BCSP Notes . . .

Wallace, the Pistons' 6-9 defensive stalwart out of Virginia Union, is tied for the league lead with Orlando's Dwight Howard in rebounds per game at 12.5 and is helping fuel the team's run at an NBA record winning percentage. The Pistons have won 11 straight games, sport the league's best record at 37-5, are on top of the NBA's Central Division of the Eastern Conference and are on pace to break or equal the league's all-time mark of 72-10 held by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.

In NBA All-Star balloting, Wallace, the 2002-03 and 2004-05 NBA defensive player of the year, finished behind the Eastern Conference's top vote-getter Shaquille O'Neal at center and may be selected to his fourth straight all-star game. Selectees for the Feb. 20 All-Star Game in Houston will be named on Feb. 2.

Murray, a 6-3 combo guard with the Seattle SuperSonics in his fourth year out of Shaw, is rumored to be involved in trade talks. Murray, who is averaging 10.8 points per game in primarily a back-up role for Seattle, has been mentioned in trade scenarios with Boston and Minnesota, who are both looking for scorers at the guard position.

Wallace and Murray are two of six former black college players in the NBA. The others _ Jerome James of the New York Knicks (Florida A&M), Darrell Armstrong of Dallas (Fayetteville State), Lindsey Hunter of Detroit (Jackson State) and Devin Green of the Los Angeles Lakers (Hampton) _ are seeing limited action.

James, signed by the Knicks to a six-year $30 million contract this season, has struggled with conditioning and injury concerns and was used sparingly by new Knicks coach Larry Brown before being suspended indefinitely on Jan. 6 for conduct detrimental to the team. James reportedly was unprepared to practice. The 7-foot center who played at Florida A&M, was coming off his best season last year with Seattle.

Armstrong, a 14-year veteran from Fayetteville State, is in his third season with Dallas. He is serving as a back-up point guard averaging 1.9 points per game while appearing in 31 games.

Green, who made the Lakers squad as a 6-7 undrafted rookie free agent from Hampton, has played in just 17 games averaging 1.0 points per contest.

Hunter, a 12-year veteran who has earned NBA championship rings with the Pistons and Lakers, has missed all of this season after undergoing surgery on his left ankle.

Titans seeking to rework McNair's contract
The Tennessee Titans have made an early offer to rework Steve McNair's contract and are waiting for a counter proposal from the quarterback and his agent.

A new deal would help lower McNair's salary cap number, which has been estimated at $14.5 million for 2006. General manager Floyd Reese said Monday a lower cap number would give the Titans more room to add help for a team that went 4-12.

"We're of course prepared to live with that cap number. If that has to be the case and if we have to, we will. But we'd prefer to lower it," Reese told The Associated Press. McNair, the former Alcorn State QB, wants his full salary, which is scheduled for $9 million this season. The Titans face a $50 million option to extend his contract through 2009.

© 2006 Azeez Communications, Inc.

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