Are the Chicago Bulls looking to deal for either O.J. Mayo or Stephen Jackson? Would the Trailblazers trade Marcus Camby for Yao Ming considering Camby has a home in Houston? How long will Kevin Garnett be out and what is the severity of his recent calf injury?

I’ll look at those rumors and a couple more in today’s “NBA Rumors” column for January 1, 2011.

The 2010 NBA calendar year was certainly an interesting one - we witnessed another classic Celtics-Lakers NBA Final, LeBron’s “Decision”, the Heat super-trio introduction, USA Basketball’s gold medal in the Worlds, and so far this season Amare Stoudemire’s dominance plus injuries that have derailed several promising player’s seasons.

Maybe even their careers.

That’s not what you’re here for though - I’ll touch on the above items in a 2010 NBA review I plan to write tomorrow.

Before I go into anything else, if you haven’t heard that LeBron James is seriously thinking about competing in the dunk contest this year you can read all about what he recently said by CLICKING HERE.

Now, I have to admit that pairing up O.J. Mayo with Derrick Rose sounds intriguing but Mayo really needs the ball to operate and I’m not sure he’s efficient enough as a spot-up shooter to make this pairing worth the risk. Mayo is still young, however, and has plenty of upside so this might be a gamble worth taking.

Plus, Mayo is draining the long-range bomb this season and Chicago desperately needs another three-point threat. Just three players on the Bulls are shooting three-pointers as accurately as Mayo this season (Rose, Deng, and Korver).

For now here are six NBA rumors and news items floating around the web today that I thought I’d share:

  • Are O.J. Mayo and Stephen Jackson on the Chicago Bulls wish list?

  • Would Marcus Camby accept a trade to Houston for Yao Ming? Would the Blazers even do this?

  • How serious is Kevin Garnett’s latest injury and how long will he be out?

  • Are the Timberwolves also making a push for O.J. Mayo?

  • Phil Jackson reiterates that this will really be his final season. Ok, Phil.

  • Are the Grizzlies interested in trading Zach Randolph?

Let’s get started!

As usual, please click on the bold headlines to view each column in its entirety from the original source

(NOTE: To view the past five days of “NBA Rumors” please scroll to the bottom of this column.)

NBA sources tell us the Bulls are one of the most aggressive teams in the NBA trade market as they try to find a scoring guard who is a good fit with All-Star point Derrick Rose. USC coach Kevin O’Neill, a longtime college head coach and NBA assistant has experience with Stephen Jackson and O.J. Mayo, both of whom reportedly on the Bulls radar. “Jackson is a better shooter and probably is a better fit alongside Rose,” O’Neill said. “Mayo is more of a slasher and wants the ball in his hands to take it to the basket, which takes the ball out of Rose’s hands. (That’s why) Jackson is probably a better complement to Rose.”

There have been a number of rumors about the Bulls looking to upgrade their talent at shooting guard, but they’ll stand pat at the position for the time being. Chicago has been linked to Stephen Jackson and O.J. Mayo, but they’ll continue to rely on Keith Bogans, Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver. The Bulls were engaged in talks recently, but nothing is imminent or likely, according to an NBA source. They don’t want to mortgage their future by making a move.

Veteran center Marcus Camby doesn’t like change, and sources said he would prefer to remain with the Portland Trail Blazers past the trade deadline. There is one exception, however: Camby lives in Houston in the offseason and would welcome the chance to play for the Rockets. Camby signed a two-year, $25 million extension with Portland at the end of last season. With Yao Ming out for the rest of the season, he could give the Rockets some much-needed size. The Blazers, however, continue to say they currently don’t have any significant trade discussions involving Camby.

Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett could miss two weeks because of a strained right calf. General manager Danny Ainge said Thursday that an MRI and a thorough examination showed Garnett’s injury Wednesday night was muscular and unrelated to a right knee injury that forced him to miss the 2009 playoffs and was surgically repaired. “It’s not anything to do with his knee, which is great news,” Ainge said on WEEI radio. “It’s one of those injuries that may keep him out for a couple of weeks at the most, I would say.” Garnett was hurt when he jumped for a dunk with 2:38 left in the first quarter of a 104-92 loss at the Detroit Pistons. The forward, who is averaging 15.4 points and a team-leading 9.8 rebounds, limped down the court before leaving the game.

“CBSSports.com has learned that the Wolves plan to make a push to acquire Memphis guard O.J. Mayo, whose rights they traded to the Grizzlies on draft night in 2008 in the deal that brought Love to Minnesota. Mayo is frustrated coming off the bench in Memphis and “needs a change,” according to one person familiar with the situation. The Wolves envision Mayo playing in the backcourt next season alongside Rubio, who according to a person familiar with the situation has given team officials his word that he will join the Wolves next season. The buyout that Minnesota must pay FC Barcelona is down to $1 million, but it’s not clear how Rubio’s decision could be affected by a lockout. Even if Rubio comes to Minnesota, there’s no guarantee he’ll thrive immediately.

Sources say the Wolves also are targeting Anthony Randolph, who is languishing on the Knicks’ bench after being acquired from Golden State as part of the sign-and-trade arrangement that landed David Lee in the Bay Area. Minnesota officials will not part with Ridnour in the deal, according to an executive familiar with the team’s strategy, but instead hope that Telfair would be enough to solve the Knicks’ backup point guard dilemma.”

He has won five of his NBA-record 11 championships with the Lakers and has reached the Finals 13 times. Still, Jackson was asked again if he could see himself taking some time off and coming back to coach. No,” Jackson responded quickly. Why not? he was asked. “I think I’ve put in my service time,” Jackson, 65, said. “I think I’ve done my due diligence that I set out to do, especially with this organization.” Jackson was hired by the Lakers in 1999, and he led the franchise to three consecutive championships before he departed after the 2004 season. He was asked back after the 2005 season, a season in which the Lakers fell into the draft lottery. Since then, Jackson has helped the Lakers win back-to-back championships and reach the Finals the last three years. Jackson said he has “coached about as long as I want to coach.”

First on the list has to be the Charlotte Bobcats, who are offering Boris Diaw to any team that will listen and can add Nazr Mohammed’s expiring deal to match Randolph’s salary. Diaw has a player option for next season and could choose to walk away, while Mohammed simply evaporates at the end of the year. The Grizzlies cut costs and the Bobcats get a major front court presence who will run with the team, as well as record a double-double every night.

Next up, New Jersey Nets. You want to lure Carmelo Anthony to town? Show him a lineup with Brook Lopez, Devin Harris and Zach Randolph surrounding him. Go ahead and let the Nuggets have Derrick Favors and see what he turns into. The time to win for New Jersey is now, not two or three years from now. Use Troy Murphy’s ending contract to help the Grizzlies save some money, throw in draft picks, young players, or maybe Travis Outlaw (who Carmelo will replace) so they can keep telling everyone they’re building for the future, and get serious about putting together a contender.

PREVIOUS NBA RUMORS:

**12/31 - Did Michael Jordan ask Patrick Ewing about coaching the Bobcats? - CLICK HERE **

12/30 - Are the Nuggets REALLY asking for five 1st-rounders in a potential Carmelo deal? - CLICK HERE

12/28 - Is Yao Ming headed to Sacramento or Charlotte? - CLICK HERE

12/27 - LeBron James swears he doesn’t advocate contraction - CLICK HERE

** **12/26 - Derek Fisher refutes LeBron James’ comments on contraction - CLICK HERE

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