Seattle’s Kevin Durant earned the Western Conference player of the month for a third straight month. Toronto’s Jamario Moon won it in the Eastern Conference.

The Sonics again practiced light today, with Wally Szczerbiak (sprained right ankle), Nick Collison (right calf strain), Kurt Thomas (left quad strain) and Jeff Green (sprained left ankle) all missing practice with various injuries. All four are game-time decisions for Saturday’s game against the Knicks, although Collison and Thomas are more likely to play.

Robert Swift practiced with the team again today and looks closer to returning to play in a game. Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo would like to see Swift scrimmage in practice before he puts him in a game, so expect Swift to travel with the team on Seattle’s two-game road trip to Sacramento and Phoenix next week. He might see some time on the trip if he gets through practice OK.

The big story of the day is the Los Angeles Lakers made a trade that basically puts them in the title hunt, securing 7-footer Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies and sending center Kwame Brown, rookie guard Javaris Crittenton and first round picks in 2008 and 2010 to Memphis.

It was an active day for the Grizzlies, who also traded Stromile Swift to the New Jersey Nets for Jason Collins.