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Saturday, September 26

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Adrian Wojnarowski: The Bobcats Raja Bell continues to be shopped around the league, GM's say. No doubt he'd love to get back to a contender. Twitter.com

Speaking at the Jazz's annual media day on Friday afternoon at the team's practice facility, Boozer was asked to explain his offseason comments about welcoming possible trades Chicago and Miami. "Let me address that right now," Boozer said sternly. "I got asked a question -- I was doing an interview for my basketball camp in Alaska. I got asked a question: 'If I was traded here, if got traded there, would you want to go?' "If I get traded, I don't have a choice but to go. So I said, 'Yeah, if I get traded, I'll go.' Nonetheless, I'm here. I'm back in Utah. I'm excited to be here. I'm ready to move forward, get on the court with my teammates and see how good we can be this year." Salt Lake Tribune

Boozer admitted to a swarm of media members that he didn't expect to return to the Jazz after another injury plagued season in 2008-09. "I thought I was going to be traded but I'm here," he said. "I'm happy to be here. Coach wants me to be here. My teammates want me to be here. Management brought me back and I'm happy to be here in a Jazz uniform and not going somewhere else. I'm looking forward to getting started." Salt Lake Tribune

Asked about addressing what happened this summer with his teammates, Boozer sounded as if he didn't feel the need. "This is my eighth year," he said. "It ain't the first time somebody's talked about trading me. It ain't the first time I've dealt with it. Some of these guys have been traded before. For us, we're just going to get going. "I talked to everybody, said, 'What's up?' I'm happy to see everybody. Everybody looks great and everybody looks like they're in great shape and we'll see what happens tomorrow." Salt Lake Tribune

Korver wasn't the only Jazz player who had Boozer's back on Friday, however. The Jazz, to a man, said they were happy to have Boozer return to the fold after a controversial summer. "It's good to see Carlos back," said Jazz center Mehmet Okur. "I like to play with him. He's such a good player and we know each other." Deseret Morning News

"It's a business, the NBA," said Kirilenko. "A lot of rumors go around the league. But Carlos is a huge part of our team, and we don't want to lose him. He's definitely got our support, and we'll do everything we can to make him feel good." Deseret Morning News

Jazz star point guard Deron Williams said the Boozer situation won't be a problem. "It's only a distraction if you let it be a distraction," said Williams. "We should be fine. We'll get this media day out of the way, get back to work, and I don't think it will be that big of a problem." Deseret Morning News

Nelson said Jackson is still one of his captains, he's confident he can coach the disgruntled 31-year-old and he thinks Jackson will be at media day Monday. Nelson also revealed that he broached the subject of a trade nearly a year ago and will try to oblige Jackson, who said last month that he wanted off the Warriors. "I'm not angry at him," Nelson said. "I understand. And we'll try to accommodate him if it works out and is the right thing for the team. ... "If it's good for the team, we'll look at it. It's got nothing to do with Jack or a request. We'll accommodate him if we can; if it's good for him and good for us, we'll certainly look at it." San Francisco Chronicle

Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin has no plans to opt out of his contract at the end of this season. "They could have sent in that paperwork that day (I signed the contract)," Martin said Friday during Nuggets media day. "No, I ain't opting out of nothing. I worked for that (money). I want that." Denver Post

Meanwhile, the Nuggets will have a quick decision to make on the contract of swingman Arron Afflalo, whom they traded for this summer. Still under his rookie contract, he has a team option that must be picked up by Oct. 31 or he'll be an unrestricted free agent next summer. The option year would pay Afflalo around $2 million. Afflalo said there has been no talk about that between him and the Nuggets. "I'm not even thinking about that," he said. Denver Post

New Jersey Nets guard Rafer Alston expects to start the NBA regular season with either the New York Knicks or the Miami Heat, according to a source close to the situation. "New York and Miami are the top two teams on Rafer's list," said the source. "He can't play in a contract year in New Jersey behind Devin Harris and Keyon Dooling." ESPN.com

"(Mike) D'Antoni might be the only coach in the league that would let Rafer be Rafer," the source said. While the Knicks offer an opportunity for Alston to play in his hometown, the chance to play with Dwyane Wade and Miami might be more likely and attractive. "(Dwyane) Wade loves Rafer," the source said. ESPN.com

Newly acquired Antonio Daniels won't play for the Timberwolves after all. As they also did this week with veteran center Mark Blount, the Wolves have given Daniels permission to find a trade that will allow him to play more elsewhere. If the Wolves can't trade Daniels, 34, for a contract similar to his $6.6 million deal, the two sides already have agreed to a contract buyout. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Daniels is hopeful of signing one more sizable contract and didn't think he would play enough behind young point guards Jonny Flynn and Ramon Sessions to do so. Wolves boss David Kahn obtained Daniels from New Orleans for Bobby Brown and Darius Songaila in a Sept. 9 trade that was all about ridding the team of the remaining two seasons on Songaila's contact. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Sam Amick: Bobby Jackson on his future, via text: "Still don't know yet, teams want me to come in on a non guarantee and I don't want to. So I'm waiting." Twitter.com

The Denver Nuggets coach told FanHouse on Friday his son, guard Coby Karl, will go to training camp with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and thinks he can make the team. Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry confirmed to FanHouse that Coby Karl will attend Cleveland's camp. "I feel I have a pretty good opportunity to make the (Cavaliers),'' said Coby Karl, who said he has been working out the past two weeks in Cleveland and said he got his invitation to camp last Friday. "It's exciting because they're a really good team and are looking to win a championship.'' "He's been in (Cleveland working out), and I think it will happen,'' George Karl said of his son going to Cleveland's camp, which starts Tuesday. "If you look at the roster, I think it's a good chance (of Coby Karl making the team). Everybody always is trying to maneuver and get someone, but I think Coby felt pretty good about how he's played there (in Cleveland).'' FanHouse.com

"I feel I have a pretty good opportunity to make the (Cavaliers),'' said Coby Karl, who said he has been working out the past two weeks in Cleveland and said he got his invitation to camp last Friday. "It's exciting because they're a really good team and are looking to win a championship.'' FanHouse.com

Few housekeeping duties on the eve of training camp … or, as we were joking today over at Clippers HQ in Playa Vista: Three shopping days remaining before media day. The first official practice of training camp is Tuesday morning and media day is Monday. There will be 18 players in camp next week, four of them free agents: shooting guard Kareem Rush, point guard Anthony Roberson, shooting guard Jerel McNeal and forward Taj Gray. Los Angeles Times

The Pacers have 13 veterans and two draft picks on the roster, which would seem to limit the opportunities for the three camp invitees: 6-10 Rod Benson (Syracuse), 6-8 Demetris Nichols (Syracuse) and 6-9 Lawrence Roberts (Mississippi State). NBA.com

Last season, the Knicks reshaped their roster throughout the year - making four major in-season trades and signing a handful of young prospects late in the season. This year, don’t expect to see many moves. “My history is I don’t trade during the season,” Walsh said. “There are guys on one-year contracts and I don’t know how we give them away for other guys on one-year contracts, and you can’t eat up the cap for next year,” D’Antoni added. “I’m hoping we stay the way we are all year and we overachieve. If something great comes up, I’m sure Donnie will pull the trigger on it.” Knicks.com

David Lee (one year, $7 million) and Nate Robinson (one year, $4 million) were officially signed Friday. Each has a $1-million bonus if the team makes the playoffs. Newsday

Murray's agent, Mark Termini, confirmed the Bobcats offered the bi-annual exception. That means Murray will make just under $2 million on a one-season contract. Brown says it's "mind-boggling" that Murray, a seven-season NBA veteran, was still available days before Tuesday's start of training camp. Brown sees Murray's versatility as important insurance. "When Raja got hurt last season, it was telling that we were in trouble," said Brown of the swoon that took the Bobcats out of playoff contention. Charlotte Observer

The Bobcats also signed guard Antonio Anderson, a 6-6 undrafted rookie from Memphis. Charlotte Observer

The Nuggets signed swingman Joey Graham to a nonguaranteed deal. Denver Post

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Ime Udoka signed a non-guaranteed contract with the team Friday and will attempt to rejoin the organization he departed after the 2006-07 season, when he blossomed into a Rip City favorite by surprisingly ascending from an NBA Development League player to NBA starter. Oregonian

Patrick Mills will turn down lucrative offers from Europe as he attempts to force his way into the Portland Trail Blazers NBA squad. The Canberra basketballer left the capital yesterday to fly back to the United States and edge closer to his NBA dream. He has almost recovered from the broken foot which crippled his bid to secure a contract with the Portland franchise. Mills will have an X-ray on October6 and is expected to be cleared to return to the court. Canberra Times

''The goal is to play in the NBA not Europe. ''There are some offers from overseas clubs, but Portland haven't got rid of me yet so that's good signs and that's where I want to be. ''It's certainly going to be challenging and ideally Europe is out of the question ... it's more about me marking myself in the NBA and cementing my spot there.'' Canberra Times

Barring some dramatic turn of events, the Wizards will enter the regular season with 14 players under contract. But the team still needed a few extra bodies for training camp in Richmond next week, so they signed free agents Paul Davis and Vincent Grier on Friday. Training camp starts on Tuesday and the Wizards will have four two-a-day practices and single practices on the other two days. They will have their preseason opener against Memphis (and Allen Iverson) on October 6. Washington Post

Phil Jackson said today that the Lakers' No. 1 priority for training camp is simple. "We want to try and make this transition for Ron Artest seamless, get our players playing at a level that they can approximate the chemistry they've had on the court in past years and get some of players in condition, like Lamar (Odom), who's been busy all summer." That was in reference to Odom's upcoming wedding. Los Angeles Daily News

Jackson said they want to "condition some of our players like Lamar, who's been busy all summer." The coach joked: "Well, we're going to give him a real good honeymoon. That's what I plan on doing. He's going to have a lot of fun right after his honeymoon. If his honeymoon lasts one night, he's going to have a lot of fun after that. But, yes, I'm planning on going [to the wedding]. I'm very supportive of Lamar and want everything in his world to go right for him." Los Angeles Times

In a slightly more serious tone, Jackson admitted he is concerned about distractions derailing the Lakers' chase for a second straight NBA title. He said the Lakers would attempt to curb the use of Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites by the players. "It's going to be something we have to talk about, without a doubt," he said. "I don't expect them to leave it behind. There's a tendency for those things to continue or follow us, but they're going to have to get acclimated. There's a certain amount of privacy we're going to have to demand from that, so that our business doesn't become street business." Los Angeles Daily News

In an attempt to give Sasha Vujacic a fresh start at training camp, Coach Phil Jackson said today he asked the backup guard to cut his flowing locks. Vujacic complied. Said Jackson: "Last year, Sasha got injured on the first day of training camp and it literally limited him for three weeks. So he got off to a bad start and never recovered. So we've asked him to cut his hair and he did. He's going to have a new look. I think it's a total fresh start. I think Sasha played with his hair more than he played on the court (last season)." Los Angeles Daily News

There was certainly excitement and anticipation in the conference room at the MSG Training Center as the pair, entering their second season together, began looking forward to the season that will hopefully snap a six-year playoff drought. “I’m not going to say it’s not going to be tough (to make the playoffs), but I think it’s tough for any team first of all,” D’Antoni said. “But I go back to the fact that we have a lot of question marks, and if a few of these question marks can come through then we’ll have a very good chance. We lost 18 games by five points or less last year, and won 32.” Knicks.com

The biggest "wow moment," though, came when Walsh was asked how much Eddy Curry _ certain to be THE story of training camp and beyond _ currently weighs. Walsh said when he checked last week, the center once ordained by Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas as a potential franchise player was at 317, or about 40 pounds below where he was when he started his summer workout program. Bergen Record

If Gallinari returns from the back injury that plagued him throughout his rookie campaign and can do nothing more than spot up from the corner, D’Antoni will take it. “He’s the best shooter I’ve ever seen,” said D’Antoni of his first draft pick as Knicks head coach. Knicks.com

The Denver Nuggets guard spent 23 days in jail in July after pleading guilty to reckless driving for a June 2007 accident that killed his passenger and good friend. "Oh, by far," Smith said Friday when asked if it was the most humbling experience of his life. "I was in protective custody. They wouldn't let me interact with anybody. I was on 23-hour lockdown. I was pretty much in there by myself. The whole time you definitely see the difference between freedom and not being free." FanHouse.com

Smith, 24, answered most questions directly during the team's media day. He said it helped him having veteran guard Chauncey Billups, who turned 33 Friday, come to Las Vegas to work out with and tutor him during the final month of the summer. "He's definitely my mentor right now, and I pretty much try to follow in his footsteps," Smith said. FanHouse.com

During their time together Billups said he and Smith had a lot of "in-depth conversations about him just growing up." Billups is pleased to see Smith beginning training camp with what he called a "clean slate." "He has a great opportunity to be one of the best players in the league," Billups said of Smith, who averaged 15.2 points last season and was second in voting for the NBA Sixth Man Award. "I don't want to see him destroy that opportunity by being immature. He's made some mistakes, but the great thing about it is that he's owned up to it. And he's taken responsibility for that, and learned from that." FanHouse.com

During the one hour daily when he wasn't locked down, Smith said he was able to take a shower and make phone calls. One call came from teammate Carmelo Anthony. "It's kind of hard to talk to a close friend like that because you don't want to see nobody in that situation,'' Anthony said. "When somebody's in that situation, it's hard to ask somebody, 'How you doing?' You already know how they're doing." FanHouse.com

Several times during his session with reporters, Boozer talked about a dedication to play better defense, including an answer to my question about his reaction to Miller's comments. "I'm looking forward to playing better defense, you know I need to," Boozer said. "I'm looking forward to proving it out there on the court. I think as a team we all have to play better defense, otherwise we're not going anywhere. "For me, I'm going to take on that challenge of being a better defender. Our team as a whole, if we do a better job of team defense together, then we have a chance of being really good." Salt Lake Tribune

I'll write a little more about this in the coming days, but C.J. Miles spent much of the summer working out in New York with a pair of NFL players. Miles agreed with my assessment that he benefited from not having to worry about his contract situation this summer. Salt Lake Tribune

Calderon loves playing for his country. But this summer, it was all about preparing for the NBA season and showing the Raptors that his best basketball is still in front of him. “I was terrible since January,” Calderon said in a candid interview at the Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham yesterday. “I couldn’t play defence for the last part of the season. On offence, I was just settling for jumpers because I couldn’t go one-on-one with my man. “Last year, my numbers were better, but I was playing at 50%,” he continued. “So, this has to be my year. I just want to win this year, forget about last year and work at getting this team into the playoffs and being a contender.” Toronto Sun

Calderon is considered one of the best ball distributors in the NBA, but he defence has been questioned. “The defence starts with me,” he said. “I’m the point guard and I’m the first one who has to play defence. “I was embarrassed last year because of my leg. I couldn’t go right or left. I’m the first (line of defence) and I’m going to start playing defence.” Toronto Sun

Adrian Wojnarowski: Sacramento Kings staff has been blown away with rookie Tyreke Evans in workouts. They think they've got a star, sooner than later. Twitter.com

Stoudemire's offseason has showed as much. He spent part of it recovering from an eye surgery to repair a detached retina he suffered in February. The injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. As part of his recovery, for 10 days Stoudemire stared at the ground for 22 hours each day so his eye could heal properly. He passed the time with his computer and books. He said he read about half the Bible, Stoudemire guesses, the ancient Chinese text the Art of War by Sun Tzu, a moniker he's adopted for himself. He read The 40 Laws of Power, he said, and books about the Hebrew culture. Orlando Sentinel

Reading wasn't part of his life growing up; he had no interest in school and chose basketball over his books whenever he could. He needed at 2.0 grade point average to play in high school, and he did just enough to accomplish that. But Stoudemire said he always had an interest in the world. "I had nobody to force education on me," Stoudemire said. "I feel like if I could do it all over again I'd definitely be a nerd." Orlando Sentinel

After hearing criticism from the organization about his weight last season, Kirilenko reported to training camp at 238 pounds, having gained nearly 20 pounds in the summer. So far, Kirilenko has kept it on for three weeks. "I definitely want to be a little bit stronger on the floor and see how I can be quick in the same point," Kirilenko said. "As long as I can keep this weight on and run with it, I'll be fine." Salt Lake Tribune

Nowitzki certainly doesn't harbor any ill will toward Thomas. He's glad to have another 3-point shooter on board after the Mavericks stunk up arenas all across the country with their long-range problems last season. And the 6-10 Thomas has put that episode in '06 far behind him. "If it was regular season, it probably wouldn't have happened," Thomas said. "But during the playoffs, everybody's trying to get an advantage. And it's all mental. It's like boxing. If you come out mentally weak, you're going to get destroyed. That's pretty much all it was, two guys competing and trying to get to the championship. When it was over, it was over." Dallas Morning News

Allen Iverson: Spain won the Eurobasket Championship and I really can see why. The are developing talent there very young. The skill level of some of the kids left me in amazement. I played 3 on 3 and 4 on 4 with the kids. It was this one kid in particular that actually reminded me of myself. He could not have been more than 10 years old and could handle the ball at the point as good as I've seen. Twitter.com

Allen Iverson: One of the moments there in Spain that I will never forget for as long as I live. Let me share this with you too. Before leaving the hotel for the game, there was a kid and his father waitng in the lobby for a moment with me and my handlers were rushing me to away to the car as if I would not have time to sign autographs prior to leaving. This kid was maybe 15 or 16 years old at the most. God must have directed my eyes to focus on him and I noticed that he was crying. I stopped the car and got out to see what was wrong! His Dad told me that they drove over 300 miles and that he was determined to see me and to ask for an opportunity to meet me and that he was crying because he thought it was slipping away! I was his favorite and I was touched! I looked him in his eyes, wiped away the tears. Took a picture or 2 with him signed his autograph and took him up to my room. I gave him shoes and anything else that he wanted. He actually wore the same size shoe as mine and talked with him for a moment. Twitter.com

Rod Benson, via Twitter: Campin w Indiana. This will be my final tweet for a while. You can hit me on facebook, but no blogs or tweets. Old stuff wont be up either. After reading posts here in the past, it was always questioned if Rod could make a serious run at the NBA and still do the personal blogging and twittering thing. I guess this kind of answers it. Ridiculous Upside

Since he took down everything on Too Much Rod Benson, I'm assuming this was a mandate from the Pacers and not something Benson decided to do on his own. Now, I'm not sure why he'd go to camp with the Pacers anyway since they have Jeff Foster, Tyler Hansbrough, Roy Hibbert, Solomon Jones, Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy already signed to guaranteed deals, but if they also said he can't blog and tweet, it makes it all the more confusing. Ridiculous Upside

Jackson said he has not spoken to team owner Jerry Buss about a new contract. Jackson, who turned 64 earlier this month, is signed through the end of this season. "I have not, I have not talked to Jerry about it (coaching beyond 2009-10)," he said. "You know, my concern obviously when I came back during the summer to shoot that (cellphone) commercial, it was very serious that Kurt (Rambis) was going to be chosen (to coach Minnesota) and to discuss with them (Buss) how we should approach that. Los Angeles Daily News

Jackson and said he and Lakers management talked last month about assistant coach Kurt Rambis eventually taking over the head coaching duties once Jackson retired. But no promises were made. Rambis ended up becoming head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. "When I suggested that we set up a situation that would be a lame-duck situation, they said that they hoped that the duck wasn't lame," Jackson said, smiling. "We'll see how the season goes." Los Angeles Times

Nelson said on Friday afternoon that he's made an offer to Warriors president Robert Rowell that he will work for free for the Warriors in 2011-12, in whatever capacity the Warriors decide, as a way of giving back to the organization he's worked for two different times during the course of his career. "I told Bobby a week ago that after this contract is up, I would like to give the Warriors one more year," Nelson said. "It will cost the team nothing. Whatever they want me to do, for one more year, and not take a salary. Whatever it is. If it's coaching, I'd do that. Carrying bags, whatever. But I would give them one year at the end of this to say 'Thanks.' I appreciate that extension they gave me. They didn't have to do that." FanHouse.com

Multiple sources have said all summer long that a contract extension would get done between George Karl and the Denver Nuggets. On Friday at the close of business, nothing was done. Karl took the high road during Friday's media day and said he just feels fortunate to be one of 30 coaches coaching in the NBA. He also indicated that he didn't think it would be a distraction to the team. "I've thought about this a lot because I knew it would be the start of a million questions," said Karl. "You're not going to down me on the excitement of being with this team, and that's the most important thing. I'll be on the court (Saturday), and that's where I want to get. Most of your questions should not be asked of me. My thing is, know I'm a privileged person to be one of 30 coaches to coach in this league. I get paid a lot of money, and I'm just excited to have the opportunity. HoopsWorld.com

"We're in a time with contracts right now with why it happens or why it doesn't happen, circumstances and situations with why guys get fired and why guys stay on. I think you (the media) have that in your business right now and we have that in our business right now. I respect that right now I should probably just accept that I'm privileged to have the opportunity to coach a team that can win a championship." When asked if there was a chance an extension could happen prior to the season, Karl replied: "I don't know that answer." HoopsWorld.com

Anthony on whether or not he hopes George Karl gets an extension: "I don't see why not. We've come a long way with George. When he first got here to winning 30-some games after the All-Star break to where we're at right now. As an organization we've had bumps in the road with George and we smoothed it out. I would love to see George come back." HoopsWorld.com

"This is something I've wanted to do," Nelson said. "The league's been good to me. It's made me a wealthy man. As it turns out, I'm going to be here (Golden State) longer than any place else (either Milwaukee or Dallas)." Nelson acknowledged that Rowell didn't respond whether or not he'd take the coach up on his offer. "I think he was in shock," Nelson said. "He didn't speak. I don't think he's heard that one before." FanHouse.com

If Jackson stays, Nelson said he'll play small forward - a jolt in his previous thinking that had Jackson playing shooting guard alongside Monta Ellis at the point. Realizing his comment made Curry the starting point guard and Ellis the starting 2, Nelson amended his statement. He said Ellis, Jackson, Anthony Randolph and Andris Biedrins will start. At which position Ellis, Jackson and Randolph start is up to the play of Curry, Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Morrow and Brandan Wright, Nelson said. San Francisco Chronicle

First of all, is Prokhorov really worth the $9.5 billion that has been reported? This should send a shudder around the league. "He's worth more," Kirilenko said. "That's probably the cash that he has." Kirilenko learned the news about a week before reports surfaced that Prokhorov was set to buy the struggling Nets. As Russia's biggest basketball star, Kirilenko was asked about playing for the country's richest man. "He's a very successful manager and he definitely wants to build the team rather than just start taking players," Kirilenko said. Salt Lake Tribune

Basketball free agent Stephon Marbury was captured on camera going in on Jay-Z again--this time assembling a diss in song. Following last week's web video where Marbury called Jay-Z a "camel," the latest clip finds Marbury singing on tape to the backdrop of tinkering piano. "Million for your bullshit...album/yes I said it/that's my story/thank you Jay-Z/your rhymes old...I'm going at you/I said your name/and it rhymes with gay/you better come back/where are you homeboy?/I'm waiting for you/tried to diss Nas/and then come back and apologize." Vibe

John Radcliffe, 73, died Tuesday of heart failure. He was the link for the Lakers. Not just to yesterday. But to so many yesterdays. He came aboard in 1962 during their second season in Los Angeles in the then state-of-the-art Sports Arena. He was there with Fred Schaus, the coach. That's the coach as in the only coach on the team. It was a mom-and-pop operation in those days. Schaus worked without an assistant in contrast to Phil Jackson having six assistants plus a consultant who could be counted as a seventh assistant. Daily Breeze

Radcliffe was the longest-running employee of the Lakers. "By a long way," publicist John Black said. But there was more to the man than his involvement with the Lakers. Much more. He was father, husband, teacher, coach, friend and mentor. Before Lakers games, an eclectic group of veteran reporters, broadcasters and assorted game-day personnel eat together. Discussions range from basketball to politics. Daily Breeze

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