Earlier today, we passed along a few of the day's stories out of the Eastern Conference. Now, let's head west and round up a handful of Western Conference headlines....

• Brandan Wright has increased his free agent stock in recent weeks and could be in line for a deal similar to the four-year, $16MM pact Ian Mahinmi signed with the Pacers last summer, says Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com. MacMahon wonders whether Wright is worth that much to the Mavericks or whether he'll land on another team for next season.
• Set to turn 35 years old next month, Mavericks forward Shawn Marion spoke to Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about his future in the NBA, noting that he feels as if he has "a lot of basketball left" in him.
• Examining whether the Lakers ought to consider amnestying Pau Gasol in July, salary cap expert Larry Coon concludes that the idea is "ridiculous." Gasol's trade value may not be at a high point this summer, but Coon thinks that at least half the teams in the league would have some level of interest in a player like Pau.
• The five-year contract Mike Conley received from the Grizzlies in 2010 was viewed by many at the time as a signficant overpay, but as Sean Deveney of the Sporting News writes, that's certainly not the case anymore.

Stephen Curry absolutely went off at the Garden on Wednesday night, dropping 54 points via 11 treys on the Knicks in the game of the night.  Despite Curry's efforts, the Warriors still came up short, losing by four.  Here are some other notes from around the Western Conference:

• Gregg Popovich says that the Spurs, as always, will do their due diligence in scouring the post-March 1st buyout market, but with their roster already 15 deep, he doesn't expect anything to come of it, tweets Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
• Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News answered a few questions about the Mavericks roster in a chat on Tuesday.  Sefko doesn't see the Mavs dealing Shawn Marion next season just to free up cap space, opining that Marion is still a starting caliber player that warrants something worthwhile in return.  
• Sefko also considers re-signing O.J. Mayo and Darren Collison critical to the team's chances of luring whatever big name free agents they'll set their sights on, largely due to their youth.  Keeping both players, who have had nice seasons in Dallas, will be difficult without overpaying, Sefko says.
• Pau Gasol, likely still a month from returning, has been cleared to work out on an elliptical machine, tweets Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News.  Gasol tore his plantar fascia three weeks ago and the Lakers are sticking to their original timetable of six-to-eight weeks for his return. 

Despite Mark Cuban's belief that adding an overpaid player with a massive contract would be a huge mistake considering the framework of the current CBA, Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas wonders if the Mavericks would explore trading for Hornets guard Eric Gordon as a possible fallback option if the team falls short in its effort to land Dwight Howard this summer. On another note, Moke Hamilton of Sheridan Hoops explains why it would be wise for Dallas to deal Vince Carter and Shawn Marion for expiring contracts and draft picks now if they want to give themselves a legitimate chance at going after Howard, Chris Paul, or Andrew Bynum in upcoming free agency. 

Here are more of this evening's odds and ends: 

• A report from ESPN (via the Associated Press) states that NBA Commissioner David Stern expects a concrete plan from Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson within the next two weeks regarding the Kings' future. Although the NBA Board of Governors does not meet until April 17-18, Stern believes that the official proposal could be made by March 1st "if (Mayor Johnson) follows through on what he's told us." He also put the kibosh on the idea of expansion and doesn't foresee a scenario where both Seattle and Sacramento wind up with teams.  
• With 15 guaranteed contracts and the team on a roll as of late, Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida figures that the Heat will be very quiet at the trade deadline next week (Twitter link). 
• Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago gets the sense that Bulls superstar Derrick Rose won't be returning this season. 
• Gino Pilato of Ridiculous Upside provides a rundown of the top available point guards in the D-League and organizes them in groups by what they specifically have to offer.
• After suffering a torn ACL on Tuesday night, Kentucky big man Nerlens Noel figures to be on a six-to-eight month recovery. Once touted by some to be the number one overall pick in this June's draft, Noel has slid to number three in Chad Ford's ESPN rankings of the top 30 prospects (Insiders only). On a side note, Darren Rovell (also of ESPN) tweets that Noel has a $10MM insurance policy in the event that he suffers a career ending injury. 
• In a statement issued to Michael Lee of the Washington Post, David Falk (the former agent of Michael Jordan) apologized for his disparaging comments about John Wall and the Wizards recently. 
• There have been a flurry of reports today about Lakers owner Jerry Buss' bout with terminal cancer, which was first reported by Amber Goodhand of Radar Online this morning. In a statement issued by the team today, it was made clear that there is no intention of selling the team to an outside group and that the Buss family plans to keep ownership of the Lakers for many generations to come (Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News).  

Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio is hearing plenty of chatter from around the league, and shares a lot of information in his latest dispatch. He identifies the player receiving the most attention as the deadline approaches, and dishes on several big names. We'll cover the highlights here:

• The Celtics are open to trading Kevin Garnett, but president of basketball ops Danny Ainge is looking for something to get "really, really excited" about, Amico writes. Garnett has a no-trade clause, and reportedly will only waive it if he's dealt to Los Angeles and the Celtics also trade Paul Pierce away.
• Josh Smith is the most-talked-about name on the rumor mill at present, and Amico reiterates that the Spurs, Nets and Bobcats are among the teams that have interest in the athletic forward. The Nets are anxious to deal Kris Humphries, and could be looking to get a third team involved in talks with Atlanta to faciliate a Smith-Humphries deal. Cavs GM Chris Grant spent time on the phone with Nets GM Billy King last week, and Amico notes the close ties Grant shares with King, as well as the connection between Hawks GM Danny Ferry and King.
• Grant wants more draft picks, and is apparently willing to rent some of the Cavs' ample cap space for a player whose deal expires after next season, as Humphries' does.
• If they can't land Smith, plan B for the Nets might be Paul Millsap. We heard about Brooklyn's interest in the Jazz power forward earlier today.
• Bulls GM Gar Forman also covets Smith and Millsap. Chicago has talked to the Nets about Carlos Boozer, but there's been no recent movement on that front.
• Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Jennings are available, but only for a team that makes an overwhelming offer to Bucks GM John Hammond.
• The Mavs are publicly downplaying the chances of a trade before the deadline, but that's not the case behind the scenes, where basketball president Donnie Nelson is seeing what he can get for Shawn Marion.
• Eric Gordon would love to return to his Indiana roots and the Hornets have interest in Danny Granger, but the Pacers and New Orleans have not discussed a Gordon-Granger swap.

Shawn Marion made headlines on Friday when he told reporters that he wouldn't show up if the Mavericks traded him to a bad team. However, as Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News observes, Marion's recent play on the court, which includes four double-doubles in his last five games, certainly should attract interest.

"I’m just playing ball," Marion said after scoring 26 points last night. "When (trade) situations arise, I’m going to let it take care of itself. But right now, I’m a Dallas Maverick and that’s what it’s about."

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NBA:

• Asked after today's game about trade rumors involving Iman Shumpert, Carmelo Anthony told reporters, including Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (via Twitter), that the Knicks "shouldn't even be in trade talks right now."
• Members of the players union's executive committee who are allies of embattled executive director Billy Hunter weren't involved in the decision to put him on leave, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
• In a Sulia post, Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game wonders why Hunter's ill-advised decisions as executive director aren't receiving more attention.
• A pair of 2012 Rockets draft picks, Jeremy Lamb and Terrence Jones, top Joe Kaiser's list of young prospects who could be moved at this year's trade deadline, in an Insider-only piece at ESPN.com.
• Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News assesses the returns thus far from the offseason's two most significant trades: the Dwight Howard/Andrew Bynum mega-deal and the James Harden swap.
• Discussing the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement, commissioner David Stern argues that management, not market-size, is the most important factor for teams to be competitive and profitable. Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune has the details.

We already heard a little this afternoon from Mavs GM and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson, who indicated the team probably won't make a trade before the February 21st deadline. He left himself a little wiggle room, however, adding that "we're not afraid to pull the trigger" if the right deal comes along. He had more to say to reporters at the team's shootaround today, including a response to Shawn Marion's plea that he not be traded to a team that's out of contention. We'll round up the highlights here, courtesy Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News.

On whether there are any new developments on the trade front:

"No. It’s a little bit before All-Star (break), and then of course (the deadline) after that. But you know us. We’re always going to be active. There’s certainly nothing to report. We like the boys in blue. We like the guys in our locker room. And we’re at a real critical point right now.Our focus is on getting into the playoffs, but certainly we’re knowledgeable about what’s going on."

On whether the Rudy Gay trade is indicative of the economic restraint needed under the new CBA:

"I think that’s kind of testament to the belt-tightening that Mark’s been predicting for a while. That’s a reality that’s coming up. So you’ll definitely see teams that are looking to be more flexible."

On the franchise's championship aspirations:

"We’re going to get back there. With Mark, my bet is it’s going to be sooner rather than later. But there’s no guarantees. That’s why every year, we try to put ourselves in position to make deep playoff runs and compete. Because once you get in the playoffs, anything can happen. And that’s our focus this year. We’re certainly fighting for our playoff lives, we understand that. We’re starting to kick in. We’ve got a nice little home stretch here where we can hopefully make up some ground. Who knows?"

Whether stability is important following a summer of upheaval:

"Listen, we really go out of our way to get good people in that locker room. You’re talking about Shawn Marion, Vince Carter. Those are the kind of guys ... Shawn and Vince have probably been our most consistent players all year long. We like guys like that — veterans who know how to win. We’re looking to get those kinds of guys into our locker room, not out of our locker room. The fact that Shawn recently expressed an interest to stay here? Well, it’s mutual. We’re looking for guys like that. Shoot, the guy guards three and a half positions? That’s a commodity. You’re never the same team from year to year, but those are the kind of pieces championships are made of."

If a non-contender is thinking about acquiring Shawn Marion in a deal with the Mavericks, that team may want to reconsider, according to Marion. The Mavs forward told reporters, including Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com, that he'd refuse to report if Dallas trades him to a bad team.

"If I’m going to get traded, they’re going to tell me what’s going on and where I’m going," Marion said, matter-of-factly. "Because if I’m going to a (expletive) situation, I’m not going. It’s just that simple."

According to MacMahon, Marion would be open to the possibility of joining a contender, but considers himself "too old" to enter a situation where he wouldn't be playing for anything.

"That’s the only way I’m going, yeah," Marion said of being traded to a contender. "Yeah, that’s it. That’s the only possibility that could come out of that. Other than that, it ain’t happening."

Given Marion's contract situation, which reduces his trade value, he probably doesn't have a whole lot to worry about -- he's earning about $8.4MM this season and has a player option for about $9.07MM next season, along with a 15% trade kicker. If a lottery-bound team were to acquire him, it would likely only be for salary-matching purposes, in which case perhaps a buyout could be negotiated.

The more likely scenario for Marion involves him remaining in Dallas beyond February 21st. Of course, it's also worth pointing out that the Mavs aren't exactly title contenders themselves, five games out of a playoff spot with a 21-28 record.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban made headlines last night when he vowed that the "Bank of Cuban" would be open as the trade deadline approaches. Cuban has already declared recently that he was "100%" certain the Mavs would make a deal in the coming weeks. Shawn Marion and Mavs coach Rick Carlisle were among those to react to Cuban's comments today. Here's what they had to say:

• Marion would like to finish his career with the Mavericks, but if he's traded as part of the team's rebuilding efforts, he'd prefer to go to a contender, as he tells Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. "Right now, you’re not playing to be a (expletive) all-star, after 15 years in the league," Marion said. "You’re playing to win a championship."
• Carlisle is aware that trade rumors will begin to circulate more frequently over the next few weeks, but doesn't expect his team to be distracted by them: "I think our guys are going to play. I don’t think they’re going to be affected by any potential rumors or any present rumors. There’s really nothing going on right now that I can surmise."
• Carlisle added that the team's aggressiveness on the trade market is nothing new, and that he'd be more surprised if the so-called "Bank of Cuban" was closed: "I know we’re aggressive. I know we’re on the phone a lot. I know we’re going to make deals that are the right deals to rebuild this thing the way we want to rebuild it, and not just for the sake of doing it."
• We passed along a pair of Mavericks links, including Dirk Nowitzki's reaction to Cuban's comments, earlier this afternoon.

Brad Miller decided earlier this year to retire at season's end, and went on an emotional note in April, receiving a standing ovation in his final game with the Timberwolves. But according to agent Mark Bartelstein, it's "not a certainty" that his client will retire, tweets Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida.

I have to wonder what Miller's contract situation is, for the T-Wolves' sake -- his $5.1MM 2012/13 was only partially guaranteed, so if he'd been waived by June 30th, he would've received $848K of it. If he'd officially filed for retirement, he would have forfeited the salary. But if neither of those things happened, will Miller still be on Minnesota's books for $5MM+? We'll have to wait for some clarification on that front, but in the meantime, here are some odds and ends from around the league, as free agency begins:

• The Mavericks think they could find a taker for Vince Carter and/or Shawn Marion if they need to create cap room, but are standing pat for now, tweets Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.
• Berger adds in another tweet that the Rockets have had some trade discussions about Kevin Martin, but are planning to keep him for now.
• Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal expects the Cavaliers to be relatively quiet in free agency, despite the team's cap flexibility.
• If any of the Thunder's free agents want to re-sign with the team, it'll almost certainly have to be for the minimum salary, says John Rohde of the Oklahoman.
• Raymond Felton may not be the Knicks' top free agent target, but he could be the most realistic one, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post.
• USA Basketball will name its 12-man roster for the London Olympics on July 7th on NBA TV, according to Tomasson (via Twitter).

Coming into the postseason, most pundits figured Utah's frontcourt size could give the Spurs some trouble in Round One, but so far San Antonio has been in complete control of the series. Al Jefferson called last night's blowout "embarrassing" and said the Spurs have an unmistakable swagger, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein. I still think the Jazz can take a game or two from the Spurs, but the odds of San Antonio being knocked off by an eighth seed again look very slim.

Here are the rest of the day's updates out of the Southwest Division:

• Lang Greene of HoopsWorld writes that O.J. Mayo appears unlikely to re-sign the Grizzlies, and examines some potential landing spots for the former third overall pick.
• Mayo was reportedly nearly traded to the Celtics at this season's trade deadline, but he tells Chris Mannix of SI.com that Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace never approached him about a possible deal.
• Although speculation earlier this season suggested Shawn Marion could eventually be traded or amnestied to clear cap space, Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com argues that the Mavericks need "The Matrix" going forward.
• Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune discusses the possibility of rebranding the New Orleans franchise and changing the Hornets nickname.