Arenas Plans To Attend Funeral of Justin Hughes

Washington Wizards G Gilbert Arenas planned to attend today's funeral for Justin Hughes , the 20-year-old brother of former Wizard Larry Hughes , according to the team.

Justin Hughes was born with a heart defect and had a transplant in 1997. But he suffered complications in recent months and died from heart failure Thursday.

Arenas and Larry Hughes were teammates for one season with the Golden State Warriors and two with the Wizards. The two maintained a close friendship after Hughes signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers last summer.

The entire Cavaliers team, which is playing the Detroit Pistons in a second-round playoff series, is expected to attend the funeral and then fly back to Detroit for tomorrow night's Game 5. Hughes has missed two games and it is not known whether he will accompany the team to Detroit for Game 5.

The Cavaliers have encouraged donations to the Larry Hughes Foundation, which Hughes established to educate the public about organ donation. The foundation's address is 1021 South Big Bend Blvd., St. Louis, Mo., 63117.

· AS THE KNICKS TURN: Larry Brown may be on his way out of New York. Stephon Marbury doesn't care either way.

"Based on our record, that's normal for anybody to have that speculation," the Knicks' point guard said of reports that the coach may be booted following a 23-59 season.

Owner James Dolan is considering buying out Brown's contract, the New York Post and Daily News reported Sunday. His possible replacement: team president Isiah Thomas , according to the Post.

Brown's agent, Joe Glass , said the team told him to ignore the New York tabloids.

"I spoke to Isiah Thomas earlier this afternoon and he categorically denied that there's any substances to what was in the paper," Glass said.

-- From News Services and Staff Reports