- Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal: "The Grizzlies should walk away from any potential trade for Zach Randolph. If they won't listen to me, they should listen to the people who know the big guy best. The Trail Blazers drafted Randolph out of Michigan State. They employed him for six years. And when they assembled a locker room of promising young talent, they shipped him as far away from that locker room as possible. Now the Grizzlies are assembling a locker room of promising young talent. And they're thinking about making Randolph the highest-paid player -- and therefore, the instant leader -- of that team? Don't do it, Mr. Heisley. Don't abandon your three-year plan. Zach Randolph is not a guy you can win with."
- Jerry Brown of the East Valley Tribune: "Amaré Stoudemire feels the Suns' core still has plenty of fossil fuel left in the tank, and with the injection of energy expected from newcomers Matt Barnes, Goran Dragic and Robin Lopez, the new direction provided by coach Terry Porter will be just what the team needs to reload. 'The new guys? Fantastico,' said Stoudemire, kissing his fingertips, European style. 'The players we brought in really complement the players we have, and they work extremely hard. We have active, fearless guys who are so focused on basketball. For a team that's looking to achieve greater things, this was a great group of additions. We have a lot of talent, and Terry Porter's method has us all uplifted and ready to move forward.'"
- Bob Sakamoto of the Chicago Tribune: "For a certain southwest suburban high school, Dwyane Wade is the gift that keeps on giving. The Miami Heat star was back at his alma mater, Richards, Tuesday filming a commercial for Converse and shortening the school day for a grateful student body that packed the gym for the two-hour shoot. 'When I was here, it meant a lot to me,' said Wade, who flew from Miami to Peoria last March to cheer the Bulldogs onto their first state basketball title. 'Eight years ago, this is where I first began to dream about college and the NBA.'"
- Sekou Smith of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Do you believe? Or perhaps even more fitting, are you willing to believe in this team going forward? I didn't have any real stipulations this summer to at least think this team had a chance to continue its painstaking climb up the NBA food chain -- well, other than the retention of the core members of the team that were free agents and the additions of at least one or two veteran players in positions of need that could alleviate the pressure on the cats being overextended (by my count the Hawks went three for four in that department). Where you stand on this team right now, though, really depends on whether or not you're ready to take that leap of faith in this team (from everyone from the front office to the coaching staff to the players on the roster)."
- Dave D'Alessandro of The Star-Ledger: "The extraordinary Chinese 7-footer (Yi Jianlian) had a rough rookie season with Milwaukee, of course, and much of it was related to fatigue and nagging injuries. As former Bucks assistant coach Brian James put it the other day, 'He hit the rookie wall at Game 30, and then again at Game 50,' and there is no logical reason to conclude that his second year will be any different. He is coming off another busy summer filled with national team obligations -- which included two-a-day practices and the emotional toll of the Beijing experience -- and he is following that up by stepping off a plane and walking right into Lawrence Frank's gym. Then there are the mental challenges: He did not fare well in Beijing (his winning shot against Germany notwithstanding), ESPN actually branded him 'a stiff,' and Bucks meal ticket Michael Redd crowed about how Milwaukee fleeced the Nets in the deal for Richard Jefferson."
- Julian Garcia of the New York Daily News: "The start of training camp is still more than two weeks away but the Nets were in the gym today for the first of several voluntary workouts that will take place before then. Yi Jianlian was there, fresh off of a flight from Asia, where he played in the Olympics for team China. Okay, maybe fresh isn't the right word. But he was there, along with 16 others. The attendance made coach Lawrence Frank very happy, as it should. Along with Yi and each of the team's three new draft picks, Vince Carter and Devin Harris were also there, helping to start a new culture for a team that missed the playoffs last season. Conditioning, drills and pickup games are the focus of these workouts but Frank said building character and chemistry are two of the biggest benefits. 'That's what September is about,' Frank said."
- John Reid of The Times-Picayune: "Hornets owner George Shinn is not a gambler, but usually a month before training camp begins, he monitors the Las Vegas odds that determine his team's chances of winning a championship. After recently seeing impressive 6-to-1 odds, Shinn is more eager for the season to start than he has been in a long time. 'Before we signed (free agent) James Posey, we had 12-to-1 odds to win the championship, which isn't bad,' Shinn said. 'After we signed him, it went to 6 to 1.'"
- Matt Steinmetz of The Examiner: "My first reaction to the news that Kosta Perovic is heading to Spain: Man, the Warriors have sure had a ton of luck with this kind of stuff. First Adonal Foyle, then Sarunas Jasikevicius and now Perovic. Perovic, whom the Warriors drafted in the second round in 2006, has agreed to play for Pamesa Valencia in Spain. Now, all the Warriors have to do is let him out of his NBA contract. Which they'll do willingly."
- Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: "With the Sept. 29 opening of training camp fast approaching, Rick Carlisle engaged in a question and answer session to preview the 2007-08 Mavericks. ... Do you expect this roster to be the one that opens the season? ... 'Yeah, unless there was some kind of a trade, which I doubt there will be. We've got 14 contracts, so we got a 15th spot that we may look at. Maybe some other veteran will fall through the cracks. Or maybe we keep a young player. But this is it for now.'"
- Jody Genessy of the Deseret News: "A young schoolboy approached Deron Williams while the Utah Jazz point guard was taking a tour of the Carmen B. Pingree Center for Children With Autism on Tuesday afternoon. He didn't, however, say hi or ask for an autograph like some kids his age might have. 'This is a school, not a sports center,' the boy said to the tall visitor who was wearing a baseball cap, basketball shoes and gym shorts. Williams laughed and was hardly bothered that the boy didn't know (or maybe care) that he is an NBA star. They then chatted for a minute about sea monsters and
other important stuff."
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