11.   But by late afternoon, that trade reportedly was on hold, as the Raptors began entertaining other offers from around the league.

12.   Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gamble said the firm is currently entertaining no offers.

13.   Companies would have to get a license from Geron to use its patents even for research, but Geron executives said they were willing to entertain offers.

14.   Despite his statistical high marks, Smith said after the season that he would entertain trade offers for Kovalev, who disappointed and frustrated the coaching staff.

15.   Even before the earthquake, the company was exploring a move and entertaining offers from other communities both in and out of California.

16.   He also said he would entertain coaching offers from any team except the Celtics.

17.   He briefly entertained an offer from an upstate newspaper.

18.   He maintained that he resigned before he ever entertained other offers from the Heat.

19.   He said he has not been contacted about the UCLA position and will not entertain job offers while he is with the Nets.

20.   In a way, the decision to entertain offers may be considered a victory for Simmons and his partners, Paul DeRobbio and Mark E. Schwarz.