NBA Essentials: Weird Wednesday, and Episode Two of ‘Me & Stephon’

NBA Essentials provides the must-see links, quotes and videos of the day.

*"The bus still hasn't arrived. And i find myself clambering desperately for a permanence to our friendship... well, i dunno if you call it a friendship... our meeting-hood? our near-acquaintance? If i could just get on that arm banner... Shoot, he's got so many names on there already, i don't know he'd even notice one more..." -- fireballmcnamara

* "There's no way of looking at tonight's schedule without thinking of who might be asked to sit out, who might be playing their final game for a particular team, or just how all these trade rumors are going to affect tonight's contests. ... this is such a weird Wednesday, even by our typical trade deadline standards, that I don't know where to start. -- Kelly Dwyer at BDL

* "Remember how Grant Hill and McGrady were supposed to make Orlando great, but then Hill effectively dropped off the face of the earth? And how he's resurfaced now as an old, but productive, member of the Suns? Irony of all ironies, that's the kind of comeback McGrady should be going for. -- Bethlehem Shoals at TSB

* Three video clips that show why the Tuesday night NBATV show featuring Gary Payton and Chris Webber is now the most entertaining weekly NBA show around. -- Didn't Draw Iron