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The moment doesn't exist in photo or film, but surely it does exist.

The Baltimore Sun on Nov. 26, 1966, recounted the powerful blow the day after it occurred, in a 129-115 victory by Chamberlain's Philadelphia 76ers over Johnson's Baltimore Bullets in Baltimore. Johnson, according to the paper, suffered a “wrenched shoulder” thanks to Chamberlain's mammoth swat.

The Los Angeles Times on Feb. 26, 1981, recalled that Wilt Chamberlain “dislocated the shoulder of the powerful Gus Johnson when he blocked one of Gus' dunks.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer on Oct. 26, 1986, got the scoop from Billy Cunningham, who witnessed the event: "It was Gus against Wilt," Cunningham said. "Gus went in to dunk, and Wilt caught the ball, threw Gus to the floor, and they had to take Gus off the floor with a dislocated shoulder."

Imagine if this kind of debilitating block was registered in the YouTube age. It'd be plastered into our digital minds and never forgotten. Instead it occurred in an era when players were supposedly plodding, slow, uncoordinated or some combination of the three. And if you possessed some measure of athleticism you were unfairly taking advantage of the physically unfortunate. Rare is the footage to combat these prevailing myths.

Those misconceptions don't reconcile with the image of Wilt Chamberlain, a 7-foot-1 center who jumped high enough to block shots at the top of the backboard's square. They also don't quite jibe with Gus Johnson, a 6-6 forward who shattered three backboards with his monstrous dunks in the 1960s.

One such instance in 1964 caused Hawks guard Sihugo “Si” Green a bit of discomfort:

Gus Johnson remembers being "about three steps in front of Lenny Wilkens, Chico Vaughn and maybe Cliff Hagan," accepting a crisp, one-bounce pass from Wali Jones and going up to dunk.

[...]

"I hit the rim with my forearm, just tore the basket down," Johnson recalled. "The rim came down on Sihugo Green's foot, and he missed two weeks.”

Wilt and Gus exemplified the seemingly impossible possibilities of human athleticism, but they weren't alone. Elgin Baylor of the Los Angeles Lakers was already side-stepping opponents on the fast break with a move that would later be dubbed the “Euro Step.” Dave Bing of the Detroit Pistons was spinning defenders in circles with his tricky handles. Walt Bellamy of the Chicago Packers could cut baseline and deliver a gliding reverse slam despite being a 6-11 center.

By the early 1970s, guards like 6-3 Randy Smith were dunking with artistry that we're now fully accustomed to.

But Gus Johnson's and Wilt Chamberlain's cataclysmic clash remains something of a Holy Grail for the era's athleticism. Words and recollections attest to its power, but it will never really be found again. Even more curious is that Wilt and Gus reveal to us the fleeting nature of athleticism and its deceitful promise of eternal miracles.

Johnson was tragically like a Greek hero. His mythical feats became fewer and harder to find as his career progressed. Yes, he possessed a muscular physique like Hercules, but knee ligaments, unlike muscles, can't be chiseled like marble. Knee ailments knocked out large chunks of his career and limited his court time. Unfortunately, the hobbled hero can't recount his glory days to us anymore. He passed away far too early in 1987 due to a brain tumor.

Wilt Chamberlain's mythological countenance endured for his whole career. More than any single player he extended the limits of what was physically and conceivably possible. In addition to basketball, Wilt had run marathons, pumped more iron than Arnold Schwarzenegger, and even became a volleyball Hall of Famer. In 1999, though, the one muscle that can ill-afford to weaken gave out on Wilt. The Big Dipper's heart stopped beating and the titan of years gone by passed away quietly in his bed.

As today's star athletes eventually reach their old age, they can point back not only to words and memories, but the indisputable video to prove just how awesome, just how spectacular, they were. The men of the 1960s can't always provide the film, but, in an odd twist, the lack of film aggrandizes their accomplishments.

We can see exactly how LeBron James delivers his machine of flying death. In fact, we can see it in real time, slow motion, from cameras behind the backboard, from cameramen camped at the baseline and numerous other assortments of angles and speeds. The saturation of media today perhaps peels away too much mystique of our current hardwood immortals.

But for the titanic block that Chamberlain delivered on Johnson, we have a few words and our imaginations to work with. That's something we decreasingly get to use these days. We know not what type of dunk Johnson was attempting. We don't know exactly how Wilt's body was positioned. We're oblivious to how far out Gus leaped to instigate the showdown. We're at a loss for the look on Chamberlain's face as he successfully protected the rim or, conversely, the pain on Gus' face as his shoulder separated.

What we do know teases us and propels us to fill in the gaps with our imaginations. Every man and woman can hear the story, but play it out in their own individual way giving the moment a unique personal power. The cold and calculating camera robs us of that private vision. The void of knowledge, the scarcity of detail, the sketches of what was, breathe life to a real moment that will forever be a tall tale.

• Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee: They love him in L.A., Orlando, New York, Miami, Central America, Europe, India. Don't forget India, especially now. But will they love him in Sacramento? Better yet, will they forgive him in Sacramento? Based on the results of an informal poll – a very limited sample size of six or seven Kingscentric folks contacted Monday – Shaq, who will be re-introduced this morning at the practice facility, is facing a hung jury in the court of public opinion. One segment of Kings fans is delighted with his arrival and all his oversized baggage. While his specific role and sphere of influence have yet to be defined, who knows what Shaq can do for you? … Well, here he comes. To those eagerly awaiting his arrival, hoping that celebrity and credibility are contagious, remember: He's a load. Stay ready. My advice to the anti-Shaq contingent would be this: Take this for what it is. Entertainment, until we hear otherwise.
• Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel: Perfect strangers today will be teammates tomorrow. That sums up the situation facing the Milwaukee Bucks as they enter training camp next week. A hectic summer of change has resulted in 11 new players on the Bucks roster, although veterans Zaza Pachulia, Luke Ridnour and Carlos Delfino are starting second stints in Milwaukee. But only four holdovers from last season's squad remain: starting power forward Ersan Ilyasova, starting center Larry Sanders, second-year power forward John Henson and backup big man Ekpe Udoh. And a new coaching staff led by Larry Drew will direct the Bucks after a five-year term for Scott Skiles and Jim Boylan, who finished last season as interim coach. "We have a short period of time to put a lot of things in," Drew said Monday before participating in the Bucks' annual golf outing at Westmoor Country Club. "There's going to be a lot of teaching that takes place. We'll have seven days of practice before we play our first exhibition game (Oct. 8 at Cleveland). "We're going to have to use every second of training camp as best we can." The 26-year-old Ilyasova now has the longest tenure on the Bucks roster as he opens his sixth season with the team.
• Michael Pointer of The Indianapolis Star: Larry Bird joked that working on Paul George’s impending contract would keep him inside on a beautiful fall afternoon. “That’s why I’m not playing golf today,” Bird said during an appearance before the Pacers Foundation golf outing at Brickyard Crossing on Monday. “I’m going back to the office to work on it.” … On Monday, George said he and the team were on the “same page,” but nothing had been finalized. “I would hope,” George said when asked if the deal will be finished before training camp starts Saturday. “But whatever happens, happens. Right now, it’s about to be the start of the year. All the guys are here. We’re all fired up and ready to go. That’s where my focus is.” The question isn’t so much when a deal will be reached. Even if talks unexpectedly fall through, the Pacers would be able to make George a restricted free agent and match any deal he is offered next summer.
• Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: Russell Westbrook isn't making any promises about when he'll be back on the basketball court. But the All-Star point guard does offer something of a guarantee for whenever that day might be. “I'm going to come back and be better,” Westbrook said matter-of-factly Monday, with the same unshakable swagger he's always shown. As excitement builds over Saturday's start to training camp, Westbrook is eagerly anticipating his long-awaited return from the knee injury that cut short his 2013 postseason. Westbrook has not yet been cleared to resume full basketball activities, and neither him nor team officials are providing a timetable for when that final obstacle will be overcome. … For now, Westbrook sounds confident about all the questions he'll undoubtedly face in his return. When asked about regaining his rhythm after such a long layoff (he was injured April 24), Westbrook said bouncing back from this setback is no different from any other.
• Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News: The start of Spurs training camp is little more than a week away, and Tony Parker is feeling the impact of dedicating much of his summer to Team France at EuroBasket 2013. It worked out historically well for Parker, who helped Les Blues finally win the major championship that had eluded them for so long, usually in painful fashion. But he’s now paying the price, admitting he was “very tired” after following up the Spurs’ run to the Finals with another one for his native country. Despite his current fatigue, and what could very well shape up to be another long, grueling playoff campaign with the Spurs, Parker disputed an earlier report, attributed to his father, that he had decided to skip next summer’s FIBA Basketball World Cup. Parker’s father had asserted that his son would then complete his international career with EuroBasket 2015 — yes, for some reason they hold the tournament every two years instead of the standard four for most other major international competitions — and the 2016 Olympics. Parker, however, said he’ll wait and see how he feels next summer before making any decision in regards to the Worlds. “To be honest, I do not know yet,” he was quoted by the French press.
• Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon-Journal: Andrew Bynum still hasn’t been cleared for contact and, therefore, isn’t likely to be ready when the Cavaliers open training camp next week, but that hasn’t soured coach Mike Brown’s opinion of him. Brown still believes Bynum can be one of the best centers — ever. “He could very easily be the best center in the game,” Brown said. “Not only the game today, but he’s skilled enough and has the rest of the tools to be one of the best ever.” Bynum is now running on treadmills, but has not resumed contact drills on the court, Brown said Monday at the team’s charity golf outing at Firestone Country Club. There is still no timetable for Bynum’s return, and no one in the organization is pressing him after his lengthy history of knee troubles. “I’m not in any rush to get him back,” Brown said. “Obviously it’d be great if he’s here for opening day and practicing. If he’s not, I’m more than OK with it. We have a lot of guys capable of stepping up and playing or practicing until he is ready to go.”
• Marc Berman of the New York Post: Will Amar’e Stoudemire participate fully in training camp? Doesn’t sound like it, according to Raymond Felton. Felton believes Stoudemire will be held out of much of the preseason in order to have him ready for the regular season and preserve his knees. Felton said Stoudemire is only starting to run during informal workouts and isn’t scrimmaging with the team. The Knicks’ training camp officially opens Monday. “He started running today,’’ Felton said at an Under Armour appearance. “He’s not playing. We’ll sit him out as long as we can. He’s getting shots up. We don’t need him to go hard now. Training camp isn’t that big for us. It’s more for the young guys.’’ Will Stoudemire play in preseason? “I’m not really sure,’’ Felton said.
• Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald: The Heat, looking to fill out a training camp roster, signed undrafted 6-2 rookie point guard Larry Drew III, who averaged 7.5 points and 7.3 assists and shot 44.6 percent for UCLA last season and 43.3 percent on threes. The son of the Milwaukee Bucks and former Atlanta Hawks coach, Drew impressed the Heat during workouts earlier this month. Drew, who started his college career at North Carolina and then transferred, broke Pooh Richardson's UCLA single-season assists record last season and was named first-team All Pac-12. The Heat has 13 players signed to guaranteed contracts and five to non-guaranteed deals (centers Jarvis Varnado and Justin Hamilton, forwards Michael Beasley and Eric Griffin, Drew). The Heat has told agents it might not keep the maximum 15 players, so it's highly questionable whether any of the fringe roster contenders will make it, Beasley notwithstanding.
• Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Q. One of the most interesting parts of this offseason was all the other big men that were brought in - obviously, Paul (Millsap) but also Elton (Brand), Pero (Antic) and Gustavo (Ayon). How do you see that working out? Are there minutes for everybody? Al Horford. “It’s going to be interesting. It’s really up for grabs these minutes. I think that Danny and coach Bud definitely know more than I do about some of these players and they see the potential in them. At this point, they need to blend in and fit in with us. We can’t forget about Mike Scott. He is the one who has made the most improvement that I have seen. By far he is in better shape than anyone. He is doing great. He is going to be somebody that people are going to sleep on but he’s going to be really good. He is looking great. He is in great shape. It’s about building a bond and a trust with these new bigs. We are going to have to do it by committee. There is no way around it.”
• Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News: For the Pistons organization, it was one of five “Come Together” events they’ve initiated in Detroit and the surrounding areas, which included a back-to-school drive at another Detroit school, a blood drive in Auburn Hills and a “Walk for Autism Speaks” which was held in Rochester Hills over the past two weeks. They donated computers and refurbished a library for the students, but the simple act of running through the halls and giving high-fives to every student, as Smith and rookies Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Tony Mitchell and Peyton Siva did, will likely be the lasting memory from that day in September. “It means a lot,” Smith said. “To be a blessing to other people who are less fortunate are always a bonus. Putting a smile on kids’ faces, adults, change their lives, that’s the biggest thing about being a professional athlete.” For Smith, it was another pseudo-introduction to his newest adopted home after spending virtually all of his life in Atlanta, save for his senior season in high school, when he transferred to prep powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Virginia before being drafted by his hometown Hawks in 2004. “It’s definitely a new experience, a new change,” said Smith, who spent his first nine seasons as a Hawk before signing a $54 million deal to become a Pistons this past July. “Being in Atlanta for 27 years of my life, getting acclimated to my surroundings, it’s fun.”

• Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times: It’s either smart business or a dangerous game of chicken with the hopes of landing the best player in the world in LeBron James. A long shot? Definitely, but with the Bulls at least in the conversation with James in his first decision, one that the organization has to explore. Herb Rudoy, however, said on Wednesday that choosing this path could cost the Bulls Deng come July 1, and despite Deng wanting to stay, any idea of home-town discounts if talks eventually restart are out the window. … Rudoy was asked if Forman indicated that the Bulls first wanted to try and look at bigger options before opening up talks again with Deng, and said that wasn’t relayed to him. “Of course they didn’t say they didn’t want him back, so that was never discussed,’’ Rudoy said. “I told Gar they are running the risk that someone can step up on July 1 and they can lose him. “At this point, we’re not looking to do anything except get the best deal possible. We’ll see what happens and we’ll see what’s out there. He loves Chicago, loves playing for [coach Tom] Thibodeau, really loves playing for Thibodeau, but he will look for the best offer.’’
• David Hyde of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Michael Beasley isn't just a strange signing for the Heat. He's the exact kind of player club president Pat Riley usually avoids. Do you know that kid in your class who never grew up? Who you can't reach in and re-wire? That seems to be Beasley.
• Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: In a dramatic and extraordinary move, the Miami Heat have invited their 2008 No. 2 overall NBA Draft pick Michael Beasley to training camp, with a contract that exposes the team to no binding commitment. After previously emphatically denying the possibility of a reunion following the forward's buyout release from the Phoenix Suns last week, the Heat, according to a source familiar with the situation, will bring Beasley back on a non-guaranteed, make-good contract. The agreement with Beasley comes at a time when he remains under investigation for sexual assault in Scottsdale, Ariz., for a January incident at his home there, and a month after his arrest in Scottsdale on suspicion of drug possession, after an officer detected the smell of marijuana coming from his vehicle. A source familiar with the Heat's approach said the team views the signing as a low-risk addition, citing Beasley's potential upside, noting Beasley does not turn 25 until January. To say the Heat's approach was tepid would be an understatement.
• Ethan J. Skolnick of the Palm Beach Post: Essentially, it’s a camp tryout. That’s the penance that Beasley is paying for his assorted transgressions, whether they got him on the police blotter (such as a recent arrest on suspicion of drug possession) or just in the coach’s doghouse, as was the case with the Suns. It’s not no-risk, because nothing is, not when you’re injecting anyone into a locker room, particularly someone who hasn’t shown half the maturity of most of the teammates he will be joining, and whose absence some Heat insiders have credited for his friend Mario Chalmers’ growth. But it’s certainly low risk. It’s low risk because if Beasley’s lack of seriousness is irritating Dwyane Wade, as often appeared the case on the court during their last collaboration, Miami can move on. (For what it’s worth, Wade has continued to praise Beasley’s talent publicly, while generally adding “it’s up to him” to be great.) If Beasley bristles about minutes, which figure to be scarcer than in Phoenix last season (20.7 per game), Miami can move on. If Beasley doesn’t do everything the way LeBron James demands, when James demands it, Miami can move on. And, of course, if Beasley finds himself in any additional legal trouble, Miami can move on. That’s the new Beasley plan. It’s up to him to make it work, since he has more riding on it than the Heat do.
• Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald: Talked to a Phoenix Suns person tonight who said two of Michael Beasley’s biggest problems last season were ones familiar to Heat fans: Hogging the ball at times (which frustrated teammates and his two head coaches) and deficient defense. He said teams often went to the player Beasley was defending to exploit that matchup. His efficiency and shooting percentage have either stayed the same or gone down every year. He shot 47.2 percent as a rookie, then 45, 45, 44.5 and 40.5 last season with Phoenix. He’s best from mid-range, shooting 46.1 percent from 10 to 16 feet last season, but just 30.6 percent from 3 to 10, and 34.9 from 16 feet to the three-point line. He shot just 31.3 percent on threes last season, 34.5 percent in his career. His metrics in games when he plays 20 minutes or fewer are much worse than games when he plays more --- which is largely the result of the fact that coaches will play him less if he gets off to a bad start.
• Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic: The Suns took the high-risk, low-reward approach to the Beasley signing and tried to overwhelm him with support, even up to this offseason when he stayed in Phoenix and the Suns invested in rehabilitating him. In Miami, the risk is even lower and the reward would not take much, given he is not coming in with hopes of being a leading scorer like what Phoenix wished to get . Grant HIll could have been an ideal mentor for Beasley but he left disgruntled last year and Lance Blanks tried to become Beasley’s mentor in addition to a counselor they hired for him. The Miami mentorship already showed it can work wtih Chris Andersen, who once served a two-year suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy but proved to be a critical piece for the Heat’s title run last season. The inconsistency of Beasley’s game, attention and effort will not be as exaggerated with a mature, successful team. And when he does go awry, the impact and price will not sting so much for a team counting on him little and paying him a NBA pittance. But it will still come down to the decisions Beasley makes when the good influences are not around him. Can he make logical choices, like keeping substances out of his car for a drive home in case he gets pulled over?
• Michael Lee of The Washington Post: But with training camp less than three weeks away, the Wizards and John Wall should feel encouraged that he is playing — and playing well — regardless of the venue. The success of the team will hinge on his continued development and ability to stay healthy. Wall, who recently celebrated his 23rd birthday in New York, looked like he will be ready to go full bore during training camp as he lead his Blue team to a 111-95 victory in a game that also featured NBA players Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Brandon Knight, Patrick Patterson and Terrence Jones. DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe, Wall’s good friends and former teammates for one year at Kentucky, were assistant coaches and helped get the most out of him — with a little reverse psychology. “E. Bled told me I wasn’t going to get 40, so I went to go get 40,” Wall proclaimed to reporters after the game. Wall also made an interesting declaration when asked after the game which point guard was the best to ever play for Calipari. “Me,” Wall said quickly. “That’s just my competitive edge. I’m always going to say me.” Former league most valuable player and three-time all-star Derrick Rose might disagree with Wall, but the comment was more a reflection of the confidence that Wall has begun to exude after remarkable finish to his third season, which he eventually helped him receive a five-year, $80 million extension in August.
• Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News: Rather than projecting, perhaps a more interesting discussion might be, what constitutes a superstar? Kawhi Leonard used the word this summer to describe his ultimate goal, and it’s nebulous distinction. Where, exactly, are the cut-offs from good, to great, to even better than that? Can Leonard reach the ultimate level without becoming a significantly better scorer? The list of players who have become legitimate, game-changing stars based mainly on their defense is short, and it’s almost entirely limited to centers like Bill Russell and Ben Wallace. Sure, there have been plenty of elite wings who dominated in their own way, one of the best of which was Bruce Bowen. Leonard proved his mettle during the Finals, doing about as reasonable job as could be expected against a player, LeBron James, who will go down among the five best to ever put on an NBA uniform. Thanks to the individual nature of perimeter matchups, however, it’s always going to be difficult, if not impossible, for a wing to match the macro impact of a dominant defensive big. That puts more emphasis on the scoring piece, which loops us back to the previous paragraphs: At 22, with work ethic and ambition to match his prodigious physical gifts, Leonard oozes with potential, even after already establishing himself as an impact player. But a key component of potential is that it hasn’t happened yet.
• Marcus Thompson II of The Oakland Tribune: Klay Thompson is relieved. He was bracing for another grueling season, playing big minutes and being Golden State's version of a defensive stopper. But the Warriors went out and got swingman Andre Iguodala, a known defensive talent. And they added veteran back-up Toney Douglas. Now Thompson has considerable help. … Last season, Thompson averaged 35.8 minutes -- an 11-minute average increase in playing time. What's more, while averaging 16.6 points per game, he was called upon to defend the league's best point guards to protect Stephen Curry. In the playoffs, Thompson's minutes jumped to 41.3 per game. Even for a 23-year-old gym rat, the load took its toll. That's why Thompson expressed relief that the Warriors now have two more players capable of being the defensive stopper. He said he hopes that reality helps him improve his offensive efficiency (42.2 percent from the field last season). He also said getting in better shape, improving his decision making and getting better on defense were offseason goals.
• Kerry Eggers of The Portland Tribune: After a summer of plenty of activity, many of the NBA’s Western Conference lineups have been shaken up like a good martini. For an educated opinion on which teams benefited the most by offseason moves, I sought out one-time Trail Blazer guard Steve Kerr, who offers expert analysis for TNT. Kerr’s first mention was Portland and Houston. “Those are the two that jump out at me,” he says. Portland General Manager Neil Olshey, as those of us in the Moda City know, acquired a defensive presence as starting center — Robin Lopez — along with veterans Mo Williams, Dorell Wright, Thomas Robinson and Earl Watson fortified what a year ago was in the conversation for the worst bench in recent NBA history. … My pick for the best offseason in the West is the Los Angeles Clippers, who have added J.J. Redick, Darren Collison, Jared Dudley and Antawn Jamison, along with re-signing free agent Chris Paul — the latter the most important offseason player move in all of the NBA. “Slipped my mind,” Kerr says. “I like what they’ve done a lot. Maybe their biggest acquisition was getting Doc Rivers as coach. Everything they’ve done has the potential to get them to that next step and put them up there with Oklahoma City, San Antonio and the top teams.”
• Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Jared Cunningham had a run at the White House. Three of them in fact. That's run as in a game of basketball. The Hawks guard played three seasons at Oregon State, where he was all Pac-12 first-team in 2012. He played under head coach Craig Robinson - better know as President Barack Obama's brother-in-law. Cunningham and his teammates made three trips to the White House to play a little basketball with the President. "We went to the White House, hung out with Barack, played hoops a couple of times," Cunningham said as part of an interview with the AJC Wednesday. "This past year, they went and had dinner at the White House. Unfortunately, I missed it. I wish I could have been there for that one." Cunningham has been in Atlanta working out for several days. He is trying to rebound from a disappointing rookie season where he had several injuries, most notably right knee tendinitis, and stints in the NBA Development League. Cunningham was acquired in a draft-day trade this year and hopes to earn a spot on the Hawks roster.

• Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic: Last year, the Suns became one of 15 NBA teams to embrace the analytics era by investing in SportVu Player Tracking technology to acquire a higher level of player performance analysis. Good for them. This year, the NBA reached a multi-year agreement with STATS Inc., which owns the SportVU technology, to put six cameras in every arena and become the first American pro league to quantify and analyze each in-game player movement. Good for you. The Suns were commended for getting out in front of the analytics wave, but the movement has gone mainstream. The Suns kept all the data gathered last year to themselves, but this league move is the best thing for hoop junkies since NBA League Pass. The NBA already headed this way by adding advanced stats to nba.com last year. Now, they will post unprecedented data from SportVu on its site (wonder how many points per touch Eric Bledsoe is getting?) and for use in broadcasts (“Eddie, Marcin Gortat has run the equivalent of a 5K tonight”). The Suns do not lose out because they shelled out about $100,000 for it last year, and the NBA is footing the bill for the other teams this year.
• Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Shane Battier isn't sure he's the retiring type, but considering the Miami Heat forward turned 35 Monday, he appreciates the end could be near. … Monday, before a motivational appearance with the students at St. Mark's Episcopal School, he said with his three-year contract expiring at season's end, it only makes sense to take stock. "I'm realistic to where I am at this point in my life," he said, after playing most of last season as a reserve and seeing limited action for an extended stretch of the playoffs. "I'd like to finish my contract strong with the Miami Heat, and then we'll see where we go." Battier, though, said there would not be any sort of retirement tour, with possibilities still remaining in 2014 free agency. "This door is always open," he said. "This is not a farewell tour, no. But if it is, it is. And I'll enjoy this year and try to make the most of it."
• Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman: Recently, Olajuwon spoke of both occurrences in an interview with Nike Kicks, lauding Kobe, LeBron and a few other stars who flew out to Houston for dedicated workout sessions with him. It’s in the embedded video at the bottom of this post, starting at around 5:40, and includes some interesting anecdotal quotes from Olajuwon. But toward the end of the interview, he was also asked which players, of those who haven’t trained with him yet, would benefit most from his tutelage. His answer: Blake Griffin and Kevin Durant. Why Durant? “(He’s) very skilled, but doesn’t take advantage of his height in the post,” Olajuwon said. “He’s much taller than most of the guys who guard him. He’s got all the outside game, but now he needs to take them in the post. In other words, there’s something for everybody.” Overall, Durant’s actually been pretty efficient with his back to the basket, scoring 1.04 points per post-up last season (stat via mysynergysports.com), seventh highest in the NBA. But it still feels like an underutilized part of his game, particularly (as Olajuwon said) when he has smaller players defending him. Only 10.4 percent of his offensive moves were out of the post last season. Will he do it more in the future? We’ll see. Will he work with Olajuwon to improve? Couldn’t hurt. But it’s not exactly the most pressing issue facing the 24-year-old or his team.
• Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News: There are some things Kobe Bryant can’t do. He may be fluent in English, Italian and Spanish, but Bryant noticeably struggles saying his name in Mandarin. Bryant can do everything with a basketball, except spinning one. That’s because of the fractured index finger he suffered three years ago, an injury that still hasn’t fully healed. It might be surprising to see Bryant struggle with something after mostly seeing him dominate on the court. But it’s also insightful to see him at his most vulnerable. Bryant hardly frets much about his struggles speaking Mandarin, and steal tries to speak with great enthusiasm. When the CCTV host Sa Beining asks Bryant to spin a basketball, the Lakers star didn’t seem bashful one bit in admitting he can’t do it. To which Beining offered a rightfully collective shrug. “You guys probably think Kobe can do everything, but even Kobe is human,” Beining said in Mandarin. “But so what? He’s still Kobe. Not being able to spin the ball doesn’t make him a less effective basketball player. Kobe Bryant has an indomitable spirit.”
• J. Michael of CSN Washington: Will Nene be eased back into the picture or will he be pushed full-speed ahead? The 7-footer spent the summer rehabilitating from various injuries, both shoulders, both knees and his left foot, as he split his off-season between homes in Denver and Brazil. In April, I asked Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld the same question about easing back Nene and he said that they'd consider it. Wittman: "He got in town Aug. 30. He's been on the floor. He feels good. He's had a whole summer where he didn't have to worry about the pounding and the stuff he did last summer having the injuries he did and having to play on the (Brazil) national team and never gave his body a chance to recover. He's feeling good. He looks good. I'm pretty pleased with that. I anticipate him being ready to go. When did we play our last game? Five months ago? He's done a lot of good work this summer, not only from a rest standpoint but from physical therapy. He's built his strength back up. I anticipate we'll head into the season with no restrictions." Of course, the Wizards' medical staff will be consulted on these matters but it's a good sign if Nene passes the eye test with Wittman.
• John Ried of The Times-Picayune: Pelicans veteran forward/center Jason Smith said last week that he doesn't feel pain in his surgically repaired right shoulder that forced him to miss the final 24 games last season. But he still hasn't been cleared to participate in contact work yet during volunteer workouts. Smith is hoping to be cleared just before the Pelicans open training camp. “That's best guess right now because you never know if things will flare up when you hit somebody,'' Smith said. “You put in the time to rest and recover and you put in the work to strengthened it and get back in shape. That's all I can do right now is try to get in the best shape that I can.'' Smith suffered a torn labrum during a Dec. 12 game last season against the Oklahoma City Thunder when he blocked an attempted dunk by forward Kevin Durant.
• Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: As I wrote last week, David Lighty and Eric Dawson will be non-roster training camp invites. Andonis Thomas is likely to be another invite, although nothing is official at this point. Thomas has been working out in Atlanta this offseason. He was part of the Hawks summer league roster. The 6-foot-7 small forward, an undrafted free agent out of Memphis, appeared in three summer league games. He averaged 1.3 points and 0.3 rebounds in 9.7 minutes. The Hawks have 14 players on their current roster with Lighty and Dawson coming to training camp. The Hawks will most likely add two more players and as many as four come the start of camp. Another guard and small forward could be added. I expect the Hawks to keep just 14 on the roster for the regular season. General manager Danny Ferry likes to have the flexibility of the additional roster spot. The status of Lou Williams, rehabbing from a torn ACL, is still a factor in determining the roster.
• Staff of the Pioneer Press: The Minnesota Timberwolves made official Monday the promotion of David Adelman to assistant coach and the hiring of Bobby Jackson to replace Adelman as player development coach. The son of Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman had served in the player development role for two seasons. Jackson, a former University of Minnesota standout, was an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings the last two seasons. "David is a bright young coach and has demonstrated the past two years that he is ready to take on additional responsibilities," Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders said in a statement. "In Bobby Jackson, we are bringing a Minnesota basketball icon back to our state. Bobby has the respect of players around our league and did a great job working with the young Kings players this past season. Both Rick Adelman and I are very familiar with Bobby and are excited to have him on our coaching staff."
• Bernie Augustine of the New York Daily News: Before Kent Bazemore was “Bazemoring” on the sidelines of Warriors playoff games — and in the latest version of NBA 2K14 — he was packing his bags and getting ready to play basketball professionally in the Ukraine. How quickly things can change. “I would have been living a totally different life, having a totally different experience,” he said recently. … “It takes a strong type of individual to not play but still have that type of enthusiasm,” former Warriors guard Jarret Jack said last season. “He does what he can to contribute to the team, and it’s appreciated.” Soon his celebrations became YouTube fixtures, fodder for blog posts, and features in highlight-reel shows. “It’s definitely spontaneous. I can’t even remember the first pose — the three fingers in the air — I can’t even tell you when I did it, where I did it or how it came to me. It’s just something I started doing and people ran with it,” he said, adding that he doesn’t have names for his signature moves. … “The NBA 2K franchise is all about authenticity, and we strive to include details that accurately represent all aspects of the game,” Rob Jones, NBA 2K’s producer, said. “Our goal is to make the NBA 2K14 experience as close to real life as possible, and Bazemore brings unique moves both on and off the court that serve to amplify the experience for players.” There was so much hype about Bazemore’s inclusion in the game, that his celebrations were featured in the trailer for the game, which will be released on October 1.
• Ryan Lillis of The Sacramento Bee: For weeks, Chris Hansen has been vilified by Sacramento Kings fans for financing a signature-gathering campaign to force a public vote on the city’s arena subsidy. Now the man who tried to buy the Kings and move them to Seattle is trying to make amends. On the same day Hansen and two political operatives agreed to pay a $50,000 fine to state election officials for failing to properly report the source of funding behind the ballot measure effort, Hansen announced Monday that he would “take steps to prevent” the signatures his money financed from being used. In a statement released on his website, Hansen also said a Los Angeles law firm funneled his money to the signature campaign “without my knowledge or consent.” That firm, Loeb & Loeb, paid a Tulare-based company $80,000 in June to dispatch campaign workers in Sacramento to collect petitions, according to state election regulators.
• Lynn Thompson of The Seattle Times: The State Court of Appeals today rejected a challenge to the Sodo arena brought by Longshore workers. The court upheld a trial court decision from February that found that the agreement between the city of Seattle, King County and Chris Hansen to build a new $490 million arena did not violate state environmental laws. “The memorandum does not predetermine where an arena will be built or even that an arena will be built at all,” the Division One Appeals Court three-justice panel wrote in its opinion. “Whether the city and county will agree to Hansen’s proposal is a decision expressly reserved until after environmental review is complete. Because there has not yet been a government ‘action’ as that term is defined by SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act), the courts are not a forum for the union’s opposition to Hansen’s proposal.”
• Brad Rock of the Deseret News: In the early 1970s, downtown Salt Lake was a rough place to be — downtown meaning the paint. That’s where Zelmo Beaty set up shop. The former Utah Stars center considered it his property, on both ends of the court. A good rule of thumb: Crowd him at your own risk. “If you started to encroach into some of his territory in the paint — which he considered all his territory — you might get an elbow,” former Dallas Chaparrals and Utah Stars coach Tom Nissalke said. Beaty, who passed away Aug. 27, played until he was 35, averaging 11.3 points and 9.7 rebounds in his final season, despite having had numerous knee surgeries. He worked in four markets, but especially during the four years he was in Utah, everything was Big Z’s space. He not only owned the paint, but the city and state, too. He led the Stars to the 1971 ABA championship. After jumping from the NBA to the league with the colorful basketball, he was an immediate hit. He was intimidating, effective, dedicated and best of all he had an unforgettable name.

• Doug Smith of the Toronto Star: I always found Allen Iverson to be a polarizing figure, he was self-confident to a level that some felt was off-putting but I think that’s what made him special in a lot of ways. I’m sure there was a rather substantial chip on his shoulder and he didn’t mind that everyone knew. He had a level of disdain for authority that was palpable at times, his clashes with Larry Brown were significant but those are two very strong-willed men so that shouldn’t come as too much a surprise. thing is that all the extraneous stuff — the posses, that legendary practice rant (and it was my dear friend Phil Jasner who started that, bless his soul), the tattoos, the “I’ve got to get mine” attitude — probably clouded judgement of him too much. And that’s his own fault, isn’t it? I’m not suggesting he — or anyone — should totally change the way they are just to get along or to present a false version of their character but at some point if you’re in a team sport, some bending for common good may be necessary.
• Tom Layman of the Boston Herald: Walter McCarty’s education as a coach came from a very unpopular voice here in Boston. But without it, the former Celtics reserve forward might not be answering questions as a new assistant for Brad Stevens. McCarty — who was hired by Stevens to fill out the Celtics coaching staff with Ron Adams and Micah Shrewsberry, along with holdovers Jamie Young and Jay Larranaga — spent three seasons, starting in 2007, as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville under his former C’s coach Rick Pitino. It was there where he learned the intricacies of what a coach does behind the scenes, and how to find a voice as an assistant from a guy who has brought three different programs to the Final Four. “Working for Rick Pitino taught me a lot. It really prepared me for how to prepare for opponents, how to scout games, how to teach and develop players, and how to speak and communicate with players, as well,” McCarty said from the Celtics practice facilities before a private basketball clinic with MarShon Brooks for YMCA of Greater Boston youth yesterday. “I think without those three years and that schooling, that education under Rick Pitino, I think this would have been a tough get.” … McCarty is the only assistant on Stevens’ staff with any NBA playing experience. He has one year under his belt as an assistant for Jim O’Brien with the Indiana Pacers in 2010-11, and he is hoping his 10-year resume as a player will benefit Stevens and the players in the Celtics locker room.
• Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times: As much as he (Doc Rivers) needs fresh scenery, the Clippers will need his strategizing and motivational skills to meet the high expectations they will face this season. With Blake Griffin in his prime and Chris Paul secured to a five-year, $107.3-million extension, winning a playoff round or two won't be enough for this team. Rivers must make the players' considerable individual talents add up to a cohesive whole, polish their many assets, and solidify their defense before they can be a championship contender in a rugged conference. "The expectations are great. I don't want us to shrink from that at all. I don't want us to run from that," he said. "But what we've got to get our guys to understand is expectations are one thing. Realization is a whole different thing, and just because you're expected to do anything doesn't mean you've arrived. We have not arrived. We didn't win a playoff series last year. So we have a lot of work to do as a group. We should expect to do that work. We have to expect that it's going to be much harder and we have to embrace it and do it."
• Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: LeBron James might be entitled to his opinion, but it doesn't mean Magic Johnson has to agree. Asked in a recent Fox Sports television interview to name his three greatest NBA players of all-time, the Miami Heat forward paused and then somewhat hastily went for Michael Jordan, Julius Erving and Larry Bird. Omitted and paying attention, former Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson replied Thursday on Twitter. Johnson first posted, "Lebron is entitled to his opinion, but I still think that he and I have a similar game and that's why I LOVE to watch him play!" That quickly was followed by, "NBA Championship rings are all that matter; Jordan 6, Me 5, Bird 3, LeBron 2 and Dr. J 1." … For the record, James did add that if he was asked for his top four, Johnson would have made that list. Somewhat surprised by the question asked during his charity event in Akron, Ohio, two weeks ago, James' first response was, "Michael Jordan, uh, wow . . . Michael Jordan . . . wow, this is tough . . . Michael Jordan, uh, Dr. J., Larry Bird. "You give me three? Oh my God. Three? Larry Bird, Dr. J. Michael Jordan." James said stopping at three was difficult. "I know," he said. "Can I get four? All right, Magic."
• Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer: The remaking of the 76ers continues. The team has acquired Tony Wroten from the Memphis Grizzlies Thursday for a protected second-round pick, a league source confirmed. This pick is based on where the Sixers, who are expected to struggle, finish in the standings. As a result, they basically surrendered nothing for Wroten, a 2012 first-round selection. “Just want to say thank you to ALL the Memphis Grizzlies fans, coaches, etc.,” Wroten tweeted Thursday. “I love the city of Memphis. Will always have love for you guys. GnG.” The 6-foot-5 point guard later tweeted ‘Where the homie @MeekMill at? LOL” before tweeting “Philly Philly Philly. City Of Brotherly Love. #215.” Robert Williams, better known as Meek Mill, is a rap artist from Philadelphia. The source said this move was about acquiring Wroten’s 1.1 million salary. Including his pay, the Sixers have around $41.2 million of salary guaranteed to 10 players for the upcoming season. NBA teams must have a minium payroll of $52.811 million. The Grizzlies needed to make this trade to shed salary and open up a roster spot.
• Kevin Nielson of Sportsnet.ca: Heading into the final year of his contract and with a new management team to answer to, Dwayne Casey’s tenuous future in Toronto will likely come down to the play of three wing players: Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan and Terrence Ross. Gay has seen his three-point shooting plummet from his career high (39.6 per cent) in 2010-11 to 32.3 per cent last season. The Raptors forward had off-season eye surgery to correct an astigmatism, and Casey is hoping this will help his star forward rediscover his outside shot. … Many believe that the outside combo of Gay and DeRozan is doomed to fail as neither has the ability to stretch the floor from long range. While Gay was bad from beyond the arc, DeRozan was terrible (28.3 percent), especially for a player whose position has the word ‘shoot’ in the title. … While Casey acknowledged Ross’ potential, the old-school coach will not reward him with minutes based on potential alone. The Raptors coach is looking for more consistency from the sophomore forward.
• Nat Newell of The Indianapolis Star: The Indiana Pacers always-engaging center Roy Hibbert is back at it on social media. After sending out a picture following a workout in San Antonio earlier in the week in which he dwarfed Tim Duncan, Hibbert put pictures of himself in an airplane bathroom on Instagram. The answer? He doesn't. He wrote with the photo, on his accountroyhibbert55,” “I'm not one to take selfies but I know y'all were wondering how I fit in an airplane bathroom and the answer is ... I don't. #crampedlife”
• Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News: The NBA could award the All-Star Game in 2015 to the Garden and have its All-Star weekend events leading up to the game held in Brooklyn, but there won’t be a decision on the specifics for another few weeks, according to well-placed league sources. The Garden and Barclays Center continue to be in discussions with the league, with each entity looking to host the weekend’s main event — the 64th All-Star Game. “It hasn't been finalized,” one source said Thursday night. The league plans on making a decision by mid- to late September. The idea of having the Knicks and Nets co-host the weekend has been known since last February. It’s also possible that the All-Star Game could return to New York before 2020, with the game hosted by the Nets and the Knicks having the Friday and Saturday night events. The 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend will be held in New Orleans.
• Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun: Canada dropped the opener of the Tutu Marchand Continental Cup to host Puerto Rico on Thursday night. The tournament is a tune-up for next week’s FIBA Americas Championship, where four berths will be earned for next year’s FIBA World Cup in Spain. Minnesota guard J.J. Barea lit up the Canadians with 23 points and eight assists, helping Puerto Rico to a 40-30 half-time edge by notching 15 through two quarters. Orlando forward Andrew Nicholson paced the visitors with 21 points and Cleveland big man Tristan Thompson was excellent with 10 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes of play. Canada closed within three heading into the final quarter, before a 10-2 run made the deficit too great to erase. Another tough opponent in Argentina awaits Canada on Friday.
• Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: It has been a busy offseason for Lou Williams. The Hawks guard has been rehabbing a torn ACL and hopes to be ready for the start of training camp. He also has been in a studio recording his recently released mixtape entitled 'Here Goes Nothin' under the name Lou Will. There are 16 tracks and the mixtape features other artists including 2 Chainz, Meek Mill, The Casey Boys from Jagged Edge, K. Michelle and Quez from Travis Porter. I listened to the tracks for language and content. Nothing major. I will leave the reviews to you and those far more qualified. Williams announced the release of the mixtape via Twitter Tuesday.

• Brad Rock of the Deseret News: I believed this in June and I haven’t changed my mind: The Jazz didn’t have a lot of options. They knew where they were going with the Jefferson-Millsap approach – mid-to-low end of the conference. Better to roll the dice. It’s going to be painful and with what they have now, it won’t be smooth. They’re at least two All-Stars away from being serious, maybe more. In fact, Mehmet Okur, Andrei Kirilenko and Devin Harris were All-Stars and even played on the same Jazz teams. They didn’t go far. Neither will this team, as it stands. I know it’s early, but this might be a good time for Jazz fans to temper expectations. Sports Illustrated can see that from a distance. From up close, it might have looked better a couple of months ago than it really was.
• Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic: Injuries almost have turned Malcolm Lee into an NBA stranger. Lee logged barely more games in two years with the Minnesota Timberwolves (35) than he did as a UCLA junior (33). He has undergone two surgeries on each knee and a hip surgery and was acquired in June by the Suns mostly because they had to take on his contract to move up one draft spot for Archie Goodwin. Lee, 23, is trying to make sure you have not seen the last of him. Or that you are about to see the first of him. He has been in Phoenix for the past month, working with Suns athletic trainers with the belief that he will be ready to participate when the team heads to Flagstaff for training camp on Sept. 30. He has a guaranteed $884,000 contract, but the Suns also will have 15 other guaranteed contracts with a maximum of 15 regular-season roster spots. The Suns believe in Lee’s talent, but it is a matter of the 6-foot-5 guard’s health and whether he can recapture his athleticism and show his defensive aptitude.
• Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times: Kobe Bryant continued to push his way back from a torn Achilles tendon, releasing a video of his workout via Instagram on Monday. The clip shows Bryant running on the Alter-G, the weight-bearing treadmill. While he has been walking on the Alter G for some time during his recovery, Bryant has clearly increased his pace. The Lakers All-Star guard was injured April 12 in a win over the Golden State Warriors. He had surgery the following day. While touring China, Bryant said he has "shattered" his recovery timetable, but more recently, Bryant said he's not sure if he'll make it back in time for opening night (Oct. 29). The original timetable for his recovery was six to nine months. Bryant also tweeted that he won't forget about what was said and written since his injury.
• Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune: Q: Is this job harder than you thought it’d be? Flip Saunders: No. When I coached, I was always pretty active in the personnel side of things. Were there some challenges? Yeah, there were, challenges trying to change the culture — how we operate internally and externally — so all parties understand what you’re trying to do. Q: Anything you understand now about the job that you didn’t four months ago? Flip Saunders: I don’t think so. People talk about the importance of the agents and how they can dictate things; I believe my year with ESPN helped me tremendously in dealing with media and even agents. You understand these people have an agenda and you have to respect what their agenda is. It might not be the same as yours, and you might not like what they’re doing, but it’s not out of spite to you. It’s because they have a job to do. You have to respect that. I understand that more now, and I don’t take it maybe as seriously, to be honest, as I would have in the past. Q Any roster needs you still need to address? Flip Saunders: I don’t think we have any needs. Right now, talking to Rick, we feel comfortable with the roster we have. Not only is it balanced, but we feel we have talent at every position. I’ve talked a lot about this team and there are pretty good players out there we don’t even talk about right now: Derrick Williams, J.J. Barea, Dante Cunningham. When you put all those guys together with who we’ve added, you’ve got to feel comfortable.
• Gary Dzen of The Boston Globe: Based on this team's current roster, do you see them winning more than 30 games? This means last place in the East. Larry, Tallahassee, Fla. Have you seen the Bobcats play, Larry? In all seriousness, 30 is a good number to debate. Fans seem to be all over the place on where this team finishes, but I'm in the camp that the losses of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, as well as Rajon Rondo's recovery from knee surgery, leave the Celtics in a bad spot. Add in a new coach and a repetitive roster I'll go jus over and say the Celtics win 31 games. That leaves them out of the playoffs but maybe ahead of the Bobcats.
• Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com: We're in the midst of what is considered the slow time of the NBA offseason. It's a place in time where Ivan Johnson thought he would have had his next stop locked up already. But he isn't expected to be available past August. A source close to the power forward informed CSNNW.com that Johnson is issuing NBA teams a two-week deadline to come up with a reasonable offer. If no NBA offer presents itself, Johnson will bite on one of his several overseas offers. The source who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of these talks says, “Johnson will be fine either way, as long as he is playing the game of basketball.” The New York Knicks were one of the NBA teams inquiring about Johnson early on, however they have not reached out at the same regularity, another source told CSNNW.com.
• Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Monday proved to be a day of minor details for the Miami Heat, both halfway around the world and halfway across the country. In Australia, Heat second-round acquisition James Ennis, the swingman out of Long Beach State, was introduced as the newest member of the Perth Wildcats. In Sioux Falls, S.D., Heat scout Pat Delany was introduced as coach and Heat Director of Player Personnel Adam Simon as general manager of the NBA Development League Skyforce, the Heat's minor-league affiliate. In addition, Heat player-development coach/advance scout Octavio De La Grana was confirmed as an assistant coach for Delany. To a degree, the events were related, with Ennis bypassing the opportunity to play for the Heat's D-League affiliate in favor of a more lucrative contract in Australia. Both Ennis and Perth coach Trevor Gleeson downplayed the opt-out in Ennis' Wildcats contract that would allow him to return to the Heat at any point if summoned this season.
• Ben Standig of CSN Washington: As for a return to Washington, it seemed highly unlikely even from the moment the Wizards acquired him (Jason Collins) from the Celtics in a deal for Jordan Crawford. It still does especially since there isn't actually a roster spot to spare after Al Harrington's signing brought the roster to full capacity with 15 members. It still would even if the team opened space by trading one of their frontcourt options elsewhere. Then again, the playoff-pushing Wizards would arguably be better off with a third center, even one with no scoring prowess, rather than a plethora of young forwards whose respective NBA roles remain rather undefined. Teammates last year praised Collins' ability to set screens in the context of helping the team produce points even if said points rarely came directly under the names Collins. Since many assume Nene will miss a chunk of the season at some point for some ailment, why not have another big man option. Until or if the Wizards make another move that opens up a roster spot, there is nothing to ponder. Even then, not so much, or even a little.
• Rustin Dodd of The Wichita Eagle: Thomas Robinson averaged just 4.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 15.9 minutes before the Kings shipped him to Houston in a late February trade. If the situation is Sacramento was untenable, the stint in Houston wasn’t much smoother. The Rockets had a logjam at power forward, and when the franchise had a chance to sign free agent center Dwight Howard this offseason, the team sent Robinson to Portland in a salary-dump move. “Up and down,” Robinson said, “rookie roller coaster.” For now, though, the ride appears to have slowed down a bit, and Robinson will have the opportunity for a fresh start with the Trail Blazers. He’ll join a young core that includes power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and point guard Damian Lillard, the league’s reigning rookie of the year. And most importantly, Robinson says, he finally feels wanted. “They’re constantly behind me,” Robinson said. “I’ve been up and down through my rookie year (with) two teams already. So for them to come in and make me feel like it’s gonna be a home for me is definitely a big deal.”
• Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban is certainly one of the most influential people in the Dallas area and when it comes to the NBA, he’s got lots of clout, too. On Tuesday, he’ll be unveiled as a mover and shaker in the world of mixed martial arts when USA Today names the “25 Most Powerful People in MMA.” Cuban checked in at 13th, along with Andrew Simon, who is his CEO of Fights at AXS TV. The pair turned then-HDNet into a home for MMA bouts back in the early days of the sport, seeing an opportunity. As two of the pioneers of giving the sport a platform for exposure, Cuban and Simon understood from the start the popularity that MMA would gain and gave the sport instant credibility. “If we weren’t going to be great at it, there was no reason to do it,” Cuban said in the special edition of MMAjunkie.com magazine, which produced a first-time print edition of 70 pages to chronicle the 25 heavyweights of the sport.
• Tony Bizjak and Ryan Lillis of The Sacramento Bee: Sacramento's arena war hit new levels of intensity this week after Seattle financier Chris Hansen was revealed as the secret source of money for a petition drive to put the city's arena plans to a public vote. Seizing on outrage at the news, arena supporters took to the streets Saturday, hanging more than 1,000 fliers on front doors asking residents who signed the petitions to withdraw their signatures. "Don't let Seattle money steal away our chance at 4,000 jobs for Sacramento!" the fliers urged. Arena backers, a group that includes many of the city's prominent business people and politicians, argue the Seattle funding offers proof that the two-month-old petition drive is really an attempt to derail the city's downtown arena plans and push the Kings out of town. Yet Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork, the group behind the ballot measure, insists it is a homegrown effort, aimed at giving voters a voice. Its leaders today vowed to come back fighting - possibly with a local fundraising effort.

• Stephens Haynes of Newsday: The timing couldn't have been scripted better in a sitcom. As Raymond Felton discussed Paul Pierce's inflammatory comments about the heightened rivalry between the Knicks and Nets, a young boy, as if on cue, walked by him wearing -- what else? -- a Paul Pierce jersey. Felton laughed ... then sounded off in round 2 of the verbal sparring match. "Paul Pierce said the Nets are gonna take over the city," the Knicks point guard said with a smirk Sunday. "It's hard for you to take over the city when we've got 'New York' on our chest and you've got 'Brooklyn' on yours. It's been this way since long before he started playing." Felton fanned a flame initially sparked by Pierce last week when the new Net told Complex magazine that he hates the Knicks "with a passion" and wanted to "start the beef." … Felton said the trash talk is "all in fun." He took a jab at the Nets last week in Slam magazine, suggesting the expectations for them should be tempered because "they're not going to have the youth that they had last year."
• Brian Manzullo of the Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond shot 37.1 percent from the free throw line last year. But don’t expect the center to significantly change up his strategy as he enters his second year. ESPN writer Ethan Sherwood Strauss pleaded with Drummond last Friday to start shooting free throws under-handed like Hall of Famer Rick Barry did in the 1970s. “If your free throw shooting doesn't improve like Joe Dumars hopes it will, please consider shooting them underhand. Of all the players who have been in this position, you’re uniquely suited to the dramatic style change,” Strauss wrote. He later said: “You’re unique, funny, and increasingly popular among fans, who see you as an antidote to the buttoned-down athlete cliché. If you adopt something as retro-cool as the underhand free throw, fans will love you for it. Make it your signature.” This prompted Drummond to respond Saturday afternoon on Twitter: “Let me make this clear.... I’m not shooting free throws underhand.. #Relax”
• Jeff Caplan of NBA.com: Sports, science and technology are converging at an all-time pace and eight NBA teams are experimenting with a new device designed to optimize and personalize training regiments, thus the ability to maximize performance and reduce injury. The San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and New York Knicks, plus four other teams that have chosen to keep their identities secret, have invested in these complex GPS tracking devices created by the Australian company Catapult Sports, the self-professed leader in “athlete analytics.” “We just want to be able to get smarter about our players and how to train them and how to put them in a position to succeed,” said Mavs owner Mark Cuban. “So that’s just one component of a lot of different things that we’re doing.” The device, called OptimEye, is roughly the size of an oldfangled beeper and athletes wear it inside their jerseys on the upper back between the shoulder blades. The device records literally every movement the player makes, accurately measuring exertions such as distance, velocity, changes of direction, acceleration, deceleration, jumps, heart rate and more. … Cuban said he’s considering using it during the NBA’s preseason in October. He said he has not yet been advised against it by the league.
• Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times: Sad note for talk-show hosts: Mike D'Antoni isn't turning up his car radio to hear you and your faithful listeners destroy him. "Hell, no," D'Antoni said on a sunny Manhattan Beach afternoon, plenty of time before rush-hour shows typically unleash another round of venom aimed at the Lakers' coach. These are trying times to be a Lakers fan in Los Angeles, the playoffs hardly a guarantee next season as the Clippers continue their assumed ascension past the 16-time NBA champions. Naturally, many of the verbal arrows get fired at the affable D'Antoni in comments at the end of online stories, letters to the editor and the above-mentioned airwaves. No, the specter of Phil Jackson never quite left the Lakers. "I think anybody that comes in here the next 10, 15 years, it's going to be that way," D'Antoni said. "I don't think there is any doubt that he was so good and so large and he's still sitting out there. Had that bothered me, I shouldn't have taken the job because you know it's going to be there. I wasn't stupid enough to think that, 'Oh, they won't remember him.' Sure they will. It doesn't really affect what we do day-to-day and how we approach the game."
• Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune: The signing of center Nikola Pekovic to a five-year, $60 million Timberwolves contract is a reminder that Kevin McHale’s legacy as the team’s general manager is still playing out. In January 2006, McHale sent Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi, Dwayne Jones and a future first-round draft pick to Boston for Ricky Davis, Marcus Banks, Justin Reed and Mark Blount along with Boston’s 2006 second-round draft pick and the Miami Heat’s 2008 second-round pick, which Boston had acquired in an earlier trade. In 2008 McHale used that second-round pick from Boston, via Miami, to select Pekovic 31st overall. The Star Tribune reported on that draft night that McHale and the Wolves received offers of cash or protected future first-round picks as teams tried to get the obtain that selection. Everyone knew Pekovic was a lottery-type talent but he had contract issues in Europe that were going to be tough to resolve. He lasted until the second round to avoid the rookie contract scale.
• Michael Pointer of The Indianapolis Star: Paul George and his representatives did not want to discuss it on Thursday, perhaps understandable in such a public forum. But unless something catastrophic happens, there’s no way he’s leaving the Pacers anytime soon. First, people seem to be forgetting he will be a restricted free agent. The Pacers can match any offer and there’s no way they are going to let one of the 10 or 15 best players in the NBA walk, even in a sign-and-trade. He’s only 23 and his best basketball is ahead of him. The only way that might change is, heaven forbid, George suffers a serious injury this season. And two, George understands what he has in Indianapolis. He realizes he could be the next Reggie Miller in terms of leaving a legacy here. Heck, he would leave an even greater legacy if he was the man to lead the Pacers to a NBA title or two. Getting involved with Riley is one way of showing he wants to play a larger role in the community. I’ve learned anything is possible in 20-plus years of covering sports, but the idea of him leaving Indiana makes no sense at this point. At all.
• Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic: Eric Bledsoe has keys to the Parker High School gym in Birmingham, Ala. When he is not working on his leadership by bossing around his little brother at home, he said he spends part of each day working out alone at the gym. “Work,” Bledsoe said of how he has spent his time since the trade. “I’m trying to get better, even better than I did last year. Coming off the bench, I did a lot. I’m trying to increase that 10 times more. Just coming in and having a big impact in the game. “I just try to go as hard as I would in a real game. So when a real game comes, it makes it 10 times easier. I try to do intense everything. Shooting, I try to give 110 percent. Dribbling the basketball. Thinking the game. I just try to do it 110 percent so when the game comes it’s a lot easier.” Bledsoe said James’ comment was an honor that made him want to work harder. An honor missing from that Parker High gym might be doing the same. Bledsoe’s high school jersey has yet to be retired. “Not yet,” he said. Bledsoe, who returned to Phoenix to be part of the uniform unveiling Thursday night, plans to come back to the Valley for good one or two weeks before players are required to report on Sept. 30.
• Tom Moore of phillyBurbs.com: Evan Turner knows expectations are low for the 2013-14 76ers. Turner understands that ESPN.com picked the Sixers to finish with a 20-62 record and last in the Eastern Conference. He’s heard the talk about losing being best for the franchise’s future because they could get a top draft pick next June. During an interview at his Evan Turner Basketball ProCamp on Saturday at New Hope-Solebury High School, Turner said he doesn’t subscribe to that point of view. And, based on his Friday night telephone conversation with new coach Brett Brown, Brown doesn’t, either. “I told him, ‘Everybody wants to be in tank mode and thinks we’re going to lose. I intend on trying to win as much as possible because losing’s too easy,’ ” Turner said. “He said, ‘Well, they got the wrong coach if we’re going to go out and lose on purpose. We want to compete and get better.’ ”
• Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: The Oklahoma City Thunder, many have decided, has taken a step back. The Western Conference, according to some, has caught up. A relatively quiet summer by the Thunder has led many to come to these conclusions. Oklahoma City let sixth man Kevin Martin walk in free agency and didn't splurge on any splashy free agent signings to replace him. The Thunder also selected four largely unknown commodities in the NBA draft, none of whom figure to be rotational players next season. But don't be surprised if the prevailing perception falls short of reality when the games begin. Lost in this summer's extolling of other teams' activity is this simple but significant truth: most every Western Conference playoff contender that added a major player lost a major player. … History has proved that playoff success generally takes time and trust, chemistry and continuity. The Thunder, more than any other team outside of San Antonio, has those things.
• Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The results are in. The departure of Josh Smith will have the biggest impact on the Hawks next season, according to the respondents of the poll I posted earlier this week of this blog. It was a narrow victory. The departure of Smith, who left via free agency for the Pistons in a four-year, $54 million deal, earned 34 percent of the vote. The hire of Mike Budenholzer as head coach earned 33 percent of the vote. Those two choices accounted for two-thirds of the vote. … It is interesting to note that the loss of Smith received far more votes than the signing of his replacement Millsap. … My vote would have gone to the hire of Budenholzer. To me, that will have the biggest impact of how the Hawks fare next season in terms of the offensive and defensive schemes the team will employ, how he will utilize the roster that he had a role in assembling and how he responds to his opportunity and learning curve as a head coach after serving as a long-time assistant.
• John Reid of The Times-Picayune: Michael Stanfield, the Pelicans' senior vice president of sales, said the franchise has already sold more than 11,000 season-ticket packages in advance of the regular-season opener Oct. 30 against the Indiana Pacers at the New Orleans Arena. The franchise's sales record for season tickets came in 2008-09 when it sold 11,800 the season after the team won a franchise-record 56 games and clinched its first Southwest Division title. But Stanfield predicts by October, the Pelicans will have 12,000 season-ticket holders. Stanfield said all of the new lodge box suites in the lower bowl at the Arena have been sold. The Pelicans also have more than 1,000 group sales commitments after having only 500 last season. … With a potential lineup that includes forward Anthony Davis, Eric Gordon, Evans and Holiday, the Pelicans are expected to improve significantly after finishing 27-55 last season and missing the playoffs the past two seasons.
• Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald: Greg Oden's agent, Mike Conley Jr., said the parties involved changed their mind and decided that Oden would sign a one-year deal with the Heat, without a second-year player option as originally planned. Conley said that helps Oden (because of a league ruling involving injury contingency language in his contract) and helps the Heat because Miami would not be burdened with his contract in 2014-15 --- and potentially $3 million in luxury tax payments -- if he suffers another major injury this season.
• Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe: Anthony Bennett is part of the Canadian Basketball program along with Celtics rookie Kelly Olynyk, Thompson, and potential 2014 first overall pick Andrew Wiggins. Team Canada could be a threat to medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics and potentially challenge the USA in 2020. “I just feel seeing a couple of Canadian guys, Tristan and Cory [Joseph] get drafted, everybody started taking it serious,” Bennett said. “A lot of other guys are going to prep school, just getting prepared for college, and it’s a great thing.”
• Tom Couzens of The Sacramento Bee: Living in the Sacramento region, we've grown accustomed to the world of politics – especially the sometimes dirty politics surrounding campaign contributions and political action committees. Still, we were shocked – to put it mildly – about Friday's revelations that Chris Hansen was the mystery donor behind the signature-gathering effort to force a vote on the use of public funds for a new Kings arena. Yes, that Chris Hansen, the man who secretly made a deal with the Maloofs to buy the Kings with the intention of moving them to Seattle. Yes, that Chris Hansen, who in defeat congratulated Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and "Sacramento's dedicated fan base" and later said during a radio interview he regretted trying to lure the Kings to Seattle. Five weeks after the NBA board of governors nixed his plan to buy the Kings, Hansen contributed $100,000 on June 21 to the petition drive to put the arena funding plan on the ballot next June. Even in Sacramento, that's outrageous. … Hansen comes off as a rich, spoiled kid who isn't used to losing and doesn't know how to handle rejection. It's time for Hansen to grow up – and stay away.

• Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News: Yesterday, a source close to the situation confirmed to the Daily News that Brett Brown, who spent the past seven seasons on the bench as an assistant coach to Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, had reached an agreement in principle for a 4-year contract to become the eighth head coach in the past 11 seasons. "He's going to be a great coach, he's really knowledgeable, has great energy, great vision at both ends of the court and a great way with players," said Mike Budenholzer, who was an assistant with Brown in San Antonio before taking the Atlanta head coaching job in late May. "Players respect him. He's demanding but they love him. He's got a great sense of humor but he's a great competitor, too. The competitive nature for Brett may be with his good nature, but he's a tough, competitive dude and that's more important to him than anything. In that city he's a fit, because he's blue-collar and he's a tough dude. He's a competitive person in every way, shape and form at every moment. At this level everyone is a competitor, but Brett has that extra level of competitiveness." Brown met with Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie on Wednesday last week in New York. It wasn't the first meeting between the two as Hinkie, then an assistant GM with the Houston Rockets, met with Brown for a position with that team a couple years ago.
• K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: Kirk Hinrich played golf Monday, helping promote the PGA Tour's BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club Sept. 12-15 with a charity event that also included Northwestern coach Chris Collins. In two months, Hinrich's real sport will take center stage. A much-anticipated Bulls season will take place with the return of Derrick Rose. Fans aren't the only ones excited. "I’m very excited," Hinrich said. "We have most of our guys back. We had some great additions. The anticipation of Derrick coming back healthy and it sounds like he’s motivated. We think we have a very good chance." Hinrich and Rose spent the early portion of this offseason working out at the Berto Center.
• Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune: Newly signed Kevin Martin won’t play with the Timberwolves until October, but he reached out a veteran leader’s hand to first-round draft pick Shabazz Muhammad after the former UCLA star got kicked out of the NBA’s rookie orientation program for breaking the rules. Martin asked the Wolves for Muhammad’s phone number and called him for a chat. So, too, did Wolves President of Basketball Operations Flip Saunders after Muhammad was sent home after the first of four scheduled days to having a woman in his room. The program’s rules say no guests are allowed. “We talked,” Saunders said. “The biggest thing in any situation where there are rules and guidelines, you have to abide by them. That shows discipline. As I explained to him, part of being successful at our level is being disciplined, both on and off the court … He didn’t have much to say. He was very apologetic and just felt extremely disappointed in himself. We talked about his situation and his past, so you have to take what is a negative and turn it into a positive.” Muhammad likely will be fined by the league and will have to return next summer with the 2014 rookie class to complete the program. … Saunders said the team will not impose any punishment. “This is a league situation,” he said.
• John Brannen of the Houston Chronicle: Summer school has started for Dwight Howard. The reputation of his professors should draw the envy of every other big man in the NBA. Former Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon was hired by the team to mentor Howard shortly after the free agent signing. After some hijinks in Aspen, Colo., Howard has returned and is getting to work with the Hall of Famer. Jason Friedman of Rockets.com posted several pictures of Howard, coach Kevin McHale and Olajuwon during a workout Monday at Toyota Center.
• Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Hawks’ first-round draft pick Lucas Nogueira will remain in Spain next season to continue his development. The native of Brazil will play another year with Asefa Estudiantes Madrid while the Hawks maintain his rights. The seven-foot center, taken with the 16th overall selection in June’s NBA draft, was caught in a crowded frontcourt after a number of offseason moves that included the additions of Paul Millsap, Elton Brand, Pero Antic and Gustavo Ayon. The team’s frontcourt also includes Al Horford and Mike Scott. “We are very encouraged by what we’ve seen from Lucas this summer,” general manager Danny Ferry told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Monday. “Going back to Estudiantes will allow him to continue develop while also playing meaningful minutes against very good competition. We will closely monitor his progress as he works towards his goals as a basketball player.”
• Buddy Collings of the Orlando Sentinel: Former Lake Howell standout Nick Calathes flew to Memphis, Tenn., with his fiancee on Monday, prepared to finalize a two-year contract with the Grizzlies of the NBA. He texted the Sentinel on Monday night to say he will undergo a physical and sign a contract on Tuesday. Calathes' father, John, said his son is ready to live a lifelong dream of playing in the NBA after four pro seasons in Europe. "He's a Memphis Grizzly," the father said. "As far as Nick is concerned, it's a done deal, and as far as Memphis is concerned, it's a done deal. Nick is very much wanting to do this. He's a competitor, and this is what he's always dreamed of. He and Tiffany were supposed to fly up there on Sunday, but Nick was really sick over the weekend. They waited a day."
• Beckley Mason of The New York Times: In a basic sense, Udrih fills an obvious roster need. WithJason Kidd gone to coach the Nets and Pablo Prigioni, the incumbent backup point guard, well past his prime at 36, the Knicks sorely needed another ballhandler and shooter. Kidd’s final month as a Knick, in which he made only three shots in 12 playoff games, was memorable only for how badly he struggled. But Kidd was a key cog in the Knicks’ rotation throughout the regular season because he allowed Woodson to play three guards, and sometimes three point guards, at the same time. These small lineups fueled the Knicks’ fun and productive offensive style. Tyson Chandler and Carmelo Anthony are the Knicks’ two best and most important players, but neither is a great passer. To create an efficient offense that promotes good spacing and ball movement, Woodson often filled out the rest of the lineup with savvy passers adept at running the pick-and-roll. Udrih’s well-rounded offensive game makes him a natural for such a role.
• Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune: With verification in hand, Lucas is still looking for validation. He backed up his strong two seasons in Chicago with a nondescript year in Toronto, averaging 5.3 points in 13.1 minutes per game. Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey had a bigger pool of information from which to draw, however. He knew Lucas since he was a child, and Lindsey worked for the Houston Rockets. Lucas II ran the tennis club where the Rockets practiced, and Lindsey became acquainted with his sons. And that’s part of the undeniable truth about John Lucas III, which is no different from any story about a son following his father’s footsteps into business. For all that Lucas III overcame on his own and accomplished through his own hard work and dedication, it was on a trail previously blazed by the men in his family. "It was a gift and a curse, too," Lucas said, "because people would be like, ‘He’s just there because his dad was in the NBA.’ But it’s not like that. I knew a lot of coaches’ kids and players’ kids who don’t have that shot." Lucas is known for being a fearless shooter, even to a fault. But that doesn’t necessarily equate to being selfish. "I know in Chicago all his teammates loved him," Thibodeau said. "I think his confidence comes from his work." And that is Lucas’ defining characteristic. "At the end of the day," he said, "I want people to know I worked hard. My dad didn’t pull any strings for me. He never did, he never would."
• Dan Steinberg of The Washington Post: When I first wrote about John Wall’s offseason tattoos, I included a warning that more ink was in the offing. “I think he’s gonna finish his back and probably get the rest of his chest done,” his tattoo artist, Randy Harris, told me then. “He’s going to get more before the season. Trust me. You’ll see me up in Washington.” Eventually, of course, we saw images of Wall’s “Great Wall” back tattoo. And also, a certain famous columnist was put off by the body art, not really because of the art, per se, but because of what it represented in some grander sense of growth and expectations and public statements and other things like that. Now, I love that certain famous columnist dearly. But in case he’s looking for a hot take on Wall’s newest body art, I do have a few suggestions: * “No time for sleep?” That seems like a poor pledge for an athlete, who would be better served treating his body as a temple, a temple that needs at least eight hours of sleep a night, plus mid-afternoon naps. Also, not sleeping is a poor example for today’s youth. The owl may be a symbol for wisdom and nocturnal efficiency in some lands, but “in Slavonic cultures, owls were believed to announce deaths and disasters,” according tothis article on The Owl Pages. Another story here says “in Czech folklore the owl, sýcek, is a bird of ill-omen.”
• Dwight Jaynes of CSNNW.com: I find myself in an unlikely position today. I'm not in any way a music reviewer or even an expert. I listen to a lot of stuff, some of it weird and some of it mainstream. But I know what I like. And by now, I think everyone knows I write -- and say -- what I think without a worry of offending anyone. I don't suck up to anybody, either, including the billionaire who owns the Portland Trail Blazers. And I am here to tell you today that I'm very much impressed with the music on Paul Allen's new album -- or more appropriately, the new album, "Everywhere at Once" by Paul Allen and the Underthinkers. … And if I may make a personal plea right now -- Paul, we really need a Rose Garden concert with this group of yours. I bought the album and I'd buy a ticket to a concert, too. And I can't think of any better endorsement than that.
• Doug Smith of the Toronto Star: It’s got to be a little bit like herding cats for Cory Joseph and other point guards trying to run the national men’s basketball team, getting players of wide-ranging skill levels and experience to put aside past learned behaviour and coalesce into some kind of smooth-running unit. There isn’t an abundance of time, about three weeks of practice and only a handful of games, and the stakes — a spot in next summer’s basketball World Cup — are huge. Joseph knows it’s a bit of a rush job and may not always look like it’s consistently successful right now but when the bright lights go on later this month in Venezuela, he’s confident all the kinks will have been worked out. “As a team we’re doing OK,” the San Antonio Spurs guard said Monday. “Obviously there are still some things we’re learning about each other but we’ll have it down pat before the tournament. “It’s keeping everyone together, making sure we’re all on the same page and taking advantage of everybody’s skills.” The point guard spot is providing one of the most intriguing battles for the team, which will join nine others at the qualification tournament in Caracas chasing four spots in next year’s World Cup in Spain.
• Michael Hunt of the Journal Sentinel: Seriously, I haven't been this enthused about seeing their product in at least a decade. It is encouraging that basketball decisions are finally being independently made by basketball people. The completely new direction of stripping down, going young, building around two talented big guys and reining in the payroll for the day when they might again become competitive has to be a welcomed change by anyone who understands the dynamics of small-market NBA realities. Think of it this way: Who would've imagined a year ago this time, as our Charles F. Gardner put it, that O.J. Mayo's pedestrian salary would be the team's highest?

• Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: When Jeff Teague’s phone rang Saturday – while on a Harry Potter themed amusement park ride in Orlando – he answered. Hawks general manager Danny Ferry was calling with news that the team intended to match the four-year, $32 million offer sheet from the Bucks. Teague would remain in Atlanta. “He said they were going to match the offer and we’re glad to have you back,” Teague told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I held on a little bit, got off the ride and we started talking a little bit more.” Just three days earlier, Teague had expressed to Ferry his desire to move on. The restricted free agent was unhappy with the progress of negotiations and he was impressed by the interest the Bucks showed. He also wanted an opportunity to reunite with former Hawks coach Larry Drew. Teague said he is happy to remain a Hawk. He showed up at the team’s Las Vegas Summer League game Monday night and there were hugs all around – from Ferry, teammates John Jenkins and Mike Scott, coaches and support personnel. “It’s a process,” Teague said. “I understood that going into it. I was a restricted free agent and I knew that all along. I was happy either way. I’m glad to be back in Atlanta. It’s been home for four years. It’s time to get back to work. There is no bad blood. We are all professionals.” Teague said he was encouraged by the faith the Hawks showed in him by matching the offer sheet.
• Doug Smith of the Toronto Star: The topic will come up over the course of a long NBA season because coaches in the final year of their contracts are constantly reminded about it. But Dwane Casey is not going to play along — no way, no how, no chance. He made that crystal clear here Monday afternoon, months before training camp even begins, the time when the questions about his future could become almost a daily occurrence. “I’m going to say this and I’m not going to talk about it again: I could care less about three years on the contract, four years on the contract, I’m going to be the same coach,” he said after the Raptors played an informal scrimmage with the Washington Wizards on a Summer League off-day. “This year, I’m going to coach the way I want to coach, to coach the way that puts us in the best position to win.” In case no one’s been paying attention, Casey is in the third year of a three-year deal and is now working for a different general manager than the one that originally signed him.
• Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald: When the C’s yesterday introduced three of the four players they received in exchange for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry, that word was once again in circulation. And Keith Bogans wasn’t too happy about that. “A negative like that — tanking to lose — if I get a vibe like that in anybody’s attitude, I’m going to have an attitude,” said Bogans, who sat next to MarShon Brooks and Kris Humphries during yesterday’s press conference. The fourth former Net, Gerald Wallace, was not in attendance due to a commitment with his annual basketball camp in Alabama. Indeed, Bogans found it hard to believe that losing in the name of the lottery, even one as preordained for greatness as the 2014 draft, could even be connected to his new franchise. “It means a lot to come to a franchise with so much tradition. Let me put it this way. I played at Kentucky. I played at DeMatha (High School),” he said. “The main thing is to come out, play hard, win and hope I get the same thing from my teammates and the coaching staff. I’m not looking at this as something to look down on. I definitely want to win.” Humphries admitted to broaching the subject yesterday with president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. “I was talking with Danny Ainge earlier and it was just, ‘We’re not tanking, we’re playing hard. We’ve got to compete and make it to the playoffs,’ ” Humphries said.
• Howard Beck of The New York Times: Ron Artest is coming home, with a more whimsical name and a more expansive biography, dotted with asterisks and footnotes and curious detours, some glorious and some less so. He returns as an N.B.A. champion and a mental-health advocate, a reformed villain-turned-Mr. Congeniality, but mostly as a proud New Yorker eager to hang a banner at Madison Square Garden. Fourteen years after bypassing him in the draft — a decision etched in franchise infamy — the Knicks finally signed Artest on Monday. He is 33 and goes by the name Metta World Peace. He is a bit slower, but no less tenacious. He is downright giddy about the possibilities. “I’m getting more excited to play with the players,” World Peace said by telephone Monday night. “I’m more excited to play with the players than I am to be in New York City, you know? I’m more excited to play with the team. That’s what make me excited.” That was four uses of “excited” in 12 seconds, as if to erase any lingering ambiguity.
• Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times: The idea that Derrick Rose could be ready in July and not be ready in April is beyond some people’s ability to comprehend. I didn’t know there was a scheduled date for when he would feel ready to go. And here I see I’ve fallen into the trap. A story about Rose’s readiness for next season has turned into a column about the stupid abuse he has taken for being methodical in his comeback. A story that stated the obvious — that Rose would be back next season — has turned into another round of haymakers between the people who think he’s selfish and the people who wonder how anyone could question his heart. I can’t wait for the season to begin. I fully expect the people who are furious with Rose to show up at the United Center with signs letting him know how they feel, even as he scores 30 points. I’ve never seen this much anger directed at someone in sports who hasn’t been accused of a crime. So it’s only right that his critics don’t let up on him all season, if not for the rest of his career. Somehow, I don’t think that’s going to happen. Derrick, keep the ‘‘breaking news’’ to yourself. From now on, let your game speak for itself. It’ll hush the crowd.
• Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News: One year after Jason Kidd ran his Cadillac Escalade into a tree at the intersection of Cobb Road and Little Cobb Road in Water Mill, L.I., behind the wheel of a car when somebody should have been driving him home from a club they had to carry him out of, he is back in the Hamptons at 11 o’clock Tuesday morning. This time Kidd is not leaving a fancy charity event at a big East Hampton estate, or a club called SL East. He is walking into a courtroom, in the Southampton Town Courthouse in Hampton Bays, to make what is called an interim plea on his DWI arrest last July 16. … Kidd has agreed to make school appearances on Long Island in the fall, which will be taped and can be used later as public-service announcements if the DA’s office chooses to use them that way. When asked on Monday what Kidd will say to students when he does appear at these schools, Burke said that the talk will be about drinking and driving with kids who either have their driver’s licenses or are about to have them, about how “it doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done in your life, in basketball or anything else, that alcohol impairs everybody.”
• Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer: Tuesday marks the 89th day since Doug Collins stepped down to take a consultant's role with the team, and it seems that no one except general manager Sam Hinkie and majority owner Josh Harris know when the coaching search will conclude. So far that's been OK for assistant coach Michael Curry, who is a candidate for the job. The 44-year-old, who was the associate head coach under Collins, is expected to interview for the job, and Curry's on-the-job training has been as good as it gets. … "I'll just continue to work every day and continue to get better as a coach," said Curry, who along with assistant coaches Aaron McKie and Jeff Capel, is under contract for another season. "I'm the senior guy on the staff, so I will continue to lead the rest of the staff and the players that we still have and the ones we have under contract. Just continue to make them get better." Curry said Hinkie informed him that the coaching search would be a long process when they first spoke. The Sixers also are expected to interview Boston Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga, according to multiple reports. Five other NBA assistants - Brett Brown (San Antonio Spurs), David Fizdale (Miami Heat), Melvin Hunt (Denver Nuggets), Chris Finch (Houston Rockets) and Kelvin Sampson (Houston Rockets) - have also been mentioned as candidates for the Sixers' job.
• John Reid of The Times-Picayune: Appearing eager to support his teammates, New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard Eric Gordon attended the team's summer league game on Monday and sat on the bench. Traveling from nearby Los Angeles, where he's doing his ankle rehabilitation work after requiring surgery in May, Gordon said he came to support the team during their 66-62 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers at UNLV's Cox Pavilion. Gordon said he will likely return to see more games before their summer league schedule ends. “People forget that Eric is a good guy,'' Pelicans coach Monty Williams said after Monday's game. “I actually called him out of the blue the other day and he told me he was coming out. Nobody asked him, he just said coach, `I'm coming out and I want to be around the team.' I thought that was phenomenal.'' During timeouts Monday, Gordon appeared to be engaged in the huddle, encouraging and giving pointers to some of the team's younger players. … Gordon said his rehabilitation is on schedule and he's been moving around pretty well. “It's been easy sailing so far and I when training camp begins, I want to be at 100 percent,'' Gordon said.
• Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: Though it might not seem to make sense, the Mavericks’ meeting with Greg Oden on Monday night in Las Vegas actually is a continuation of a dialogue that has been ongoing between the sides for nearly a year. Despite Oden’s major injury problems, the Mavericks seem to think it’s worthwhile to explore the option of bringing him on board to try to kick-start his career. That it should come much more cheaply than Andrew Bynum might have something to do with it. Oden, 25, spent five seasons with Portland. He played in two of them, with his serious knee problems keeping him on the shelf the other three. Last season, he was not with any NBA team. The price tag could be right for Oden. The Mavericks showed an interest in the 7-footer since he became a free agent after the 2011-12 season. He’s been weighing his options to try to resuscitate his career. While Bynum could have cost as much as $24 million for two years, Oden won’t command anything close to that.
• J. Michael of CSN Washington: The Wizards have begun talking with John Wall’s agent, Dan Fegan, regarding an extension before the regular season, CSN Washington has learned. Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, is eligible for up to a four-year, max contract with the Wizards in addition to the final year remaining on his deal that will pay him $7.45 million next season. If he's named the franchise's designated player, Wall can get five years. If the Wizards cannot reach an agreement with him by Oct. 31, talks will have to be tabled until after the 2013-14 regular season.
• John Niyo of The Detroit News: He’d prefer it if you called him “Gigi.” He’s single, in case anybody’s interested. And, yes, the newest member of the Detroit Pistons, Italian sharpshooter Luigi Datome, said Monday he plans on keeping both the full beard and the ponytail. “Yes, why not?” he laughed, shortly after signing his first NBA contract. “So people will recognize me easier.” But all joking aside, the 25-year-old MVP of the Italian League wants everyone to recognize his American dream — “and for sure, this was my dream for a long time,” he told me — is one that fans in Detroit should embrace, too. “I want to come here and show that I deserve to be an NBA player,” he said. Clearly, the Pistons think he does, and will. And while Monday’s signing won’t register the same as last week’s Josh Smith introduction or today’s Chauncey Billups return, it’s an intriguing addition, nonetheless. Not just because of the accent, either, though Datome’s brief news conference at the practice facility Monday certainly had a different rhythm than the one that immediately followed for Will Bynum, who also re-upped with the Pistons for two more years.
• Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News: On the cusp of his third NBA season, Cory Joseph’s Summer League assignment is clear. The Spurs want him to speak up and be a leader. Spurs assistant Ime Udoka, who helms the Summer League squad, reiterated as much after an 82-76 loss to Toronto late Sunday night. Joseph’s final numbers were solid — 16 points, six rebounds, six assists. But in Las Vegas, Joseph — who ended the season as Tony Parker’s primary backup — is not being judged on numbers alone. “We need him to be more vocal in his role, especially when they up the pressure,” Udoka said. “We need to respond better when we get in those ruts. He’s a leader out there and we’re looking for him to take more command. He had decent game, but he can do much better.” A bit introverted by nature, the 21-year-old Joseph says he is up to the challenge. “I’m the point guard,” Joseph said. “I’ve been leading teams all my life.”
• Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman: Daniel Orton likely is the odd man out. He’s due to be paid just $916,099 in 2013-14, and Orton’s Summer League performance last week was impressive. But Orton is one of four centers on the Thunder roster. In the modern NBA, you don’t need four centers. Heck, in the old NBA, you didn’t need four centers, not when you’ve got Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison, too. So look for the Thunder to try to trade Orton. Probably a second-round draft pick is all OKC could get for him, but that’s better than nothing, which is what the Thunder will get if it has to waive him. It’s possible the Thunder could trade or cut Orton and sign two players in his stead – both at minimum salaries. That would drop the Thunder just below the luxury tax threshold
• Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic: Did the Suns draft damaged goods at No. 5 last month by choosing Alex Len? Is this another big man with chronic health issues barely above the hardwood? Visions of Robin Lopez and Kurt Thomas feet issues come racing back. There certainly is reason for concern, because Len is a critical element to the Suns’ turnaround. But the ankle issues do not alarm the Suns. They checked out the left ankle before drafting him and were confident that the partial stress fracture would not be a future issue. After drafting him, it made sense to have the other ankle checked out because of how the body often compensates for injury. Sure enough, there were miniscule signs of the beginning of a stress fracture. The surgery that Len underwent Friday, by Dr. Gustavo Armendariz in Phoenix, was a similar procedure to what he had in early May, but this was only preventative. It does not add any rehabilitation time to what he was already undergoing, meaning Len should be able to resume some activity during September voluntary workouts and be ready for October training camp. “Do you let it heal or do you do something proactively?” Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said. “They found something at the earliest possible stages. It didn’t require surgery, but that was the safest course of action.”
• Jody Genessy of the Deseret News: If heads continue to be scratched about why the Utah Jazz traded for Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson and Brandon Rush, fans should remove all fingers from their scalps. We don't want any hair to be pulled out by accident — or because the Jazz's intentions aren't understood. Yes, those three Warriors will become California transplants in Utah this fall. No, the Jazz didn't make the trade just to acquire them. You've heard that phrase players occasionally spout about how the "NBA is a business," right? … Because the organization decided not to bring Jefferson, Millsap, Mo Williams or any other veteran free agents back from last year's team, it required multiple big salaries from elsewhere to get to the NBA's minimum payroll level of $52 million. There weren't a whole lot of prized free agents within Utah's reach this offseason, so general manager Dennis Lindsey & Co. went wheeling and dealing for a solution. A quick fix presented itself via Oakland. Biedrins and Jefferson make a combined $20 million next season, and Rush is due $4 million. Eh, voila.

• Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times: Finally, Derrick Rose’s left knee wasn’t the main topic of conversation for Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. Speaking to the media on Saturday for the first time since lead assistant coach and close friend Ron Adams was let go, Thibodeau did his best to dismiss the idea there’s a rift between him and general manager Gar Forman. “No, we’re fine,” Thibodeau said before the Bulls played the Memphis Grizzlies in their first NBA Summer League game. It was convincing enough to quiet the speculation for now, but Thibodeau didn’t sound thrilled by Adams’ removal. “As I tell our players, I tell everyone, we’re not looking backwards, we’re looking ahead, and we’re getting ready for next season,” Thibodeau said. “That’s all we’re thinking about.” Asked if he felt good about where he and Forman are, Thibodeau said, “Yeah. We’re getting ready for next season. We want to be a championship-caliber team, and that’s all we’re thinking about.”
• Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times: Metta World Peace wouldn't mind playing for the Clippers now that he's a free agent. "Of course I'm interested in Clippers," World Peace texted to The Times on Sunday. "I have to meet them first." The Clippers also are interested in speaking with World Peace, said NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. There have been reports the New York Knicks are also interested in World Peace, who was waived by the Lakers under the amnesty provision on Thursday. Sunday at 2 p.m. Pacific time was the deadline for teams with salary cap room to bid on World Peace. But no team did, allowing him to clear waivers and negotiate with the team of his choice. The most the Clippers can pay a player with World Peace's experience level is $1.4 million. He still will get the $7.7 million owed by the Lakers.
• Marc Berman of the New York Post: Metta World Peace is free to come home — 14 years later. World Peace is a free agent after clearing amnesty waivers last night, and the Knicks officially expressed interest to the agents of the former Ron Artest at the Las Vegas Summer League. The Knicks are trying to schedule a meeting with World Peace in Las Vegas today or tomorrow. Agent Marc Cornstein said nothing is set in stone on the meeting yet, but said there’s “mutual interest.’’ World Peace, when asked if he’s coming to Vegas to sit down with the Knicks, responded via text message to The Post, “No, going to watch Floyd Mayweather train.” Cornstein planned to speak with World Peace last night to go over his options. Knicks coach Mike Woodson acknowledged the club likes what the Queensbridge product can bring. “I like his skill set a lot,’’ Woodson said. “A lot of teams liked his skill set over the years. He does a little bit of everything.’’
• Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: It's been a polarizing summer for Thunder fans. Many wonder why the team isn't doing more. But those fans seem to have forgotten a major element that defined the Thunder's season in the two months since OKC was knocked out of the playoffs in the second round. Russell Westbrook suffered a season-ending knee injury. Had the team's star point guard not gone down with a fluke injury, who knows how the Thunder's season would have played out? That's the main reason the Thunder hasn't made any sweeping changes or departed from its process. When Westbrook returns, the Thunder is expected again take its place at the top of the Western Conference. But money matters also have shaped the Thunder's summer.
• Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle: Hakeem Olajuwon, a key part of the Rockets’ recruiting efforts to land Howard and a large part of the festivities Saturday after Howard signed, will rejoin the Rockets in an official capacity for the first time since he spent the final season of his career with the Toronto Raptors in 2002. Olajuwon’s duties and title are being discussed, and he will spend much of the year at his home in Jordan. But he will work with Rockets interior players, as he does with big men around the NBA each offseason, as a team employee. “We are going to bring him in as full-time as is possible,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said Sunday. “It’s not done, but we have mutual interest to get it done, and we’ve had some early discussions. “We want him to work with Dwight and Omer (Asik), and he wants to do that.” Olajuwon, 50, has worked with Howard in two offseasons, and Howard has spoken about training with him again, this time as the latest in the line of Rockets All-Star centers.
• Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun: From Sports Illustrated to ESPN to CBS, all the major U.S. media players were left in awe of the Raptors big man who made his debut in the final game of Day 2 at the Las Vegas Summer League. That it came in a loss to a Miami Heat squad that likely doesn’t have a player who will make an NBA squad this year is beside the point. What everyone in attendance saw was a player who has taken a solid rookie season and is already giving every indication his sophomore season will dwarf it. The more astute critics were careful to point out that Valanciunas’ dominance is coming against players who for the most part are a couple of years behind him in their development. Normally Valanciunas would have played at least once in the summer league already considering he was drafted in 2011. But playing another year in Lithuania before his buyout was complete (the 2011 summer league was cancelled anyway, a victim of the lockout) and then helping Lithuania to qualify for the Olympics and play in them last summer kept him away. So unlike many others, Valanciunas isn’t here to open eyes or audition for a job. He has got the job already based on that solid rookie season. What Valanciunas is here to do is take the next step and — as harsh as this may sound — that means crushing the competition that stands opposed.
• Joe Freeman of The Oregonian: There has been a lot of enthusiasm surrounding the Trail Blazers’ addition of Thomas Robinson this offseason. General manager Neil Olshey labeled it an “absolute steal” and the consensus — both locally and nationally — seems to be that the Blazers scooped up Robinson for nothing when they acquired him for a pair of second-round draft picks and a couple of international prospects. But after two uneven summer league appearances, including Sunday’s 81-63 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, that opinion has a fresh perspective. Robinson’s effort and energy have been inconsistent. His raw and beastly athleticism have been more imposing than productive. Far too often, he’s resorted to one-on-one offensive play rather than embracing the dirty work he supposedly relishes. … But two summer league games is the only body of work Blazers fans have so far, and it’s been a hit-and-miss experience. Robinson is a bundle of hustle and muscle, who — at 6-foot-10 and 240-pounds — is a hulking, physical force. He thrives on contact and rugged play and, thanks to a 7-3 wingspan and a 35-inch vertical leap, he excels at rebounding and defense. What’s more, he loves both.
• Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe: Atlanta's Schröder looks eerily like.... Rajon Rondo. Their mannerisms are quite similar and Schröder causes the same type of defensive havoc as Rondo, at least in summer league. Schröder plays aggressively on defense and also has an uncanny confidence and swagger. The Celtics seriously considered taking Schröder with the 16th pick but traded up to take Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk, a selection they are thrilled with after his impressive summer league performance. Schröder finished with a Rondo-like 9 points on 4-for-12 shooting, 8 rebounds and 4 steals in Atlanta's 75-71 win over Miami.
• Michael Lee of The Washington Post: Don Newman, however, kept Otto Porter Jr. as his starting shooting guard, and the result was another rough outing offensively for the 6-foot-9 rookie more suited to play small forward. Porter once again got off to a decent start, scoring eight points in the first half as he caught a backdoor pass from Jan Vesely for a layup, made a mid-range jumper and even threw down two rare fast-break dunks. But he went scoreless in the second half, missing all five of his shot attempts, and finished 4 of 13 from the field in the Wizards’ 82-69 loss. “It’s hard to get that comfortability right now, playing different positions, trying to figure it out, trying to execute,” Porter said. “It’s different.” … The Wizards certainly aren’t panicking since they are obviously experimenting with Porter. In the regular season, Porter usually will be surrounded by better offensive players, which will allow his skills as a do-it-all complementary piece to stand out. Newman said the Wizards are “fishing around” to figure out how to best use Porter when the regular season begins. Coming from a structured system at Georgetown, Porter is trying to find his way in a much more wide-open summer league style. More of a reactionary, adjusting player, Porter is still trying to get a feel for the strengths and weaknesses of his teammates.
• Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer: Fast as Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford hopes Cody Zeller develops, he’s wary of overloading the rookie with data. “What we’re doing with him is a little different than the other three guys’’ under contract, Clifford said following an 86-80 summer-league victory over the Dallas Mavericks. “We’re just kind of letting him feel his way. He’s so smart, and the (NBA) rules are different. He’s so bright that you can see every time you practice, he figures something else out.’’ Zeller, the fourth overall pick, finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds and a block. He improved dramatically from his first game, when he totaled eight points and five rebounds. Some of that was simply about shooting. He missed a bunch of jumpers Friday against the San Antonio Spurs that fell through Sunday. But it was also about Zeller’s comfort level in the high-post sets the Bobcats are implementing to let him be a passer-shooter.
• Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel: So where does this leave the Bucks and Brandon Jennings? He has served as Milwaukee's starter for the past four seasons since being selected 10th overall in the 2009 draft. And he averaged 17.5 points and a career-best 6.5 assists last season while continuing to struggle with his shooting percentage (39.9%). Jennings was in contention for an all-star berth at the halfway point of the season but he struggled at the end of the season and in a first-round playoff series against Miami. The fact the Bucks aggressively sought another point guard could put a serious damper on Jennings' thoughts of playing a fifth season in Milwaukee. But it's the way restricted free agency works, a painful process at best. The Bucks made a $4.3 million qualifying offer to Jennings, so they still have the ability to match any offer the 23-year-old receives from another team. So far Jennings has received no offers. A sign-and-trade deal with Jennings also could still be done, and the Bucks could look at other point guard options through trades or the free-agent market.
• Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune: If Flip Saunders had behaved this way when he was 5 years old, someone would have prescribed Ritalin. The man is on fire. As the Timberwolves’ personnel boss discussed his many moves on Friday, he could barely sit still. And after the news conference, when the room had emptied, he gushed with the kind of optimism that most team executives try to keep hidden beneath a layer of professional caution. “I’m really excited about what we have,” Saunders said. “I don’t want to put any expectations on us. And the reason I don’t want to put any expectations on us is I don’t want to make those expectations too low. I do believe if we stay healthy, the way Rick [Adelman] coaches and with the system we have, that we could be a very scary team.” He’s right. With the addition of defensive-minded wing Corey Brewer, Saunders and Adelman, the Wolves coach, have built the deepest, most versatile roster in franchise history. In this case, “franchise history” isn’t too impressive. Look at it another way: This year’s Wolves will have a bench that could have beaten the starting fives of a few recent teams. If Adelman starts Brewer at small forward for defensive purposes, the starting five will be Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin, Brewer, Kevin Loveand Nikola Pekovic. The next seven players will be J.J. Barea, Chase Budinger, Derrick Williams, Shabazz Muhammad, Gorgui Dieng, Ronny Turiaf and Alexey Shved.
• Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News: It's official: The Spurs' main starting five last season will be back. The Spurs on Saturday announced the re-signing of center Tiago Splitter. The Spurs had a good idea of Splitter's market value, and they weren't surprised when they learned the Trail Blazers were preparing an offer sheet of four years at $36 million for the restricted free agent. When word reached Portland that the Spurs intended to match their offer, the Blazers withdrew from the process, and Splitter agreed to the same terms to stay in San Antonio. Of those on the Spurs' playoff roster, only forward DeJuan Blair, guard/forward Tracy McGrady and guard Gary Neal remain unsigned for next season. It's highly unlikely Blair or McGrady will be back, but Neal could return if he doesn't get a restricted free agent offer the Spurs deem too costly. Portland's planned offer for Splitter was deemed well within the parameters for starting centers with skills similar to the Brazilian. “I don't think you ever look at anything as 'no matter the price tag,'” general manager R.C. Buford said, “but we had expectations of what the market was going to bring. It was clear there was a market for Tiago; we had the opportunity to match because of his being a restricted free agent.”
• Gil LeBreton of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Tank the season? Trade Dirk? Start over? No, no, no, no and no. And an extra no on the trade-Nowitzki thing. On a radio talk show the other day, a host gushed about the largesse of draft choices that a trade of Dirk would bestow. No doubt Nowitzki could, even at age 35. But what kind of team, exactly, would be interested in trading for an aging, 11-time All-Star? A contending team that would view Nowitzki as its final missing piece. A team willing to take on the league’s second-highest annual salary, $22.7 million. In other words, a playoff team, not a lottery one. And if the Mavericks wouldn’t be picking from one of the first three places in the draft, what would be the odds of finding another Dirk Nowitzki? I’m not an old-school guy, really. But I do bristle under my button-down collar about this. I didn’t want to see Mike Modano skate in anything but a Stars uniform. Dirk, playing for the Houston Rockets, would similarly jar the senses. Fortunately, there is no apparent local movement afoot to package Nowitzki for either a bag of NBA beans or the family cow. It’s hard to imagine that owner Mark Cuban has ever seriously considered it.

• Marc Berman of the New York Post: Asked at Thursday’s summer-league practice about the team’s interest if World Peace becomes available, Mike Woodson said: “[General manager] Glen [Grunwald] is coming up and we’ll sit and talk more about him. We don’t have to rush to do anything. The core group is intact that won 54 games last year. That player, or two, could slip through the cracks with amnesty or someone waived or bought out. It can happen. We got to sit patiently and wait and keep roster spots open to see if that may happen.” World Peace has told his father he doesn’t want to uproot his family by going to another city. He told his father he especially has no interest in playing for a non-contender. However, by retiring, World Peace would forfeit the $7.7 million. If he clears without being bid on, he becomes a free agent and can make $7.7 million plus a portion of the $1.4 million veteran’s minimum (some money is rerouted to the Lakers). “My gut feels like if the Knicks want him now, my gut tells me it will happen,’’ said Artest Sr., who runs his own kids foundation in New York City. “I haven’t spoken to him yet tonight. I think he could be a prized possession for the Knicks. He wanted to play for the Knicks for so long, since childhood.’’
• Rich Hofmann of the Philadelphia Daily News: What if Andrew Bynum had been able to play? It is the question without an answer for the Sixers. But on the day after Bynum agreed to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, ending his tenure in Philadelphia - a tenure of lucrative woe - it seems OK to speculate a little bit. It is all a guess, of course, but here goes. If Bynum had been as healthy as advertised - say, healthy for 60-something games last season. The Sixers would have made the playoffs. There would be no lottery pick, no talk of a lottery pick. The Sixers likely/possibly would have won a round or two in the playoffs. With a healthy big man and the ability to play in the half-court in the springtime, this is a fair assumption. Doug Collins likely would still be the coach. And not only that - he would be even more empowered and the organization would be subject to his every whim, or Kwame. The young players would still be ignored. … I was in favor of the Bynum deal. Given everything, it seemed a reasonable gamble. So this is all said in hindsight, granted. But it's all I have. Andrew, adieu.
• Monte Poole of The Oakland Tribune: But the endless maneuvers that delivered Iguodala were, for Bob Myers, a difficult test of executive skill. He aced it. "The hours that you put in are extremely expensive," he said. "You're really working a lot. And this (effort) actually consummated in a player. A lot of times, this doesn't happen. This easily could have not happened and we'd have nothing to show for it -- except for effort." Instead, triumph. Iguodala was the best player on a Denver team that won 58 games before being bounced by the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. Moreover, Iggy is a Warrior because he was impressed by the franchise. That a star would discount himself for the Warriors is real progress. Like Lacob, Myers is getting things done at a pace previously unknown to the organization. Like Jackson, Myers is proceeding with faith and absolute conviction. All three are collaborating to wipe away decades of scorn and stigma. Lacob walked in and immediately promised a new day. Jackson introduced himself by vowing that "things be changing" with this franchise. Upon moving into the seat that had been occupied by veteran executive Larry Riley, Myers made no such grand proclamations. He said 14 months ago that he thought the Warriors would better in 2012-13 than they were in 2011-12. He was more prophetic than he could have imagined, with no sign of slowing down.
• Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post: Are the Nuggets slowly sinking in the Western Conference? Houston landed Dwight Howard, the big prize in NBA free agency. The Los Angeles Clippers lured Doc Rivers, among the league's top five coaches. And what did Denver get? A kick in the teeth from Andre Iguodala, who bolted for Golden State. So here's the blunt question: Did the Nuggets take a step back? "Did we take a step back? I don't know," Nuggets president Josh Kroenke said Thursday. "It remains to be seen. But we're trying to build this team for the long haul." Was Iguodala a rat jumping off a sinking ship? Well, let's clear up a misconception. The primary reason Iguodala departed the Nuggets was not because he thought Golden State had a brighter future or that he was upset because Kroenke fired coach George Karl or he missed the deft touch in negotiations of former general manager Masai Ujiri. No, the top three reasons Iguodala departed were what it usually comes down to in the NBA: money, money, money.
• Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News: Pistons owner Tom Gores spotted a face he’d seen in the Palace, only Gores was in the bowels of the Staples Center in Los Angeles. “So I heard you played a little basketball for us,” the Beverly Hills resident said. Chauncey Billups, wearing his usual wide smile, nodded and shook Gores’ hand before turning his attention to Pistons President Joe Dumars after the L.A. Clippers beat up on the Pistons this past March. The two engaged in a conversation, asking about one another’s families and trading old jokes, an exchange that belied the mutual respect the two men shared. Although their relationship had been strained ever since Dumars traded Billups in the 2008-09 season, the door had been re-opened for a reconciliation, and Billups walked through it Thursday morning, signing with the franchise that made him a household name and a champion. The two year contract is worth $5 million, with a team option for a second season, according to sources. “Chauncey’s the best,” said Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey, who came to Orlando to visit with the team. “Ask anybody around this league, nothing but great things to say about him. We’re excited as an organization but the fans as well. He’s done a lot of great things for the city of Detroit.”
• Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News: Maybe Jason Kidd was taking a phone call from Andrei Kirilenko. With his team trailing 17-2 in the first quarter of Brooklyn’s 92-76 defeat — a loss that dropped the lowly Summer League Nets to 0-4 in Orlando — the new head coach left the court area to answer his cell phone, sparking an Internet uproar because the sequence was caught on NBA TV. When Kidd finished his call, he returned to the court area and began talking with former Nets GM Rod Thorn about golf. Despite accusations that Kidd left his duties, he did not coach the Nets on Thursday and was a merely spectator to assistant Eric Hughes. Other head coaches at the Orlando Summer League — including Erik Spoelstra, Kevin McHale and Mo Cheeks — have done similar things during games. They’re just not first-time head coaches caught on television.
• Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel: It's a calculated risk but one the Milwaukee Bucks were willing to take. The Bucks gambled they could land restricted free agent Jeff Teague with a four-year, $32 million offer sheet, which he signed late Wednesday. Now the Atlanta Hawks have a 72-hour period ending Saturday to match the offer or let Teague go to the Bucks. In a phone interview Thursday, Teague made it clear he wants to be part of the Bucks. "I'm definitely excited at the opportunity to come back to work with Larry Drew," Teague said of the Bucks coach and his former coach with the Hawks. "The Bucks have a good team, a young nucleus and guys that are ready to take the next step. I can help." Teague had dinner with Drew in Milwaukee on Wednesday night and spoke by phone with general manager John Hammond. The Bucks are seeking to replace both backcourt starters from last season and already have agreed to terms with shooting guard O.J. Mayo. "I think after one call he knew this is where he wanted to be," said Teague's Indianapolis-based agent, J.R. Hensley.
• Eric Koreen of the National Post: “What are we going to do, throw players away?” Ujiri said at the prospect of “tanking.” Last week’s rumour of dealing Rudy Gay to Detroit for the expiring contracts of Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva might be an example of what Ujiri was talking about. “We’re not going to do that. And I think winning is what you want to build around. And I think when you [try to trade away talent for little in return], I’m not so sure the karma is great when you do stuff like that. But I understand the whole big picture and we’re putting all the options on the table.” There are still little moves to make. The Raptors will probably bring in a third point guard to compete with Stone to back up Kyle Lowry. Marcus Camby, acquired in the Bargnani deal, wants to chase a championship, so he will either be moved in a bigger trade or bought out. There is no sense bringing in a veteran who does not want to be in Toronto. … It is a defiantly unglamorous approach to roster building, and it will mean that the Raptors might never “win an off-season” during Ujiri’s tenure. Again: the Raptors’ new general manager does not care in the least about that, and the (hopefully) momentary angst that might create.
• Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer: Gerald Henderson went fishing Thursday. I know that because he sent out a tweet, and the water was a beautiful blue. I mention that to illustrate that Henderson isn’t sweating this whole free-agent dance. Perhaps the rest of us should take a cue from that. Five thoughts on where Henderson’s restricted free-agency might be headed: THE BOBCATS WANT HIM BACK: They are wary of overpaying, but there’s no doubt they value him. Sometimes the Bobcats get a bad rap for not making an effort to retain their free agents. They offered more to Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustin than either of those two got in the contracts they signed upon leaving the Bobcats. TIME MIGHT BE ON THE BOBCATS’ SIDE: It’s my experience the longer restricted free-agency plays out the more likely it is the player is back with his team, at least on the qualifying offer. Offer sheets – particularly the successful ones that change a player’s team – tend to come quickly into July. Then money dries up in a way that corrects the market.
• John Canzano of The Oregonian: The "This doesn't move the needle for me," crowd yawned at every one of Olshey's moves, no matter how sly and sensical last week. So you figure the naysayers probably graduated to a collective belch by Thursday. And I have no doubt by the middle of next season, they'll be the ones crowing that Olshey got lucky, as they claim he did with Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard. The Blazers are better. That was the point of free agency and the draft. The entire Western Conference got better, but the Blazers had the smartest summer in the league despite having only $12 million in cap room and lots of competition for overvalued free agents. Robin Lopez, Dorell Wright, Thomas Robinson and Earl Watson were the guys being introduced. I don't expect any of them will have their numbers retired and hung from the Rose Garden rafters. Then again, if there's a city that should appreciate the way Olshey pulled this together, it's Portland. … Be clear: The Blazers got Lopez, Robinson, Wright and Watson when they could have had a single star player. Maybe that didn't move your needle. But it sure moved the Blazers toward the playoffs again.
• Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: Through the first two days, the Thunder center was turning heads and being praised like never before. That was before he collided with teammate Reggie Jackson. The two bumped heads, and Orton missed the next two games with a mild concussion. But who knows what the story coming out of summer league would have been had it not been for a fluke injury, had Orton stayed healthy? Those first two days clearly belonged to Orton. Fans and media members from all over were gushing about how good Orton looked. “A monster” was what one person said Orton looked like, using the word as a term of endearment to describe his play. But no group was more surprised than the locals in the Orlando media — the same people who watched Orton sit the bench for the first two years of his career before his unceremonious exit. They couldn't believe how well Orton moved, how explosive he had become, how feathery his touch had grown and how aggressive he was around the rim. “All credit is due to the Thunder, the organization and the staff,” Orton said.
• Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune: The Jazz traded for Gobert on draft night — giving up the No. 46 pick and cash — no doubt because of his length. But general manager Dennis Lindsey said that night that the team saw more in Gobert than his height, reach (9 feet, 7 inches) and wingspan (7-foot-9). "You know how big guys can sometimes make the league and not put in the time and effort," Lindsey said, "and Rudy’s a serious pro already and you guys will soon see that." It was apparent in Gobert’s 11-point, eight-rebound, three-block performance against the Pacers. In addition to the tip-in, he had two putback dunks, a fadeaway baseline jumper, a dribble-and-kick assist to Jeremy Evans, and a polished spin move punctuated with a hook shot — which hit a spot on the backboard out of even Gobert’s reach. "He did a few more things today," Jazz assistant Sidney Lowe said.

• Bill Livingston of The Plain Dealer: If healthy, the 7-foot Bynum could remind critics of just how good he was in Los Angeles. At the very least, he gives some depth to a roster whose bigs consist of fragile Anderson Varejao, third-year man Tristan Thompson, project Tyler Zeller and rookie Anthony Bennett, the top pick in an unexciting NBA Draft. Of more importance to fans who have seen three straight seasons of sometimes epic losing, the Cavs are actually trying to make the playoffs with the Bynum gamble. You'll see more teams "pack it in" next season than there were San Antonio Spurs guarding the rim and daring LeBron James to shoot jump shots in the recent NBA Finals. All this positioning will be to try to get the prize of next year's draft, incoming Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins. … Mike Brown is back now as Cavs coach. Bynum had his best season as a pro with Brown in Los Angeles. The stars aren't aligned, but they're not crossed, either. Bynum is hardly the most daring gamble Horseshoe Casino impressario and Cavs' owner Dan Gilbert ever took.
• Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: Sometimes, the best moves are the ones you don’t make. Other times, they are the ones you try to make, but get left at the altar. The Mavericks have lost out on Andrew Bynum, a source said Wednesday evening. The Mavericks had met earlier Wednesday with the 7-foot center who didn’t play a second last season because of surgery on both knees. The Cleveland Cavaliers outbid the Mavericks and we all know money usually rules the day in the NBA. The guess here is that the Mavericks will end up being happy they finished second in this race. (Or third, maybe, since Atlanta was in the mix). But Bynum’s health is so uncertain that it wouldn’t be a shock if he missed a good chunk of the upcoming season. The Cavaliers — young and building for the future — could afford that sort of risk. The Mavericks would have taken a chance. But with a win-now philosophy, they could not justify pouring a ton of guaranteed money to Bynum if they weren’t sure he was going to be available for most of the upcoming season.
• Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee: With the addition of draft picks Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum, half the roster has been restructured, and more shuffling is expected. Bottom feeders seldom become upwardly mobile after one offseason. It took years to create this mess and will require several smart draft selections and free-agent signings, slick negotiating and deal-making, and quality, consistent coaching to transform a team that is still adjusting to sticking around. But the theme – cautiously courageous – should come with the following caveat: continue to resist the allure of Monta Ellis, one of the few upper-tier free agents still available. No, no, no, no, no, no. The reasons? Where to start? The Kings don't need to imitate their neighbors in Oakland, don't need another undersized scorer, don't need another volume shooter, don't need another ball-dominant player, don't need a veteran who struggles to defend his position and who, despite a history of knee and foot problems, opted out of a contract with Milwaukee that would have paid him $11 million in 2013-14. Given Vivek Ranadive's fondness for Ellis – the two were together with the Warriors – this is a test.
• Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel: The point guard merry-go-round continues to spin for the Milwaukee Bucks. And on Wednesday night it spun firmly in the direction of Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague. Teague signed a four-year, $32 million offer sheet with Milwaukee, Bucks officials confirmed late Wednesday. The Hawks will have three days to match it, and if they do not, Teague will be the Bucks' new starting point guard. The league's moratorium on signings and trades ended Wednesday, but the Bucks still had unfinished business regarding their pursuit of Teague and the fate of last season's backcourt starters, Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. Milwaukee is seeking to revamp its backcourt after earlier agreeing to a three-year, $24 million contract with shooting guard O.J. Mayo. Jennings, a restricted free agent, and Ellis, who is unrestricted and will not return to Milwaukee, have yet to land new contracts.
• Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune: The Timberwolves made room for the defensive-minded wing player they lack by agreeing to contract terms with unrestricted free-agent Corey Brewer, while also agreeing on a three-team deal that will send veteran guard Luke Ridnour to Milwaukee, two league sources said Wednesday. The Wolves cleared enough salary-cap space for Brewer’s three-year, $15/million contract by reaching agreement on a sign-and-trade with Oklahoma City for free-agent signee Kevin Martin and by sending Ridnour and his $4.3 million salary back to the Bucks without accepting any salaries in return. Both trades are contingent on Brewer and Ridnour passing physical exams as soon as Thursday.
• Phil Collin of the Los Angeles Daily News: Barnes, Hollins and Collison signed free-agent contracts. The Clippers are still shopping, with forward Lamar Odom and Antawn Jamison still on the wish list. It all started with Paul, who acknowledged he was ready for the grumblings of fans who thought he wielded too much input in player selection and determining that Vinny Del Negro would not return as coach. "I knew that going into free agency that any time something happened, everybody was going to say 'What is Chris doing?' but it comes with it and I was prepared for that," Paul said. "I was shooting a commercial when I found out about (the Redick-Dudley deal). It's part of the process." New coach -- and senior director of basketball operations -- Doc Rivers now has to take the parts he has acquired and assemble them with mainstays Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Jamal Crawford. "I told our guys if you feel like this team has a chance, then you want to play with us," Rivers said of his recruiting pitch. "If you don't, and I was honest, go somewhere else and try to win it. I told all of them that because that's our goal." Paul's early commitment to the cause set the tone.
• John Niyo of The Detroit News: Nice guys don’t always finish last. But the Pistons have done enough of that lately for Joe Dumars, the nicest of the Bad Boys, to know this rebuilding project of his at The Palace needed a few more rough edges. That sounds a bit counter intuitive, I realize, given some of the insolence and insubordination this franchise has endured in recent years. But as quiet as The Palace has grown amid the sparsely-attended games and successive 50-loss seasons, so has the roster, in a way. Out with the old, and in with the new? Of course. It couldn’t — and didn’t — happen soon enough, honestly. But the Pistons’ youth movement also brought with it a passivity that was at times painful to watch the past couple of years, and not just for the fans. Josh Smith, the newest free-agent addition, is a lot of things, and not all of them good. But passive isn’t one of them, and that, Dumars insisted as he officially introduced the talented, temperamental forward to Detroit on Wednesday, is part of his plan, too.
• Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle: The first step toward getting Howard signed was to complete the trade of Thomas Robinson to the Portland Trail Blazers. That deal was made official Wednesday, with Robinson, the fifth pick in the 2012 draft, going to Portland in exchange for the rights to forward Kostas Papanikolaou and center Marko Todorovic and two second-round picks. The Rockets will get Portland’s pick in 2017 and either Denver’s or Minnesota’s, whichever is better, in 2015. … With that deal complete, the Rockets have to officially complete the trade of Royce White and the rights to Furkan Aldemir to Philadelphia. They can then sign Howard, but that likely will not come next. To sign second-round pick Isaiah Canaan to a three-year deal (with several team options), they have to sign him into cap room, something they can not do if Howard has filled the cap space. Once the trade of White and the $1.7 million guaranteed on his contract and the signing of Canaan are complete, the Rockets will be ready to sign Howard, expected either Thursday or Friday.
• K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: Mike Dunleavy Jr. received lengthier and more lucrative free-agent offers than the two-year, $6.2 million deal he signed as the Bulls' main offseason acquisition. But the reason the veteran shooter took less is because he wants more. Playoff appearances, that is. "I've been in the league 11 years and I've been through a lot of mediocrity," Dunleavy said Wednesday at the Berto Center. "To be a part of this is special. I don't take it for granted."
• Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News: You can't talk to new 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie for more than a minute without some form of the word "observe" coming from his mouth. He is taking in his first summer league as a general manager, so his sightlines are somewhat different. He is evaluating the talent of the two players he drafted last month in Michael Carter-Williams and Arsalan Kazemi. He is looking at wannabe players both on the Sixers and other players whom he may decide to try to bring to training camp. And, of course, he is keeping his eyes open for whom he will bring in as the next coach of this franchise. … Ah, the coach. Yesterday and throughout the summer league, it will be Michael Curry. Could he also be on the sideline when the Sixers open the regular season or could it be someone else? Again, Hinkie is observing. "I think he's done a really good job," Hinkie said. "Our practices have been lively and energetic. We've spent a lot of time [practicing] system-wise, but we've also spent a lot of time on skill development, too. I think overall it's been a good week for our whole staff. We've got most of the assistants from last year here and I think they've done a good job. I am very pleased." So is he evaluating Curry for the coaching position? No doubt Curry is auditioning, and an interview after the summer league is most likely on the agenda. "For sure, I am evaluating everyone," Hinkie said. "We've had some of our scouting staff here so we've spent some time together. I observe a lot and I'm trying to observe everything."
• Mark Bradley of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Let’s be clear: Paul Millsap would be a fine addition at just about any price, but at this price he’s a steal. He’s a proven power forward – proven at power forward in a way that Al Horford is not, let me emphasize – whose signing won’t hamstring the Atlanta Hawks for the next half-decade. Nineteen million over two seasons? Great deal. Of Millsap, Hawks general manager Danny Ferry said Wednesday at Philips Arena: “His energy level night in and night out is unique … He embodies the identity and the values we want to have.” Let’s also be clear about this: At the moment, the Hawks aren’t as talented as they were last season and not nearly as gifted as they were before Ferry arrived and starting clearing cap space. … Ferry again, speaking of a 4-5 tandem of Millsap and Horford: “The thing I really like is their ability to pass the ball … The chemistry between them should be very good.” And let’s be clear about one final thing: Playing as a team is a great and laudable thing. Still, this is the NBA, and in the NBA, as the former Hawks coach Larry Drew said, “Talent wins.”
• Joe Freeman of The Oregonian: More than a few eyebrows were raised when Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard was included on the Blazers' summer league roster. Why would someone who led the NBA in minutes played and enjoyed a remarkable rookie season land on a summer league team? Well, it would not be wise to expect Lillard to play in any games when the team travels to Las Vegas on Friday. Lillard decided to take part in summer league to be around his teammates and get to know the Blazers' newest additions, including Thomas Robinson, CJ McCollum and Crabbe. Lillard has participated in minor portions of the Blazers' practices, but he is not expected to play in any games in Las Vegas. "I think more than anything, I’ll be there for support," Lillard said.
• Michael Lee of The Washington Post: In four seasons with three teams, Maynor has already assumed that role for all-star Deron Williams in Utah, all-star Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City and rookie of the year Damian Lillard in Portland. Last week, Maynor arrived as a free agent signee in Washington, where he has been tasked with the same assignment for John Wall, a former No. 1 pick who started to fully tap into his potential late last season. Feeling the need to upgrade behind Wall, the Wizards targeted Maynor immediately after the free agent recruitment period began. And desiring to end the suspense about his future, Maynor reciprocated the interest and accepted a two-year deal worth about $4 million and includes a player option for the second season. “I think this is the kind of team that’s going to be on the rise,” Maynor said. “I just wanted to get it out the way. I didn’t want to be waiting. I felt like this was a great situation for me. Young team. Up-and-coming. Nice deal for me. I’m excited about being here.”
• Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer: My friend and colleague Tom Sorensen has criticized the Jefferson signing, in large part because he wants the Bobcats to have another bad team next season to get another high pick for the 2014 NBA draft – preferably the first pick. It sounds fine in theory, but we all know that it rarely works. This isn’t the NFL. Even if you have the worst record in the NBA, there’s a 75 percent chance you won’t get the No.1 pick. The Bobcats had that happen in 2012, when a 7-59 record still didn’t earn them Anthony Davis. So if you’ve got an opportunity to get a player like Jefferson, then you go for it. Right now. Yes, he’s more toward the end of his career than the beginning. But he has been very durable the past three years, he’s only 28, he will be a low-maintenance locker room leader. He will make Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo more effective by mentoring them and allowing each to do what they do best.

It is arguably the biggest remaining source of intrigue in NBA free agency outside of the Andrew Bynum saga:

This ever-evolving Point Guard Dance involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks.

As ESPN.com has reported on more than one occasion this month, Milwaukee and Atlanta have explored a variety of sign-and-trade scenarios involving unrestricted free agent Monta Ellis and restricted free agents Brandon Jennings and Jeff Teague.

The only certainty in the process, sources close to the situation continue to say, is that the Bucks have Teague at the top of their wish list. Sources said Wednesday that Milwaukee is readying an offer sheet for Teague that Atlanta would have just three days to match if the point guard actually signs it.

The mere threat of an offer sheet, though, could also trigger ramped-up talks between the Hawks and Bucks on the sign-and-trade front. Predicting where it goes from there, though, is troublesome in the extreme, given the mixed signals emanating from Atlanta about how interested -- or not -- the Hawks are in Ellis or Jennings in a sign-and-trade scenario.

The Bucks would happily do a sign-and-trade for Teague with either one of them. Yet it's likewise possible that the Hawks will pass on both if the latest rumbles in circulation about Atlanta's interest in free-agent point guard Mo Williams have weight.

UPDATE: As if this merry-go-round needed one more variable to muddle things, ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reported Wednesday that Ellis has left longtime agent Jeff Fried and is expected to sign with Dan Fegan.

• Al Iannazzone of Newsday: The Knicks had a chance to draft Metta World Peace 14 years ago when he went by the name of Ron Artest, but passed. They probably won't do that again if World Peace becomes available now. There is speculation that the Lakers could waive World Peace through the amnesty provision as early as Wednesday. If they do, league sources said the Knicks would be interested in signing the enigmatic forward. A source with ties to World Peace said the Knicks are at the top of the list of teams he'd like to play for. "If he does get amnestied, Metta would love to play for the Knicks,'' the source said. "I know he would love to be with the Knicks and retire a Knick.'' World Peace, 33, is from Queensbridge, N.Y., and played at St. John's, so coming to the Knicks would be a homecoming. The Clippers also could be an option.
• Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Hawks met Tuesday with unrestricted free agent Andrew Bynum, according to a person familiar with the situation, as the team continued its search for a center. Bynum reportedly received a two-year, $24 million offer from the Cavaliers after he met with the team Monday. The injury-plagued 7-footer is scheduled to visit the Mavericks on Wednesday. …. The list of free agent centers available is dwindling. Zaza Pachulia, who played the past eight seasons with the Hawks, agreed to a deal with the Bucks. After Timberwolves restricted free agent Nikola Pekovic, the list of unrestricted possibilities include Johan Petro, Samuel Dalmebert, Brandan Wright, B.J. Mullens, Cole Aldrich and Greg Stiemsma. Petro saw limited action for the Hawks last season. He started four of the six playoff games against the Pacers after Pachulia was lost for the season with a partially torn Achilles tendon.
• Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon-Journal: The Cavaliers were pushing Andrew Bynum for a quick response to their two-year offer, but they might have to wait on him longer than expected. After visiting the Cavaliers’ facility Monday, Bynum visited with the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday and will meet with the Dallas Mavericks today, his agent, David Lee, told the Akron Beacon Journal. While reports surfaced early Tuesday morning that Bynum could make a decision by the end of the day, Lee said there is no timetable and was vague when asked if it will be made this week. “It might be, but it’s hard to say,” Lee said. He wouldn’t get into specifics of the visits in Cleveland or Atlanta and wouldn’t disclose what the Hawks offered. “It’s ongoing discussions and I’d prefer they stay private among the parties,” he said. Ideally, the Cavaliers would’ve liked a decision by today, when the moratorium period ends and free agents are allowed to sign with their new teams. The Cavs are expected to finalize contracts with free agents Jarrett Jack and Earl Clark today, and adding Bynum to the list would make it a blockbuster day. That, however, seems unlikely now.
• Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: The NBA gets back to business Wednesday, with all those handshake agreements struck over the last 10 days available to be signed as the league’s moratorium is lifted and the new salary cap is set. So are the Mavericks ready for more heartbreak? They are finalists once again for the best free agents left on the board. Favorites for Andrew Bynum or Monta Ellis? Nope. The Mavericks merely are in the conversation, and it’s entirely possible they could come up empty again. … That brings up the distinct possibility that the Mavericks’ search for a viable center might move from a free-agent signing to a trade. A source said that is becoming a realistic option, particularly if Bynum elects to sign elsewhere. Cleveland was believed to have offered a two-year deal Tuesday, and the Cavaliers have more cap space to work with than the Mavericks do.
• Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post: While the Nuggets have struggled to make the improvements necessary to remain among the Western Conference's elite after a NBA franchise-record 57 wins, other teams have made moves that push them closer to the top. So, although the Nuggets haven't definitively lost ground, other teams appear to be getting better. And that doesn't bode well for Denver, which has a new general manager and a new coach. The Nuggets, who will make official Wednesday the acquisitions of big man J.J. Hickson (free-agent signing) and guard Randy Foye (sign-and-trade) now that the league moratorium on signings has ended, finished third in the Western Conference last season. As things stand, it's difficult to make a case for the Nuggets being better than seventh in the West. That has less to do with the Nuggets and what they've done, or not done, than it does the six teams ahead of them: Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Houston, L.A. Clippers, Golden State and Memphis. None of the six got worse, and Houston and Golden State upgraded.
• Monte Poole of The Oakland Tribune: Local fans are going to trip over their tongues to express their love for him. Iguodala will have to go wrong 4.8 million ways before October to deny himself a standing ovation on opening night at Oracle Arena. The bar for free agents who are paid big money to wear a Warriors jersey is woefully low, set by Derek Fisher ($37 million over six years in 2004) and Corey Maggette ($50 mil, five years in 2008). Iguodala immediately becomes the most heralded free agent to actually choose the GSWs. It's not that the Warriors haven't signed free agents who became effective. They've had plenty of guys -- Terry Teagle, Rod Higgins, Mario Elie, Earl Boykins, Anthony Morrow, Nate Robinson to name six -- become fan favorites. But each was coming from the CBA or the D-League or off the street. Iguodala is coming from another playoff team, a decorated star joining a competitive Warriors team on a feverish quest to improve. He joins a franchise trying to shed old skin, one that for the past quarter century has responded to every hint of growth by cannibalizing itself. Iggy represents the kind of move the 49ers routinely attempted and often completed under the Eddie DeBartolo ownership before the NFL adopting a salary cap.
• Gordon Monson of The Salt Lake Tribune: For Jazz fans worried about what in the name of bad basketball Dennis Lindsey is doing, here’s a bit of advice: Don’t. There’s no guarantee the road the Jazz are now traveling will lead them to real contention, but one thing is certain. The old path didn’t. And another, the old path wouldn’t. Maintaining that former course — scratching and clawing to stay afloat, trading for or signing mid-tier veterans and nudging them toward conscientious effort and sound teamwork — would be a waste of time, at least if the Jazz ever want to climb to the top. Finding themselves somewhere on the sliding scale of good, which the club had pretty much mastered since Karl Malone and John Stockton left the building, but never sniffing great is a mistake of seasons gone by. Now the Jazz are stripping the thing down to grow it back to where everybody around here wants it to be. The notion of safety no longer is in play. It’s time, they figure, to make some smart choices and take some smart chances.
• Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald: But while the 7-footer’s actions — the smooth shots, the court awareness — certainly are enough to warrant praise, it is important to add that they must be taken in context. Or, as Olynyk’s neighbors might say, “How about a little perspective, eh?” It is impossible to avoid being impressed with the kid’s game. He has a calm presence on the floor, and he’s shown a willingness to mix it up in traffic, even if his body isn’t yet entirely suited for such close-quarter combat. But this merely is a summer league, a fact that, to Olynyk’s great credit, he understands. What the 13th overall draft pick is showing on the Orlando Magic practice floor is that he has the skills to be a successful NBA player. But said talents won’t get an honest test until he gets hit in the face — literally and figuratively — by the league and its players. From what we’ve seen, Olynyk can be a player who sets up teammates with his passing and hustle, then makes opponents pay when they drift toward those he has just fed. He’ll be in the right places and will hit open shots, and some that are not so open as well.
• Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer: For point guard Kemba Walker, flying to Charlotte this week was no big deal: A chance to get some summertime run on the basketball court and an opportunity to spend time with the coaching staff and rookie Cody Zeller. To new Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford, it was huge. “It shows a commitment, a seriousness about getting better,’’ Clifford said after morning practice Tuesday. “He’s going to practice twice today, completely on his own. From both a basketball and leadership standpoint, it speaks volumes. It will speed up the process for everybody.” Walker, the Bobcats’ leading scorer last season, volunteered to work out with the summer-league team this week. As team president of basketball operations Rod Higgins sometimes says, Walker has been handed the keys to the car. This is his way of living up to that faith.
• Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune: The Timberwolves are set to publicly introduce newly signed Kevin Martin on Wednesday morning. His arrival finally gives the team a legitimately sized (6-7) shooting guard and reunites Martin with Wolves coach Rick Adelman for the third time in their NBA careers. David Thorpe — Martin’s personal coach, ESPN.com analyst and executive director Florida’s Pro Training Center — recently discussed with Jerry Zgoda the player he has trained since Martin was 19. Q Other than nearly 28 million other reasons, why is this marriage between Kevin and the Wolves now the right fit? A He just felt so good about being part of a team that’s ready to make a resurgence, in a system he knew, with a coach he trusted 100 percent. He has never played with a guy like Kevin Love and for all the points he’s scored, he has never played with a point guard — like Ricky Rubio — who was looking to get him the ball more than he looked to score himself.
• Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun: As the Raptors summer league team assembles here in the desert for the next two weeks, the big question is what direction new Raptors general manager and president Masai Ujiri will take with this year’s roster. That direction should begin to become clearer over the next week as the league moratorium ends today and the backload of signings and trades over the past few weeks become official. Ujiri hasn’t tipped his hand yet as to where he wants to take this roster this year and whatever transpires or doesn’t transpire in Vegas is expected to have much of an impact on that decision. While at least four Raptors for next year’s roster will play here in Vegas including Jonas Valanciunas, Terrence Ross, Quincy Acy and the recently signed point guard Julyan Stone, it’s going to be the call on whether Ujiri can turn some of his surplus wings into something else that will likely set the tone for the season.

Sources: Hawks, Mavs still in Bynum hunt, for now

By Marc Stein | July 9, 2:12 a.m. ET

Andrew Bynum, to this point, has not canceled his scheduled recruiting visits this week in Atlanta and Dallas despite receiving a two-year offer from Cleveland worth an incentive-laden $12 million annually.

Which is to say that the Hawks and Mavs, for the moment, are still in the game.

Yet sources close to the process tell ESPN.com that the Cavs are mostly worried about Dallas in the Bynum chase and have thus tried to construct an offer that the Mavs can't touch while likewise doing no harm to their long-planned bid to try to bring LeBron James back to Ohio in free agency in the summer of 2014.

The Cavs would hold a team option in the second year of the proposed deal, which they feel would provide the needed flexibility to either keep Bynum if he bounces back in a big way or part ways with him if Bynum's famously shaky knees don't hold up.

Why are the Cavs, as reported here Sunday night, willing to extend themselves to such a degree for a player who didn't play a single second in Philadelphia last season and couldn't have been abandoned faster by the Sixers? Word is Cleveland sees this as a unique opportunity, given how rarely former All-Star centers become available -- especially at age 25 -- as well as gettable for a franchise not exactly known for its free-agent pull.

Sources: Brandon Jennings for Jeff Teague?

By Marc Stein | July 8, 2:52 a.m. ET

Word began to circulate late Sunday that the Denver Nuggets were closing in on a verbal agreement with free-agent shooting guard Randy Foye.

And that initially seemed to signal that the Atlanta Hawks' lead in the race to sign Monta Ellis, as detailed here late Saturday, has only widened.

However ...

An alternate scenario began to make the rounds as Sunday bled into Monday suggesting that a far wilder set of moves could soon follow and involve Atlanta as well as Milwaukee, Sacramento and possibly Cleveland.

Sources briefed on the situation told ESPN.com that the Hawks and Bucks have in recent days discussed a sign-and-trade deal to land Brandon Jennings in Atlanta and send fellow restricted free agent Jeff Teague to Milwaukee to reunite with former Hawks coach Larry Drew. ESPN.com reported early in free agency that the Bucks, at Drew's behest, had interest.

If those sign-and-trade talks progress to the serious stage, sources said, Atlanta would inevitably have to rescind its long-standing interest in Ellis, knowing he and Jennings realistically couldn't play together again given how poorly they functioned as a backcourt duo in Milwaukee last season.

Sources say that the Kings, meanwhile, have been shopping the likes of Jimmer Fredette and Chuck Hayes to the Cavaliers to create the requisite salary-cap room to try to sign Ellis comfortably. Hard to see Cleveland wanting Hayes, whose contract runs through 2014-15 and thus potentially would cut into Cleveland's reserves earmarked for a free-agent run at LeBron James next summer. Fredette's $2.4 million salary is a virtual expiring deal.

Yet the closest thing to a lock regarding all of the above, as Week 2 of NBA free agency begins, is that Foye coming to terms with Denver would essentially take the Nuggets out of the Ellis hunt. If the Nuggets strike a deal with Foye, that's essentially an admission that Ellis is out of their price range.