Here is our regular look around the NBA — links to stories worth reading and notes to check out (stuff that did not get its own post here at PBT) — done in bullet point form. Because bloggers love bullet points like Linsay Lohan likes getting arrested.
• Who are the most traded players in NBA history? Great post over at NBA’s All Ball blog by Micah Hart, and I was surprised to learn Sam Cassell was only tied for second.
• The Brooklyn Nets will be the focus of the next season of “The Association,” which is NBA TV’s attempt at a “Hard Knocks” style show. It doesn’t work as well for two key reasons. One, in the NBA contracts are guaranteed and by the time camp opens you know at least 13 of the guys on the roster, so the whole cut down drama is gone. Maybe there is a fight for one last roster spot, maybe, but even then you usually know the outcome beforehand. Second, the show is produced by the league not HBO, so the stuff that may not put a player/organization in the best light is edited out of The Association. I love Hard Knocks, The Association is just not as compelling. But it’s not bad either, and the Nets should be a good follow.
• Shawne Williams wants to come back to the Knicks, but the Knicks aren’t interested.
• Along those same lines, veteran Ricky Davis has been working out with the Suns but is not going to catch on in Phoenix.
• Andrew Bynum is selling a lot of tickets in Philly. Well, his presence is selling tickets, he himself is not working out of a cubical spending his day on the phone.
• Great read on MarShon Brooks as he heads into his second season.
• Pat Riley has a new $11 million pad in Miami Beach to live in. It’s good to be the king.
• Ira Winderman at the Sun Sentinel speculates if the Jazz do ever agree to a buyout with Raja Bell the Heat might well be interested in picking him up.
• Mavericks rookie Jared Cunningham is over the hamstring issue that kept him out of Summer League.
• The Grizzlies have waived D.J. Kennedy, who they got as part of the Jeremy Pargo deal but was never really in their plans.
• Check out the new Spurs alternate gray uniforms. I kind of like them.
• New Raptor Jonas Valanciunas jokes around about saving money.
• Veteran forward Brian Cook and the Wizard agreed to a non-guaranteed deal, which is really just a camp invite.
• Solomon Jones will be in camp with the Phoenix Suns.
• Trey Gilder is expected to get a Jazz training camp invitation (but he would be camp fodder).
• Guard Armon Johnson and swingman DeQuan Jones will be in Magic training camp.
• Our best to UNC coach Roy Williams. Get well.
