Amare Stoudemire might stay with Suns

Amare Stoudemire might stay with the Phoenix Suns has now that the Cleveland Cavaliers have gone elsewhere.

Stoudemire rated his chances of being traded before Thursday's deadline as 50-50.

Speaking before the Phoenix game at Dallas on Wednesday night, Stoudemire said he had not heard anything from the Suns.

The All-Star forward said he doesn't necessarily agree with his agent's comments that a trade was imminent.

"It's still 50-50 -- not sure what's going to happen," said Stoudemire, who had 30 points and 14 rebounds in a loss to the Mavericks. "We have another day or so for it to break down. Like I said, whatever happens I'm going to remain professional, play my heart out on the basketball court."

Cleveland was considered the most likely destination for Stoudemire. But the Cavaliers moved on, acquiring Antawn Jamison from Washington in a three-team trade.

Milicic traded

The New York Knicks traded Darko Milicic to the Minnesota Timberwolves, perhaps the former No. 2 overall pick's final stop before he returns to Europe.

The Timberwolves sent Brian Cardinal to New York and received cash considerations along with Milicic, who was unhappy with the Knicks and would have been waived had they not found a deal for him.

The move provides some luxury tax savings for the Knicks, but more importantly opens a roster spot for more potential trades before Thursday's deadline if they waive Cardinal, as expected.

The 24-year-old Milicic was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the second overall pick in the 2003 draft, just behind LeBron James and ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.

More deals?

John Salmons missed the Chicago Bulls' game at New York on Wednesday, with Coach Vinny Del Negro saying he was told to leave the guard at the team hotel.

That would seem to indicate Chicago was close to trading Salmons, and the Knicks and Bulls are rumored to be in the market for Houston's Tracy McGrady.

The Knicks were without Nate Robinson, who they said has flulike symptoms. Media reports said New York was close to trading the backup guard to the Boston Celtics.

Etc.

Tom Wilson, who for more than three decades has been the face of one of the nation's most successful sports and entertainment enterprises, resigned as president and chief executive of the Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment. Wilson said that after the death last year of Pistons owner Bill Davidson, the time was right to move on. . . . Mavericks center Erick Dampier had surgery Wednesday to close an open dislocation of his right middle finger. Coach Rick Carlisle says there was no timetable for Dampier's return.