Commissioner David Stern has for the most part been opposed to putting a team in Vegas, as long as gamblers can wager on NBA games at the local casino sports books. Although the city and league have had ongoing discussions about whether they can reach an accord — and Stern's stance seemed to have softened over this past season's All-Star weekend here — the gambling issue has been a stumbling block.

According to a source close to Stern, however, the Donaghy betting scandal will "probably have no impact, whatsoever" on a team moving to Las Vegas in the future.

"As the locals would tell you, gambling is so closely scrutinized here, everything is so closely monitored," the source said. "This is the best place to put a team because you wouldn't have to worry about any of that stuff."

Donaghy, a 13-year ref, is alleged to have bet on games he officiated. There also has been speculation he made calls that altered the point spread so he and organized crime associates could collect thousands of dollars in bets. In another bombshell, investigators told the Daily News on Saturday that they are hopeful that Donaghy will implicate other refs and players, which would undoubtedly take the scandal to new levels.

Donaghy's wagering allegedly took place with illegal bookies outside of Vegas, but the NBA has had cause for concern with legalized gambling over the years, as well. Charlotte Bobcats executive Michael Jordan's casino gambling swings were legendary when he was winning championships with the Bulls in the 1990s. Charles Barkley, TNT's lead studio analyst and a former All-Star for the 76ers, Suns and Rockets, has admitted to losing $10 million while wagering in casinos. Neither Jordan nor Barkley has ever been linked to betting on NBA games, but their excessive wagering would seem to serve as a warning to the league that its players are not immune to the dangers of compulsive gambling that allegedly landed Donaghy in trouble.

Donaghy allegedly piled up losses with mob-related bookies, which led to those bookies pressuring the referee for inside information and to make calls that would favorably affect the outcome of games.

Vegas' suitability as a potential NBA town is expected to come up when Stern finally holds his press conference to address the biggest scandal to ever hit the league.

In a stunning coincidence, the NBA has been here, the site of its crime-riddled All-Star weekend, for the last three days. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd and a legion of other superstars came here to play for Team USA to start preparing for the FIBA Americas Championships scheduled for late August and early September.

In the wake of the wildest All-Star weekend in the league's 60-year history, Stern reportedly took numerous calls from friends and business associates questioning whether the league should move a team to Vegas.

"After seeing what happened there, with the `gangsta' element the weekend attracted, (Stern is) wondering what happens if he puts a team there and what kind of crowd it would attract," an ownership source said at the time.

During that weekend, around 400 arrests were made, and the festivities were marred by the triple shooting that left nightclub manager and Long Island product Tommy Urbanski paralyzed and led to cornerback Pacman Jones' being suspended by the NFL.