NBA teams head to training camp with some fascinating story lines developing around the league. The defending champion, Los Angeles Lakers will certainly be prohibitive favorites to repeat again in June. As if they needed it, the Lakers helped themselves in the off-season by getting Tracy Murray and Kareem Rush from Toronto while giving up only back-up point guard Lindsey Hunter. The Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Nets should also be favored to repeat in the east after off-season deals which brought in veteran center, Dikembe Mutombo, forward Rodney Rogers and veteran point guard Chris Childs to back up all-star Jason Kidd.

But the most interesting stories heading into the preseason are not coming out of the Laker camp or from Jersey. All around the league, teams have spent the last four months jockeying for free agents, and working trades that they hope will take their clubs to the next level. Here are the five most interesting story-lines to keep an eye on as NBA training camps get under way.

HOUSTON ROCKETS
Yao Ming. Get used to hearing about the 7'6" Chinese center. He will be a hotter item than the Szechwan chicken at the China Jade buffet. The number one draft pick is still not signed, but the Rockets say a deal should be done sometime in October. Ming didn't exactly dominate the World Games over the summer, but his impact in the league should still be immediate and significant. The Rockets will also welcome back forward Maurice Taylor, who missed last season with an achilles injury, and may see the return of veteran forward Glen Rice who is waiting for doctor's clearance on his injured right knee.

The Rockets also locked up point guard, Steve Francis with a 6 year, 85 million dollar contract extension, so, the future on the court looks as bright as the sparkling new downtown arena the Rockets will soon move into.

ATLANTA HAWKS
The Hawks made headlines early in the summer when the team guaranteed its fans refund, or the playoffs in 2002-2003. A bold move by a team that hasn't put a winner on the court since the shortened season of 1998-99, but while folks around the NBA were snickering, the Hawks went to work securing assets that make their audacious guarantee look more like Gone With the Wind than last years version, which was more like, Winded and Gone for the Season. Theo Ratliff, a one time all-star in Philadelphia, is back after missing last year with a hip (not to be confused with hip-hop) injury. And, the Hawks have added Glen Robinson, from Milwaukee in a trade for Tony Kukoc, free agent acquisition, Darvin Ham, an aggressive inside banger, and rookie point guard, Dan Dickau, a plucky young John Stockton wannabe who might just be what coach Lon Kruger needs to run what could be a high powered offensive operation. Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Jason Terry, like Robinson, can score points in bunches, and Ira Newble is an underrated defender and quality character guy. All in all, Atlanta is a team to watch this preseason.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Michael Jordan is coming back, and that alone is worth watching this preseason. Jordan will be 40 in February, but, if healthy, the greatest of all time is still in the top 10 percent of NBA players. The Wizards have added high scoring Jerry Stackhouse, acquired from Detroit for Richard Hamilton, and free agents Larry Hughes(from Golden State) and Bryon Russell (from Utah). Last year's number one pick, Kwame Brown, didn't know the Beltway from President Bush's belt-buckle, so it will be intriguing see his progress in the preseason.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Scary talent, frightening team history. This season the Clippers will certainly be one of the NBA's most fascinating stories. They haven't had a winning season since Doc Rivers guided them to 45 victories in 1991-92, but this could be a breakthrough year for the hapless Clips. Already perhaps the league's most exciting young team, the Clippers traded flashy Darius Miles for solid point guard Andre Miller in the off-season. Miller should provide stability in the back-court for a team that still has plenty of salt and pepper with Quentin Richardson, Lamar Odom and Corey Maggette. Miller, Richardson, Odom, Maggette, Elton Brand, Michael Olowokandi, Keyon Dooling, Eric Piatkowski and Sean Rooks all have contract issues with the Clipper front office, so we'll see how well these different agendas can blend together. Past history tells us, not very well. The Clippers have until October 31st to extend the contract of Brand or risk losing the outstanding young power forward. How the Clippers handle Brand will tell us a lot about their intentions for the future.

ORLANDO MAGIC
For the third preseason in a row, all eyes will be on Grant Hill in the Magic preseason camp. Two years ago, Hill was coming off his first left ankle surgery and never looked or felt right, lasting only four games into the regular season. Last October, Hill was recovering from his second surgery, went all out in preseason camp, but lasted just 14 games into the regular season. Now, Hill and the club are cautiously optimistic that third time surgery is charm for the former all-star. Grant has been playing full court, five on five pickup games with teammates for much of the summer, and unlike the last two preseasons, is experiencing no pain or swelling in the thrice surgically repaired left ankle.

This is, indeed great news for the Magic. With a healthy Hill and the spectacular Tracy McGrady, Orlando would certainly be an eastern conference contender. The addition of steady veteran point guard, Jacque Vaughn will allow "Mr. Heart and Hustle," Darrell Amstrong to come off the bench, and coach Doc Rivers will no doubt be toying in the preseason with a lineup including a backcourt of Hill, McGrady and Mike Miller. The other interesting preseason story for the Magic is that of Shawn Kemp. At one time the 32 year old Kemp was one of the leagues finest big men. How serious is he about repairing his damaged reputation? We should begin to get answers quickly in October.