Just a year after the Suns parted with Shawn Marion in order to acquire former league MVP Shaquille O'Neal and two months after general manger Steve Kerr swapped Jason Richardson for Boris Diaw, he's trying to make another deal.

Where will Stoudemire, who wants out from under Shaq's shadow, wind up? Golden State, Miami, Detroit, New Jersey, Portland and now Chicago all reportedly have interest in the three-time All-Star. A deal will happen because the Suns have backed themselves into a corner by publicly stating their intentions to trade Stoudemire. It's a matter of who can put together the most attractive offer for Kerr. But what's he looking for? He's trying to rid himself of a 26-year-old who averages 20.8 points and 8.2 rebounds to hang on to a aging Shaq, Grant Hill and Steve Nash?

But Stoudemire and the Suns aren't the only team likely to make a deal.

Charlotte's Raymond Felton has long been the subject of trade rumors, and Tuesday afternoon the latest was the Pacers were close to sending Jamaal Tinsley to the Bobcats for the former North Carolina point guard.

Other players reportedly on the block are the Heat's Marion, Chicago's Larry Hughes, Cleveland's Wally Szczerbiak, Milwaukee's Richard Jefferson, Phoenix's Leandro Barbosa, Memphis' Mike Conley, New Orleans' Tyson Chandler, Toronto's Jermaine O'Neal and Sacramento's Brad Miller.

Hughes has been linked to the Washington Wizards for much of this season, but according to insiders, the move - which in reports Tuesday involved Etan Thomas and Mike James - isn't likely to happen because the Wizards are seeking salary cap relief. Taking on Hughes, who next season will make as much as James and Thomas, wouldn't help Washington's financial situation.

The chatter is a bit more star-studded this year, a ripple effect of last year's trade-deadline flurry that included the Cavaliers making a three-team, eight-player deal, the Heat sending Shaq to the desert and the Nets shipping Jason Kidd to Dallas.

Teams are seeking either to create cap relief so they can make free agent pickups in the summer or get that much-needed piece to put them in the ranks of the contenders this year.

The winners and losers will be known in just over a week.

TOP 10 POWER RANKINGS

Lakers (41-9)

The Lakers replace the Celtics as the leaders of the pack after big wins in Boston and Cleveland.

SPURS (35-15)

Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and the new Mr. Big Shot - Mason Jr. - knock off the Celtics.

Celtics (42-11)

The defending champs hit a snag, losing two of their last three while facing possible finals foes.

Cavaliers (39-10)

Sunday's loss to the Lakers is the first at home this season for LeBron and Co.

MAGIC (38-12)

Orlando is up and down while trying to adjust to life without injured point guard Nelson.

NUGGETS (34-17)

Funny team. One night it trounces the Wizards by 21, then the next it loses to the Nets by 44.

TRAIL BLAZERS (31-19)

The Blazers are just 2 1/2 games back of Denver despite losses to Dallas and OKC last week.

Hornets (30-19)

The Hornets (2-3 in the last week) badly need a healthy Paul and Chandler back.

Rockets (31-21)

After an injury-plagued stretch, the Rockets are healthy. Can they make a run?

Jazz (29-23)

The Jazz have remained in the hunt despite injuries to Boozer, Williams and Kirilenko.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

LOS ANGELES Lakers

No Bynum? No problem. As mentioned in the NBA Report last week, the Lakers were ready to take the loss of center Andrew Bynum in stride after having to overcome his absence last season before reaching the NBA Finals.

And sure enough, the Lakers have continued to roll. Los Angeles is 5-0 since losing Bynum, including impressive road wins over the Celtics and Cavaliers.

The Lakers in the last week have proved they are a more cohesive unit than they were last season. In addition to Pau Gasol stepping up his game with 25.6 points, 12.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists in his last five outings, Lamar Odom also has picked up his production, posting 20.3 and 9.7 rebounds in the last three games.

LOTTERY WATCH

MONROE HAS TOOLS, POTENTIAL

Greg Monroe, a 6-foot-11, 250-pound Georgetown freshman, is one of the most talented prospects in the draft and boasts loads of potential - more than Oklahoma's Blake Griffin, according to some scouts. With his 7-2 wingspan, quickness and solid jumper, Monroe is often compared to Chris Webber. He hasn't put up the numbers Griffin has, but he has all the tools.

The main negative in regard to Monroe is consistency. He will be on one night and then off another. He also needs to develop more toughness and get stronger. He's still likely a top-three draft pick, however.