After topping the Heat yet again, this Rose is in full bloom

Within the larger confines of The Race To The MVP, a dash to the More Valuable Player Award broke out Thursday night at Chicago's United Center.

That's More Valuable, rather than Most, because in this case it was a comparative competition rather than a superlative. The Race is a generous form, with spots for 10 MVP candidates even though the NBA's official ballot allows for only five. But with Derrick Rose and LeBron James running 1-2 -- in that order -- atop The Race for weeks now, it seemed appropriate that the showdown of their teams, the Chicago Bulls vs. the Miami Heat, might narrow the MVP focus in laser-like fashion.

Members of the committee, all of whom were in the house, weren't the only ones who saw it that way.

"So would it be safe to say that the result of tonight's big matchup between Miami vs. Chicago (in Chicago) will determine who the #1 ranked guy on the Race is tomorrow?" e-mailer "Yoon Mi" wrote. "I can't wait cause it is going to be an awesome game and a possible playoff preview. "Personally I agree with ESPN's award watch that LeBron is the MVP right now but I agree with you on the other 2-10 rankings. Hopefully LBJ can prove me right tonight with a big road win and send Chicago to a second consecutive loss. Cheers!"

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Cavaliers Target Guard Baron Davis Ahead of Today's NBA Trade Deadline

The Cleveland Cavaliers may join the New Jersey Nets and Atlanta Hawks in adding new point guards ahead of today’s National Basketball Association trade deadline.

The Cavaliers reached an agreement in principle to acquire Baron Davis and a 2011 first-round draft pick from the Los Angeles Clippers for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon, Yahoo Sports reports, citing unidentified league officials.

Davis has averaged 16.5 points and 7.3 rebounds over his 12-year NBA career.

The Nets acquired point guard Deron Williams from the Utah Jazz yesterday, while the Hawks last night got Kirk Hinrich from Washington in a five-player trade that sent Mike Bibby to the Wizards.

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Nuggets would be foolish to ship out Carmelo Anthony

Suffer, sadly, the fools who, this very day, would throw Carmelo Anthony under the bus, to the curb, over the cliff and into the briar patch.

Can't we see how this plays out?

In Carmelo Anthony's seven seasons in Denver, the Nuggets have won 338 regular-season games, averaging just over 48 victories per season, finished first or second in the division 6 times, reached the playoffs in every season and advanced to the conference finals once (and, yes, lost in the first round all other years).

In the eight seasons prior to Carmelo Anthony's arrival, the Nuggets won 200 games, an average of 25 per season and NEVER made the playoffs.

Yet, because Carmelo hasn't made up his mind yet about accepting a three-year, $65 million contract extension offer, because some people made cute, champagne remarks at his wedding, because the Knicks were snubbed by LeBron James and look like the buffoons they are, because some people in New York and on talk radio claim to have sources who are friends of sources who drink on barstools next to sources, some people in Denver want to run the Nuggets' most accomplished NBA player, ever, out of town — immediately.

The rest of us must suffer the fools.

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NBA : Stephen Curry Hopes to Play Saturday

Though Stephen Curry said his left ankle was at just “80 percent” in yesterday’s practice, he’s looking to play this weekend as the US takes on Lithuania on Saturday and defending world champion Spain on Sunday: From Marcus Thompson: “Doctors told him there is no structural damage to the ligaments or tendons in his left ankle.

Curry’s sprained ankle, he promises, is really just a mild sprained ankle. So much so, he is going to continue his pursuit of making the national team for the World Championships. He said if he thought the injury would linger, he would leave Team USA to make sure he is healthy for the season.

He said he is hoping to play in Saturday’s game vs. Lithuania in Spain, though it all depends on how his ankle feels. He is presumed to be in a battle with Clippers guard Eric Gordon for the 12th and final roster spot for the World Championships, which starts Aug. 28 in Turkey.”

NBA : Chicago Bulls making their “moves”

This year’s trade market was one of the busiest as well as biggest in the NBA history. With big names like LeBron James and Chris Bosh moving to Miami Heat, NBA witnessed a lot of buzz lately. Some fans consider the move would be successful whereas others have opposite views. The Miami Heat has come up with big signings, with other teams following its footsteps.

Trying to recapture the days in which they were the only dominating force in the NBA, the Bulls intended to sign LeBron James, who is expected to bring the same royals as Michael Jordan once did. After failing to sign King James, the Chicago Bulls came up signing Carlos Boozer to further boost their talented squad that lacked experience. LeBron joined the Miami Heat that couldn’t manage to get past the first round playoffs. Not only did the Bulls sign Boozer but came up with another amazing signing that strengthens three scoring abilities by bagging Kyle Korver, a three-point specialist from the Utah Jazz.

Not only this, the Bulls also managed to trade away a few players from their squad so that they could rotate the players and every person in the team could play without any conflicts.

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Stephen Curry hoping for quick recovery from ankle injury

MADRID (AP) -- Stephen Curry is eager to overcome an ankle injury, hopeful it won't impact his chances of making the U.S. roster for the world championship.

Stephen Curry didn't practice Thursday after suffering a mild sprain to his left ankle a day earlier. The U.S. team said Curry's recovery was "progressing'' but he remained day to day.

With one player still to be cut from the 13-man squad -- and most likely a guard -- Stephen Curry looked slightly anxious after watching his teammates practice.

"It hurts. To miss a great practice like this with the scrimmaging and all -- it's never great to have an injury, especially in a pressure situation like this,'' Stephen Curry said at the Magic Box center on the outskirts of the Spanish capital. "I just have to make sure I get back this weekend.''

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NBA : Rudy Fernandez ignoring Portland Trail Blazers

MADRID, Spain -- Rudy Fernandez is not returning calls from Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan, and the NBA on Thursday was investigating whether Fernandez or his agent violated league rules by threatening a holdout.

With Team USA set to play Rudy Fernandez and the Spanish national team Sunday night, the latest developments regarding the disgruntled Rudy Fernandez and the trade speculation surrounding Carmelo Anthony added 2 more subplots to an NBA offseason that refuses to take a holiday.

"I have tried to contact Rudy, and he hasn't returned calls [since the season ended]," Nate McMillan told ESPN.com. "So we'll just have to see what happens. We are looking to improve our team at all times, but I don't know what's going to happen."

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