Our morning look around the NBA with stories worth reading and notes that are not their own post here at PBT.
The Celtics may have been closer to getting Chris Paul than you think.
Eddy Curry is about to sign a deal with the Heat. So, you can just start sizing them all for championship rings right now. (Actually, this is certainly a make-good contract for camp.)
how u? Roger Mason is likely to sign with the Wizards.
Jamal Magloire is about to sign with the Toronto Raptors (which would make him the first ever Canadian born Raptor).
Earl Watson may well be with the Wizards as a backup to John Wall.
Marquis Daniels is about to return to the Boston Celtics.
Terrico White is being let go by the Pistons, so if anybody needs a guy who can dunk….
T.J. Ford could be backing up Tony Parker with the Spurs.
Carlos Arroyo is interested in the Knicks.
John Wall says the Wizards’ goal is to make the playoffs this year.
Dwyane Wade enters this season lean after a training program with a black belt and former military pilot.
Pau Gasol is pretty much just trying to ignore the trade rumors.
After all the talk and meetings, maybe the Nuggets end up with Nene.
You want to know why all the star free agents gravitate towards the big markets? Check out the NBA television broadcast schedule.
Check out the Wizards’ new court. I like it.
A closer look at the back-to-back-to-backs (or, stop your whining).
One thing not in the new NBA labor deal — testing for human growth hormone (although it could be approved later). Not sure it’s a big problem in the NBA, but shouldn’t there be testing for it?
Speaking of human growth, the Celtics appear to be inviting Mike Sweetney to training camp.
There are things to like about Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley. He’s up front, for one.
More and more rumors of Big Baby Glen Davis being headed to the Hornets, although the Celtics are talking to him.
Maybe Jordan Crawford finds his footing with the Warriors.
Magic CEO Bob Vander Weide says he was not drunk when he called Dwight Howard to tell him the entire city of Orlando loved him.
The Associated Press has settled a lawsuit with NBA referee Bill Spooner for $20,000, after Spooner sued because an AP writer said he made a make-up call in an NBA game. The AP writer may have misheard the one conversation in question. But make no mistake, NBA refs do makeup calls all the time.
What was it like to cover the NBA lockout on stake out in New York? Howard Beck of the New York Times tells you.