News from February 1. TRADE: Memphis traded Pau Gasol and a 2nd round draft pick in 2010 to the LA Lakers for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the rights to Mark Gasol, a 1st round draft pick in 2008 (top 3 protected), a 1st round draft pick in 2010 (top 6 protected), and cash. In a sign-and-trade (to make the cap numbers work), McKie was first signed to a 3 year contract (with only the 1st year guaranteed, worth $750,000). McKie resigned his position as an assistant coach with Philadelphia prior to the trade. The NBA named Yao Ming (Hou) and LeBron James (Cle) as Players of the Month for January. Yao averaged 22.4 points and 10.9 rebounds as Houston went 10-4. James averaged 32.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists as Cleveland went 11-3. The NBA named Byron Scott (NO) and Mike Brown (Cle) as Coaches of the Month for January. New Orleans went 12-2 and Cleveland went 11-3. The NBA named Kevin Durant (Sea) and Jamaraio Moon (Tor) as Rookies of the Month for January. Durant averaged 19.4 points as Seattle went 2-13. Moon averaged 8 points and 6.2 rebounds as Toronto went 8-5. San Antonio assigned Ian Mahinmi to the NBADL. Milwaukee recalled Ramon Sessions from the NBADL. Philadelphia activated Louis Amundson and placed Jason Smith on IL with a sprained left ankle. New York activated Jerome James and Randolph Morris and placed Eddy Curry (flu-like symptoms) and Quentin Richardson (flu-like symptoms) on IL. New Orleans activated Bobby Jackson and Morris Peterson and placed Adam Haluskas and Marcus Vincius on IL. Minnesota activated Rashad McCants and placed Mark Madsen on IL. Houston activated Tracy McGrady and placed Mike James on IL. Indiana activated Jamaal Tinlsey and placed Andre Owens on IL. Sac 112, NO 103 at Sac Ron Artest (Sac) had 24 points and 5 rebounds. Brad Miller (Sac) had 22 points including 7-11 FT and 14 rebounds. Mike Bibby (Sac) had 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Kevin Martin (Sac) had 22 points including 4-8 3-pointers. Peja Stojakovic (NO) had 25 points including 7-13 3-pointers and 9 rebounds. Tyson Chandler (NO) had 21 points including 9-12 FG and 9 rebounds. Chris Paul (NO) had 15 points, 5 rebounds, 19 assists, and 5 turnovers. Orl 108, Phi 106 at Phi Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) had 23 points including 9-15 FG and the game winning free throws with 2.4 seconds left, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Rashard Lewis (Orl) had 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Dwight Howard (Orl) had 17 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Andre Miller (Phi) had 23 points including 11-18 FG, 11 assists, and 6 turnovers. Louis Williams (Phi) had 20 points. Uta 96, Was 87 at Was Andrei Kirilenko (Uta) had 16 points including 4-11 FG, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Mehmet Okur (Uta) had 27 points including 11-16 FG, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. Deron Williams (Uta) had 11 points on 5-14 FG and 12 assists. Andray Blatche (Was) had 19 points, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals, and 5 turnovers. Antawn Jamison (Was) had 31 points including 11-13 FT and 8 rebounds. Jason Hart (Uta, lower back inflammation) and Caron Butler (Was, left hip flexor strain) did not play. NJ 94, Mia 85 at Mia Richard Jefferson (NJ) had 25 points including 11-19 FG. Josh Boone (NJ) had 15 points including 6-8 FG and 5 rebounds. Vince Carter (NJ) had 14 points including 5-14 FG, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. Mark Blount (Mia) had 14 points. Dwyane Wade (Mia) had 15 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 turnovers. Malik Allen (NJ, flu) and Udonis Haslem (Mia, sprained left ankle) did not play. LAL 121, Tor 101 at Tor Lamar Odom (LAL) had 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 46 points including 19-28 FG and 4-8 3-pointers, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Sasha Vujacic (LAL) had 22 points including 8-10 FG and 4-5 3-pointers. Chris Bosh (Tor) had 22 points on 7-22 FG and 8-10 FT and 15 rebounds including 8 offensive. Andrea Bargnani (Tor) had 28 points including 4-7 3-pointers. LAL shot 55.6% (50-90) FG and Tor shot 43.5% (37-85) FG. LAL shot 9-11 FT and Tor shot 18-21 FT. Luke Walton (LAL, hip pointer) did not play. Hou 106, Ind 103 at Ind Yao Ming (Hou) had 17 points on 4-12 FG and 9-12 FT and 12 rebounds including 5 offensive. Tracy McGrady (Hou) had 19 points including 6-19 FG, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals. Carl Landry (Hou) had 22 points including 9-11 FG and 7 rebounds. Jeff Foster (Ind) had 13 points and 17 rebounds including 6 offensive. Danny Granger (Ind) had 22 points and 6 rebounds. GS 127, Cha 96 at GS Stephen Jackson (GS) had 19 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Monta Ellis (GS) had 21 points including 7-10 FG and 6 rebounds. Andris Biedrins (GS) had 15 points including 7-10 FG and 6 rebounds. Emeka Okafor (Cha) had 20 points including 9-14 FG and 18 rebounds including 6 offensive. Raymond Felton (Cha) had 16 points. GS shot 54.8% (46-84) FG and Cha shot 42% (37-88) FG. Por 94, NY 88 at Por LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) had 17 points and 8 rebounds. Steve Blake (Por) had 19 points including 3-4 3-pointers. Brandon Roy (Por) had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Zach Randolph (NY) had 25 points and 13 rebounds. Nate Robinson (NY) had 17 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers. Min 104, LAC 83 at Min Ryan Gomes (Min) had 18 points and 9 rebounds. Al Jefferson (Min) had 25 points including 10-17 FG and 11 rebounds including 5 offensive. Craig Smith (Min) had 21 points including 9-11 FG and 7 rebounds. Sam Cassell (LAC) had 17 points and 6 rebounds. Cuttino Mobley (LAC) had 16 points. Min shot 11-13 FT and LAC shot 22-29 FT. Chris Kaman (LAC, flu-like symptoms) and Corey Maggette (LAC, flu-like symptoms) did not play.