Now, Intrigue in Phoenix

Now it's starting to read like spy novel.  Beat writers are wondering why Irina Pavlova, Mikhail Prokhorov's New York rep, showed up in Phoenix, then at the end of practice, ushered Avery Johnson off court, perhaps to take a phone call from a higher up.  Reporters' questions and request for an interview were met with a nyet.

Not that it means anything. Pavlova, as president of Onexim Sports and Entertainment Holdings USA, has many duties with the Nets and is listed as No. 3 on the team website, after Mikhail Prokhorov and Christophe Charlier, team chairman. Still, the leak-starved writers were looking for something, anything. Stefan Bondy tweeted that the purpose of the meeting was "not related to basketball".

One thing they did get was a short talk with Devin Harris who may be going to Denver or Portland.  Harris admitted he wants it to be over.

• Harris keeping calm in midst of trade speculation - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
• Three days later, eight Nets awaitin' - Fred Kerber - New York Post Nets Blog
• Nets' Harris dealing with trade talk again - Fred Kerber - New York Post Nets Blog
• The complicated cost of New York's Melo agenda - Matt Moore - CBS Sports
• Nuggets brass keeps working while Melodrama drags on - Ken Berger - CBS Sports
• NBA Drive: 1/12 (Video) - Adam Aizer, Ken Berger, & Al Iannazzone - CBS Sports
• Amar'e Stoudemire Told Carmelo Anthony To Resist Trade To Nets - Tom Ziller - SB Nation
  
• Denver Nuggets trade update, Miami Heat preview - Benjamin Hochman - All Things Nuggets
  
• The Works: Can The Nets Afford To Give Up Derrick Favors? - Bethlehem Shoals & Eric Freeman - FanHouse
• ‘Melo gives New Jersey a star, does not make them winners - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports