The Celtics have had a mixed bag of an offseason thus far as they've managed to retain major pieces such as Kevin Garnett and Jeff Green, but lost Ray Allen last week to the Heat. The latest news out of Boston makes the Jason Terry signing look even more important as Avery Bradley is expected to miss the start of the season as he undergoes surgery on his right shoulder later this week. While he could be back shortly after the season begins, the young guard will miss training camp and could be out until mid-December, writes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. Let's check in around the league to catch up on the latest news and stories making headlines…
- Nate McMillan is no longer involved in the Magic's search for a new head coach, tweets the Orlando Sentinel's Josh Robbins.
- Michael Beasley's future success on the basketball court will be predicated on his ability to make himself a better man off the basketball court, writes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. He's found himself a mentor in Norm Nixon, a former NBA player, who was vital to turning around Jalen Rose's career with the Pacers. "I'm a guy he can't fool," Nixon said. "I told him, 'If you don't have a great year and destroy everybody, don't call me anymore or come back to work with me.'"
- Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has been busy this offseason and that's because he's hoping his efforts through the draft and free agency will net him the star player he so desperately desires, says Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. The Rockets are in a different position than previous years in which the team made decisions based upon how a new addition would fit with Yao Ming. "Every transaction since we knew Yao Ming was no longer going to play for us, which was more recent than people talk about, has been focused on how does this move us closer to getting a star player," Morey said.
- USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo says the talented but immature DeMarcus Cousins needs to make a great deal of personal growth if he wants to play a role on the 2014 world championship team, writes Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. "Before there's discussion about him being part of our program, he has a lot of building to do. … He has a lot of growing up to do," Colangelo said.
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