Latest On Rasheed Wallace
Over a week into training camp, Rasheed Wallace still has yet to practice with his Knicks teammates, as Al Iannazzone of Newsday writes. Wallace participated in some full-court drills, but isn't sure when he'll actually practice and play, leaving that decision in the hands of coach Mike Woodson.
"He'll give me an idea of when he wants me out there," Wallace said. "If it's mid-November, then it's mid-November. Or if it's December, then it's December. It's on him, not me."
Here are a few more updates on the newest Knick:
- Brian Lewis of the New York Post has the quotes from Woodson on Wallace's timetable: "He’s still in the conditioning mode. We’re still holding him out until we feel like he’s ready to go. It’s a day-to-day thing, and we’ll see where he is, evaluate him day by day."
- 'Sheed believes that the Knicks are already in the same class as Eastern Conference favorites like the Heat and Celtics. "We’re already there," Wallace said, according to Lewis. "The only thing that held this team back last year was injuries. If you look at all the injuries they had throughout the season, I don’t think at any point you have the whole team healthy except probably in the beginning."
- Wallace told the media, including Lewis, that he's attempting to make an NBA comeback because of a passion for the game, rather than a pay check. According to Wallace, during his retirement he watched more college ball than NBA games, since he felt college players were generally hungrier than many NBA players who may have become complacent after a big payday.
- Iannazzone notes (via Sulia) that Woodson can't be blamed for bringing Wallace along slowly, since the coach could be scrutinized for pushing the veteran big man too hard if were to practice and pull a hamstring. The Newsday scribe adds that the Knicks will eventually need Wallace to contribute to bolster the team's frontcourt.
Rashard Lewis Hopes To Play Five More Years
Slowed by knee problems over the past two seasons, Rashard Lewis recently underwent treatment that has him feeling much better heading into the 2012/13 season. As he tells Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida, Lewis is optimistic enough about his health that he's hoping to play in the NBA for another five years.
"This will be my 15th season," Lewis said. "My whole goal is to play another five years and try to get to 20 years… The way I feel now, I most definitely think I can do it."
As Tomasson explains, Lewis underwent a process called OssaTron treatment over the summer, something that was suggested by the Heat. The team believed that the non-surgical procedure, which involves shockwave therapy, could help the 33-year-old regain the form he showed in Seattle and Orlando.
"They just numb the knees basically like ultrasound," Lewis said. "It breaks down a lot of the scar tissue and it kind of rebuilds it. It took me off the court for a couple of months… (The Heat believed) it was something that could really help me and get me back on the court playing at a high rate, and I told them anything that would help me be even a little bit better than I was the past season, the past couple of years, I’m willing to try."
While the inactivity this summer has left Lewis a little rusty heading into training camp, he feels as if the treatment has been a success. and thinks it could help him lengthen his career.
"It’s like night and day from how I felt the past two years," Lewis said. "It brings a smile to my face…. I’m going to show that I got a little more basketball left in me."
Kobe Stresses No Set Timetable For Retirement
Earlier this week, Kobe Bryant suggested once again to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com that he's not leaning toward continuing his NBA playing career once his contract expires in the summer of 2014. As expected, Lakers beat reporters followed up on the topic yesterday, with Kobe stressing to the media that none of his decisions are set in stone.
"Oh my God," Kobe said, according to Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. "You guys want to ask me a million questions about what I'm going to do three years from now. I don't even know in two minutes."
As Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com writes, Bryant noted that there's still plenty of basketball to be played between now and 2014. The 34-year-old said he still feels strong physically, but added that the "mentality of preparing year in and year out" was more taxing every offseason, and that he wasn't sure yet how he'd feel about it in '14. After speaking with the media, Kobe also took to Facebook to make a statement on the constant retirement rumors, redirecting focus to the coming season:
"As far as retirement, I'm not sure how many years I have left but know this: IF and When I announce my retirement, I will do so directly to you first. Let's focus on getting this season taken care of. It should be a fun one. I feel strong, light and quick. I can't wait till Oct 31."
Bryant is due to make about $27.85MM this season and about $30.45MM in 2013/14, the final year of his deal.
Odds & Ends: Samuels, Blair, Mavs, Gordon
The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Tuesday night:
- Sam Amico of FoxSportsOhio.com says the Cavs can expect an improved Samardo Samuels this season.
- Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express News reports that the Spurs are impressed with DeJuan Blair's training camp.
- Sean Deveney of the Sporting News previews the Mavericks' season and says that their roster is constructed with future free-agent moves in mind.
- Steve Reed of the Associated Press writes (link via the Detroit Free Press) that the Bobcats are expecting Ben Gordon, acquired from the Pistons this summer, to finish games for them this season.
- Alex Raskin of HoopsWorld.com has a list of training-camp invitees with a shot at making NBA rosters this season.
Atlantic Updates: Knicks, Smith, Darko
The latest news from the Atlantic Division on Tuesday evening:
- Barbara Barker of Newsday tweets that Mike Woodson has not yet decided who will start at shooting guard for the Knicks this season, but that J.R. Smith is not in consideration.
- Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com adds (via Twitter) that Ronnie Brewer, signed this summer, is a leading candidate for the starting job.
- Rich Levine of CSNNE.com examines the impact that Darko Milicic could have on the Celtics this season.
Blazers Notes: Matthews, Morrison, Claver
The latest rumors surrounding the Portland Trail Blazers, who make their preseason debut Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers:
- Wesley Matthews tells CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes that he has studied film of Dwyane Wade, James Harden, and Joe Johnson in order to improve his ballhandling.
- Erik Gundersen of TrailBlazers.com talks to Adam Morrison, who is fighting for a roster spot in Blazers training camp.
- Ben Golliver of Blazersedge.com talks to Spanish rookie Victor Claver about the transition to the NBA.
Kennedy On Veterans, Cousins
Earlier Tuesday, Tracy McGrady signed a deal to play in China. With that in mind, HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy takes a look at several veteran players remaining on the market in his latest column:
- Josh Howard, Michael Redd, and Leandro Barbosa are two wing players Kennedy points to as among the best available on the market.
- Several veteran players, including Mickael Pietrus and Kenyon Martin, are unwilling to sign contracts at the veteran's minimum and are holding out for more money, Kennedy says.
- Derek Fisher has been working out with the Lakers recently, but Kennedy points out that he cannot re-sign there until March, after one year has passed since he was traded to the Rockets and waived.
- Kennedy suggests that Gilbert Arenas, who appeared in 17 games for the Grizzlies last season, may consider playing in China like McGrady if he cannot find a deal in the NBA.
- Also in his column, Kennedy looks at the leadership role third-year center DeMarcus Cousins has been taking on with the Kings in training camp.
Northwest Notes: Jazz, Iguodala, Blazers
The Northwest Division promises to be one of the most competitive in the league during the 2012/13 season. The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to defend their Western Conference championship; the Denver Nuggets added Andre Iguodala to an already deep team; and the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves made key offseason changes that should have them in the playoff hunt. Here is the latest chatter from up north on Tuesday afternoon:
- Mike Sorensen of the Desert News writes that second-year center Enes Kanter is impressing Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin in training camp.
- Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune has a feature on Jazz second-round pick Kevin Murphy, who is fighting for a roster spot with the team.
- Bill Oram of the Salt Lake Tribune examines the improved shooting stroke of DeMarre Carroll this offseason.
- Iguodala has taken on a leadership role in his first training camp as a Nugget, writes Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post.
- The Oregonian's Joe Freeman reports (via Twitter) that Blazers coach Terry Stotts will limit all of his players to one half of action during Portland's preseason opener on Wednesday.
Sixers Waive Xavier Silas
Guard Xavier Silas says on his Twitter account he's been cut loose by the Sixers. He signed with the team shortly before the end of last season and re-joined them as a training camp invitee, but will become a free agent once he clears waivers.
The 6'5" Northern Illinois product appeared in only two regular games for the Sixers last season, totaling 11 points in 39 minutes. He got into two postseason games as well, but only for four garbage-time minutes. He received much greater exposure with the Maine Red Claws of the D-League, averaging 9.8 PPG and 3.0 RPG in 23.3 MPG in 40 contests last year.
He was believed to have been on a non-guaranteed minimum-salary deal, and his subtraction from the Sixers roster will leave the team with 17 players.
Pacific Rumors: Paul, Howard, Warriors, Suns
The Lakers were thought to be in the market for an extra big man earlier today, but they found out later that Jordan Hill won't need surgery on his back and should be ready for the regular season opener. Hill, of course, isn't the only Laker post player recovering from a back injury, and the team continues to get encouraging news on Dwight Howard as well. We've got more on him and other news from around the Pacific Division.
- Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com looks at what it will take for the Clippers to convince Chris Paul, a free agent at season's end, to stay.
- Howard has been cleared to go five-on-five for limited minutes in practice, tweets Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times. That seemed to be the final barrier between Howard and his return from back surgery, and it would take a "major setback" for Howard not to be in the lineup on opening night, opines Markazi (Twitter link).
- Warriors coach Mark Jackson has high praise for rookie Festus Ezeli, who's competing with Andris Biedrins for the backup center job. "He was spectacular. He is the real deal. I can't believe he was there at (pick number) 30," Jackson said, as Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group tweets. Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle passes along the same quote, and adds Jackson's comments about Harrison Barnes, whom the coach also believes is better than advertised.
- Thompson shares his insight on the competition to start at small forward for the Warriors, which he says is down to Barnes and Brandon Rush, with Rush having the inside track, sources say (Sulia link).
- Jermaine O'Neal, who signed a minimum-salary deal with the Suns, says training camp in Phoenix is much different from his experience with the Celtics, as Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic writes.