- Scott Cacciola of The Commercial Appeal: "At his press conference, Allen Iverson said he could see himself finishing his career in Memphis. But what was he going to say? I want to prove myself this season so I can sign with an actual contender, and for more money, next summer? Not a chance. To be fair, he did sound sincere -- particularly when he spoke about how difficult moving has been on his family. Iverson married his high school sweetheart in 2001, and the couple has five children. Iverson said he needs stability away from the court, and his family provides that. Memphis is now his home. 'I didn't come here to cause any problems,' he said. 'I didn't come here for any selfish reasons. I came here to win basketball games. I didn't come here for money; I've made enough of that in my lifetime. I came here because it was a good situation for me.' It might be the perfect storm for the Grizzlies: Iverson appears eager to rehabilitate his image, to prove himself once more. According to those closest to him, he has grown weary of hearing that he does not play well with others, that he is a bad teammate, that he can be selfish."
- Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: "After one of the finest classes ever was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday, there was only one question to ask: Where's Nellie? Michael Jordan headlined the distinguished class that included John Stockton, David Robinson and coaches Jerry Sloan and C. Vivian Stringer. It's Sloan's presence that sparks intrigue. Not that he doesn't deserve it. He absolutely does. In a business where you are not supposed to have favorites, the Utah coach has always been one of mine. Great dude. Super coach. But if Sloan is in Springfield, Mass., why in the world is Don Nelson not? Nelson is second in NBA history with 1,309 coaching victories. If his Golden State Warriors win 24 games this season, he'll pass Lenny Wilkens for No. 1. He is the only coach among the top six in wins not in the Hall of Fame. That's an outrage."
- Sekou Smith of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "In an effort to avoid the injuries that plagued him last season, Marvin Williams said his summer was spent healing and refurbishing skills he worked on last year. 'The biggest thing for me was getting healthy. I had to heal up. I had to let my wrist heal, my back heal. Of course, I went to work on all my skills, handling the ball and my shooting, but the biggest thing for me was getting my body back healthy. I was up at 8 every morning and in the gym by 9. I was running hills and pulling the sled, working on my explosiveness and endurance both. Then it was on the weights after that until 11:30. You're working every day to get faster and stronger. After lunch I'm on the floor getting up shots for a good hour and then playing for a couple hours. You have to grind like that all summer. You have to do it. You'd be foolish to come into camp out of shape. And that's anybody's camp."
- Brian T. Smith of The Columbian: "Andre Miller holds a reputation for being guarded. Protective. Ask Miller where he's living, and he responds 'I'm around,' in a deadpanned tone that is part-joke, part-security check. Ask Miller which Blazers he's kept in touch with since signing a three-year deal worth $21 million, and he only mentions forward LaMarcus Aldridge. Then he adds: 'Summer is time for guys to be with their families, relax their bodies. … You'll be able to bond with the team once practice starts. I mean, it's a long season, so I don't really communicate with the players -- I've never done that in my career.' They're wise words from a 10-year NBA veteran. Someone who has represented five teams since being drafted in 1999 by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the eighth overall pick, following a standout college career at Utah. Someone who has played in a league-leading 530 consecutive games and only missed three in his entire career. Someone who knows when to lace them up and when to take them off."
- Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe: "This offseason has reminded us that NBA players have everyday, everyman problems like the rest of society. The allure of the night life, the millions of dollars, and the pressure to perform may only add to the strain. Mental health is becoming a major issue in the NBA, and Stephon Marbury's on-video breakdown and Michael Beasley's quirkiness descending into a cry for help should serve as reminders to fans who believe millionaire athletes live utopian lives. Professor Amy Baltzell, who coordinates the Sports Psychology program at Boston University and was on the 1992 US Olympic rowing team, specializes in athletes dealing with the pressures of performance and fame. 'We have the American dream that if you are good looking and famous, that will make you happy,' she said. 'And the truth is, it doesn't. What I have seen over the last decade of work is that athletes are under extreme pressure and expectations, and as you move up the ranks of professional sports, you are under the most scrutiny. And that puts a lot of pressure on those young people who haven't maybe developed the skills to cope with that stress.' "
- Ross Siler of The Salt Lake Tribune: "After stressing to reporters in July that the Jazz had a long offseason to make moves, Deron Williams said Saturday: 'There's still stuff that can be done, but right now, we've got the team we've got. That's what we're riding with right now. That's what you've got to go with.' That team for now includes Carlos Boozer, who is set to return to Utah after campaigning for a trade this summer and even naming Chicago and Miami as preferred destinations in a series of interviews. Asked if he was concerned about the potential distraction Boozer presents, Williams said: 'I'm sure there's going to be a lot of questions that have to be answered, but a lot of that's from Carlos. I've said I want to be here. I don't have any questions to answer.' Williams said he had not spoken to Boozer recently and didn't want to venture a guess about how things would play out should Boozer return. 'We won't know until we get there,' Williams said. 'I hope it doesn't cause any problems. I hope we can just start fresh and have a great year. As long as he's on our team, he's my teammate, and that's what we're riding with.' "
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Based on how this summer has gone for the Heat, it can be safely assumed that lobbying on Twitter for a job might not be the best way to submit one's resume. Yet there is Bonzi Wells, the former Trail Blazer, Grizzly, King, Rocket and Hornet, lobbying at 140 (or less) characters at a time, as he works out in Chicago alongside Dwyane Wade and Jermaine O'Neal. ... O'Neal also has gotten into the act. He first tweeted, 'i hope that they do sign him because he really
could help us!' He then offered, 'he is in great shape! he has been working out with me all summer and he looks really good!' There was more from each, but in language generally avoided in this space. Wells, after declining to settle for an NBA minimum contract last fall, spent the start of last season in China, before leaving his team there. While the Heat is well-stocked at small forward, Wells might prove as capable a scorer at the position as James Jones, Quentin Richardson, Dorell Wright or Yakhouba Diawara. But, no, there currently is no interest. Twitter has not exactly been kind to the Heat this offseason. And it certainly is not the preferred way of processing employment applications." - Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press: "John Kuester loves this time of year. An avid football fan, Kuester talked happily of sitting back and catching football on the TV. He even made it back to Chapel Hill last weekend to watch his alma mater, North Carolina, demolish The Citadel, 40-6. But the Pistons' first-year coach likes this time of year for an even better reason -- the basketball lifer's training camp is right around the corner. ... Kuester, who was hired to replace Michael Curry, was an assistant for the Cavs last season. A longtime assistant, Kuester was beginning to think his time to run a team from the first seat would never come. So when his team hits the floor for the first practice Sept. 29, it will be a special day for Kuester. As for his team, Kuester has talked with all members of the roster and expects everyone in town this week. But he has a couple more football weekends to enjoy before the hard work begins."
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