FANTASY / PLAYER NEWS
Antawn Jamison: Right Hip Flexor
Update: Jamison was pulled from practice on Saturday because of stiffness in his right hip, the Washington Post reports.
Analysis: The Wizards are calling the injury a right hip flexor strain and say it is minor. Jamison should be fine.
Udonis Haslem: Will Try to Practice Sunday
Update: Haslem (toe) will try to practice in the first of Sunday's two-a-day sessions, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.
Analysis: Haslem has been nursing a sore toe for a couple of weeks and watched Saturday's practice from the sidelines.
James Jones: Sprained Right Wrist
Update: Jones wore a tape wrap around his sprained right wrist during Miami's practice on Saturday, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Analysis: Jones will be fighting for backup minutes on the perimeter with Dorell Wright and Daequan Cook, and may see his playing time fluctuate depending on what Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is looking for on a given night. Jones' best fantasy asset is his ability to knock down 3-pointers, which is something he can do in limited minutes.
Trevor Ariza: May Start at Small Forward
Update: If Lamar Odom struggles in his move from power forward to playing a more perimeter-oriented game, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he would insert Ariza into the starting lineup at the three, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.
Analysis: The ideal scenario involves Andrew Bynum returning from a knee injury to play center while Pau Gasol lines up at power forward. That leaves small forward for Odom, who would have to find his scoring from the perimeter and be able to guard potentially quicker players. If Odom struggles in that role, Ariza would start for the Lakers, though we don't see him doing much scoring.
Baron Davis: Loses Weight
Update: Davis has lost 19 pounds since starting a weight-loss program in April, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Analysis: Davis signed on to be a spokesman for the Jenny Craig diet program and is looking to be quicker after signing a five-year, $65 million contract with the Clippers this past summer. "I wanted to be a lot slimmer and quicker for the types of things we are going to do this season," said Davis. "I feel great now. I'm at my playing weight, I'm in good shape. So now it's just more maintaining and making sure I stay on my Ps and Qs."
Julius Hodge: Signs with New Jersey
Update: Hodge signed with the Nets on Saturday, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Hodge had been working out with the Nets during the summer. He is a two-year veteran who has appeared in 23 games for Denver and Milwaukee. Hodge, writing in his blog at HoopsHype.com, said he's looking to fill the third point guard spot on the team behind Devin Harris and Keyon Dooling.
Eddie Gill: Signs with Nets
Update: The Nets signed Gill on Saturday, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Gill was with New Jersey's training camp roster last season as well. The five-year NBA veteran has averaged 3.1 points and 1.1 assists in 181 career games for New Jersey, Memphis, Portland and Indiana.
Justin Williams: Signs With Warriors
Update: Williams agreed to a contract with the Warriors on Saturday. Terms were not disclosed.
Analysis: Williams, 24, has appeared in 49 NBA games over the last two seasons, averaging 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 9.3 minutes with Sacramento and Houston.
Al Horford: Option Exercised
Update: The Hawks exercised Horford's contract option for the 2009-2010 season.
Analysis: Horford nearly averaged a double-double last season in 81 games played, then went on to post 12.6 points and 10.4 rebounds against the Celtics in the playoffs. He will be Atlanta's starting center.
Acie Law: Option Exercised
Update: The Hawks exercised the Law's contract option for the 2009-2010 season.
Analysis: Law is expected to back up Mike Bibby at point guard this season, which will be the final year on Bibby's contract.
Jose Calderon: (Groin) Feels Normal
Update: Calderon, who was dealing with a strained groin during the summer, said he's no longer feeling any pain, the Toronto Star reports.
Analysis: "I feel normal," Calderon said. "I feel 100 per cent, no pain at all, perfect for the training camp." That's good news for the Raptors, who will be looking for Calderon to play more minutes this season after trading away T.J. Ford.
Rafer Alston: Precautionary Heart Tests
Update: Alston underwent precautionary tests during the offseason to rule out a heart condition, SI.com reports.
Analysis: Alston was examined by two doctors and was cleared to play and has been scrimmaging with the Rockets this week and will begin training camp next week. "Rafer had a few extra tests on his physical," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. "Everything came back negative. They were precautionary."
Travis Diener: Limited to Start Training Camp
Update: Diener (foot) will be limited to one of the two-a-day practices when training camp starts next week, the Indianapolis Star reports.
Analysis: Diener had surgery to remove bone spurs at the end of last season and is still feeling soreness.
Mike Dunleavy: Sore Knee
Update: Dunleavy is dealing with a sore knee suffered while scrimmaging in Los Angeles, the Indianapolis Star reports.
Analysis: Pacers general manager Larry Bird said Dunleavy will likely be limited to one of the two-a-day practices during the first part of training camp.
Michaela Pavlickova: To Compete for Starting Job
Update: Cleveland coach Mike Brown said the starting shooting guard position will be a "wide-open, competitive deal" between Pavlovic, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West, the Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Analysis: If Brown wants more size, he'll go with Pavlovic or Szczerbiak, but neither defends as well as West. The position figures to be a time share with all three in the mix, limiting each player's fantasy value.
Wally Szczerbiak: Competing at Shooting Guard
Update: Cleveland coach Mike Brown said the starting shooting guard position will be a "wide-open, competitive deal" between Szczerbiak, Sasha Pavlovic and Delonte West, the Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Analysis: The Cavs would be best off with a defender at the position, and that means West, who along with Mo Williams would make a very small back court. However the starting job shakes out, we'll probably see a mix of the three players at the position, limiting the fantasy value of each.
Stephen Jackson: More Playmaking
Update: Jackson said he will be more of a playmaker this season, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: In response to a question about his role on a Warriors team that lost point guard Baron Davis in the offseason, Jackson said: "I'm going to have to be more of a playmaker. I made plays last year, but I didn't have to make as much with Baron. He made a lot of plays for guys. I'll definitely have to be more of a playmaker." With the loss of Monta Ellis until December due to an ankle injury, Marcus Williams and C.J. Watson are the true point guards on the roster. A veteran like Jackson may need to take the pressure off of the unproven points.
Kendrick Perkins: (Shoulder) Unavailable for Training Camp Start
Update: Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said Perkins (shoulder) is not expected to participate in the beginning of training camp, the Boston Globe reports.
Analysis: Ainge said Perkins, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder in July, should be ready for the start of the regular season.
J.R. Smith: Starter at Shooting Guard?
Update: Denver coach George Karl said Smith or Allen Iverson will be the starter at shooting guard, the Rocky Mountain News reports.
Analysis: Karl will use training camp to evaluate two combinations in the back court. One will have Anthony Carter at the point with Iverson at the two. The other will be Iverson at point guard and Smith at shooting guard.
Anthony Carter: Could Start at Point Guard
Update: Denver coach George Karl said Carter will compete for the starting point guard job in training camp, the Rocky Mountain News reports.
Analysis: Karl will evaluate a starting backcourt of Carter at the point and Allen Iverson at shooting guard, or Iverson at point guard and J.R. Smith at the two.
Ian Mahinmi: Sprained Right Ankle
Update: Mahinmi suffered a sprained right ankle in informal workouts, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Analysis: Mahinmi will the first several days of training camp, which begins next Tuesday.
Quinton Ross: Signs With Memphis
Update: The Grizzlies signed Ross Friday, the team's official site reports.
Analysis: The deal was expected to not be guaranteed, though it is likely that he makes the squad, given his prowess on defense.
Dorell Wright: Recovering From Knee Surgery
Update: Wright continues to work his way back from knee surgery, the Miami Herald reports.
Analysis: Wright is recovering from season-ending knee surgery underwent in March 2008. He is vying for backup minutes at a crowded perimeter spot, so missing time in training camp could put him further behind players like James Jones and Daequan Cook.
Udonis Haslem: Sprained Left Big Toe
Update: Haslem has a sprained left big toe, the Palm Beach Post reports.
Analysis: Haslem suffered the toe injury while recovering from surgery on his left ankle last March. With the addition of first-round draft pick Michael Beasley, Haslem may be looking at a bench role this season.
Rafael Araujo: T-Wolves May Bring to Camp
Update: The Timberwovles are expected to bring Araujo into training camp, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: Araujo, who was the eighth-overall pick taken by Toronto in the 2004 draft when Minnesota assistant general manager Rob Babcock was the Raptors GM, played in Russia last season. He'll provide an extra big body in camp while Al Jefferson and Jason Collins start camp injured.
Shaun Livingston: T-Wolves Still Considering
Update: The Timberwovles continue to talk with Livingston, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: Earlier in the week, the Trail Blazers dropped out as an option for Livingston. Miami has expressed interest, but has luxury tax issues.
Andre Emmett: Added to Philadelphia Training Camp Roster
Update: Emmet was added to the 76ers training camp roster on Thursday, the 76ers official site reports.
Analysis: Emmett will fight with four other training camp invitees to win the 76ers final roster spot. The 76ers don't need to fill the spot. One one of them is going to have to truly impress the team to earn spot.
Justin Reed: Added to Philadelphia Training Camp Roster
Update: Reed was added to the 76ers training camp roster on Thursday, the 76ers official site reports.
Analysis: Reed will fight with four other training camp invitees to win the 76ers final roster spot. The 76ers don't need to fill the spot. One one of them is going to have to truly impress the team to earn spot.
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