Ben Wallace joined the other Ben in Chicago. (Chris Covatta/NBAE/Getty Images)

It's called the off-season, but the NBA is hardly "off." The summer of 2006 was jam-packed with NBA-related activity. With the 2006-07 NBA season less than a month away, it's time for you to get up to date on what happened in the NBA universe since the Miami Heat hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy in June.

Ben Wallace was the biggest name to move as he left behind the blue and red of the Pistons to take up residence with the red and black of Central-Division rival Chicago.

Peja joined Paul on the Hornets, Al returned to Indiana and T.J. and Charlie V. switched between Milwaukee to Toronto.

Follow all of the trades and transactions on NBA.com's Player Movement 2006.

While most NBA superstars worked on their games in gyms across America this summer, a select few honed their skills in Japan.

The United States participated in the FIBA World Championship of Basketball in August and took home the bronze medal with a win over Argentina. Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James led the charge for the red, white and blue.

Re-up on Team USA from the selection and training process in Las Vegas, through the tournament in Asia on NBA.com's USA Basketball index.

The Toronto Raptors made Andrea Bargnani the first Italian ever selected No. 1 in the NBA Draft as General Manager Bryan Colangelo prepares his team with an international basketball style.

The Bobcats got Morrison and his mustache, while Minnesota traded Roy to Portland for Foye.

See what youngsters will be vying for minutes on your favorite team at our NBA Draft 2006 guide.

After the draft-night trades were settled and the players were signed, the NBA rookies gathered in Tarrytown, NY and posed for the cameras.

For many of the rookies, such as the Bulls' Tyrus Thomas, it was their first opportunity to try on their new digs.

Check out the photogalleries and read about the NBA Live '07 tournament they played at the event.

Rookies, young stars and veteran hopefuls got together in Las Vegas, Long Beach, Orlando and Salt Lake City for the NBA summer league circuit.

Marvin Williams dominated. So did Randy Foye. Some young stars shined, while other realized just how much work they needed to do to get ready for the regular season.

Peruse the Summer Leagues 2006 primer to see all the results.

For the first time in 35 seasons, the NBA changed the basketball it plays with.

Gone is the traditional leather rock, and in is a foam composite game ball.

Follow the bouncing ball on NBA.com.

Basketball is a near-perfect game already, but a few rule changes were approved to enhance the NBA game.

No, overtime periods have not been reduced to 4-on-4 like in hockey and the net has not been raised to 11-feet. Don't worry.

Educate yourself on the new rules so you know what to complain to the refs about.