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Wednesday, October 28

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For now, this is a rumor because I haven't verified it with sources close to the situation, but I've been told by a few people around the league that the Stephen Jackson trade talk is heating up. I'm told that Golden State is mulling several offers, and one person told me he expects something to happen within the next few days. I don't know the particulars of any supposed offers, but I'm told Cleveland, Denver, San Antonio, New Orleans and the Los Angeles Clippers are all interested in Jackson. ESPN.com

Golden State wants Zydrunas Ilgauskas from Cleveland, but the Cavs aren't willing to give him up because they need him to back up Shaq. The Warriors would like Manu Ginobili from the Spurs, but I can't see the Spurs parting with Manu. I'm told the Warriors' discussions with Denver were brief because Jackson's $7.65 million salary doesn't fit under their $7.4 million trade exception. ESPN.com

There is a growing sense around the league, according to NBA front-office sources, that either Hamilton or Tayshaun Prince will be dealt before the league's annual trading deadline in February. Hamilton's name has come up often, given that Detroit's backcourt also features two other prominent scoring guards in Rodney Stuckey and free-agent signee Ben Gordon. ESPN.com

In addition to its logjam at shooting guard, Detroit has a clear need for a more traditional set-up man as well as a proven big man. Hamilton, though, maintains that he and Prince aren't gripped by fears of "Who's next?" to be traded after the recent departures of Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess. "Not at all," Hamilton said. "Different guys left for different [reasons]. I think, at the time, Tay and I were the two youngest [Pistons veterans]. Now we're the two oldest, but I don't think that here in Detroit they want to start all the way over and just blow up everything and be a team that wins 10, 12 games. I think we still want to win. I think as long as [he and Prince] go out and play, we're good." ESPN.com

Brewer said he's "definitely hopeful,'' a deal will get done, but he didn't want to put a percentage on the chances. He said his agent, Henry Thomas, is continuing to talk with Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor. "Who knows?'' Brewer said about whether negotiations will go right up to Saturday's deadline. "They might not even have come up with a number yet. Who knows? But right now I'm focusing on the start of the season.'' FanHouse

"Both,'' said Brewer, entering his fourth season after averaging 13.7 points in 2008-09. "Either way. Security is cool. It allows you to play stress-free. But, at the same time, as a player you want to improve every year, and that's what I think I've been doing. And that's what I'm doing this year. If they don't (extend Brewer), I'm just going to have a better season than I had last year.'' FanHouse

Before, after and between all 82 regular season games this season (and in the playoffs, assuming the Heat get there), Dwyane Wade is certain to be asked about becoming a free agent next summer. Wednesday, he said he would handle such queries this way: “I’ll answer it different every time, depending on how I feel. Right now, I’m not even thinking about it. Later on, I might give you a different answer.” Someone then asked whether he was “aware” of how the Knicks are clearing out salary-cap space for the likes of him, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, et al (as if Wade’s been living on Mars) and the Heat guard said, “I think the whole world’s aware of that. If you’re not a basketball fan, you’re [still] aware of that. …That’s no secret.” Bergen Record

Wyc Groubeck on the Rajon Rondo contract discussions: “I’m not going to comment on numbers. I don’t think it actually helps the process very much. I really don’t want to get into Rajon’s discussions at the moment. (Host: Are discussions going to continue before Halloween?) That’s a fair amount of time between then and now. There’s going to be a lot going on there. Whether or not anything happens on this front, we’ll have to wait and see.” Sports Radio Interviews

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have picked up the option for the 2010-11 season for guard George Hill. Spurs.com

Derrick Byars, loved by many, known by few, was cut by the Chicago Bulls today. Ridiculous Upside

Thunder announces it has signed guard Thabo Sefolosha to a multi-year contract extension. Twitter.com

Oklahoma City has signed guard Thabo Sefolosha to a contract extension to beat Saturday's deadline, his agent confirmed Wednesday to FanHouse. The agent, Guy Zucker, had told FanHouse on Monday an agreement wouldn't be reached. But he said everything began to change by Tuesday when the Thunder stepped forward with an improved offer. The deal is for four years, starting with next season. Zucker would not comment on dollars. "Clay Bennett (the Thunder owner) and Sam Presti (general manager) did an amazing job,'' Zucker said. "It never was an issue of whether (Sefolosha) wanted to stay there. We couldn't agree to terms. But they came up with an improved offer. They really stepped up." FanHouse

(Are you willing to accept coming off the bench here in Memphis?) Allen Iverson: "Nah, I won't accept it. Bench came into the play when I came to Detroit. You never heard about Allen Iverson coming off the bench ever in my whole career. It was never something people even thought in their head until I came to Detroit. Now it's the big topic. I'd be crazy to just out of my mouth say, 'I'd be comfortable with being a guy coming off the bench.' That's never a role I ever had." Booth Newspapers

(On whether he sees coming off the bench as a negative) Allen Iverson: "I don't look at it as a negative. On a basketball team, you need guys to come off the bench. That's what makes up a whole team. You don't play with five starters. But my whole thing is, if that makes us a better team, with me coming off the bench, than that's something I would obviously do. If it results in wins. But I don't know anybody in the world that would feel like me coming off the bench is the right thing to do if that's not making the team better. It's just an issue because it's me. Everybody in the world know I don't want to come off the bench. So that's why it's an issue. It's a conversation because people know that's not what I want to do. It's a media thing. I don't think it has anything to do with basketball. Anybody in their right mind, to me, honestly knows that on this team or the teams I've been on, that I deserve to start." Booth Newspapers

(On the perceived rift between you and Richard Hamilton) Allen Iverson: "I didn't hear that one, out of all the rumors I heard. That's something new to me. I have a great relationship with him, and nothing changed in my time in Detroit. It wasn't Rip's fault. He didn't have anything to do with any of the decisions made around there." Booth Newspapers

(On the issues he had with Joe Dumars and Michael Curry) "I didn't have any issues with Joe. My problem was with being told something and it wasn't that way. It didn't turn out the way Michael Curry told me it was going to be. It didn't have anything to do with Joe." Booth Newspapers

Like Iverson, who left the Pistons over the summer to sign with the Memphis Grizzlies, Hamilton regards last season as the most frustrating of his NBA career and echoes Iverson's recent claims that he was lied to by ex-Pistons coach Michael Curry. "Oh, by far," Hamilton said when asked if last season was the worst he's experienced as a pro. "By far. When you have a coach that you've played with when I came to Detroit that lies to you, straight dead to your face, with all the things that I did here, that's a tough pill to swallow. "But I'm past it. Far past it. My dad would always tell me [last season]: 'Don't get into it. Don't get into the media and yell and scream and cry. Just play.' And that's what I did. You come play basketball and people respect that and that's all I tried to do." ESPN.com

After being moved to the bench to accommodate Iverson -- an unpopular move with Pistons veterans, given Hamilton's long and successful tenure in Detroit -- Hamilton was moved back into the starting lineup ahead of Iverson late in the season, which ultimately led to Iverson leaving the Pistons in April after playing in just three games as a reserve. "I don't believe that the guys here believed that I should have come off the bench and I don't believe that guys thought Allen should come off the bench," Hamilton said. "I heard Allen made the comment that guys came to [Curry] and told him they don't want to play if Rip ain't starting. I spoke to Allen and he told me the same thing, but I told him that's tough to believe when nobody was speaking [to Curry]. Nobody [was] communicating with this coach. ESPN.com

"And that was just one of many lies. From a head-coaching standpoint, you don't do that in the middle of the season. ... You don't try to throw your team under the boat because of a decision you wanted to make." ESPN.com

Not even the benefit of the doubt, still another lesson he learned over his first two years with the Bulls. "I don't regret anything, I really don't," he said. "I think everything that happened to me happened for a reason. And I think I learned from it. A lot of the things that happened was [because] we were losing and a lot of the things that happened were really blown out of proportion." ESPN.com

Noah was referring to the infamous "altercation" with Ben Wallace, which resulted in a two-game suspension determined by his teammates. "It was weird to me how I would turn on the TV and people would act like they knew what happened," Noah said. "But there was no media in there. It was just the team. I never knew who said anything but next thing you know it's on ESPN and all these reporters are calling my room telling me about the altercation between me and Ben Wallace. But that never happened. Did it upset me? Yeah, because I never had scrutiny like that with people saying things that weren't true." ESPN.com

Wyc Grousbeck on whether a suspension will be coming for Glen Davis: “We’ll suspend or fine. It’s sort of the same thing. He’s going to be out for some games anyway, the question is who’s paying the bill for those games. I think we’re gonna ask him to chip in if in fact it all comes out the way we think it’s going to come out, which is that he was involved in something that violates his contract, he was not allowed to do and he caused himself injury and he’s gonna miss some games. There’s precedent in the league. Things happen to players because of their own decisions off the court. They’re not supposed to do this stuff. It doesn’t mean they’re bad people, but it means they’ve got to chip in and help bear the burden of it.” Sports Radio Interviews

On what happened with Glen Davis off the court: “I’m sorry. I don’t want to comment on that right now. (Host: Why is that? Why won’t you guys comment on it?) I actually haven’t spoken to him face to face about it so it really would be second hand at this point for me to be coming to you about it. I would rather sit down with him, which will probably be tomorrow after I get back from Cleveland. I would rather sit down with him, hear his side, and have Danny(Ainge) there and Doc (Rivers) and figure things out, then have more to say to people about it after.” Sports Radio Interviews

On the incident that went down with Glen Davis: “I just think that where we stand is we haven’t resolved exactly what happened, meanwhile he’s had surgery. We don’t know how that went or I don’t anyway. We don’t have a prognosis for a recovery yet from the surgery. My guess is that it’s not going to be as bad as we’ve feared. We’ve seen some printed reports or press reports that it’s going to be a long time. I’d be surprised. It’s a broken thumb. I don’t think it’s going to be that long. We’re going to wake up tomorrow after having played Cleveland and turn our attention back to this. We’re going to make a plan with him and his representatives and we’ll let you guys know at that point about it. Maybe reveal some more details about it or maybe not. Not trying to be difficult, but my understanding broadly speaking is that the reports are pretty much accurate. There was some sort of altercation. It was with somebody he knew and it went bad. You’re not supposed to do that stuff when you’re a professional basketball player.” Sports Radio Interviews

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Wednesday that the insertion of Michael Beasley into the starting lineup does not end plans to also feature the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft at small forward. Instead, in confirming that Quentin Richardson would be his starting small forward and former starting power forward Udonis Haslem would move to the bench, Spoelstra said Beasley fits better in a perimeter role with the reserves. "I like it a little more with the second unit," he said, as he looked ahead to Wednesday night's season opener against the New York Knicks at AmericanAirlines Arena. "The development we've gotten to now, I'm a little bit at ease playing him at the three. I think this will facilitate it quicker." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Not long before Doc Rivers set out on what he’s now dubbed the “Begging Tour” that eventually lured Rasheed Wallace to Boston, he went to Larry Brown to get an opinion from a coach he respected and one who had also spent two years with Wallace in Detroit. Brown told Rivers two things. “I told him to get him,” Brown said, recalling the conversation after his Charlotte Bobcats shot around. He also told Rivers. “If Kevin goes down like he did last year, and you have Rasheed Wallace, that’s a pretty good alternative.” Boston Globe

Brown and Wallace were together in Detroit for two years, and in that time the Pistons won 108 games and an NBA title in 2004. Wallace had already been labeled a bad apple after eight seasons in Portland. The Blazers traded him to Atlanta in the middle of the 2003-2004 season. Wallace played just one game with the Hawks before the Pistons made a deal for him, and what Brown learned when Wallace arrived in Detroit, was that Wallace was that “He’s the most misunderstood guy in the league.” “He’s as good a teammate as you’ll have,” said Brown. “He’s as good a teammate as I’ve ever coached. Plus he’s a great player. He’s a great defender. He can make shots. He’s a great competitor. “I’ve really never met a player that played with him that didn’t love him. I really have met a coach that coached him that didn’t love him.” Boston Globe

In his first season with the Bobcats, Brown led them to a franchise-best 35 wins last season. He said he had interest in reuniting with Wallace in the offseason, but a team trying to build isn’t nearly as easy to sell as one that’s contending for a title. “I think Rasheed’s in a perfect situation,” Brown said. “He’s with a lot of great guys that have the same values he has. So I think it was a heck of an acquisition. We wanted him, but he wants to have a chance to win again, to win a championship. And I think he picked a team that has a legitimate shot of doing that.” Boston Globe

"He's shown inconsistency," Saunders said about Young on Tuesday. "He hasn't shown an ability to grasp everything we're trying to do, the way we, or ideally how we want to play. If one guy is screwing up your offense or defense, the whole team looks bad. I talked to him about that [on Monday]. He has to become direction oriented in order to understand what those assignments are. And be able to follow out those assignments." Washington Post

"I think we had a good training camp and we're definitely on the right foot moving forward," Miller tells HOOPSWORLD. "We have 'Tawn (Jamison) out for a couple of weeks, which will make things a little more difficult. It's a step back, but we'll be fine. We have enough talent on this team. We'd much rather have Antawn in the game, of course, but we have enough talent to fill in until he gets back and that's our job. We just have to hold down the fort until he gets back." The buzz around the Wizards, of course, is the return of Gilbert Arenas. Agent Zero scored 29 points and dished nine assists in the team's season-opening win in Dallas last night, and Miller says can tell Arenas' confidence is returning. "Gilbert's looked great. We like what we've seen the last couple of games . . .he's shown a lot more aggressiveness, which means he's feeling more confidence in himself mentally and physically, which is good, and we need to ride him, so hopefully he feels really good. It's a little more difficult for me to gauge his progress since it's my first year here, but I'm happy to see that he's healthy and doing the things we know he's capable of doing. Hopefully, knock on wood, he'll stay healthy all year." HoopsWorld

"He's a great coach," says Miller. "A great coach. He's one of those coaches where you've got to know your stuff offensively and defensively. If there's a weak link out there you're going to be able to see it. His biggest thing is that you've got to make people accountable, guys have to be dependable, and it's fun to play for a guy like that." HoopsWorld

All-Star forward Danny Granger participated in this morning's team shootaround, but the Pacers want to see how he responds before deciding whether he plays in the season opener tonight against the Atlanta Hawks. Granger is dealing with a right bruised heel. Indianapolis Star

No Allen Iverson this evening. Iverson said he's feeling better, after having missed the entire exhibition season with a hamstring injury, but because he's had so little time in contact situations, the Grizzlies are holding him out a little while longer. He still doesn't sound pleased, though, about potentially coming off the bench for the Grizzlies. And we know how that situation worked out in Detroit, don't we? Entertaining guy, though, I'll tell you that. A great quote for reporters. Detroit News

Derrick Rose will be in the starting lineup when the Bulls' season begins Thursday night. A day after acknowledging that Rose would be healthy enough to play, Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro left no doubt when asked if his star point guard would be in the lineup for the regular-season opener against the San Antonio Spurs. ESPN.com

Jazz shooting guard Kyle Korver had the bone spur removed from his ailing left knee today in what general manager Kevin O'Connor described as "successful arthroscopic surgery" in New York. No timeline on Korver's return was given, but O'Connor said the Jazz will have a better idea on Nov. 9. Utah plays in New York that day, and Korver will travel with the team to be reevaluated. Deseret News

Utah forward Carlos Boozer told FanHouse on Wednesday morning he wants to play for Team USA in Turkey, and his contract situation has no bearing on it. "I definitely would love to play if I get invited,'' said Boozer, a free agent next summer. "Not at all (will Boozer's contract situation affect his decision to play). If I've got a chance to put USA on my chest again, I'll do it in a heartbeat. The contract stuff will take care of itself.'' FanHouse

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo has said he will be talking to all the holdovers from the 2008 Olympic team this fall to gauge their interest in returning. Even though Boozer, who averaged 3.3 points in limited minutes in Beijing, wants to play, it is not a slam dunk he eventually will be selected for Turkey. "If the top seven or eight players from the Olympic team all committed (to the Worlds), you're looking at Tayshaun (Prince) and (Carlos) Boozer... and Michael Redd. Those guys will have competition,'' Colangelo recently told FanHouse. FanHouse

"I have no idea,'' said Boozer, who missed more than half of last season due to a knee injury, of there being a chance he wants to play but isn't selected. "If I've got the chance, I would love to do it again. ... Obviously, we'd love to win the gold medal. I'd love to go out there (to Turkey).'' FanHouse

(Gordon) was due to make his Great Britain debut under coach Chris Finch in September's EuroBasket, but opted to sit out the tournament to finalise his Pistons move. But he added: "I haven't made a commitment to when I'll play but I'll definitely be playing with Great Britain. "Hopefully it will be sooner than later. "I'll base the decision on what's going on in my life at that time, when I'm mentally ready to play." Mirror

An NBA executive has come out with a new plan intended to prevent lottery teams from tanking at the end of the regular season, SI.com has learned. The proposal by Nuggets vice president Mark Warkentien, which was recently mailed to fellow team executives as well as to NBA headquarters, calls for a mini single-elimination postseason tournament in which the Nos. 8-15 teams in each conference would play up to three games in pursuit of the eighth and final spot in the playoffs. SI.com

Under the proposal, nothing would change for the playoff teams that earn the top seven playoff spots. The No. 8 spot, however, would be up for grabs. No. 8 would play a home game against No. 15, No. 9 would play at home against No. 14 and so on. The loser of each game would be eliminated, while each winner would advance to the next round. At the conclusion of the mini-tournament, the playoffs would revert to the traditional format, with the winner of the No. 8 seed opposing the team with the best record in the conference. SI.com

The league acknowledged it received Warkentien's plan in response to an open query asking franchise executives for ideas to help maintain enthusiasm from lottery teams over the closing weeks of the season. "Make every game count," is the theme of his proposal, sources said. SI.com

Detlef Schrempf: And what the heck is wrong with the NBA and the Collective Bargaining Agreement that a 60 year old head coach has to sit in economy whereas a non-proven, snot nosed 21 year old is enjoying the luxury of First Class? Detlef Schrempf

As the Charlotte Bobcats prepare for their home opener Friday, team officials say sponsorships are up and that a mix of ticket deals, aggressive marketing – and better play – could boost sales this season. “We feel good about where things are,” team president and chief operating officer Fred Whitfield said. Charlotte Observer

From a press release: "Former New York District Attorney and County Court Judge Jeanine Pirro will be calling the shots as she referees a legal match-up between five-time NBA Champion Dennis Rodman and his good friend and assistant Thaer Mustafa. The case of Rodman vs. Mustafa will come before the Judge in an episode airing Monday, November 2nd. Check local listings for station and tip-off time. 'It's not about the money. It's about the principle,' said plaintiff Rodman, who's on the offensive against Mustafa. Alleging that Mustafa gambled away $4000 of Rodman's money after a promotional event in Atlantic City, the former NBA All-Star says he will donate any winnings from the hearing to charity. For his part, Mustafa claims that he was simply doing what his boss and friend asked him to do, trying to earn back money that Rodman had drunkenly gambled away himself earlier that evening. Noting that his pal isn't exactly hurting for cash, Mustafa also reveals for the first time that the NBA's most notorious 'bad boy' may also be one of the most financially savvy. According to Mustafa, Rodman received $10 million to wear the much publicized wedding dress during his book signing in 1996 for Bad As I Wanna Be." Everyone get the message the Rodman camp is trying to send? He has tons of money. He doesn't need money. He's not desperate for money. Is that clear? My only question is: Then why does he make so many presumably paid appearances at second-tier events? ESPN.com

We've obtained a copy of Tim Donaghy's book, Blowing the Whistle, which purports to expose the NBA's "culture of fraud" and which Random House was set to publish next month — until, a source says, the league threatened to sue. Deadspin

The book is the former referee's account of his time in the NBA and the events that led to his conviction, in 2007, on charges that he relayed inside information on NBA games — including several that he was working — to a professional gambler. Blowing the Whistle falls somewhere between a confessional and an indictment, both of his former colleagues and their employer. In the book, Donaghy alleges, among other things, that referee Dick Bavetta spoke unabashedly about his role as the NBA's "go-to guy." Donaghy cites Game 6 of the notorious 2002 Western Conference finals, between the Lakers and the Kings — a game that NBA conspiracy theorists still talk about as if it were basketball's grassy knoll. Donaghy, who was not assigned to the game, reports that Bavetta "openly talked about the fact that the league wanted a Game 7." We'll have excerpts later today. Deadspin

Another book about Cavs star LeBron James is now on bookstore shelves. "A Ring For The King" is written by local author David Lee Morgan Jr. and analyzes the Cavs' chances for winning a championship with Shaquille O'Neal and other key players. NewsNet5

Antonio Daniels cleared waivers Tuesday. Whether or not his next stop lands him in a Cavaliers uniform should be known soon. Daniels has a couple of options, with the Cavs being high on his list, according to multiple league sources. After missing all of the preseason waiting to come to a buyout agreement with the Minnesota Tim berwolves, Daniels is ex pected to make a decision soon on where he'd like to play. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry said there's "nothing imminent" regarding the possible signing of free-agent point guard Antonio Daniels. Daniels, 34, cleared waivers on Tuesday and is free to sign with any team. Sources say the Cavs have been in contact with Daniels, who was bought out of his $6.6 million contract in Minnesota last Friday. News-Herald

Cavs coach Mike Brown said before Tuesday's season opener against the Celtics that he has a good relationship with Daniels dating back to when they both were with the San Antonio Spurs. General Manager Danny Ferry was a teammate with Daniels with the Spurs. "If someone comes along that would help our team get better, it would be wrong for us not to explore it," Brown said. "I'm sure time will tell after Danny does his homework over whether Antonio would be a good fit." Cleveland Plain Dealer

George Karl, the coach of the Denver Nuggets, doesn't understand why the Cavaliers might sign guard Antonio Daniels, which could result in his son being waived after making Cleveland's opening-day roster. "For me, it's kind of crazy picking up a guy that didn't even go through training camp,'' George Karl said in an interview with FanHouse about Daniels, who had his contract bought out last week by Minnesota but never was in the Timberwolves' camp. "Of course, familiarity sometimes makes those decisions easier. I know Mike (Brown, Cleveland's coach) and Antonio were together in San Antonio (early this decade when Brown was an assistant and Daniels a Spurs guard).'' FanHouse

George Karl said he has talked to his son about rumors he soon could be waived. But he believes Coby should have an opportunity to play for the Cavaliers, perhaps ahead of Anthony Parker or Jamario Moon. "I look at their roster and how they like to play, and I think he does different things than the guys that they have, and he does them well,'' George Karl said of Coby, who was used sparingly as a rookie with the Lakers in 2007-08 and played mostly in Spain last season. "I think he understands the game as a playmaker better than a Parker or a Moon. Moon and Parker are more athletic and better defenders, but there's a piece that Coby does in my mind, I don't know if coach Brown feels the same way. FanHouse

If Coby Karl does get cut, his father said he likely will go to the D-League rather than again go overseas because he would want to be available for a return this season to the NBA. "He's committed to the league,'' George Karl said of his son, who averaged 5.7 points and shot just 26.5 percent in the preseason, although he was hampered a few games by being ill. "He's not going to go even if he's tricked or intrigued by European (teams).'' FanHouse

Now in his 16th year in the League, retirement is next for Howard. He just doesn’t know when. “I have given it some thought. I’m going to keep playing until my body says, ‘hey it’s time.’ So far so good though. I feel great out there,” he added, flashing a quick smile. SLAM Online

“I owe those guys a lot,” Howard said of his former Wolverine teammates Webber, Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson. “I owe them my life pretty much because we shared some good times together and some bad times. But more importantly those memories will never go away.” SLAM Online

"We have to be very careful - as every team does - with regard to the commitments being made, including a commitment to Chris," Colangelo said. "[The economic outlook] has to be something you factor in. Is it prudent for this organization to go forward and give him a $130-million contract?" Toronto Globe and Mail

Rondo’s agent, Bill Duffy, flew to Cleveland for the Celtics’ season opener against the Cavaliers tonight and was expected to meet with C’s general manager Danny Ainge. Duffy declined comment, but team and league sources disputed a Yahoo! Sports report that had Duffy saying negotiations on Rondo’s extension are done and that the point guard would become a restricted free agent next summer. Boston Herald

Duffy said Ainge reached out to him Tuesday morning via text message to see if they could talk at halftime of the Cleveland game. During the meeting, Duffy said Ainge spoke of an improved counterproposal from their previous contract talks. “If the Celtics are willing to move, we’ll entertain it,” Duffy said. Yahoo! Sports

While both sides are speaking again, Duffy cautions that it’s not a given that a new pact will be made. “It comes down to how much they’re willing to move,” Duffy said. “But Rajon is completely prepared to play his contract out [to become a restricted free agent].” Yahoo! Sports

“We still have until Halloween,” said a Celtics source. Rondo, who appeared to be surprised by Duffy’s comments in the report, said “I don’t know what he’s saying. Right now I’m just focused on Cleveland. Boston Herald

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said discussions continue with the agent of point guard Rajon Rondo. “I won’t talk about that other than to say we’re just having discussions with Rajon and Bill Duffy, his representative and we’ll continue to have discussions with them, probably all the way up until the 31st [of October],” said Ainge, who also denied reports that contract talks had broken off. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m not aware of any discussions ending,” he added. WEEI

Contract talks between Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics were revived from the dead Tuesday. Agent Bill Duffy said Celtics president Danny Ainge restarted talks by expressing a willingness to improve a possible offer to Rondo during a meeting at halftime of Boston’s 95-89 win in Cleveland on Tuesday. On Monday, Duffy told Yahoo! Sports that Rondo would not sign a contract extension with the Celtics and would become a restricted free agent next summer. The deadline for a possible extension is Saturday. Yahoo! Sports

“Our position was firm, but Danny Ainge reached out and said they were willing to move,” Duffy told Yahoo! Sports in a phone interview. “Our mind was made up on this. But he said, ‘Let’s try to talk again, let us put some stuff together and talk [Wednesday].’ ” Yahoo! Sports

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Rajon Rondo said he is aware of the ongoing effort to get his contract done by the end of the month. But before the opener in Cleveland, he said his focus is all on basketball. “The focus is on Cleveland,” Rondo said. “It’ll take care of itself. I just have to worry about doing my job tonight. Crazy timing, that’s all.” WEEI

Duffy will fly back to California today and the sides will talk again this afternoon. If a deal isn’t reached by Saturday, Rondo will become a restricted free agent next summer, meaning he can receive offer sheets from other clubs but the Celtics will have the right to match. Rondo appeared unfazed by the discussions. “I am not even thinking about it, I am worried about Cleveland,’’ he said before the game. “I got a season to play.’’ Boston Globe

Well it certainly didn't take former UMass star Tony Gaffney long to recover from his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers. He's headed to Israel to play professional basketball. Which does not come as a surprise at all. In August Tony signed a pro contract with Hapoel Gilboa Galil Elyon, a team in the top professional league in Israel. Gaffney will be joined by three other former college players from the United States. Jeremy Pargo, a point guard from Gonzaga, Dion Dowell , who played at Texas and the University of Houston, and Brian Randall who played at Illinois. Interestingly enough Gaffney will be one of the tallest players on the team. MassLive.com

Sun still dreams of a career in the NBA, like compatriots Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian and Wang Zhizhi. He said that was an "unrealistic goal" a few years ago. If he does reach the game's pinnacle, he will become the tallest player in the NBA, surpassing Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan, who both stand at 2.31m. "Basketball has given me so much. Without it I couldn't have cured my disease; I couldn't have gone to so many places and met so many people. I'm satisfied with my life now," Sun said. "There are a lot things out of my control, like injuries. They keep you from pursuing higher goals. "However, I will continue my career as a pro. I've been on the court for many years and I love the feeling. I won't give it up easily." China Daily

According to director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, the Celtics have followed through on the threat to suspend Davis for getting in a fight with a former high school teammate. “Yes, we’ll suspend Glen for the game tonight and tomorrow night,” Ainge said a short time ago. “And we’ll have further discussion on how long that suspension (will last). We’ll probably keep it more internal, but we will suspend him.” Boston Herald

Coach Doc Rivers offered support for "Big Baby" Davis, but admitted his broken thumb -- and the way he suffered the injury -- put the team in a tough situation. The Celtics confirmed that Davis underwent surgery in Boston Tuesday to repair a right thumb fracture suffered Sunday in an off-court altercation. The team said Davis would be out of action for about six weeks. "I'm supportive of Baby, but I'm very disappointed, obviously," said Rivers. "It just puts everybody in a bad way, and the timing of it wasn't great. I don't know if there's a good time for that. ESPN.com

Rivers said he's been involved in talks about the incident, the injury, and a possible suspension, but couldn't confirm the timetable for Davis's return or if any disciplinary action will be taken against him by the team. ESPN.com

“Baby is not a bad person,” Rivers said before the game, speaking at length for the first time since details surfaced about Davis’ Sunday scuffle. “He made a bad mistake and he made a bad judgment. Unfortunately, it only takes one second or five seconds to make a mistake and then you have to live with it at times. And right now, he has to live with that mistake. “But he’s not a bad kid. He’s growing, he’s maturing. Obviously, he has some ways to go. But we want to help him do that. I really feel that’s part of my job as a coach to help him as a person and not put him in ways like that.” WEEI

Adrian Wojnarowski: Celtics are livid over Big Baby's behavior, from management and coaches to his teammates. All wonder whether he will ever grow up. Twitter.com

Rivers had come into the season with everyone asking how he would manage the volatility of Rasheed Wallace, and suddenly, in the wake of Big Baby’s self-destructive bent, Wallace felt like a security blanket. Rivers nodded to the dressing room, where Wallace, his free-agent gem, played the part of a gregarious and content soul. “‘Sheed made all the difference for us,” Rivers marveled. “Look what he did for Paul [Pierce] out there, and [Rajon] Rondo. … He changes everything.” Yahoo! Sports

Wallace has already declared the Celtics can win the NBA record 72 regular-season games, and sounded sold on the way to beat the massive Cavs frontline of Shaquille O’Neal and Zyrdrunas Ilgauskas – now and later. “They’re not the greatest in pick-and-rolls,” he said. “Just keep running the pick-and-roll and keep moving the ball. You’ll eventually find an open shot someone. ‘Sheed shrugged. “Basic basketball,” he said. Yahoo! Sports

Delonte West started his NBA career with the Celtics, and Boston coach Doc Rivers is thinking about the Cavs' troubled guard and hoping for the best. West, battling personal issues, was inactive for Tuesday night's game against Boston. He has not played in the preseason and has not spoken to reporters since media day before practices started. "I just pray for him, honestly," Rivers said before Tuesday night's game. "I hope things work out for him. We had some issues, but we didn't have all this. It's just tough. Those are the kids you just hope, somehow, someone can touch him and help. Cleveland Plain Dealer

It was not exactly the debut Shaquille O'Neal hoped for. "I played all right," the new Cavaliers center said after finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in 29 minutes of the Cavs' 95-89 loss to the Boston Celtics Tuesday night. "I only took 11 shots, missed some chippies I don't usually miss. We've just got to get into the flow a little better and do the little things -- box out, take care of the ball, keep playing hard. If we do that, we'll be fine." Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Big Fella is going to help us," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "He's going to help us a lot. I thought especially at the beginning of the game, he was going good. That's why we were going good." Said O'Neal, "We came out with a punchy, impressive start and then we had some mental mistakes. You can't have mental mistakes against a good veteran team like Boston." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Garnett said he felt fine, even after getting plowed over, full-frontal contact with O'Neal, on one crushing play. As for how the Celtics were able to gel so quickly in that championship year -- the secret that Cleveland is seeking -- he said: "The secret is that we came in with no egos, no agendas. One goal and we stuck to that. There wasn't something for your guys' morning papers, there wasn't something for headline news. That was what we was living. I think that's been the onus since we've been here. You've got to leave the ego at the door. Whatever swagger you've got, you bring it in here and you make sure it ain't cockiness. You do your job, you get the shooters open, you play defense, you talk, you give yourself up to get better as a team. ... That's the reason we work. I don't know what they have over here in Cleveland and what their beliefs are and what their studies are. But that's the formula for the Boston Celtics and why we were so successful our first year.'' NBA.com

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: I think the Cavaliers need what Shaq can do best for a team. It was the same situation when I was with the Bucks. Twitter.com

"We're in a transition period right now," James said. "We need to get better on both sides of the ball." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Arenas didn’t want to say much after Washington’s impressive 102-91 triumph over the retooled Mavs -- keeping with his well-chronicled determination this season of avoiding the media -- but eventually conceded that this return to prominence “feels great.” "Coach told me to be myself,” Arenas said. "Don’t let the outside world dictate how I play." ESPN.com

Some may call him aloof, but one team insider likened this to Kobe's public playoff posturing. The jaw-clenching Bryant was seen as steely-eyed and determined during the Lakers' march to the title. And in all fairness, Arenas, a former dunking Elvis, could use a dose more serious. It's not as if Agent Zero has gone Zero Volume. His voice is still heard plenty in the locker room, on the practice court and out there where they pop the popcorn. NBA.com

"He talks to me. That's all that matters," Saunders said with a smile. "I'll be honest, I don't think right now he has a lot to talk about. It's been 15 months, he sat around, he hasn't played at all. I think he's gotten to the point that no matter what he says, it doesn't matter, because everybody is going to judge him by what he does on the floor." NBA.com

“I have a lot of faith in Chuck Hayes even though he’s only 6’6,”Adelman began. “But that puts us at a real disadvantage, when Chuck gets down around the basket and he (Oden) ducks in real quick on him or gets in deep on the rebounds. My problem is I’d rather have Chuck on (LaMarcus) Aldridge. That’s the real problem we have. We’re going to have to just figure it out. There are no answers here. Yao’s not coming back. “He (Oden) looks more confident. He looks like he’s asserted himself more than last year. When we played them in the playoffs he had a couple of games when he looked liked that. He looks like he’s in good shape. A guy like that misses a whole year and comes back, it’s hard. It’s hard for big guys. He’s a big son of a gun. I’ve liked what I’ve seen. Rebounding – that’s what they need from him.” Beyond the Beat

“I don’t know if they looked for him a lot. They tried, but it’s difficult to play against Chuck,” Scola continued. “He (Oden) needs to work on a few things. I think if he stayed out of foul trouble he could do more and demanding more of the ball, he could be a good post-up player and expect more from him on the offensive end.” Beyond the Beat

"Billups is a true quarterback, a true leader," said new Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis, a Lakers assistant last season. "He understands how to get his teammates involved, how to orchestrate an offense, how to manipulate a defense, how to keep his teammates happy and involved." Denver Post

"I think I can have a great effect on J.R.," Billups said. "At the end of the day, all I can do is talk to him and tell him about my experiences and what I think he should do. It's on him to act on it. I trust that he's going to change and do what's right. He is a very, very vital part of this team that we've got to have going in the right direction." Denver Post

Mike Trudell: Artest on not getting a ring: "At this point there’s no extra motivation needed. I’m already motivated to win." Twitter.com

Oh yeah, and Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire headline both those teams. “It’s actually to me this is exactly what it feels like,” said Suns GM assistant David Griffin. “We won’t have the shock and awe, ‘Oh shit are these guys fast.’ We won’t have that. What we’ll have is the constant repetition of, ‘We run, you can’t keep up with us, we make more shots than you can.’ We’ll get outrebounded. If we don’t get outrebounded by too much on the offensive glass, we’ll be OK.” Valley of the Suns

The Suns call that “Culture of We,” and according to Griffin, this Suns team embraces that concept more than any Phoenix squad of this era. “This team is naturally as unselfish as any we’ve ever had, and it’s by design that we’re unselfish,” he said. “They get it, and so it’s exciting, it really is. “To this team and the way we’re going to play, it’s the most important thing we have. This team won’t be good if they don’t play like that. We have to be greater than the sum of our parts, and our system and our character give us that opportunity.” Valley of the Suns

If super-stardom is what you want, Andre Iguodala, then come and get it. “Among the guys in the league, I think I have that respect,” Iguodala said over the weekend when asked about the label that many have wanted, but few have earned. “But I think when it comes to those outside, in the media, who don’t play within the game with me, it’s hard to see. “I think I make my teammates a lot better, raise the level of play. That’s one of the toughest things to do in the league. A lot of guys can go out there and score 30 points, but can they raise the level of the guys around them? Can they pass, defend, handle the ball and score as well? I’m getting there. I just have to get everybody on the same page and work with coach’s offense.” Delco Times

Bucks coach Scott Skiles confirmed after Tuesday's practice that Jennings would start and veteran Luke Ridnour would be the primary backup. "I felt like both guys played really well in the preseason in most of their minutes," Skiles said. "It's just my call. Even when I talked to Luke, it's not like I could give Luke five set reasons. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Andrew Bogut: BTW Thanks 2 Michael Hunt of JSONLINE every1 thinks I own a white Ferrari. Wrong. You would think a little research b4 printing would apply? Twitter.com

Sonny Weems: Just two years ago i was a college athlete that couldnt even pay my own cell phone bill, but ive been blessed, so everything i do is for my family and not me, i walk around toronto bc im a normal person like every one else, i dont stay in my house bc i dont want to be see, naw im a people person. Twitter.com

Sonny Weems: Beautiful Toronto, thats the new name for it. I love toronto and the people here, cant wait until my family visits. Twitter.com

Sonny Weems: Not to be arrogant, but when someone writes a direct message to me saying my mom and dad aint shit and hope they drop d***, im just saying. Twitter.com

DeJuan Blair: i am excited about the start of the season!! feel like a kid on Christmas eve, i can't sleep! Twitter.com

Charlie Villanueva: what the hell does Ron Artest have on his head? Twitter.com

Fabricio Oberto: I think the Wizards have a very experienced coach with highly talented players, and hopefully this year we will be lucky with injuries. Ultimate NBA

Oberto: I'll do the same I've been doing in my years with the Spurs, although I would like to improve in the offensive end. Ultimate NBA

Oberto: I've been always a fan of Tim Duncan. I watched him a lot since he started playing in the NBA. I watched him on TV during ten years and when I signed with San Antonio, to play whit him... I'm a fan of Manu (Ginobili) and Tony (Parker), but Duncan will be always the best. Ultimate NBA

Duncan gave a distinct thumbs-down to coach Gregg Popovich's decision to shave off the beard he sported throughout the 2008-09 season. Duncan, who has a beard of his own, made a half-hearted threat to stage a facial protest. “I was disappointed,” he said. “I think I'm going to shave now ... a protest shave. I can't keep a beard now. “I might shave half my beard, to half protest.” San Antonio Express-News

Ric Bucher: FYI: Blake Griffin's fractured knee wasn't a "freak" injury. He bruised the same knee right before camp. Suspicion: initial damage was then. Twitter.com

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he expects swingman Josh Howard to play within two weeks. "I think it'll be two weeks at the latest," Cuban said while working out on his StairMaster before Tuesday night's opener against the Washington Wizards. ESPN.com

Charlotte Bobcats guard Raja Bell is skipping wrist surgery, at least for now, meaning he could play games in a week. A Chicago hand specialist told Bell he wasn't taking an unreasonable risk by trying to rehabilitate a torn ligament with rest and treatment, rather than commit to corrective surgery that could cost him four months. Charlotte Observer

In his latest interview with ESPN Radio 1000's Waddle and Silvy, Bulls head coach Vinny Del Negro got a question that he didn't much appreciate. When the issue of Derrick Rose's fourth quarter minutes last season was raised, VDN didn't handle it well, answered curtly (not kirkly), and hung up abruptly. ChicagoNow.com

The Memphis Grizzlies asked for and received permission to speak to Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, possibly about a position with the team, a Lakers spokesman said Tuesday. Abdul-Jabbar attended opening night festivities at Staples Center, but declined to comment. Abdul-Jabbar, whose role as a special assistant to Lakers coach Phil Jackson has been decreased this season, attended the Grizzlies' practice Monday. He also had dinner with the Grizzlies' big men Sunday, according to a report in a Memphis newspaper. Los Angeles Daily News

Tex Winter, Jackson's longtime assistant and the architect of the triangle offense, attended the game after stopping by the Lakers' practice facility Monday afternoon. Winter suffered a stroke last spring, when the Lakers were just starting their title run. "I think everybody's going to be happy to see him, everybody who knows him," Jackson said. "I know it's been a real difficult (few) months since early (April), when he was here for the first two games of the playoffs versus Utah. "So, we're happy Tex could make it down (from his home in Portland, Ore.)." Los Angeles Daily News

And one note about the interview itself I found most interesting: When Petrie discusses his future, he has repeatedly said that he plans to continue to work beyond this season "in some form." This is a man who picks his words more wisely than most, and I continue to perceive that qualifier as a potential indication that he could be back next season as GM or perhaps as a guy with a different role. Pure speculation on my part and I don't think even Petrie himself knows the outcome, as we're all at the guessing game point right now. (Click 'read more' to hear/see interview)... Sacramento Bee

The health has to be a factor, because you've been through so many things. Geoff Petrie: My health is fine. I don't feel any different, really. Everybody has a few bumps along the way, but I don't feel any different than I did 10 years ago really. Sacramento Bee

"Contrary to what people believe, I hate to lose," Heisley said. "There isn't anything I find more painful than walking out of the arena after playing a crappy game and we've lost. And to have fans say, 'Don't worry, Mr. Heisley. Thanks for bringing the team here' ... That's nice. But I want to win." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Still, there are many examples of owners playing roulette with their franchise: Detroit's gamble on Rasheed Wallace, Boston taking a chance on Stephon Marbury, and the Los Angeles Lakers' recent addition of bad boy Ron Artest. "There are two types of risks," Heisley said. "You take a risk on a person's ability. There's the risk on character and stuff like that. If you let one of those overrule the other you end up paying the piper. Reporters like to write about the risk of character and not about whether a guy is going to be a good basketball player. "I don't feel like I'm taking a huge risk with these guys. I'm willing to believe that they'll be coachable and keep themselves out of trouble. I'm not taking a risk on them playing basketball." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Everything we hear is about the economy. We’ve already seen teams trying to save money with smaller rosters. Will the economy affect the product on the floor? Stern: No chance. We’ve got the same pool of players. Most of our teams, even though they want to have 30 players on their roster, some go with a 10-person rotations, some take it to nine. Of course by the playoffs some shrink it to four -- that’s a joke. But, no, it will not affect the product on the floor. ESPN.com

With Delonte West going through what he has in the preseason, we had Michael Beasley go to rehab over the summer ... Are these mental health issues something that the NBA can take responsibility for and have an impact? Stern: Number 1, we’re looking for the union to play an active role in this. But No. 2, when it comes to issues that are like bi-polarity or what have you, these are serious medical issues that require medical expertise and understanding by the league and the teams. To me this is where you defer to the team and the doctors. But overall I think this is a place where the players association, with us, have to step up and try to be as compassionate and helpful as can be. ESPN.com

Would you pony up $100,000 or more for a 30-year "mortgage" to buy your own personal seat up close at Sacramento Kings games? That's what city officials, eager to find a way to get the Kings a new arena, are wondering. Officials have met twice recently with a Chicago-based company pitching the concept of "equity seat rights" or "seat mortgages" to finance stadiums and arenas without having to go hat-in-hand to voters with unpopular tax increase proposals. The company, Stadium Capital Financing Group, is putting together a similar deal to renovate the football stadium at the University of California, Berkeley. Sacramento Bee

Dan Gilbert turned Tuesday's season opener for the Cleveland Cavaliers into a rally for the proposed gambling issue on the Nov. 3 ballot. Roads leading to The Q were plastered with signs saying, "Take Charge. Yes on 3. Keep Our Money in Ohio. Create 34,000 New Jobs." Fans entering The Q were offered similar signs. Cleveland Plain Dealer

The majority of the season-ticket holders who attended Gilbert's talk supported Issue 3 even before hearing Gilbert's address. "I'm not swayed by a free beer and a plate of cheese," said John Palcisko of Parma. "I've spent my hard-earned Ohio dollars outside the state. Let's keep that money here." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Crawford showed off a different side earlier this week when he helped host celebrity fundraiser for Atlanta mayoral candidate Kasim Reed. Crawford joined Grammy award winning artist, actor and philanthropist Ludacris, music mogul and philanthropist Chaka Zulu and several others in throwing their public support behind Reed. “Hey man, I’m all over, man,” a smiling Crawford joked when asked about his political activity. “A lot of people in his position talk the talk and promise a lot of stuff. I just like that he’s doing it. He cares about people. And I know how important some of the stuff he’s talking about doing is for the kids in this city, especially the recreational activities for young people. That’s where I lived when I was growing up. Things like late night [basketball] programs, that’s what kept me out of trouble when I was growing up. I was always in the gym. He wants to take it a step further with technology and education along with the sports programs and I think that could literally save a lot of kids’ lives.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

As the N.B.A. reporter for The Times, I was on assignment in Auburn Hills, Mich., when I stopped by Thomas’s dressing stall in the Pistons’ locker room. In those days, he considered me something of a news-media ally after I had assailed USA Basketball and those who had conspired to keep Thomas off the Dream Team. I still consider the exclusion to be one of the sport’s all-time slights. I couldn’t resist asking Thomas about the Johnson sexuality story that was circulating, and his rumored role in it. “That’s the thing that doesn’t make any sense,” Thomas told me. “Why would he want to accuse and alienate me when I’m the guy who hung out with him, stayed in his house and can stand up and vouch for him?” Thomas being Thomas, he couldn’t let it go at that. He looked at me with that hand-in-the-cookie-jar smile and added: “And you know what? I would have lied for him.” Startled, I said something to the effect of: What? But that was it. That was all he was going to say. I walked away shaking my head, not knowing what to make of that last quote. However tantalizing, I decided the answer had to be nothing. New York Times

I have always sympathized with Thomas, in my opinion the best little man in league history, for being denied his rightful place on what symbolically was the most prestigious pro basketball team ever. But his protests notwithstanding, he is not believable on the Magic sexuality story. At least not from my experience. New York Times

Ben Golliver: Breaking: many fans are demanding refunds for faulty Blazers.com online streams, according to a source close to the situation. Twitter.com

Los Angeles Laker forward Lamar Odom has listed his Manhattan Beach home for $2,399,000. The two-level Mediterranean has five bedrooms and five bathrooms in about 4,200 square feet. Custom-built in 2002, the house has an open floor plan, a family room with a hand-carved bar, three stone fireplaces, an office and a swimming pool with a spa. There are views of downtown L.A., the Hollywood sign and the mountains. Odom, 29, bought the house in 2006 as a family home and a place to entertain his fellow Lakers, according to reports at the time. Los Angeles Times

Arash Markazi: Kim Kardashian was putting makeup on Josh Powell's daughters after the game. I wonder what Vanessa would do if she did that to Kobe's kids. Twitter.com

Donte Greene: do ya thing @mrjonbrockman just make sure u shout me out and get my followers up. u all over @hoopshype. Twitter.com

Kenny Anderson: I have a lot of respect and love for stephon marbury doing a lot of good for our youth and in the inner city hoods keep it up my man! Twitter.com

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