More big names could draw attention in NBA free-agent market

Some old friends are back in vogue

Everyone knows LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Amare Stoudemire can be free agents this summer, but recent events suggest more big names will draw interest, even if they don’t command big money anymore.

Shaquille O’Neal, Cleveland -- Names don’t come any bigger, nor do the bodies attached to them.

A month ago, his numbers (10.9 points, 53%) at age 37 might not have attracted many bidders, including the team he’s on.

Since Jan. 23, he’s at 15.6 and 64% and the Cavaliers are 12-3, so who says this is the Big Last Hurrah?

Marcus Camby, Portland -- Doing his usual number there (9.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks in 28 minutes) but with Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla coming back next season, General Manager Kevin Pritchard says the Trail Blazers and Camby are “dating.”

With Camby’s family settled happily in Southern California, the Clippers hope to get him back -- but he’s also the answer to prayers in San Antonio, Houston, Oklahoma City and Denver.

David Lee, New York -- The Knicks are the only team with two maximum salary slots, but only if they renounce Lee, averaging 20 points and 11.6 rebounds and shooting 56%.

At 6-9 in their high-scoring offense and layup-line defense, he’s not a real center, a real 20-10 guy or a No. 1 option. He’s still a major effort guy, now has 15-foot range and would have half the league after him.

Brendan Haywood, Dallas -- Not that anyone will outbid Mark Cuban for a prize he just landed, but Haywood, who took years to creep into the top 50% of centers, just jumped another 10% to 20%.

Woe, Nellie!

Ending speculation to the contrary, Golden State GM Larry Riley said Coach Don Nelson will be back next season, which is like being rehired by your butler.

Riley, Nellie’s right-hand man as an assistant coach, was moved to GM when ownership ousted Chris Mullin.

Meanwhile, most of the roster is trying to leave or in Nelson’s doghouse, which is like one that sits at the bottom of a bomb crater.

The latest to be thrown in is Andris Biedrins, of whom Nellie said: “He’s not the same player this year as the last couple, or the same player that got him the big contract. Whatever that is, he’s got to get the passion back. I can’t do that. . . . There’s a way to be involved in a screen and roll, and there’s a way to hide and not be involved. I think he chooses to hide at this point. . . . Jack [StephenJackson] made him several baskets a game because he does make that short pass. I’m sure he misses that. But we can’t pout about that. He’s got to now find a way to work with the guards that we have.”

Oops

Phoenix Coach Alvin Gentry called Kevin Durant “probably the fourth-best player in the league” behind James, Kobe Bryant and Wade, adding, “He might even be ahead of one of those players. I won’t tell you which one.”

Bryant and Wade may both now drop 60 on the Suns, just in case Gentry meant one of them.

-- Mark Heisler