The Associated Press

ATLANTA - Gary Payton lounged in his chair and popped a potato chip into his mouth as a scene of All-Star bedlam unfolded some 40 feet to his left Friday.

Payton didn't even notice the media horde trying to squeeze around Yao Ming at a circular table built to accommodate eight.

Payton, of course, already has seen it all.

Almost all, anyway.

Making his ninth All-Star Game appearance, the only thing that's different for Payton this year is the distinct possibility he could be wearing a different uniform in the not-too-distant future. In the final year of his contract with the Seattle SuperSonics, Payton will be a free agent at the end of the summer.

And with the Feb. 20 NBA trading deadline approaching, it's open season for speculation on whether the Sonics will trade Payton, a lifer who has worn nothing but green and gold for 13 seasons.

"I can't predict that right now, so I'm not going to talk about it," Payton said. "We're not doing well, and I'm trying to make the team better. So until something comes up and occurs, I can't worry about it."

Payton tried to duck and dodge every question related to his future in Seattle and his relationship with Sonics owner Howard Schultz. Otherwise, he was quite talkative for someone so prone to shy away from extended conversations with the media.

Payton weighed in on Jason Kidd's future and whether Kidd will leave the New Jersey Nets to sign with the San Antonio Spurs over the summer, along with Vin Baker's return to Seattle next Tuesday night. Payton spoke glowingly of the strong team fundamentals that the influx of foreign players are bringing to the NBA. He recalled playing in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics and reflected on the changes he has seen since he entered the league in 1990.

"Me and Shaq are the only two guys left off that Dream Team," Payton noted of this year's 24 All-Stars, 19 of whom are not yet 30. "The ages are changing."

A source close to Payton, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Minnesota Timberwolves are making the hardest push to acquire Payton before Feb. 20.

"I put the ball in the bucket and get the ball to people. That's what the game is about - being productive," Payton said. "I'm not into the crossovers and the dunks and all that. I'm just there to get the job done. I don't like tattoos, killing my body. I don't need to be seeing nothing on myself that I can write on a piece of paper."

The big question in the weeks ahead will be whether Payton's All-Star skills are headed out of Seattle.

"I can't think about what they're thinking about," Payton said of the Sonics. "If it occurs, it occurs."

If it does, Payton will be one experience closer to truly having seen it all.

All-Star statistics

At Philips Arena, Atlanta

8:30 p.m. Sunday

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Starters

Player, Team	GP	Reb	Ast	PPG
Carter, Tor	15	3.5	2.5	18.8
Iverson, Phi	49	4.4	4.8	26.8
McGrady, Orl	44	6.5	4.9	30.4
O'Neal, Ind	45	10.4	2.2	20.0
Wallace, Det	44	14.5	1.5	6.5

Reserves

Ilgauskas, Cle	49	8.0	1.5	18.2
Jordan, Was	49	5.4	3.9	18.8
Kidd, NJ	47	5.8	8.4	19.8
Mashburn, NO	50	6.2	5.3	21.2
B.Miller, Ind	48	8.6	2.7	13.9
Pierce, Bos	49	7.7	4.6	26.4
Walker, Bos	45	7.2	4.3	21.2

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Starters

Player, Team	GP	Reb	Ast	PPG
Bryant, LAL	47	7.3	6.7	28.6
Duncan, SA	49	12.8	3.9	23.4
Francis, Hou	48	5.9	6.1	22.7
Garnett, Min	49	12.8	5.7	22.0
Yao, Hou	48	8.1	1.6	13.0

Reserves

Marbury, Pho	49	3.1	8.3	22.5
Marion, Pho	49	9.7	2.1	21.7
Nash, Dal	48	2.9	6.9	17.8
Nowitzki, Dal	46	10.0	2.8	23.0
O'Neal, LAL	35	10.8	3.4	26.4
Payton, Sea	48	4.8	9.0	20.6
x-Webber, Sac	41	10.5	5.5	23.0
y-Stojakvic, Sac	41	5.7	2.1	19.0

(x-injured, will not play; y-injury replacement)