CBSSports.com narrows in on recent NBA rumors surrounding players, coaches and teams.
| Team by Team | ||
| Charlotte Bobcats | Updated:09/22/2008 | |
| The Charlotte Observer reports, speaking of smart players and tinkering, Emeka Okafor once again spent the off-season experimenting with new training methods. He looks trimmer than he did, but says he's slightly heavier than last season at around 265 pounds. Okafor said he did a series of very specific exercises to work individual muscle groups. The goal was to break up some scar tissue that he felt was hurting his flexibility, without losing strength. | ||
| Detroit Pistons | Updated:09/18/2008 | |
| The Detroit News reports that the Pistons have offered Jason Maxiell a three-year extension worth approximately $15 million. Should he leave that contract on the table, he would play out the final year of his contract this season (earning $1.87 million) and become a restricted free agent -- which means the Pistons could match any contract offer to Maxiell. | ||
| Miami Heat | Updated:09/17/2008 | |
| The Miami Herald reports that with Heat camp opening late next week, new coach Erik Spoelstra admits "there is an element of fear of the unknown. But the overriding emotion is excitement about leading this team." Spoelstra, mulling lineups, addressed several issues: He said the starting point guard job will be a "very competitive" battle among Marcus Banks, Mario Chalmers and Chris Quinn and has no qualms about starting a rookie if Chalmers wins the job. He likes that Banks has worked for several weeks in Miami's offseason program and sees improvement in his point guard skills. In choosing the starter, "what I'm looking for is No. 1, to be defensive-minded. From there, it's getting us into offense efficiently." | ||
| New York Knicks | Updated:09/23/2008 | |
| Newsday has learned, several persons with knowledge of the situation have indicated that the Knicks are planning to part ways with Stephon Marbury by the end of the week. One caveat is the approval of Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan, who must sign off on yet another multimillion-dollar payoff for his NBA team. Marbury is in the final year of his contract, which is to pay him $21.9 million.The Knicks will likely place Marbury on waivers and, once he clears, begin negotiating a buyout. Marbury will then be free to sign with another team; the Miami Heat have a desperate need at point guard. | ||
| Orlando Magic | Updated:09/24/2008 | |
| The Orlando Sentinel reports that Hedo Turkoglu said Tuesday that he likely will opt out of his contract after the season to become a free agent, signaling the end of his six-year, $39-million deal with the Magic. "It does make sense (to opt out), actually," Turkoglu said, adding with a laugh, "I'd be one year younger." | ||
| San Antonio Spurs | Updated:09/22/2008 | |
| The Arizona Daily Star reports that Salim Stoudamire has escaped pro basketball's burial grounds -- the Atlanta Hawks -- and now will play for a winner. The ex-Wildcat shooting star has signed with the San Antonio Spurs and is expected to replace the three-point shooting threat of Brent Barry and perhaps Robert Horry. | ||
| Utah Jazz | Updated:09/16/2008 | |
| According to Dessert Morning News,Much of the opting-out talk has revolved around Carlos Boozer. He's been rumored to be headed to Miami, where he resides in the offseason. He is also good friends with Heat owner Micky Arison. Boozer even fueled some talk about leaving the NBA for Europe with a comment he made while in China. Williams tried his darnedest to convince Boozer to stay in Utah while they were teammates in Beijing this summer, but it's widely speculated that the power forward will test the free-agent waters next summer. The Jazz could still re-sign him, but he would be an unrestricted free agent, and the price tag would probably be higher than his current $11.6 million salary. | ||