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Wednesday, September 16

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Amare Stoudemire on his impending free agency in 2010: “Just gonna weigh the options out and see how it goes. I think this is definitely a very important year not only for myself, but for the team as well. If we’re making strides and making the playoffs, which we are, and we’re getting better, than it’s only right to hang around. You never know how it’s going to play out. So me personally, I’m just focusing on helping my teammates as much as possible and getting 100 percent so that we can make the playoffs and go even further.” Sports Radio Interviews

Rondo was also tight-lipped about any talks about a possible contract extension with the C’s. Danny Ainge said early in the offseason that any extension talks would not take place until the fall. Rondo said nothing has taken place yet and he’ll “play it out.” Boston Herald

There are a pair of notable restricted free agents still available in Nate Robinson and Raymond Felton. Robinson's agent, Aaron Goodwin, has told FanHouse it's "100 percent'' his client will return to New York. And Felton's agent, Kevin Bradbury, expects his client will return to Charlotte. "Ray has directed us to get a deal done,'' Bradbury told FanHouse. "We're still in discussions. We're hopeful. ... There's a lot of uncertainties around the league and around the world. Teams are looking at the bottom line and seeing what's going to work for them.'' FanHouse.com

One reason Pat Riley feels adamant that Mario Chalmers should start -- and doesn't want to acquire a veteran or sign Jamaal Tinsley -- is his belief Chalmers will blossom just as Boston's Rajon Rondo has. Riley wants Chalmers to shoot more three-pointers, but defense is a concern. Miami Herald

Portland is looking to sign a big man, and might be willing to give him guaranteed money. Free agents who have worked out in Portland recently are Jarron Collins, Stromile Swift, Greg Ostertag, Juwan Howard and Paul Davis, with Collins perhaps the favorite. Free-agent big man Calvin Booth, 33, is considering retirement after playing 10 NBA seasons. Booth has played sparingly in recent seasons. FanHouse.com

The Magic have added two free agents --- guard Morris Almond and forward Linton Johnson III --- to their training-camp roster, said General Manager Otis Smith. Orlando Sentinel

Need a veteran point guard? There's still plenty to choose from in free agency. The list, though, did get shorter with the news that Mike Wilks will sign a non-guaranteed contract with the Atlanta Hawks. "I think he's got a decent shot to make the team,'' Wilks' agent, Bill Neff told FanHouse on Wednesday. "They don't have a lot of guards.'' FanHouse.com

Neff has been trying to place Hudson with a team, but that really has been tough. Hudson hasn't played since he had hip surgery in January 2008 and being waived that same month by Golden State. "He's healthy, but it's difficult to get back in (the NBA) when you've been out,'' said Neff, who said Hudson "dazzled'' in workouts this summer with New York and one in Las Vegas watched by scouts from Detroit, Memphis, Oklahoma City and Philadelphia. FanHouse.com

The Warriors have secured two training-camp invitees in St. Mary's forward Diamon Simpson and Illinois center Shaun Pruitt. The Warriors have 15 players in camp with guaranteed contracts, so making the roster is a long shot for both invitees. San Francisco Chronicle

Cartier Martin, the non-roster star of the Las Vegas Summer League, has signed with Benetton Treviso of the Italian League. San Francisco Chronicle

Kurt Looby, a center who averaged 8.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks last season in the NBADL with Rio Grande Valley, will attend Denver's camp on a non-guaranteed deal. FanHouse.com

The always-reliable, ridiculously-connected Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports mentioned via twitter that the Knicks were in on Sasha Pavlovic, who was bought out by the Suns and quickly signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves. But from what I was told, despite the willingness Pavlovic had to take a one-year deal, the Knicks were not involved at all. So why the status quo with a 32- win team? Why not go for a Pavlovic, who may be able to give you a little something on the wing with Danilo Gallinari, or take a chance on a sourpuss such as Rashad McCants? What about Wally Szczerbiak, who is still unsigned, to give you some needed veteran presence and shooting? Newsday

The Los Angeles Clippers today re-signed unrestricted free agent forward Brian Skinner. Per team policy terms of the contract were not released. Clippers.com

Amare Stoudemire on his mission this year: “I feel like it’s only right for me to come back as strong as possible. My teammates have been very supportive and I feel like if we all are coming back better and getting better as a player than it betters the team. With the Suns not making the playoffs last year, I think if we keep up with the way we’re going right now, with this offseason and guys coming in early, getting these workouts in and getting better then I think we’re on the right track.” Sports Radio Interviews

Wednesday, at a promotional appearance with teammate Daequan Cook at Nautilus Middle School in Miami Beach, Haslem was asked about Beasley's stay in a Houston rehab facility and Wade's time in arbitration hearings over failed business ventures. The veteran power forward refused to accept either as a concern when it came to preparation for the team's Sept. 28 start of training camp. "Everybody has their own distractions," he said. "I'm dealing with my mother's cancer issues. None of those issues even compare to the issues that I'm going through. I don't focus on other people's issues; I focus on mine and I do what I have to do in my life. And when it's time to come to basketball, that's when I focus on the team. "We get paid to play basketball. Some nights you go out there and you have a lot of things weighing on you mentally and physically, but, at the end of the day, you've still got to out there and you've got to perform." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

"I see Michael as a teammate," he said. "I don't look at him as somebody that I'm competing against. I see him as a teammate. "Since he's been here, I've tried to be a mentor and just lead him. My relationship won't change with him when he comes back. I'm going to continue to try to lead and do the things that I can to be positive." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“One of my main goals is to let everybody know that I’m for real,” Durant said in a recent interview (click here to watch) with THUNDER.NBA.COM. “I don’t play around, whether it’s outside or in a real game. I want somebody who’s never seen me before up close to leave and say, ‘K.D. can play a little bit.’” NBA.com

In Austin, Texas, he organized pickup games at 6:30 a.m., just before heading to summer classes at the University of Texas. Even though he didn’t play, Durant made the trip to the Las Vegas Summer League to practice with his Thunder teammates and sit on the bench for support. And Durant’s three days at the USA Basketball minicamp turned out to be his own personal playground. NBA.com

Sekou Smith: Andrew Bynum is in the gym today. Will get to see how Siler matches up with him. Too bad Al Horford is in the weight room. Twitter.com

Mike Trudell: Morrison, Powell and Vujacic just joined Brown, Artest and Walton at the facility to work out. Twitter.com

That chance took a big hit this off-season when Portland acquired veteran playmaker Andre Miller from Philidelphia. The move seemingly relegates Bayless to third string (Miller is the projected starter and Blake his backup) and has left some fans wondering when, not if, he will be put on the block. Trade talk aside, the former Arizona Wildcat recognises playing time won't come easy with such a loaded backcourt. Any opportunity will have to be earned. He said: "It affects me (the addition of Miller), it bumps me down a little bit. But, you know, going into training camp I can prove some things and show I can play. Basketball24/7

"There are a lot of things I want to accomplish in this league. I want to be an All-Star sooner or later and given the right opportunity I know I have a chance to do that." Basketball24/7

Nor has the Phoenix Suns point guard followed the typical script in terms of endorsement deals. Although he’s one of the world’s best basketball players, his off-court profile has been relatively low compared to other star athletes like LeBron James or Shaquille O’Neal, players who seem to have spent as much time on television commercial sets as in the gym. It’s not that Nash wasn’t in demand. It’s just that he had little interest in playing the celebrity shill. “I was kind of the anti-marketer in many ways,” says Nash. “I spent many years feeling uncomfortable about marketing and wanting to spend my time doing other things.” Marketing Mag

“I wanted to get into filmmaking–I’m very passionate about film–so I pitched Nike on doing a viral video,” Nash says, explaining the process that led to the creation of “Training Day,” an online video that showed Nash practising on the basketball court as well as demonstrating his considerable soccer, tennis and skateboarding skills. “I wrote a concept and they gave me $30,000, and I hired a young director and director of photography in New York and we made this viral piece. “It got amazing feedback from people, so that really sparked the bug in me to go to Nike and say, can I do another one?” Marketing Mag

Nash hopes to be a central figure in helping both athletes and leagues handle their evolving social media business. Along with Davis and Bosh, he’s about to introduce Apoko, a company that will specialize in online content management for athletes. “I think that’s going to be a very important service as fans get more excited about that kind of interaction with players and players get more excited about providing that,” says Nash. “We just think it’s a great opportunity for players to take control of their brand and their audience and at the same time not be unguided and without a strategy.” Marketing Mag

Amare Stoudemire on how severe the injury was to his eye: “Well, it’s no fun I’ll tell you that. What happened was I had a partially reattached retina. I had to lay face down 22 hours a day for 10 days in order for that retina to reattach. So if you can imagine laying down on a massage table or a chair that has a face pad, laying face down for 22 hours a day for a week and a half.” Sports Radio Interviews

Mavericks forward Tim Thomas found out Wednesday he has a cartilage injury of undetermined severity in his right knee that will require arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday. The 6-10 Thomas was examined by team physician Dr. T.O. Souryal, who also is likely to perform the procedure to clean up the debris in the knee. A timetable for Thomas' return won't be known until after the surgery, but Mavericks officials were optimistic that it would not be a long-term recovery period. Training camp opens Sept. 28, with the season starting in late October, giving Thomas six weeks to recuperate before he would miss any meaningful time. Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Two years ago, Jerry Crowe – then a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times – wrote a piece titled, “USC lobs calls to Miner, hoping that one connects". In it, Crowe vividly describes how the school wished to honor Harold Miner – the Trojans all-time scoring leader in men's basketball - during a halftime ceremony commemorating his legacy as an All-American and subsequently NBA star. The trouble was no one could find Miner. And those that did know of his whereabouts never received a return phone call. As Crowe discovered during his research, even a call from the Times wasn’t returned. “I get the feeling that he does not want to be found,” Crowe, now a sports columnist with the Times, wrote me in an email when I inquired recently if he’d eventually spoken to Miner these years later. “If you do find him and write a story, please let me know.” Beyond the Beat

“I haven’t talked to him in a while,” said New Orleans Hornets assistant coach Robert Pack, who shared the backcourt with Miner at USC. “It’s been a long while, but I’m sure the way he played the game, knew the game, knew the history and someone with that passion, it had to be hard to walk away.” Beyond the Beat

Today, the 38-year old Miner – according to newspaper clippings and personal sources – lives in Las Vegas and is a married father with a daughter who dabbles in real estate investing. It’s said he prefers family life over re-living highlight reel dunks or the direct pain of leaving the game of basketball with dreams in hand at such a young age. “That’s probably why he hasn’t been accessible to anyone at all,” Pack said softly. “I know it would be tough for a guy that was so passionate about the game like he was.” Beyond the Beat

A Las Vegas court has pushed back a status check to Oct. 29 for former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker, amid talk of possible repayment in an $822,500 casino gambling debt case. Prosecutor Bernie Zadrowski said Wednesday he's been talking with Walker's lawyer, Jonathan Powell, about settling the criminal case. ESPN.com

A spokesman says billionaire shopping mall magnate and Indiana Pacers co-owner Mel Simon has died at age 82. Simon Property Group spokesman Les Morris says Simon died Friday. Simon spent nearly 40 years leading what is now Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group, the nation's largest shopping mall company. ESPN.com

But Emmis Communications CEO Smulyan said Simon's contributions made a "tremendous difference in the quality of life in Indianapolis" and created "defining elements of the community over the last 100 years." Indianapolis Star

Simon also was a Hollywood movie producer in the 1970s and '80s, when he scored a big hit with the raunchy teen comedy "Porky's," but he had many more flops. Simon's business of building and operating hundreds of suburban shopping malls across the country earned him a fortune that Forbes magazine estimated this year at $1.3 billion. ESPN.com

The Pacers, with players like the sharp-shooting Miller, Jermaine O'Neal and others, reached the Eastern Conference finals six times in 11 years and the NBA finals in 2000. The success helped lead to the opening of Conseco Fieldhouse in 1999. "The Pacers would not be here, Conseco would not be here, and in my judgment, Indianapolis wouldn't be the remarkable place that it is without what this man did for us," said Jim Morris, president of Pacers Sports and Entertainment. USA Today

Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird, an Indiana native, said he'll miss Simon. "Melvin was a very dear friend and golfing buddy," Bird said in a statement. "He is a true legend to this city, not only for the visible things that everyone sees each day, but because he was a man who cared about people." USA Today

Pacers very close to signing guard Luther Head, according to a source. Twitter.com

After completing a buyout with the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, guard Sasha Pavlovic has agreed in principle on a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Adrian Wojnarowski: The New York Knicks also had an interest in signing Sasha Pavlovic, sources said. Twitter.com

Carlos Arroyo is in negotiations with the Clippers and the Hawks. Primera Hora

Arroyo is not ruling out the possibility of returning to Europe as a backup plan. Primera Hora

After considering several other options, free agent forward Rob Kurz has decided to accept an non-guaranteed contract from the Cavaliers, according to a league source. Kurz, a 6-foot-9 3-point specialist, had several training camp offers on the table over the last week. With just 12 guaranteed contracts, Kurz has a solid shot of making the team if he plays well in the preseason. Cleveland Plain Dealer

With the addition of Rodney Carney, the Sixers have 13 players under contract, two under the league limit. Ed Stefanski has said that they could add a 14th if someone can win a job in training camp and the preseason. A source familiar with the situation said journeyman Jared Reiner, who failed to make the squad last season, will get another opportunity. The 6-11 Reiner, 27, is a former Big Ten rebounding champion at Iowa and has logged time with the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks. Philadelphia Daily News

The San Antonio Spurs have signed guard Curtis Jerrells to a make-good contract with a partial guarantee, one source told HoopsHype.com. The signing is expected to be announced later this week. Jerrells, a 6-foot-1 point guard, starred four years at Baylor and was named to the All-Big 12 in 2009. HoopsHype.com

Scot Pollard, who in 11 days will play in his first organized basketball game in 19 months, says his two-game stint with the Midwest All-Stars isn’t the start of a full-fledged pro comeback. “I don’t think an (NBA) offer will come. I’m probably done,” said the 34-year-old Pollard. Lawrence Journal-World

“I will not hold a press conference to say I’m retired,” said Pollard, who has been out of basketball since playing for the 2008 world champion Boston Celtics. “(But) the fact I didn’t hear from more than a couple teams last year ... I don’t think it’ll happen this year.” Lawrence Journal-World

“If somebody would call in the spring and wants a veteran to make a playoff push, I would consider that. I’m not interested in moving my family again for a short-term, non-guaranteed deal,” said Pollard, who lives in Lawrence with wife Mindy and children Lolli (10), Tallula (6) and Ozzy (2). “Toward the end of my career, I didn’t have the passion to play in the NBA nine months a year. I wanted to be a better father than pro athlete. It’s why I’m done.” Lawrence Journal-World

With the cap flexibility created by Erick Dampier’s contract, do you anticipate going after a big-name free agent in the summer of 2010? Mark Cuban: We are going to be opportunistic as always. I think we can push to get cap space, or put ourselves in a position to do a sign and trade. I actually think there will be more opportunities via sign and trade than using straight cap space. Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Why don’t you sign a better center? Mark Cuban: Why don’t you ask a better question? Fort Worth Star-Telegram

As it turns out, Carney landed back where he started, with the 76ers. There was no hard news to his teleconference with reporters yesterday, because he agreed to the terms of a 1-year minimum salary contract last week, but he seemed to have a firm grasp of a fresh opportunity to establish himself in the NBA. He did, however, take an audible deep breath when he was asked about his reaction to the Timberwolves' declining the final option on his rookie contract. Had the Wolves invoked the option, his salary would have jumped from $1,655,760 to $2,539,936. Instead, his new salary for a player credited with 3 years of service is $855,189. "It was a big downer," Carney said. "I thought I showed through my ability what I could bring to a team . . . I guess it worked out for the best, because I'm here. [It wasn't a good time] for free agents, with the recession and everything." Philadelphia Daily News

"When I left, I thought it was for the best, [the Sixers] just trying to get E.B. in here," he said. "I thought my presence was needed elsewhere. But to come back, it was never in my mind till [Sixers president/general manager] Ed Stefanski called me and said he would like me back. It's still kind of surreal that I'm back. Driving up [I-76], I realized I was back where I actually started." Philadelphia Daily News

Chinemelu Elonu, the Lakers' second-round draft pick, has signed a two-year deal to play for the Spanish club team Zaragoza. Elonu, a forward/center from Texas A&M, has an opt-out clause that will allow him to leave Europe and sign with the Lakers after the 2009-10 season. "Just being drafted by them is exciting," Elonu said while playing for the Lakers' summer league team in Las Vegas in July. "Oh man, I was with my family and friends watching the draft on TV. I heard the dude call my name and I was numb. I was very overwhelmed. There's nothing better than to get drafted by the world champions." Los Angeles Daily News

Stephen Jackson's $25,000 fine for "public statements detrimental to the NBA" would be funny if it weren't so bogus in a fun police sort of way. First, if $25,000 fines were assessed for all statements detrimental to the NBA, I'd be in trouble. Also, the world would be without poverty. All that fine money donated to good causes would be enough to feed everyone. CBSSports.com

Howard Beck: Confirming my earlier tweet: NBA says it did not fine Kobe for 2007 trade demand because he retracted it the same day. Twitter.com

Arenas had declined offers the previous two offseasons from Mr. Grover, who recently opened a 65,000-square-foot complex on Chicago's Near West Side. This summer, after two frustrating years, Arenas had a change of heart. Washington Times

The methods he and the Wizards' medical team tried had failed, so Arenas charged Mr. Grover and company with rebuilding him into the superstar who averaged 27.7 points a game from 2004 to 2007. "It was a pretty extensive process," Mr. Grover said. "We had to get his range of motion back in the leg, did a lot of acupuncture, a lot of work. We put a game plan together and attacked it from as many angles as we could. Gil would work with four or five individuals from my staff each day. ... It was, 'OK, Gil, you're going to be spending a good six to seven hours a day in here and a lot of treatment, and it's all pieces of the puzzle to putting you back together to being the player you were before - and better.' " Washington Times

"The plan was not to have him play as good as he had in the past, but to play better than in the past," said Mr. Grover, who daily has watched Arenas play against fellow Attack clients and NBA stars such as Dwyane Wade, O.J. Mayo and Tracy McGrady. "I have no reason to believe that won't happen. But it won't shock me at all to see him as an All-Star again this season, a 20-plus-point scorer, probably the comeback player of the year." Washington Times

Arenas - normally the one for brash predictions and bold statements - this time declines to join in. "Where did we finish in the East last year?" he asked. "Last. Then until we prove ourselves, that's what we are. You can't predict. Anyone can guess where we're gonna be at. But until the ball goes up in the air, we're last in the East. We took some steps in the right direction this summer, but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what I saw. If you wanna say stuff, it's just for conversation, just for the chat rooms. And it's all great and wonderful, but it doesn't mean anything." Washington Times

Iguodala also said he had been in the gym endlessly - specifically in the last month - working on various skills, including the "catch-and-shoot" because of new coach Eddie Jordan's pass-and-cut offense. Jordan's system calls for a two-guard front, not necessarily including a traditional point guard, and there has been mention of Iguodala's handling some lead-guard duties. Philadelphia Inquirer

Ed Stefanski has questions about the 76ers, just like most people. The team president said Tuesday that his two biggest are point guard and center. Lou Williams is likely to succeed veteran Andre Miller, who signed as a free agent with the Trail Blazers, at the point after four years of strictly coming off the bench. Will he be able to better involve others, while still getting his shot? "I think the point guard spot will be an interesting one to follow because Lou Williams has an opportunity right in front of him," said Stefanski on Tuesday. "The question is: Can he take his 23, 24 minutes a game to 34 minutes a game? There’s no question he’s an NBA basketball player. Now, can he take a different role?" PhillyBurbs.com

As for center, embattled incumbent starter Samuel Dalembert asked to be traded by last February's deadline, but Stefanski couldn't find a decent offer. Stefanski unsuccessfully tried again over the summer. "How will Sammy (Dalembert) come in (this year)?" Stefanski said. "When Sammy is blocking shots, protecting the basket, rebounding the ball, he takes our team to another level. There’s no question in my mind. So we need Sammy to do that for us on a consistent basis." PhillyBurbs.com

Carlos Powell, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward who played on the Suns summer team, joined voluntary workouts and will be on the Suns training camp roster. Point guard Zabian Dowdell, also a summer Sun, is in town rehabilitating an injury. Arizona Republic

Less than a week after the Grizzlies introduced Iverson as the most significant free-agent acquisition in franchise history, the 34-year-old guard left Tuesday for Europe on an eight-day Reebok promotional tour. Iverson will make stops in Italy, Poland and Spain before returning to Memphis on Sept. 25. The Grizzlies’ media day is Sept. 28, and training camp practices begin the next day in Birmingham, Ala. “Generally, these tours are not this close to training camp. The reason is this one had been planned so long ago,” said Gary Moore, Iverson’s personal manager. “It’ll work out fine. Allen is looking at this as the beginning of training camp. He’s going to be in a basketball environment and training with professionals most of the time.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Griz general manager Chris Wallace said Gasol's and Iverson’s commitments are a little too close to camp for comfort but he expects two of the team’s top players to be ready for work. “Allen’s event was scheduled before he became a Grizzly. … I wish Marc’s event wasn’t this close to training either, but what are you going to do about it?,” Wallace said. “I’m sure (Iverson) will draw a crowd over there, but we’re looking forward to when he gets back.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

At one point a high school coach called in, praised James and his former high school coach Dru Joyce (who was also on the air), and then, in a way that surprised everyone ... asked LeBron James to please marry the mother of his children. "Whoa," said the host. But James, who has two children with his longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson, took it right in stride. "You know what's funny about that?" he said. "Me and Coach Dru had a long conversation about that about a week ago. Coach Dru is someone I always go to for advice and asked him about that. I think we came to the conclusion that you make that decision when you think you're ready for it." Later he praised the caller for asking a "great question." ESPN.com

Nate Robinson: Can't wait until the season starts, summer was way 2long pause!!! Hope we can make the playoffs!! Twitter.com

Nate Robinson: Yo I need to get to 100,00 followers b4 the 1st game of the season, me and dwight howard aka superman have a bet going friendly bet! Twitter.com

Nate Robinson: And if I win he has to make up a dance and put it on youtube! And if I dnt win I have to do one so come on and help me out Yesterday. Twitter.com

Jared Dudley: If u need any inside info with whats goin on with the NBA check out hoopshype.com.. i know i do..they know whats happening before it happens. Twitter.com

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Spurs forward Richard Jefferson could miss the start of training camp after dislocating his right thumb. Jefferson was injured Tuesday while working out at the Spurs' practice facility. X-rays were negative, and the 29-year-old swingman is expected to be re-examined next week. ESPN.com

It's been two months since I last saw Danilo Gallinari. Somehow, he looks taller. I'm 6'6" and rarely feel that dwarfed by most NBA players. When I saw Gallo on Tuesday at the Garden, it felt like my head was at his shoulders. And those looked bigger, too. We must remember the kid is just 21 and still growing. And finally, the sixth overall pick from the 2008 draft says, he's"ready to go" after a rookie season truncated by a troubling back injury that was surgically-repaired in March. "I feel good," he said. "I'm ready for training camp." Newsday

Gallinari is aware of it all. "I feel people want to see something from me," he admitted. "I will tell you," he later added, "I want to see the expectations. I want to feel the pressure because that's what makes you a really good player." Newsday

Tim Thomas arrived in Dallas on Tuesday afternoon for an examination by Mavericks team physician T.O. Souryal to determine the severity of a knee injury Thomas suffered in a recent pick-up game. Thomas' agent, Bob Myers, and the Mavericks were waiting for returns of an MRI exam. Dallas Morning News

This news apparently slipped though the local cracks, but Jeff Ruland, who was not retained as a Sixers assistant, was hired last month as the head coach at the University of D.C., where the college's news release said his deal was for "at least 5 years." Philadelphia Daily News

To soften the blow of massive employee pay cuts, Miami Heat president Pat Riley has granted one-year extensions to several members of the basketball operations staff. Riley, coach Erik Spoelstra and other key members of the front-office staff were among those in the organization who recently accepted pay reductions of up to 20 percent for the upcoming season. Miami Herald

The lead negotiator for N.B.A. referees expressed renewed hope Tuesday that a labor deal might be struck — and a lockout averted — before the league opens its preseason schedule. “There definitely could be movement towards a deal,” said Lamell McMorris, who is the spokesman and chief negotiator for the National Basketball Referees Association. New York Times

McMorris and his team are scheduled to meet with the league’s 57 active referees Wednesday night in Chicago. It was unclear if they would vote on a contract proposal, although McMorris would not rule it out. “All I can really say is that even in the middle of what some may have deemed mudslinging back and forth, etc., dialogue has been ongoing,” McMorris said, “and we’ve remained hopeful that a deal still can get done.” New York Times

This Suns practice is brought to you by . . . The Annexus Group. The Suns will announce a multi-year agreement Wednesday with The Annexus Group, a Scottsdale-based annuity company that will pay a mid-six-figure amount annually to have its name on the Suns' practice uniforms, coaching apparel and practice court at US Airways Center. Arizona Republic

Noting that James will be a free agent after next season, Stewart replaced the mug James was drinking from with an "I Love NY" mug. James: "That's a really nice cup." Stewart: "Are you familiar with our city? . . . We have a team, the Knickerbockers. They're a basketball team." Stewart asked James if he had made up his mind about staying in Cleveland. James said, "Well, I'm here in New York now with you." Stewart: "Are you suggesting I prevent you from leaving?" Los Angeles Times

Pollard said he’d be making a trip to Los Angeles in coming weeks for negotiations that involve, “being in front of the camera.” Pollard did some broadcast work for NBA Network last year. He had a regular, popular Planet Pollard segment on Boston TV and has his own Web site planetpollard.com. Lawrence Journal-World

Dennis Rodman says he hasn't picked up a basketball in forever and insists the game isn't what drives him anymore. "I want to reach out to today's children, because nowadays it's hard to do such a thing," said the former rebounding king and five-time NBA champion. "Look at the world we live in. It's so fast-paced with all the electronics. I want to make it a better place." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

"My advice for kids is to understand the difference between good and bad and learn from it," he said. "You try and reach out to as many as you can. A lot of the kids look at me as a cartoon character, someone who is witty and funny. I love that, but I also want them to see me as a beneficial person, someone who isn't bad and is doing as many positive things as possible." Set to host the You –Me –BBQ & Tennessee golf outing are Mike Brady and former Miami Dolphins running back Jim Kiick. The event, which will take place Oct. 24 at the Inverrary Country Club, 3840 Inverrary Blvd. in Lauderhill, is being sponsored by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Attorneys representing the Heat and guard Dwyane Wade are hoping to avoid trials during the upcoming basketball season related to a bevy of lawsuits involving the star player. Wade is accused of failing to meet his marketing obligations to a chain of shuttered restaurants bearing his name and walking away from a Miami charter school also named for him. He's targeted in an antitrust case over sports memorabilia; he filed a defamation suit against a former business partner. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Adrian Wojnarowski: Condolences to Nets Pres. Rod Thorn, who lost his father, Joe, 94, a Purple Heart winner and minor league pitcher. Twitter.com

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