Odds & Ends: Roy, Pekovic, Hibbert, Bynum
Brandon Roy decided to sign with the Timberwolves because of former teammate Will Conroy, who has a relationship with Minnesota general manager David Kahn, writes the associated press.
Here's some more notes from around the league.
- The Timberwolves are expecting more minutes from Nikola Pekovic this season, writes TwinCities.com's Ray Richardson.
- Roy Hibbert is heading into this season with a new maximum contract, but he's convinced the large pay day isn't going to change him in any way, writes NBA.com's Mark Montieth.
- Sixers head coach Doug Collins says even though Andrew Bynum will be sitting out the next three weeks resting his knees, the new franchise center is progressing nicely, writes PhillyBurbs.com's Tom Moore.
- NBC ProBasketballTalk's Kurt Helin gives a season preview for the Bobcats.
- CBSSports.com's Ken Berger wrote a column about Lamar Odom's return to Los Angeles with the Clippers, and why that should mean great things for the team.
- TheStar.com's Doug Smith believes a healthy Andrea Bargnani should do great things for DeMar DeRozan's confidence.
Spurs Waive Sherron Collins
The Spurs have waived former Kansas guard Sherron Collins, according to the team's website. The 25-year-old point guard was signed to the team's training camp roster on October 1st. After appearing in 20 games during the 2010/11 season with the Bobcats, Collins was not in the NBA last year. San Antonio's roster now stands at 19 players.
Eastern Notes: Wizards, Sixers, Hawks, Knight
As the Celtics are underway in Turkey, unofficially kicking off the NBA's preseason, we take a look around the NBA's Eastern Conference for some news and notes.
- David Mayo of MLive.com takes a look at recent comments by Pistons new forward Corey Maggette saying second year point guard Brandon Knight is the leader of the team.
- Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a piece on new Hawks Anthony Morrow and Isama’il Muhammad.
- The Sixers have added several pieces this offseason, but their three-point shooters should be key, writes Philly.com's Bob Cooney.
- The Washington Post's Michael Lee wrote an article on the Wizards new options at small forward.
- Wizards owner Ted Leonsis has playoff or bust expectations for his team, writes Lee.
Odds & Ends: George, Bobcats, Wade, Cole
On this busy Monday night, here's a look at some random bits of news from around the league.
- Paul George is aiming to make the All-Star game this season, writes NBA.com's Mark Montieth.
- The Bobcats have promised no positions in the starting lineup according to new head coach Mike Dunlap, writes the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell.
- Heat guard Dwyane Wade has left the Jordan brand and will join the Chinese shoe company Li-Ning, according to ESPN.com's Jared Zwerling.
- According to a tweet from HoopsHype.com, Julian Wright is considering an offer from Israel's Maccabi Rishon LeZion. He'll make an offer in the middle of this week.
- The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Ira Winderman gives a detailed list of all the available free agents still left on the market.
- Coming off a championship rookie season, Heat guard Norris Cole has worked hard this summer to improve all different aspects of his game, writes the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Shandel Richardson.
- Derrick Rose begins cutting drills in two weeks, and is vowing he'll be an even better player upon his return, writes the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson.
- Heading into a contract year, the Sixers are hoping Jrue Holiday can emerge into a leadership role, writes CSNPhilly.com's John Finger.
Eastern Notes: Bynum, Celtics, Daye, Magic
Here are a few pieces of news from around the Eastern Conference.
- Pistons guard Will Bynum appears much more comfortable heading into the second season with Lawrence Frank's system in Detroit, writes MLive.com's David Mayo.
- The Celtics aren't worried about their lack of a true back up point guard, writes ESPNBoston.com's Greg Payne.
- The Detroit Free Press' Vince Ellis writes that Pistons forward Austin Daye is headed into what could be the third make-or-break season of his three year career.
- Kyrylo Fesenko passed up more than one other offer to join the Bulls training camp, tweets RealGM.com's Shams Charania.
- To the untrained eye, it would appear the Magic are a franchise in rebuild mode, but as the team prepares to begin training camp, Orlando head coach Jacque Vaughn says the word "rebuilding" isn't allowed around his team, writes the Orlando Sentinel's Josh Robbins.
Western Notes: Evans, Trail Blazers, Fournier
Here are a few notes from around the Western Conference.
- According to a tweet from the Sacramento Bee's Jason Jones, Kings general manager Geoff Petrie says the team hasn't had any significant discussion regarding a contract extension for Tyreke Evans.
- The San Francisco Chronicle's Rusty Simmons tweets that Warriors center Andris Biedrins has never asked for a trade, and, despite recent reports that the team spent the summer trying to move him, believes he can turn his career around with Golden State.
- According to CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes, Ronnie Price and Damian Lillard could have a mentor, protege relationship this season with the Trail Blazers.
- Nuggets 2012 first round draft pick Evan Fournier probably won't be receiving regular minutes with the team this season, but Denver management still preferred he stay in the United States as opposed to another year over in Europe, writes the Denver Post's Benjamin Hochman.
- Mercurynews.com's Tim Kawakami gives his training camp primer for the Warriors.
Southwest Notes: Morris, Martin, Hornets, Vazquez
Here are some notes from around the Southwest Division.
- Hornets owner Tom Benson addressed his team for the first time since purchasing the organization, saying he's all about winning writes the Times Picayune's John Reid.
- Marcus Morris told reporters today that even though his rookie season with the Rockets was a disappointment in terms of a lack of playing time, he approaches this year with an unrelenting work ethic, writes the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.
- Given the team's offseason reconstruction, Kevin Martin is a little surprised to still be a member of the Rockets franchise, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.
- Hornets.com writer Jim Eichenhofer writes that Greivis Vasquez's third season in the league will be his first with a normal beginning.
Injury Notes: Mbah a Moute, Honeycutt, Cavaliers
As training camps begin to start all throughout the league, here are few bits of injury related news.
- Bucks forward Luc Mbah a Moute will miss all of the team's training camp while he continues recovering from offseason knee surgery, writes JSOnline.com's Charles F. Gardner. Mbah a Moute underwent the surgery in May, and he hopes to return at some point early on in the regular season. While he's out, the team's small forward position is wide open. Mike Dunleavy will come off the bench, and second year player Tobias Harris could take the spot.
- Kings forward Tyler Honeycutt was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right fibula, according to an official media release from the team. As he enters his second season with Sacramento, Honeycutt is expected to miss three to four weeks.
- With each player coming off an offseason surgery, Kyrie Irving, Anderson Varejao, and Daniel Gibson are all cleared to practice with the Cavaliers in training camp, reports NBA.com.
Pistons Sign Jonny Flynn
OCTOBER 1ST: The Pistons have officially signed Flynn, according to a team release.
SEPTEMBER 23RD: The Pistons have agreed to sign former lottery pick point guard Jonny Flynn to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, reports CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes.
Flynn has disappointed with stops in Portland, Minnesota, and Houston, but he's only 23 years old and holds career averages of 9.2 PPG and 3.9 APG. Flynn heads to a Pistons team that appears to have its backcourt in order with Brandon Knight, Rodney Stuckey, Kim English, and Will Bynum.
Our own Luke Adams took a look at possible landing destinations for Flynn earlier this week, naming Detroit as one potential option.
Celtics Notes: Rondo, Offense, Rivers, Lee
As they head into the 2012/13 season as a re-tooled, legitimate championship contender, here are a few bits of news regarding the Boston Celtics.
- The Boston Herald has a short piece on who will step up and assume a major leadership role for a team with so many veterans and new faces. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett are the obvious options, but Rondo said everyone is going to have to step up.
- Celtics.com writer Marc D'Amico believes that the addition of Courtney Lee and Jason Terry will open up the team's offense and create some wonderful opportunities previously unavailable.
- Celtics head coach Doc Rivers says he isn't surprised Rasheed Wallace is coming out of retirement to play for the Knicks, writes ESPNBoston.com's Chris Forsberg.
- Also from Forsberg on ESPNBoston.com, Rivers says his team's identity as a defensive strong unit hasn't changed, but on offense the strategy is all about maximizing possessions and improving an offense that's struggled these last few years.
- Boston Herald beat writer Dan Duggan puts the spotlight on Courtney Lee, who's scheduled to be an opening day starter beside Rondo in Boston's backcourt, yet not too many people are talking about him.