- K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: "If Ben Gordon keeps his word about practicing on Wednesday, it will have to be at the evening session. As the morning session began Wednesday, Gordon sat in the lobby of the Berto Center, wearing a sweat suit and perusing his handheld device. Gordon said he has made his decision on whether to sign a one-year qualifying offer for $6.4 million or accept a six-year deal worth roughly $58 million but wouldn't reveal the decision. 'Be patient,' Gordon said."
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel: "Magic General Manager Otis Smith reiterated Wednesday that the club doesn't have any plans to give forward Hedo Turkoglu a contract extension before this season plays out. Some teams offer star players extensions before they can become free agents. 'You can do an extension, but wouldn't I be negotiating against myself right now?' Smith said. 'I like Turk. I like what he does for our team. It's way too early, way premature, for this.'"
- Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post: "As one Denver player joked on media day, 'We might not lead the league in stats, but we do in tats.' The Nuggets team is like a human art museum. Numerous Nuggets are covered in colorful tattoos, many featuring meticulous detail and meaningful tributes. 'By far, we have the most tattoos on any team in any sport -- any sport,' Denver forward Kenyon Martin proclaimed. Players such as Martin, Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith are covered in ink. Chris Andersen, an offseason acquisition, has arguably the coolest tattoo on the team. When he lifts his arms to showcase his wingspan, you'll see red feathered wings on his arms, ideal for a high-flyer nicknamed 'The Birdman.'"
- Sekou Smith of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "When he scripted the Hawks' training camp regimen and included the entire team staying at a downtown hotel for the first week, general manager Rick Sund wasn't thinking about long lines at gas stations. His was a purely business move designed to tighten the operation at the start of a new season. One of the unintended benefits of having the players, as well as head coach Mike Woodson and other members of the training staff, stay in a hotel walking distance from Philips Arena has been their ability to sit out the current gas crisis that has folks all over the metro area scrambling to fill up their tanks. 'That's definitely one of the benefits of being at the hotel,' Hawks captain Joe Johnson said. 'You keep seeing the stuff on the news and all you can do is hope it all gets worked out as soon as possible, because things are crazy for everybody.'"
- Janis Carr of The Orange County Register: "We all know fans sympathize with their sports idols, especially when they get hurt. But this might be going a bit far. The LakersNation website has come up with a two-finger bandage -- ala Kobe Bryant's -- complete with his No. 24 inscribed on it. You can order on on the website. What will fans think of next? One problem, however. Kobe said this week he no longer needs to wear the bandage to protect his injured pinkie finger because enough healing has taken place."
- Al Iannazzone of The Record: "One day after Lawrence Frank said Sean Williams 'has been playing probably better than anyone,' Vince Carter called Sean the star of the camp. He started off saying Ryan Anderson before mentioning Williams. 'Sean's been amazing -- at both ends,' Carter said. 'His development at the offensive end and his ability at the defensive end have been tremendous. I think he's going to be a big part of what we do, as far as our transition game and halfcourt offense. He'd definitely be No. 1.'"
- John Reid of The Times-Picayune: "Since last Saturday's opening day of training camp, Morris Peterson usually has been the last player to leave the court at the Alario Center. He has continued to work out past practice, making 100 to 150 shots, a majority from 3-point range. Peterson might be working extra hard because he is the Hornets' only starter on the edge. For the remainder of training camp and entering the regular season, Peterson is faced with the challenge of fending off top free-agent signee James Posey from taking his starting job. 'I don't want to be the weak link, ' Peterson said. 'Nobody wants to be the weak link.'"
- Marc Berman of the New York Post: "Not getting a strong impression that Patrick Ewing Jr. has wowed D'Antoni in any way. When asked about the pressure he faces in following his father, D'Antoni said, 'There's pressure on him to make the team. Right now, he's trying to make the Knicks. He needs to improve his offensive skills and mindset. That comes with experience. A lot of guys make it, a lot of guys don't.'"
- Tom Moore of phillyBurbs.com: "Andre Iguodala sprained his lower left ankle during Tuesday night's Sixers practice at Penn State and sat out Wednesday morning's session with his leg elevated. Iguodala said he landed on a teammate's foot after shooting a jumper on the first evening of training camp. He continued to practice, only to have it bruise up and become 'very, very, very sore' by early Wednesday. Iguodala, said he wanted to participate in Wednesday's session session, but wasn't sure if he would be able to. 'I'm not a patient person, so it's kind of hard to watch practice,' Iguodala said."
- Doug Smith of the Toronto Star: "Can we please, please, please, pull back on the Nathan Jawai's Career Is In Jeopardy stuff I'm reading around here. The dude, a really good guy it seems, still has to see more doctors, get more tests, check things out and could, actually, be on the court back home on Sunday. I think caution when dealing with 'cardiac issues' is always wise but that's what it is, caution. Not panic."
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