- Mark Whicker of The Orange County Register: "They all wondered how Kurt Rambis, scion of the House of Laker, would cope with this plunge into NBA serfdom. 'I played in Charlotte after we won the '88 title,' Rambis said Tuesday. 'That was an expansion team. We had only a smattering of fans early, but when people saw how hard we played, we started selling out. What turned it around was a last-second shot that beat the Chicago Bulls one night. By yours truly.' A Kurt Rambis buzzer-beater? Now, this was news. 'Were you the first option?' someone asked. 'No,' Rambis said, laughing. 'I think I was the sixth option.' Then, tellingly: 'I scored on a rebound.' Rebounds defined Rambis as a Laker. But 'rebound' is a verb, too. Ten years after his calamitous cameo as the head coach of a Lakers team overtaken with distemper, Rambis takes over the Minnesota Timberwolves. It might not be much of a chance, but it's a second one. 'That was the lockout season,' Rambis said. 'We had two superstars who were fighting for control of the team. I learned from that. I learned from Dennis Rodman. I came out of it wanting to coach again and, eventually, I thought I would.' "
- Patrick Reusse of the Star Tribune: "There are six players on the roster from last season: Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Kevin Love, Corey Brewer, Brian Cardinal and Bobby Brown. Another holdover, Rodney Carney, is questionable because he's a free agent. David Kahn's first major decision was to drop Kevin McHale as coach. That announcement came in mid-June. On Tuesday, he introduced the replacement -- Kurt Rambis -- at a news conference. When it comes to curb appeal, this is the most impressive coaching hire in the team's two decades of existence. That's because he is the first with enough leaguewide appeal to have other options."
- Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal: "The Grizzlies' bid to reunite with point guard Jason Williams got sweeter recently when the playmaker known as 'White Chocolate' visited FedExForum for a workout. Williams spent Monday talking with and going through basketball drills for Griz owner Michael Heisley, general manager Chris Wallace and members of the coaching staff. The 33-year-old is an unrestricted free agent looking to sign with an NBA team after a year off. 'He looks in great shape,' Heisley said. 'I think Jason still has a lot to offer.' No deal was signed, even though the Griz are believed to want Williams on a short-term, minimum-salary deal. New York, which claimed Williams off waivers earlier this month, is said to be still negotiating with him, and Orlando reportedly has interest in the 6-1 flashy floor general. 'He owes it to his family and himself to try to find a better offer. If he doesn't, we're interested. But I'm not going to discuss the contract,' Heisley said, acknowledging that the Grizzlies' offer 'wouldn't be a big deal.' Heisley, though, sounded encouraged by Williams' conversation and on-court appearance. Heisley said Williams seemed equally as interested in the Grizzlies, and embraces the team's intended role for him."
- Frank Zicarelli of the Toronto Sun: "Last week, Hedo Turkoglu told a Turkish publication that his stated goal for the coming season was to make the all-star team. It's a noble objective, but Turkoglu must aim higher. If you're a fan of the Raptors, you're hoping he does. When you look at the composition of the team, Turkoglu is by far the Raptors' most accomplished player. For the Raptors to excel, it is up to the team to make sure that the ball ends up in Turkoglu's hands when it crosses mid-court. For the Raptors to compete for home-court advantage in the post-season, it would be wise that every decision is made by Turkoglu. Making the playoffs for this team simply is not good enough because GM Bryan Colangelo has done too good of a job of revamping his roster and revitalizing the franchise. Jay Triano's coaching ability will be scrutinized and Marc Iavaroni's presence as an assistant will be realized. The key, though, is Turkoglu and make no mistake about it."
- Ross Siler of The Salt Lake Tribune: "If you wandered into the Fanzz store at the Gateway on Monday, you might have been struck by the apparent disconnect between the Jazz's acceptance of Carlos Boozer's return this season and the row of Boozer jerseys on sale for 50 percent off. That's right, the Jazz's chain of team stores has marked down those $80 Boozer jerseys in half. They're available in home white, road navy, alternate light blue and a white/brown combination I'd never before seen. Kids sizes, too. Jerseys for Deron WIlliams, Paul Millsap, Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Brewer remain full price. Kyle Korver jerseys are 25 percent off, likely because the Jazz ordered one for every man, woman and child along the Wasatch Front. I'm not sure what message the Jazz have been trying to send about the possibility of a Boozer return, but having a sale on his jerseys suggests that he isn't long for Utah."
- John Jackson of the Chicago Sun-Times: "Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James was in town Tuesday for a youth basketball event, so it's no surprise he was asked about the recent arrest of Blackhawks star Patrick Kane. After all, few understand what it's like to be the face of a franchise at 20 better than James. 'I wish him the best,' he said of Kane. 'I wish him and his family the best, and hopefully they can get through this tough time.' When asked if it was difficult to live such a public life at such a young age, James said: 'It's not difficult at all. You have a responsibility as a professional to be professional all the time, on the court or off the court.' He also was asked to comment on Chicago's other 20-year-old star, the Bulls' Derrick Rose. 'He's really good, really talented,' James said. 'He will be one of the better point guards we have in our league in the near future. They have a good one. They picked the right player.' "
- Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com: "There was a buzz around the 76ers going into last season. Signing free-agent forward Elton Brand to a five-year, $82 million contract was the main reason the Sixers were picked to be a factor in the Eastern Conference and win 45-50 games. The Sixers ended up going 41-41, with injuries limiting Brand to 29 games. Expectations seem to be much lower seven weeks before the Sept. 29 start of training camp. The Sixers' biggest offseason acquisition was shooter Jason Kapono in a trade for Reggie Evans. They also drafted 19-year-old guard Jrue Holiday and lost veteran point guard Andre Miller to free agency. Lou Williams, Holiday and Royal Ivey are expected to share the job at the point. The Sixers haven't used the mid-level exception of $5.85 million and probably won't. Instead, they opted to sign Ivey and are about to add center Primoz Brezec for salar
ies at or just above the league minimum. One online ranking put the Sixers, who were sixth in 2008-09, 12th in the 15-team Eastern Conference. 'It's only natural (that there was more excitement last year),' said team president Ed Stefanski on Monday. 'We didn't make the big splash that we made the year before. That's what happens when you work in the collective bargaining agreement. We had (significant) cap space last year to use and we didn't have it this year.' " - Sekou Smith of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Hawks center Al Horford is living proof of the NBA's global impact on the game of basketball. Dominican-born and the son of former NBA player Tito Horford, he grew up admiring the game from afar. That's why Horford said was so eager to be a part of the Basketball Without Borders Americas program that wrapped up Sunday night in Mexico City. It was his chance to give back to children who are growing up the same way. 'I always wanted to be able to help out, anything I could do with the NBA, as far as helping to spread the word internationally,' Horford said. 'The game has truly gone global. And it's important to go out and spend time with kids and make a difference. When they asked me if I was interested, I was in right away. 'It's even better for me this year, with this camp being in Latin America, because I'm able to relate and talk to kids here and really do some positive things for the NBA and basketball in general.' Yet for all the children that stood in awe of Horford and fellow NBA stars Eduardo Najera, Samuel Dalembert and Willie Green last week, Horford is the one who left the experience most stunned at what he'd seen. 'There are 25 million people living in and around Mexico City,' Horford said from Mexico before returning home. 'When you come down here on the plane and see all the people, it doesn't seem real. Not even New York takes your breath away like this place does.' "
- Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post: "Chris Andersen spent time at Yellowstone National Park with his fiancee, Brandy Newman, and some high school friends. He sports a thickening beard now, and insists he's not going to shave it until he gets married next June. 'I'm the grizzly bird,' he quipped. He says his body is healed and that he feels good. He has even taken up Pilates as a means of getting stronger. His expectations for the Nuggets have risen as well, even with other teams in the Western Conference improving through free agency. 'They've improved, but the West has always been tough,' Andersen said. 'It's not a cakewalk, that's for sure. We have tough teams to face, but what does it matter? Now that we've been to the Western Conference finals, we know what it takes, we know how hard we have to play to get there. And we can do it. Everybody knows how great we are now. We lost Linas Kleiza, we lost Dahntay Jones, but it just means other guys are going to have to step up. I know J.R. (Smith) is going to play his role as good as anybody can. If he gets that starting spot that's going to be even deadlier for us.' "
- Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press: "Rookie swingman Deron Washington has cleared a major step in his quest to be on the Pistons' opening night roster, but he has a little more work to do. He has signed a contract for next season, but only a small portion is guaranteed, meaning he has to make the team. Washington, 6-feet-7, was selected in the second round of the 2008 NBA draft and played last season in Israel in order to refine his skills. He played for Hapoel Halon and averaged 14.8 points and seven rebounds over 27 games. He shot nearly 50%, but made only 31% of his three-pointers. At the Las Vegas summer league last month, he made several eye-opening dunks that drew gasps from the crowd, but his offense was inconsistent. The Pistons believe the former Virginia Tech standout is already an NBA-ready defender but a work in progress on offense."
- Alan Hahn of Newsday: "Eddy Curry has been in Ocean City, N.J., since Aug. 1 to continue his offseason regimen with his trainers, Jerry Powell and Tommy Weatherspoon. According to multiple sources, the Knicks will find that Curry is down another 10 pounds since they saw him in Las Vegas last month, when the embattled center spent two days working out with the summer league team. Knicks president Donnie Walsh made the trip to Ocean City Tuesday to check up on Curry. It is the third time Walsh has seen Curry since the end of the season. Curry, 26, who appeared in just two games this past season because of knee and conditioning issues, weighed about 328 in July, which, according to Weatherspoon, was 30 pounds lighter than he was at the end of the NBA season. As of Tuesday, Curry is said to be at about 318 pounds, which is near the ideal weight range that Weatherspoon has set as Curry's playing weight."
- The Star-Ledger: "The Nets are catching heat from the New Jersey Senate Minority Whip for removing the words 'New Jersey' from their road uniforms in favor of 'Nets', a move criticized because it showed a lack of pride in the state. Kevin O'Toole (R-Cedar Grove) said the state's Office of Legislative Services is drafting a bill that would prohibit tax dollars from the state from being distributed to teams that don't mention New Jersey on their uniforms. 'New Jersey's professional sports teams, the Nets, Jets and Giants, have no problem feeding at the taxpayer funded trough, yet seem to forget who their benefactors are when they order the teams' uniforms,' O'Toole said, according to PolitickerNJ.com. 'The taxpayers of this state have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into infrastructure upgrades in the Meadowlands where all the teams play their home games. Is it too much to ask that professional sports teams that benefit from the support of the New Jersey taxpayer recognize the state on their uniforms?'"
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