- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "At 26, just now approaching the prime of his NBA career, seemingly injury free for the first time in years, Dwyane Wade nonetheless finds himself facing last call. Young in spirit if not body, the Heat guard says these Beijing Games almost assuredly will be his final Olympics, the last chance to grab the gold that proved elusive amid a bronze finish at the 2004 Athens Games as well as at the 2006 World Championships in Tokyo. 'You want,' he said, 'to be part of greatness.' But you also have to be a realist. Four of Wade's five NBA seasons have been preceded by a commitment to the national team. With the Olympic program now requiring a three-year obligation, London 2012 would mean even more year-round wear."
- Martin Frank of The News Journal: "It was hard to tell who was more excited Monday -- Lou Williams, who had just signed a five-year contract extension reportedly worth about $25 million, or 76ers president and general manager Ed Stefanski, who has achieved just about everything he set out to do this summer. Williams, of course, was thrilled to come into so much money three months before his 22nd birthday. The fourth-year guard, a restricted free agent, said he never got a serious offer from another NBA team, mainly because he made it clear he wanted to stay in Philadelphia. 'I consider this my second home, besides Atlanta [where he grew up],' Williams said. 'I have a [radio] show here. People respond to me well here. This is the place where I was comfortable. This is the place I wanted to be.'"
- Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press: "When Kwame Brown's agent, Mark Bartelstein, was asked for reasons why Brown picked Detroit, he quickly spoke of Michael Curry and the belief the new head coach will provide a positive environment for players. That's the message Curry hopes is getting around the league. 'We understand that players have strengths and weaknesses and we're not going to harp on their weaknesses,' Curry said. 'We're going to try to be a positive influence when we're coaching them. We are trying to coach from a positive standpoint rather than a negative standpoint. That makes it attractive for free agents to be a part of that.'"
- Ben Sales of The Jerusalem Post: "Point guard Jordan Farmar of the Los Angeles Lakers will be in Kiryat Gat Tuesday to coach a basketball clinic for Israeli and Palestinian children from the Peres Center for Peace. Farmar, who finished his second season with the Lakers in June, will work with children from the Peres Center's Twinned Peace Sports Schools Tuesday afternoon, and will also hold a clinic with the Twinned Peace School's girls on Thursday in Be'er Tuvia. ... Limor Mizrahi, an Israeli basketball star who is related to Farmar, will accompany him at both clinics."
- Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News: "For Sonny Hill, the joy has been in the journey. But he describes his latest destination, being honored by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as 'just the right place to be.' Hill, the executive adviser to the 76ers who created a group of summer high-school leagues that carry his name, will share the second annual Mannie Jackson -- Basketball's Human Spirit Award with former San Antonio Spurs star David Robinson during the Hall's enshrinement ceremonies Sept. 4 in Springfield, Mass."
- Kerry Eggers of The Portland Tribune: "Bill Walton says he is back on the road to good health after a disastrous last year. The former Trail Blazer center says he expects to return his ABC and ESPN broadcasting duties during the 2008-09 season after recovering from debilitating back and hip issues that put him out of commission for 4 1/2 months."
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