- Michael Grange of the Globe and Mail: "Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh has never felt better about being in Toronto, a city he's worked in for six NBA seasons but in some ways is just getting to know. 'It's kind of crazy, I've never spent this much time in the summer here, it's great,' he said. 'I definitely feel closer to Toronto, I know that for sure.' Ironically, he's talking while packing to leave it far behind. This week, Bosh will be in South Africa as part of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program. During the mornings he'll be helping coach at a camp in Johannesburg with the 100 top prospects from the continent, while afternoons and evenings are reserved for community outreach programs and some sightseeing. Bosh is on the trip with the likes of fellow NBA players Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Howard and Carlos Boozer. 'I'm curious about the world,' Bosh said. 'It's so big. I'm from Texas and this is what I know, but I want to see what's outside the norm, I want to go places and see how people live. … It's a story to tell and that makes life a lot more interesting.' "
- Julian Garcia of the New York Daily News: "No one ever blamed Courtney Lee for being hurt after the Magic traded him, Tony Battie and Rafer Alston to the Nets for Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson on June 25. However, we never really heard him say it. We were only assuming he was upset because his introductory press conference had the feel of a wake. Then Howard confirmed it. Lee said he's now 'over that' before explaining what that was: 'Any player that was in the situation that I was in, any player in a situation where they had a good year and was a starter on a team that made it to the Finals, to get traded out of nowhere, it would definitely be a shocker for them,' said Lee. 'I would say it definitely takes time. Being that I've had to get over it, that's in the past and I'm moving forward now. This is home and I'm definitely going to make the best of it.' There's no denying that Lee's situation would be challenging for anyone. But he does have a definite opportunity in front of him that he can either embrace or let slip away."
- Cam Inman of The Oakland Tribune: "The Warriors should have kept quiet and privately addressed Stephen Jackson's trade demand, which doesn't quite pack the punch when he's speaking out away from the Bay Area. The Warriors must be taking Jackson seriously, however. They just drew a line in the sand by saying he is their property, period. They didn't say they would accommodate him for being such a model employee. They want him to fall back into line, under the orders of general manager Larry Riley. ... Yes, Jackson is an emotional guy who is determined to win championships. Hard to let that kind of guy go when you're trying (forever) to build a winning organization. Hard to imagine Jackson simply letting go of his distress signal, however. One more thought: Maybe Jackson is fed up with coach Don Nelson's system, even though such on-court freedom is a rarity. Nellie keeps moving Jackson's position because, well, he is versatile enough to adjust. When the Warriors drafted Steph Curry, Nellie text messaged Jackson and told him he wasn't moving to the '2' guard (as previously planned) but instead going back to the '3.' Could Jackson be unhappy with that? More likely, he's unhappy with the status of the Warriors' maligned history. Money, as we're seeing once again, can't buy every Warrior happiness (or silence)."
- Mark Rawden of The Examiner: "Would you be able to explain what the plans are for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Big Baby? Joe Abunassar: For Paul…Paul pretty much works with us when he's in town. Guys with that kind of experience, Paul is just trying to get himself in the best shape that he can for a long season, which does require not getting into too good a shape right now because you don't want to peak too early. Paul and Kevin are in a way different place. I have Chauncey Billups, I have Tayshaun Prince. These guys know what their strengths and their weaknesses are, and they know how to get themselves ready. For Kevin, he's just trying to get himself ready. For Paul and Kevin, we're not reinventing anything. Just keeping their bodies healthy is a major deal, making sure they're strong in the right places so they are ready for the season and playoffs. For Big Baby, he's just finding his game, so he's trying to stay fit, stay lean, and he gets to play against guys like Rudy Gay and Al Harrington, and pick up parts of their game. He's going one day at a time, and he's returning here and he'll get a lot more work in before he goes back to Boston."
- Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: "One of the ways Thunder general manager Sam Presti, 32, quickly climbed the NBA ladder was by studying the feats of greats who came before him. It's a long list that Presti will tell you extends beyond the sports realm. But on the playing fields, Presti most admired Bill Russell, Bill Walsh and Cal Ripken -- a trio he says helped quench his thirst for knowledge and quell his hunger to better himself. It was Russell's sense of team and trailblazing courage, Ripken's toughness and preparation and Walsh's innovation, commitment to philosophy and teaching and managerial skills that set them apart. And all displayed the consistency Presti adores. 'They all are different in some ways. But I think they all demonstrate a fortitude and a belief in process that was seen throughout their playing or coaching careers. The focus was always on doing the work, controlling what you can control and allowing the outcome to be predicated on the job you do every day,' said Presti."
- Ross Siler of The Salt Lake Tribune: "If you were describing the circumstances by which an NBA team would spend $82 million in payroll this season, the Denver Nuggets instantly would jump to mind as past luxury-tax payers coming off a run to the Western Conference finals. And if you were describing the circumstances by which a team would sell draft picks, neglect to re-sign players and do everything possible to trim payroll, the Jazz would jump to mind after last season's first-round playoff exit. Yet the Jazz and the Nuggets seemingly traded places this off-season, and although the Nuggets finished six games ahead of the Jazz in in the Northwest Division standings, the gap between the two seemingly narrowed this summer. ... As handcuffed as Denver has been by its tax concerns, the Jazz seemingly exist in a different universe by comparison. Keep in mind that Denver plays in the 16th-largest market in the country, compared to the Jazz in the 31st. ... Had the two front offices traded places, the Jazz likely would have declined the Fesenko option, sold their draft pick and dealt Boozer. The Nuggets would have re-signed Andersen while keeping Kleiza, Jones and that 2010 first-round pick. It's just amazing how two teams that play in the same division could act so differently when it comes to the luxury tax."
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