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Tuesday, August 4

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Brandon Roy and the Blazers agree to a verbal deal. Twitter.com

Bob Myers, who represents Roy, said on Tuesday that the negotiations have taken a decided turn for the better this week. "We've had very productive discussions recently and are optimistic we will reach a deal soon," Myers said. Oregonian

Aldridge is also hopeful of securing a long-term deal, but it is unclear where his negotiations stand. Arn Tellem, Aldridge's agent, has not returned multiple phone messages over the summer. Oregonian

Linas Kleiza is very close to signing a contract with Olympiacos despite his dream is to continue in NBA. The player confirmed the proposal made by the Greek team. "Olympiacos showed interest in me. I would like to stay in NBA, but if I have to go back to Europe, why not in Greece?" said the forward. Sportando.net

Also his manager Rada Filipovic, confirmed the talks between the two parts. "Olympiacos has been on the player for one month. We are close but we did not reach an agreement yet. Reds offered a two year deal with a very high salary. Now they have to do the last step if they want to sign the player. We hope to close the deal soon. Kleiza would like to play for coach Giannakis" added the agent as reported by Greek media. Sportando.net

Sources tell HoopsHype.com that European powerhouse Olympiakos will soon be facing a grievance filed through FIBA’s Arbitral Tribunal related to outstanding payments from the 2008-09 season due to Bulls guard Jannero Pargo. HoopsHype.com

As for the posturing of Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer for a trade to the Heat, Riley said "I wasn't really comfortable with it." "I really don't know what kind of agreement that he and Utah have," he said. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Riley said nothing was imminent with free-agent point guards Allen Iverson and Jamaal Tinsley, although he did acknowledge recently speaking with Tinsley, who was held out last season by the Indiana Pacers due to off-court concerns. "But," he said, "I'm not bringing in anybody to start over Mario Chalmers. "All options are still open, they really are open, but they're really going to be open for the right deal and situation for us." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

He added of Tinsley and Iverson, "Both players, if we brought them in, would be on a one-year contract. I think they probably know that. I'm not sure what the impact of either one of those guys would be on our team." He said further of Iverson, "He's still a great, great player that's slipping through the cracks for whatever reason." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Riley said he does not expect a reunion with former Heat point guard Jason Williams. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Alan Hahn: Conflicting info...source says Sessions offer from Knicks will be made today. But agent says it's not true. Twitter.com

The 76ers have reached an agreement in principle to sign veteran center Primoz Brezec, according to multiple sources. Philadelphia Daily News

Gery Woelfel: Ex-Badger Marcus Landry invited to Sacramento vets camp. NY Knicks want to bring him in 4 workout. Twitter.com

Riley said he continues conversation with Wade and agent Henry Thomas regarding a possible extension for the guard, but also appreciates that Wade's situation likely will not be settled until after he opts out of the final year of his contract next summer. "I would say probably at least once a week I'm communicating with Dwyane," he said. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The New Orleans Hornets introduced Emeka Okafor to the local members of the press Tuesday at Emeril's Delmonico. Bring a guy to New Orleans and fill him with gumbo and chocolate bread pudding, and, well, show him the perks right away. "I'm real excited about this city. There is a certain charm," Okafor said. "New Orleans is a big food city, and with me a guy who likes food, goes perfectly. "I had rabbit gumbo yesterday and didn't even know I liked rabbit, so it was good." New Orleans Times-Picayune

Lamar Odom on being courted by the Heat: “I’m friends with both Dwyane Wade and of course, Pat Riley. And, coach, I’d say is a little bit more than a friend to me - someone I knew of course since I was 19 years old, he’s dear to me and I heard him out. The offer was gracious and I appreciated it and I love those guys, but LA is a place for me where I should be playing basketball and living, hopefully until my career’s up.” SportsRadioInterviews.com

Ben Gordon scoffing at Jerry Krause’s claim that he would have had to share playing time with Jannero Pargo if he returned to the Bulls: “Jannero’s a great friend so I wasn’t laughing at him, but just the statement in itself that I would have to fight for playing time after leading the team in scoring every year is kinda funny.” SportsRadioInterviews.com

Manresa reached an agreement with rookie Ahmad Nivins. The power forward comes from NCAA where he has played his season as senior with St. Joseph's Hawks averaging 19.3ppg and 11.8rpg. The player was born in 1987. Sportando.net

For the second straight season, the Cavaliers will face the Boston Celtics in their regular-season opener, only this year the game will be in Quicken Loans Arena on Oct. 27, according to the official NBA schedule released this afternoon. Last year's opener was in Boston, where the Celtics received their 2008 championship rings. As expected, the Cavs will face the Lakers in Los Angeles on Christmas Day, a game that was anticipated as soon as the Cavs traded for Shaquille O'Neal in June. Cleveland Plain Dealer

"I don't think it's anything that we specifically tried to address, saying we need to be more international," said Triano, a native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and a longtime player and coach of Canada's national team before replacing Sam Mitchell 17 games into last season. "I really don't have an answer, other than, the one thing that's unique about Toronto is that it's so diverse in its culture. There's a little Italy, a Chinatown -- it's got a little bit of everything. When you come here, you get to see so many cultures together, living in the city." SI.com

Some have portrayed it as a defensive maneuver, based on Toronto's spotty history at luring or retaining U.S. free agents. Most players grow up in the States, dreaming of playing for teams in the States, not cultivating much of a taste for foreign tax codes and tricky spellings. "That could be true," Triano said. "The North American players who have played in Toronto, though, I think it's just a matter of being educated by the city and playing here a couple times. Charlie Villanueva, a big free agent this summer, narrowed it down to three teams [before leaving Milwaukee for Detroit], and I believe Toronto was one of them. Because he'd been here before [as a Raptors forward in 2005-06]. You come to this city, you start to like it." SI.com

The countdown to the next NBA lockout began in a way Tuesday, with commissioner David Stern and a group of 10 team owners making it abundantly clear that they will not extend the current labor deal into the 2011-12 season. The owners met with players' union representatives for nearly 3½ hours at a Manhattan hotel in the first formal round of collective bargaining talks toward the next NBA labor agreement. The current deal will run for two more seasons, and the owners must notify the players on Dec. 15, 2010, whether they intend to extend the deal for an additional season. But the message from the owners Tuesday was this: They're opting out. ESPN.com

Neither side made any proposals, with the meeting described as more introductory than substantive. No owners or league executives commented, although the league office and the players union issued a joint statement calling the talks "cordial and productive." "They continued to point that overall our game is in good shape in terms of our fans, our television ratings, and even though our attendance was down in some areas, it still was the third-highest attendance in league history, so there are a lot of foundation bellweather numbers that are strong with our game," Fisher said. ESPN.com

Ken Berger: Things just wrapped up at the NBA bargaining session in NYC. "Optimism," union president Derek Fisher of the Lakers said was his impression. Twitter.com

NBA; Union: "There was a preliminary exchange of financial information but no proposals were made." Twitter.com

Skillzlab.com announced today that they have launched the next generation of Web 2.0 sites that focus on total personal development and virtual mentoring with seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady as a featured Professor along with a host of other experts. BusinessWire.com

Chris Mannix: Word out of Raymond Felton's camp is that Bobcats and Felton are still far apart on a deal. Both want long term but not same page on dollars. Twitter.com

Chris Mannix: I'm told Felton enjoys CHA and loves playing for Larry Brown but would like a commitment. If not, he'll take 1-yr and become a UFA in '10. Twitter.com

But he also noted that the process wasn't over and that the two sides would continue to negotiate. "It's not really a stalemate, and I think in every story I've seen, writers have been calling it a stalemate," Felton's agent, Kevin Bradbury, told Sporting News. "That's not really what Rod was saying. I am not a chess champion here, but I know a stalemate ends the game. The game's not over. We don't have concrete plans to meet with the Bobcats right now, but there's time. We're not giving up. Neither are they. If it winds up that Raymond has to play out his last year and become unrestricted next year, that's OK. But that's the last option and we're still far from that. Sporting News

Coming off a career-best 17.2 points per game in 2008-09 and another dunk contest crown, Robinson would appear to a marketable player. But he is a man without a team for now. "I don't even know, I'm just waiting," he said Sunday when asked if he would sign with Olympiakos. "I'm just basically waiting, that's all I can do right now. I am just waiting, just taking my time and being patient." FanHouse.com

Robinson said he hasn't talked with Olympiakos swingman Josh Childress, who left the Atlanta Hawks to sign before last season. He is returning for a second season. When asked his preference, Greece or the NBA, Robinson said: "I just want to play basketball." FanHouse.com

The Knicks continue to negotiate with Bucks restricted free-agent guard Ramon Sessions and will take a look at veteran guard Jason Williams Tuesday at the MSG Training Center. Williams, 33, who last played for the Miami Heat in 2007-08 before taking last season off for personal reasons, will work out for Donnie Walsh, Mike D'Antoni and the basketball staff this morning. Newsday

Walsh has been involved in talks with Sessions' representation over the weekend, but despite reports to the contrary, the sides are not close to an agreement. It is believed that Sessions' agent, Jim "Chubby" Wells, is seeking the full mid-level exception (five years and $32.3 million) and that Walsh, with no real competition on the market, is offering slightly less, mainly to keep the salary-cap hit in 2010 to a minimum. At the full mid-level, Sessions' salary would be $6.03 million in 2010-11. Newsday

There is one caveat that Walsh must consider in this pursuit: A source with knowledge of the Bucks' thinking said the cost-conscious team most likely would match any offer up to $3 million per season. Higher than that and Milwaukee could pass. A sign-and-trade has not been discussed at this point. Newsday

Gery Woelfel: Knicks still covet R.Sessions but want to move a player 1st. Twitter.com

Davis said he’s fielded interest from several teams, including New Jersey, Charlotte, Cleveland and Detroit – although it seems far-fetched that any of those teams will offer Davis anything more attractive than the multi-year deal that has been proposed by Celtics boss Danny Ainge. But Davis understands that many of the teams are playing the waiting game and seeing where other unrestricted free agents land before dealing with a restricted free agent such as him. Many teams – according to multiple sources - are also fearful of his weight issues and inability to play above the rim. WEEI.com

According to sources close to the situation, the Celtics brass believes that Davis will be back in Boston next season – either with a multi-year deal worth in the neighborhood of $2 million per year or for a qualifying offer in which Davis would still remain a restricted free agent after next season. "I’m just waiting to get signed," Davis said. "It’s tough not knowing what’s going on." WEEI.com

Marc J. Spears: Cs still interested in RFA Davis, but report they'd match up 2 mid-level offer sheet untrue. $4 million-plus prob danger zone, source said. Twitter.com

The Suns were able to come to a buyout agreement with center Ben Wallace soon after acquiring him in the deal that sent center Shaquille ONeal to Cleveland. But small forward Sasha Pavlovic, also acquired from the Cavs, has not yet been bought out and is still on the Suns' roster. So what gives? "This one is a little trickier than most buyout situations," Pavlovic's agent, Marc Cornstein, told Sporting News. "There are two parts to it. First, for us, its pursuing a deal. Then, for the Suns, it's making him a free agent, and the two aspects are tied together." Sporting News

Cornstein said he is dealing right now with three or four teams whose interest he categorizes as serious, and a deal could come this week. He said that leaving the NBA to pursue a contract in Europe would not be an option for Pavlovic. Sporting News

Center Ryan Hollins won't be returning to the Mavericks. Hollins, a restricted free agent, signed an offer sheet with the Minnesota Timberwolves that the Mavericks do not plan to match. Dallas Morning News

A source close to the situation said talks are "advancing" with the Sixers and Slovenia journeyman Primoz Brezec, but no deal is imminent. The 7-foot-1 Brezec, who played in Italy last year, averaged 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in seven seasons with the Pacers, Bobcats, Pistons and Raptors. He has started 214 of 321 NBA games in which he's appeared. Philly Burbs

The Sixers are in the market for a veteran backup center and Brezec -- along with Adonal Foyle, Chris Mihm and others -- is one of the players they've considered. Philly Burbs

The overall worth of the contract based on numbers that were circulated throughout the league Monday is $32.8 million over four years, with the Lakers holding a team option in Year 4. Odom will earn $7,500,000 this coming season, $8,200,000 in 2010-11, $8,900,000 in 2011-12 and then $8,200,000 in the non-guaranteed fourth year if the Lakers pick up their team option. ESPN.com

Don't accuse the Bobcats, by the way, of staying silent on the free-agent front. They pursued Warrick pretty hard. Ultimately, Warrick wanted the best chance to get playing time, and that was in Milwaukee. Sporting News

Brian Windhorst: Also, clearing something up from last wk. D. Gooden & LeBron r back on good terms, LBJ called to help recruit him. Twitter.com

Gortat also is aware of the perception that the Magic may have matched the offer in order to trade him. After matching an offer for a restricted free agent, teams must wait a minimum of 90 days before trading the player. "I love it in Orlando. It's where I became an NBA player. But if I'm traded, that's part of the business,'' he said. "If I'm traded, with my contract, it would be to a team that wants to play me more, so it can only be a good thing. I'm not worried about it. I'm just working to get better.'' FanHouse.com

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What was the team’s main selling point for you in order to sign with Indiana? Earl Watson: That they wanted to win right now. They are committed to building a championship team. There’s a sense of urgency there. They want players to be accountable on and off the court. That creates responsability and accountability. For me, that’s exactly what I was looking for at this point of my career. I think we have a strong enough team to make the playoffs this coming season. Not five years from now or three years from now. Right now. Besides, it’s a great team and a great organization with a great tradition. I was a fan of the team before, when they had Mark Jackson, Rik Smits, Reggie Miller and others. They got close to winning a championship. And I’m a fan of basketball and a fan of teams that win. Larry Bird, Coach O’Brien… It’s just so many people involved. And they have a great young nucleus… But it’s a young nucleus with a lot of experience. HoopsHype.com

Was last season tough for you, having to go back to the bench after starting most of the times the previous year? Earl Watson: I just think the Oklahoma situation was a unique situation. It was a transition period. The way it was going, there were indications… Losing Ray Allen, losing Rashard Lewis, losing Luke Ridnour, losing Delonte West, losing Kurt Thomas, losing Joe Smith… You see it coming. If they let Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis leave, there’s only going to be a snowball effect your way if you’re not part of the new transition. It’s just business. It was never personal for me. It was a great experience. You learn a lot from your toughest moments. Your learn a lot about yourself and other people. But you move forward and you stay professional! Always stay professional! Something good has to happen if you do things the right way. Everything worked out the way I wanted it to work out. I’m in a great situation. It’s was all worth to go through that to get to this point. HoopsHype.com

Before a media session, freshly signed free agent Sean May held up his new jersey, bearing his trademark No. 42. The 6-foot-9 power forward showed both sides of the garment, prompting Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie to crack, "Same number on the back, too?" Yep, same number. But it belongs to a new man. "When I worked out for the Kings (in Las Vegas last month), I felt my career was on the line," May said. "I still feel like that with the season coming. I am ready for a fresh start. I will definitely get back to where I once was." Sacramento Bee

"My NBA career, if I wrote a book, none of this would be in the chapters," said May, who now weighs about 265 pounds. "A lot of people in my position have folded, and I refuse to do that. Sitting out was tough emotionally. It took a lot out of me. It was the first time I had struggled. I read the comments and heard them. People who know me know I work extremely hard, and I don't think a lot of people understand (microfracture surgery), the hours or rehab, how it takes 10 months to come back." Sacramento Bee

Lots of speculation – including that by fans in three NBA cities – ended on Monday with the signing of prize free agent Stefano Mancinelli by Armani Jeans Milano. Italian media had reported that Mancinelli’s agent was entertaining offers from the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors and Portland Trail Blazers for the forward, but Mancinelli will instead be staying in his home country for two more years. The small forward was jettisoned in the Fortitudo Bologna mess which resulted in that team’s diminishment to amateur status, and Mancinelli is currently training with Team Italy in preparation for the EuroBasket tournament. BallinEurope.com

Nuggets guard J.R. Smith's tweets are raising questions among fans. Several recent posts by Smith on his page — twitter.com/jr_smith1 — are written in a way that is commonly associated with the Bloods street gang. Words that would have a "C" in them are replaced with "K," or if a word has both in them, the "C" is removed altogether. Smith has nearly 15,000 followers on his Twitter page. "Those are still little messages that are being transcended back to some of the neighborhoods," said Rev. Leon Kelly, executive director of Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives in Denver. "Not to say in no way is he promoting a gang. But people got to understand that a lot of these kids come from gang neighborhoods. Their friends are still involved in doing what they do. Just because one was able to get out of that lifestyle, many of them don't forget where they come from." Denver Post

On a post Sunday, Smith exclaimed "Vegas here I kome!" Last week he wrote that he "Kant wait to get bak in the swing of things." A post last week, upon his release from jail, caused an online debate among Denver Post readers about the topic. Smith, at the time, thanked his fans and wrote, "I just Kame home. . . . I kouldnt have done it with out yall." Denver Post

Smith, 23, is aware of what is posted on his account. Monday morning he implored those writing messages to "watch what you say on here it gets me in a lot of trouble!" Denver Post

And then there's Brendan Haywood, who will be getting a weekly show on 106.7 The Fan. To help promote said show, he appeared on 106.7 The Fan's The Mike Wise Show last week, and, with some encouragement from professional agitator Mike Wise, had a few pointed comments about a certain departed head coach. "I think running more traditional sets will help our team, especially our young guys," he said. "That Princeton Offense alienated a lot of guys on our team and it didn't allow us to use everybody and all their skills. I think Flip's offense is gonna really help us out a lot." Washington Post

Professional agitator Wise asked Haywood to reflect on that time when he took his nameplate down after a season-ending playoff loss, and Haywood obliged. "Let me ask you a question though," he said. "If a coach and a player aren't seeing eye to eye, why is it always the player's fault? I never ever said anything negative about Eddie Jordan, but why is it always the player's fault? At some point you've got to look at who's he playing. Hey, if I'm not playing behind Yao Ming or Dwight Howard, I'm gonna sit down and be quiet. My thing is this: you've got to play your horses. I felt I was the best center we had on the team, I think I got a chance to show that. "And I've always said one thing, if you give me consistent minutes I'll be consistent. Even before that, when Etan and Kwame were both hurt, I had a great year then. But when they came back, my minutes were scattered again, and as a player I couldn't understand that, and I didn't want to accept that role." Washington Post

"I totally agree," Haywood answered, "but at the same time, I feel there has to be a level of accountability on both ends. You know, if you're not playing your best players, then you're doing your team a disservice, especially when you're doing it to try to make a point, when you're trying to spite somebody. You know, you can't go out there and play against Ilgauskas with guys that are 6-8, 6-9. You're hurting the team. You're hurting D.C. It's not about you; it's about the team." Washington Post

"I can help Dwight where he needs the help,'' Gortat said. "There is a need for a second big man in the lineup against some teams. That's why I'll be coming back for training camp in great shape. I have a lot to prove this season.'' FanHouse.com

"I'm really excited about this team," owner Mark Cuban wrote in an e-mail. "We can put five guys on the court who can score, which will open things up for everyone." USA Today

"Things are getting thicker in the West. Everyone's getting better," Dallas president and general manager Donnie Nelson says. "But our feeling is, we're not going to take a backseat to anybody." USA Today

You saw Kevin Durant in practice every day the last couple of years. What kind of player do you see him becoming? Earl Watson: I think he can be a Top 5 player in the NBA. HoopsHype.com

There were even comparisons with LeBron James a few days ago. Do you think he can get to that level? Earl Watson: I don’t think you can compare KD to LeBron – the same way you can’t compare LeBron to Kobe. They are all great players, but they are all unique and different. Players in the future will be getting compared to Kevin Durant. He will make his own mark and have his own path. HoopsHype.com

Rudy Gay: Just now witnessed a robbery! Only in Baltimore, I need to get out of here! Twitter.com

DKV Joventut has not ruled out the possibility of keeping Ricky Rubio while not playing him. El Mundo Deportivo

What does it mean for you to play for the Mexican National Team? Earl Watson: For me it’s bigger than just basketball. My grandfather who came over here from Mexico, I don’t think in his wildest dreams in his journey to the United States of America would have thought his grandson would go to UCLA and then to the NBA. For him to actually have the courage to take that step to go to another country… That for me is an amazingly strong thing to do. And that created opportunities for me generations later… Playing for Mexico is for me a way to give back all that appreciation to that part of my family. I never had a chance to meet my grandfather because he passed away when my mom was 20. But this is a way to represent a piece of him and I’ll do that in any way I can. HoopsHype.com

So when you’re with the team, what’s going to be the main language? Because a lot of players are actually Mexican Americans… Earl Watson: We’re probably going to speak Spanglish (laughs). A little bit of both. But you know, basketball is going to be the main connector. Language is important for the little details, to get the strategy across. But when you’re on the court? Basketball is basketball. HoopsHype.com

Of all that excites Bryan Colangelo in this summer of change -- and so much does -- nothing gets him quite as enthusiastic as talking about his new coach. Jay Triano wasn't the easy hire or the obvious hire, but as August begins and the Toronto Raptors training camp is almost two months away, it's apparent if Colangelo liked Triano before, he's crazy about him now. "It's not just me," Colangelo said on the telephone. "I'm getting glowing reports from USA Basketball about Jay. I'm getting glowing reports from Mike Kryzewski and (Colangelo's father) Jerry Colangelo about what he's doing at the U.S. camp. London Free Press

Of all the teams you’ve played for, where did you feel more comfortable? Was it Memphis under Hubie Brown? Earl Watson: Absolutely, because of the way he spoke the game. Because of his passion, his knowledge of the game. The way he communicated and talked were both unique. And it was specific for each player. That’s what I loved about him. He didn’t have plays for Mike Miller that he had for Shane Battier. Or James Posey. Or Bonzi Wells. Everyone had their unique style of playing, but he made them do it within a team concept using their individual skills. It was amazing how he managed the details of the game. We also had Jerry West there. We have those two guys at the same time, which was amazing. HoopsHype.com

Earl Watson: I think I told Coach this, “The only thing I regret is not being born earlier to have a chance to play for you my whole career.” He was the type of coach that just captured the moment and captured the team. He took the ego out of the team. It all became about the team. Talking to him, a lot of times I had memories of talking to Coach Wooden. I once asked Coach, “What was the common thing about all of your championship teams?” And Coach said, “The common thing was that no one cared who got the credit.” Everyone bought in. I will always remember that. I was like 18 or 19 when I asked him that. And with Hubie Brown it was the same. Hubie Brown would always say, “No one will ever ask you how many points you scored. You know why? Because you’re winning games, chap!” HoopsHype.com

The shouting, jumping and at times wild coaching style of Jason Rabedeaux, head coach of the Chinese Basketball Association club Jiangsu Dragons, has won over both team fans and his players. Now, he's hoping to take his experience and his knowledge of the game to a whole another level. "I would love to help coach the Chinese national team," he told China Daily during the Lu'an Cup CBA Summer League at Changzhi, Shanxi province. "I'd love to be part of the team. I would love to be an assistant coach on the step and help the team in some way." People's Daily

The owners, according to several sources, are looking for a rollback on the revenue guarantees to players. Currently, players are guaranteed 57 percent of all Basketball Related Income--just about any money that comes from an NBA team, including ticket sales from all games, including exhibition and playoff games, broadcast rights to games, concessions and parking sales, merchandise, team sponsorships and beverage sale rights. In addition, players get 40 percent of the take from the sale of luxury suites and arena signage, and up to 50 percent of arena naming rights. NBA.com

With the caveat that a wish list at the beginning of negotiations is just that, and that both sides will certainly have some give in them before a new deal is done, the source with access to the owners says they have several other significant changes on their agenda going into the negotations, including: -- A hard cap. "A hard, hard cap," the source said. The NBA has operated with a "soft" cap since the implementation of the salary cap in 1984, with several kinds of exceptions allowed to either re-sign players already on a team's roster or to entice players from other teams to sign. These include the famous "Larry Bird" exception that allows a team to exceed the cap in order to re-sign its own player; the "mid-level" exception, starting with the average salary paid in a given season, and going out up to five years with annual eight percent raises; and the "bi-annual" exception, which teams can use every other year, and is generally used to help sign older, veteran players. NBA.com

A "supertax" that would basically double the luxury tax to $2 for every dollar a team exceeds the tax threshhold, from its current $1. The league tried to implement a supertax in the last negotiation with the players, but the union held firm against it, feeling it would have a devastating impact on free agency. NBA.com

Owners are adamant that the economic health of the game is in peril. Several teams lost millions of dollars, with ticket sales and advertising down across the league. The league's worst cases, like New Jersey, fell through the floor economically, with estimated losses at or near $10 million. Several other teams were just behind, "only" losing seven figures. And those numbers are multiplied in many cases when you factor in the losses suffered by owners in their other businesses during the recession. The Kings' owners, the Maloof Family, own the Palms Casino in Las Vegas--a city hit hard by the economic slowdown. Suns owner Robert Sarver had investments in transportation companies like Mesa Airlines, according to a source with knowledge of the Suns' business holdings, and do you know any airlines that made money last year? "They lost a fortune. Hundreds of millions in losses," said a source who speaks regularly with many NBA owners and has extensive knowledge of many owners' portfolios. NBA.com

The NBA has fined three teams an undisclosed amount for leaking details of their schedules before the league released them. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves were penalized, an official with knowledge of the decisions told The Associated Press on Monday. The official requested anonymity because the fines weren't publicly announced. AP

Gortat, the only Polish-born player in the NBA, found himself in a little hot water during the Finals last spring when adidas-owned Reebok, who was providing him free shoes, asked him to cover up the Michael Jordan/Nike tattoo on his leg. When he refused their request, they canceled his modest shoe deal. So now he will be switching back to Nike, specifically the Vince Carter signature shoe. Carter, the eight time All-Star who was traded to Orlando in June, already has given Gortat his blessing. "These are the best shoes on the planet,'' said Gortat Monday from Poland, where he is training with his national team for the upcoming European Championships. "Reebok didn't like my tattoo, so I'm back in the Vince Carter shoes I wore for four years before I came to the NBA. These were always my favorites.'' FanHouse.com

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