could be trading out of the #14 pick, a deal with Houston could yield that kind of pick for the Rockets, who at 14 could get a shot at Ty Lawson or Eric Maynor, if they decide to pull the trigger on a deal moving out Aaron Brooks.

The other motivation here is Yao Ming. Keep in mind Yao's camp has made it clear that he will not entertain a contract extension this summer if the Rockets remain as constructed – subtle hints that Tracy McGrady needs to go. There are also reports that a recent evaluation of Yao's broken foot is showing no signs of healing putting Yao's recovery plan in question.