All-Star roundup \ News and notes from Phoenix

February 14, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Big trade: Shawn Marion’s most memorable play with the Miami Heat was his last. Hours after Marion’s last-second dunk lifted the Heat past the Chicago Bulls, he was traded Friday to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Jermaine O’Neal, ending a weekslong saga involving the expected deal. NBA officials approved the swap Friday afternoon by conference call, the Heat said. Toronto also gets guard Marcus Banks and cash considerations, while Miami will receive forward Jamario Moon and a future first-round draft pick, to come sometime between 2010 and 2015. It’s lottery-protected, essentially meaning the first time the Raptors make the playoffs after this season, their first-rounder goes to Miami. If Miami does not get that first-round pick in 2010, it will get an additional second-round pick that year. The Heat also get a $4.2 million trade exception, which would allow Miami to make a future trade even if the salaries involved don’t match.

Hall of Fame: Michael Jordan, John Stockton and David Robinson were among the 16 finalists for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Friday. NBA coaches Don Nelson and Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women’s coach C. Vivian Stringer also made the cut from a field of 164 nominees, as did former NBA stars Dennis Johnson, Chris Mullin and Bernard King, and two-time WNBA MVP Cynthia Cooper. The election announcement will be made on April 6 at the NCAA Final Four in Detroit, with enshrinement in September at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. All 16 finalists may be elected, according to Hall policy.

Olympic basketball: Team USA chief Jerry Colangelo plans to meet with members of the Beijing Olympic team today to talk about the next Olympic cycle. Instead of seeking a three-year commitment, as he did for the Beijing Olympics, Colangelo said he’ll ask players to be part of the 2010 world championship team in Turkey and the 2012 Olympic squad in London. If the U.S. wins the world championship, it would skip regional qualifying in 2011. “I really want only a two-year commitment, not a three,” Colangelo said on Friday. “But I’m picking the years — 2010, 2012.” Colangelo said he doesn’t need commitments for another year. But with U.S. stars such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in town for the NBA All-Star game, Colangelo figured it would be a good time to meet. “I’ll let the players make their own decision,” Colangelo said on Friday. “If they want to be considered for ’12, they should know it would probably be important to participate in ’10. Otherwise we’re going to have a group representing us in ’10 that will have a lot of consideration for ’12. So it’s going to be up to the players — no push, no ask, just tell me what you think.” Colangelo said he would invite 24 “young” NBA players to Las Vegas for a camp this summer. Those players would be considered for the world championship roster, which would be finalized in 2009.

Durant waiting for star turn: Kevin Durant had a spot in the rookie challenge and a place the next day in the H-O-R-S-E competition. He didn’t seem bothered that he had nothing to do Sunday night. The Oklahoma City forward wouldn’t complain that he wasn’t selected to play in the All-Star game, figuring he’ll get there eventually. “Obviously it’s not my time so I’m just going to continue to work and wait my turn,” Durant said Friday. “Hopefully that turn comes up sooner than later.” It will if he keeps playing the way he has lately. The Rookie of the Year raised his average to 25.5 points, fifth in the NBA and the most among players who aren’t All-Stars. His problem is his play is sometimes unnoticed because the Thunder are among the NBA’s worst teams, and some coaches hesitate to vote for players on teams with losing records.If they voted again, they might reconsider Durant. He averaged 27.8 points in January and is at 30.8 points per game through six games in February.

Associated Press