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Anthony's progress has Nuggets excited By Chad Ford NBA Insider Send an Email to Chad Ford Monday, October 13 Updated: October 13 11:20 AM ET Two preseason games may be too early to make any judgment -- good or bad -- about anyone, let alone a rookie. But after watching Carmelo Anthony dominate in a preseason game versus the Suns on Saturday, it's hard to find something not to like. Anthony has played just two games, both versus the Suns, and he's been fantastic in both. He scored 19 points in both games and grabbed 11 rebounds in the second game in Phoenix. But it's the swagger with which he's playing that's catching everyone's eye. Anthony "He's going to be really good," GM Kiki Vandeweghe said with a smile when Insider caught up with him outside the locker room. "He's got a confidence that's rare in a kid his age. We're really happy." Suns GM Bryan Colangelo went a step further, predicting that Anthony will win rookie of the year. "He's playing really well already. What happens when he really starts to figure things out?" Carmelo's trademark smile has turned into a smirk. When he's out there he doesn't just act like he belongs. He acts like it's easy. For long stretches in the game on Saturday, Anthony was the best player on the floor, period. The key is the inside, outside game. Anthony's outside jumper has improved and his inside game was unbelievable. Working against Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson, Anthony's play in the paint was outstanding. Whenever he caught the ball on the block, Anthony immediately went into his move. No hesitation. He backed down Marion and Johnson easily and was just as aggressive on the boards. "He's very conscious of what he needs to do to improve," Vandeweghe said. "After the first game in Denver, he said that he was disappointed with his rebounding. So he goes out the next game and gets eleven -- mostly on effort." Anthony's play has even more ramifications. His confidence is bleeding over onto his teammates. The team easily handled the Suns at home and on the road. The Nuggets scored over a 100 points in each outing and seem to already be clicking. Andre Miller is driving and dishing. Voshon Lenard is firing away from the perimeter. Nene Hilario is bashing bodies in the paint. Marcus Camby looks pretty spry. Rodney White is playing in control. And Earl Boykins is already playing the Energizer bunny. It must be the preseason. "It's early," Vandeweghe said. "But we're encouraged." Around the League Still trying to get a good read on the Grizzlies-Suns trade that sent Bo Outlaw and Jake Tsakalidis to Memphis for Brevin Knight, Cezary Trybanski and Robert Archibald? Executives around the league feel that the Grizzlies got the better end of the deal. After spending time last week in Memphis and Phoenix talking to Jerry West and Bryan Colangelo about the deal, I think the thing was more even than people think. Clearly the Grizzlies got the better end from a talent standpoint. Outlaw's the type of energy guy Hubie Brown loves. After West failed in his attempt to get Michael Olowokandi and Erick Dampier, Tsakalidis was the best 7-footer left on the trading block. The Grizzlies gave up three players they didn't need and trimmed their roster in the process. Not too bad. But the Suns claim they knew what they were doing. The team wasn't seeing the progress from Tsakalidis that it hoped. With the Suns' new, run-and-gun offense, Tsakalidis' lumbering style just wasn't a good fit. Jake Voskuhl, on the other hand, runs the floor well and plays with the type of energy the team feels that it needs. And as much as everyone in Phoenix loves Outlaw, the team was so impressed with Zarko Carbarkapa in the summer league it felt it could afford to lose Outlaw. Outlaw gave the team 4.7 ppg and 4.8 rpg in 22.5 minutes last season. The Suns feel that Carbarkapa is capable of giving them 10 ppg and 5 rpg if they were to give him similar minutes. The move also saved them roughly $2 million this season and another $13 million in salary and luxury-tax payments next year. It may save them more down the road. The Suns are hoping to move Knight to clear another $10 million in salary and luxury-tax payments this year. The team has talked with the Jazz about a deal that would send Knight and a first-round pick that the Suns are owed from the Cavs (it's lottery protected). The Jazz may be interested, but not right now. They'd prefer to have the Suns pay the salary until the trade deadline approaches. A player doesn't count against the cap or the luxury tax as long as he's off the roster by the end of the regular season. Look for the two teams to start talking again in February. For now, however, the Suns are hurting a bit in the depth department. With Voskuhl and Scott Williams out with injuries, the team is trying to turn Tom Gugliotta into a center. Speaking of rookies, Stephon Marbury is raving about the Suns' second first-round pick, Brazilian point guard Leandro Barbosa. Barbosa's energy has stood out in an otherwise lifeless Suns team early. "He's going to be special man," Marbury told Insider. "He's so long and quick and he really knows how to play." It's no surprise that Barbosa has been on the floor in the fourth quarter the past couple of games. His defense and versatility have made him a regular early on in Frank Johnson's rotation. Says Johnson: "The language thing is the biggest barrier. But if he keeps up the learning curve, it's going to be hard for me to keep him off the floor." Loren Woods averaging 11.3 rpg? It must be the preseason. Knicks fans cheering Dikembe Mutombo and jeering Keith Van Horn in the home opener after committing eight turnovers? Glad to see things are back to normal in New York. Hubie Brown told Insider he's taking his Grizzlies gig year-to-year. When I asked Jerry West last week how long he felt Brown needed to be there to turn the Grizzlies around, he said four years. He didn't pick the number arbitrarily. West signed a four-year deal when he came to Memphis and said he's unsure whether he'll continue when his contract expires in the summer of 2006. "I don't know that," West told Insider. "I'm not a youngster. I still have great energy and enthusiasm for the game. Candidly, this job has really revitalized me and my self worth. You feel better about yourself. This is something I wanted to do. It was the ultimate challenge." Peep Show By Terry Brown NBA Insider Monday, October 13 Updated: October 13 11:50 AM ET Atlanta Hawks: The good news is that Terrell Brandon's knee surgery went well. The bad news is that they performed the procedure so that he could function as a normal person, not an NBA superstar with a multi-million dollar deal. "I feel for all of us [who have suffered career-ending injuries]," Brandon said in the Minnesota Star Tribune. "You see the other guys go through it, and then it's you. You really have to appreciate your body and appreciate the game while you can. I'm grateful. I mean, I'm 5-11 and I played 11 years in the NBA. Can you believe it?" Mourning New Jersey Nets: Alonzo Mourning signed with the New Jersey Nets and that's who he wants to play for. "I didn't come here to go to Long Island," Mourning said in the NY Daily News about the rumor that the Nets may move to New York with a new owner. "I just bought a nice house over in New Jersey. My family is just getting settled in. I understand the nature of this business. (But) I came here to play in New Jersey at the Continental Airlines Arena. I just got this system down, don't change it now." Minnesota Timberwolves: Ask Wally Szczerbiak and he will tell you that his left toe is connected directly to his shooting arm. "I don't want to have a setback to the point where like last year I had to go back," he said in Pioneer Press after being diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. "This is an injury where I couldn't play even if I wanted to. The toughest thing is that it seems like this injury came from the toe a little bit. The stupid toe injury is causing me even more difficulties." Washington Wizards: The Nets may miss Eddie Jordan now that he's the head coach of the Washington Wizards. But he misses them, too. "The last two years, I had a team that really ran it well," Jordan said in the Washington Times of his motion offense. "We had an [All-Star] point guard [Jason Kidd] who really got people in their spots and was adept at running the show. We have young players here. It's probably a little more difficult because of what I'm used to the last couple of years." New York Knicks: Age may only be a number to Dikembe Mutombo, but that court sure does seem to be getting longer. "The coach was hesitant about me playing, but I told him I have to get in basketball shape," Mutombo said in Newsday. "I felt good about myself, but I think I could do more. I have to get my emotions going ...I need to get my wind to go up and down." His coach agreed after the newly acquired center tallied four points, three boards and one block in 13 minutes. "Considering the fact he hadn't played in awhile, he did OK," Don Chaney said. "You could tell his timing was off a little bit. You don't expect him to play the minutes he did, but he didn't want to come out of the game. He's a gamer. He loves playing." Brandon slips quietly into retirement Steve Aschburner / Minneapolis Star Tribune Mourning's also against L.I. move Ohm Youngmisuk / New York Daily News Foot sidelines Wally -- again Mike Wells / St. Paul Pioneer Press Jordan patient about offense John N. Mitchell / Washington Times Mutombo: I'm Not in Shape Greg Logan / Newsday

How will the Clips replace Olowokandi, Miller? By Terry Brown NBA Insider Monday, October 13 Updated: October 13 10:27 AM ET The Los Angeles Clippers didn't want Michael Olowokandi anymore. The Clippers didn't want Andre Miller, either. But somewhere along the line, in between re-signing forwards Elton Brand and Corey Maggette, they forgot that Olowokandi was their starting center and Miller was their starting point guard. Now, they've got six players with a grand total of seven years experience vying for those two positions. Unless, of course, you count Olden Polynice's 14 seasons at center, not one of which has come in the last two years. Los Angeles Clippers Point guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Marko Jaric 1 6-5 7.4 ppg, 2.9 apg This second-round pick entering his second season in the NBA has nice size, international cred, incredible potential and a grand total of 12 starts as he becomes the third starting point guard in three seasons for a franchise in perpetual flux. Keyon Dooling 3 6-3 6.4 ppg, 1.6 apg Lottery pick about to be lost in the shuffle while still waiting for this third start after three seasons as a pro. Marcus Hatten R 6-0 -- Get in line. Shooting guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Quentin Richardson 3 6-5 9.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg Q took 546 shots last year in only 59 games as the backup shooting guard battling injuries. He took 926 in 81 games the year before that and nearly won the Sixthman of the Year Award. So far this year during the preseason, he's taken 27 shots in two games and has never shot better from the field or 3-point range. Not everyone was sad to see a few names taken off the marque during the summer. Eddie House 3 6-1 7.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg Somewhat of a cult figure in Miami spawning FEH (Free Eddie House) t-shirts across AmericanAirlines Arena. Must have forgotten about Ron Harper calling his time with the Clippers a jail sentence. Small forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Corey Maggette 4 6-6 16.8 ppg, 5 rpg Two years ago, with Lamar Odom and Darius Miles on the roster, who would have thought Maggette would have become the eventual starting small forward. But, then again, who would have thought this kid would go from 10 ppg to 11.4 to 16.8 in only three seasons. So try not to act too surprised if he outscores Miles (in Cleveland), Odom (in Miami) and, occasionally, both of them combined on the same night this year. Tremaine Fowlkes 2 6-6 4.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg NBDL player done good. But still waiting for an NBDL player to do great. Power forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Elton Brand 4 6-8 18.5 ppg, 11.3 rpg He's got the numbers to back up his No. 1 pick status, which justifies the Max deal he got this offseason. The struggle for Brand will be trying to keep his lifelong passion of playing basketball from becoming a 9 to 5 job because of his employer. Bulls. Clippers. Who says nice guys don't finish last? Chris Wilcox 1 6-10 3.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg Under normal circumstances, Elton Brand would have been lost this summer to free agency without compensation and our hero here with a total of 479 minutes and 171 points would have become the team's starting power forward. Now, Chris Wilcox is stuck behind an all-star with, basically, a lifetime deal. Do we congratulate him or send a wreath? Wang Zhi Zhi 3 7-1 4.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg Yet to be convinced that this guy is taking the game seriously. Center Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Melvin Ely 1 6-10 4.5 ppg, 3.3 bpg Drafted this kid as a power forward but he'll take the minutes any way he can get them. Lots of potential, little performance, but if that isn't cliche for the league, it sure as heck is for this team. Predrag Drobnjak 2 6-11 9.4 ppg, 3.9 bpg Shoots an inordinate number of triples for a center, doesn't rebound particularly well for a 7-footer and averages less than half a block per game for his career. But that doesn't change the fact that he's played two full seasons in the NBA, starting 81 games and logging more than 3,000 minutes. On this team, at this position, this makes him the wily veteran the youngsters can turn to for leadership. Chris Kaman R 7-0 -- Has the distinction of being the tallest player on the roster who can actually play with contact and not cringe. Once Olowokandi went down last season, the Clippers relied a platoon system at center, which would be good news for Kaman this year if they did more of the same. Olden Polynice 14 6-10 -- Hasn't played in two years and no guarantee it won't be three.

By Marc Stein ESPN.com Editor's note: Here's a glimpse of the good -- and the bad -- that could happen to the 2003-04 Los Angeles Clippers. Best Case Scenario Three things need to happen for the Clippers to make an unexpected run at the No. 8 spot in the mighty West. Marko Jaric ranked third in assists (2.9) among rookies last season. 1. Marko Jaric or Keyon Dooling has to become a frontline point guard. So far, new Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy has resisted the urge to push for the signing of a veteran point guard to give Jaric and Dooling a clear swing at replacing the departed (and disappointing) Andre Miller. Because the newly signed Glen Rice is the Clippers' only perimeter shooting threat -- before Rice signed you could make the case that Dunleavy himself could still outshoot anyone on his team -- the Clips really need a point guard who can get the ball in the right spots and create scoring opportunities off the dribble. "It has to happen basically," Dunleavy said. "If not, then it's a pretty big issue." For the record, it hasn't happened yet. 2. The Clippers have to start rebounding and defending. Dunleavy has spent the bulk of the October practices drilling defense into a team that didn't play any last season. The Clips need to be running to be successful, given their array of athletes ... and remembering that lack of perimeter shooting. Can't run, of course, if you can't board and can't stop people. 3. Elton Brand continues his development into an Olympics-worthy power forward. Expect an even better season from Brand than normal, even though opposing defenses will find it easier to key on Brand and Corey Maggette with so many of the Clippers' other recognized scoring threats moving. A summer with Team USA has Brand looking focused and assured. As one veteran scout said: "He's getting to be like a young Karl Malone. If you don't double-team him down low, he just goes through you or puts his body into you and gets to the free-throw line." Worst Case Scenario The Clippers will be lucky to win 27 games again in the mighty West if the following three things happen. 1. Chris Kaman can't fill the center spot. Kaman is on no one's rookie radar, with LeBron and Darko and Carmelo in circulation, but the 7-footer from Central Michigan is worth a look. He's surprisingly mobile and active for his size, albeit so twitchy that he's bound to draw extra attention from the referees. But Kaman can score with either hand and he's very game. "Relentless" is Dunleavy's word for Kaman. He's also the Clippers' best option as a replacement for Michael Olowokandi, unless you prefer Wang Zhizhi or Olden Polynice or a faux center like Melvin Ely. "His big problem," Dunleavy said of Kaman, "is he only played against 6-7, 6-8 guys in college." Going against NBA-sized men, then, means Kaman will face an adjustment period. 2. Quentin Richardson doesn't return to his fist-pounding best. Injuries were certainly a factor last season, but Richardson never seemed to recover from Darius Miles' trade to Cleveland, which took away the guy with whom he popularized the routine of punching himself in the forehead after every decent play. Richardson will have every chance to win a starting spot this season, but Dunleavy has set the bar high. The coach doesn't just want a starter. He wants another Bonzi Wells. "When I looked at Q, I felt like I could basically pencil in Bonzi," Dunleavy said. "They're different players, but it's close enough." 3. The Clippers fail to break their habit of late-game breakdowns. Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor believes Dunleavy's coaching experience alone will be worth a few extra wins. Fourth quarters will be a good time to judge, because the Clips constantly conspired to lose close games late in regulation or overtime under Alvin Gentry. Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. Also, send Stein a question for possible use on ESPNEWS. NBA Headlines • New CA bill may help Kings get arena • Charity case? 7-foot-7 Bol to become jockey • Rockets lose preseason home opener • Mutumbo cheered, Van Horn jeered in N.Y. • Carter carries Raptors over Pistons ESPN's Top Headlines • Marlins stay alive on Beckett's two-hitter • BC accepts ACC invite | ... at a steep price • Reid says Eagles QB McNabb OK | Misfiring • Jets' Pennington '50-50' for Oct. 26 return • Buckeyes drop to No. 8 in poll

Suns still prefer a healthy Penny By Chad Ford NBA Insider Send an Email to Chad Ford Monday, October 13 Updated: October 13 4:05 PM ET Penny or Joe? That's the question Suns coach Frank Johnson is mulling. Last season the Suns were 34-24 when Penny Hardaway was in the lineup. They were 10-14 without him. Penny's willingness to be a distributor and role player on the Suns made him popular with Johnson last year. But this summer, Joe Johnson took another step toward being a star. His stellar and consistent play in the summer league and preseason have Suns fans wondering ... is this the year Joe dethrones Penny? Phoenix Suns Shooting Guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Penny Hardaway 10 6-7 10.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg in 30.6 mpg He's getting older, and is still frustratingly injury-prone, but until the Suns hit a speed bump with him in the lineup, it's his job to lose. He deserved a lot of credit for the chemistry of the Suns last year. 2. Joe Johnson 2 6-8 9.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg in 27.5 mpg Johnson's biggest problem last season was inconsistency. One night he was awesome, the next two he looked lost. The Suns think the problem is finally solved. If it is, he'll quickly push Penny for more minutes. Look for him also to get minutes at the point, small forward and even power forward. The Suns love to use a lineup that has Marbury, Hardaway, Marion and Johnson on the floor at the same time. 3. Casey Jacobsen 1 6-6 5.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg in 15.9 mpg Jacobsen is one of the best shooters on the team, but he's struggling to find minutes behind Hardaway and Johnson. If Hardaway gets injured, however, Jacobsen will get his chance. Center Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Tom Gugliotta 11 6-10 4.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg in 16.6 mpg The Suns say he's healthy and likely to start at center. Last season, his injury -- a fractured foot -- had nothing to do with his knee. The problem, of course, is that Googs isn't much of a center and hasn't shown much durability for the past four years. If he's healthy, he'll help. But he has lost his lift and won't contribute too much. 2. Jake Voskuhl 3 6-11 3.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg in 14.6 mpg Johnson likes Voskuhl's energy and he's expected to play a much bigger role in the Suns' plans this season. He runs the floor well and fits in with their overall offensive plans. 3. Cezary Trybanski 1 7-2 0.9 ppg, 0.9 rpg in 5.7 mpg He's very raw, but he is mobile and has some promise. Still, he won't get many minutes this season. 4. Dejan Koturovic R 7-0 -- A solid center in Europe who's a good passer and has a wealth of experience playing in the Euroleagues. If he adapts, he could help the Suns this season. Power Forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Amare Stoudemire 1 6-9 13.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg in 31.3 mpg Last season's rookie of the year was a beast in the paint last season. He'll see a steady diet of double-teams this year, but he's expanding his shooting range around the basket, which could lead to an even more dominant season this year. 2. Scott Williams 13 6-10 4.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg in 12.6 mpg Doesn't have much gas left in the tank, but when he does play, he produces. One of those chemistry guys who gives teams all the intangibles. 3. Robert Archibald 1 6-11 1.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg in 6.0 mpg He's not bad, but not sure he'll see any time this season. Small Forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Shawn Marion 4 6-7 21.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg in 41.6 mpg The team's best rebounder and its most consistent 3-point threat. But he'll have to play better defense to take the next step. 2. Zarko Carbarkapa R 6-11 -- Carbarkapa's versatilty and his ability to stretch the defense with his perimeter game make him a great fit in Phoenix. The Suns plan on giving him 20-plus minutes a night backing up Marion and, at times, Stoudemire. Point Guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Stephon Marbury 7 6-2 22.3 ppg, 8.1 apg in 40 mpg He's coming off the best year of his career. If Marbury stays unselfish and works on feeding Stoudemire in the post, the Suns will continue to improve. 2. Leandro Barbosa R 6-4 -- The Brazilian bombshell is lightning quick, has long arms and knows how to light up the scoreboard. He's an excellent athlete and knows how to defend. The language will be a barrier, but after a couple of stellar preseason outings, the Suns are quietly hoping that he can contribute this season. 3. Brevin Knight 6 5-10 3.9 ppg, 4.2 apg in 16.9 mpg He's steady, but he doesn't have much of a future with the Suns. If Barbosa struggles, he'll see minutes, but the Suns would prefer to trade him before the deadline and get him off the books.

By Chad Ford ESPN.com Editor's note: Here's a glimpse of the good -- and the bad -- that could happen to the 2003-04 Phoenix Suns. Amare Stoudemire has added a jump shot to his arsenal. Best Case Scenario Three things need to happen for the Suns to win 50 games and lock up a possible sixth seed in the West. 1. Amare Stoudemire takes the next step. Last season, Stoudemire shocked everyone in becoming the first high school player ever to win the Rookie of the Year award. This year, he'll catch no one by surprise. Stoudemire is going to see a steady stream of double-teams when he catches the ball on the block. How will he respond? So far, he's been the best player on the Suns through the first three preseason games. He's improved his perimeter shooting and is making smart decisions down low. If that continues into the regular season, Stoudemire will start being mentioned in the same breath as the rest of the great power forwards in the West. 2. Joe Johnson gets consistent. Johnson has the skills to be a star. He's a 6-foot-8 combo guard with great touch from the perimeter and unbelievable court vision. But last season, for every good game he had, he followed it up with two or three terrible ones. This past offseason, Johnson dominated the summer league. More importantly, he played well in six of the Suns' seven games. This preseason, he's also shown consistency. If he keeps it up, he'll push Penny Hardaway to the bench and give the Suns yet another lethal outside option. 3. Rookie Zarko Cabarkapa is as good as they think he is. The Suns can't stop raving about Cabarkapa. He was stellar in the summer league and gives them one more versatile weapon that can stretch the defense and make things easier on Stoudemire. Worst Case Scenario The Suns will slip into the lottery with 42 losses if the following three things happen. 1. Stephon Marbury regresses. Marbury played with a huge chip on his shoulder last season and turned in the best performance of his career. He's been awful in the first three preseason games and has drawn coach Frank Johnson's ire for his porous defense and nonchalant attitude. Marbury isn't worried -- he's promising to turn it on when the regular season starts. But the rest of the Suns are quietly wringing their hands. 2. The ghosts of Bo Outlaw and Jake Tsakalidis haunt GM Bryan Colengelo. Most GMs around the league can't understand why Colengelo traded Outlawand Tsakalidis to Memphis. Outlaw was the Suns' energy guy and gave them toughness on defense. Tsakalidis was shaky, but the Suns did nothing to replace his 7-2, 290-pound body in the paint. Colangelo isn't worried. He didn't think Tsakalidis fit the Suns' running style and wanted to move Outlaw to get Cabarkapa more time. But unless Jake Voskuhl, Scott Williams or Tom Gugliotta step up in the middle, the Suns will be awfully soft in the middle. 3. A draught of D in the Valley of the Sun. The Suns will light you up on offense, but when it comes to their effort on defense, it's indefensible. They've been awful this preseason and coach Frank Johnson is fuming. The team has plenty of capable defenders, but few willing ones. If Marbury's "we talk defense, but we play offense" philosophy rules the day, the Suns will take a step back this season. Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN.com's ESPN Insider. NBA Headlines • New CA bill may help Kings get arena • Charity case? 7-foot-7 Bol to become jockey • Rockets lose preseason home opener • Mutumbo cheered, Van Horn jeered in N.Y. • Carter carries Raptors over Pistons ESPN's Top Headlines • Marlins stay alive on Beckett's two-hitter • BC accepts ACC invite | ... at a steep price • Reid says Eagles QB McNabb OK | Misfiring • Jets' Pennington '50-50' for Oct. 26 return • Buckeyes drop to No. 8 in poll

Only Harpring is a sure thing to start By Terry Brown NBA Insider Friday, October 10 Updated: October 11 11:47 PM ET You have to have options to have camp battles. Jerry Sloan is just looking for 10 guys who will work their butts off. Positions and minutes don't really matter on such a young team. Matt Harpring will start. That's the only given. Andrei Kirilenko, Greg Ostertag and Keon Clark will likely start, but then again Sloan told Insider he's still not sure. At point guard? Pick your poison. Utah Jazz Point Guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Carlos Arroyo 6-2 2.8 ppg, 1.2 pg in 6.5 mpg He was impressive playing for Puerto Rico at the World Championships last summer and at the Olympic qualifying tournament. His experience gives him the slight edge over Raul Lopez 2. Raul Lopez R 6-1 -- Two ACL surgeries have sapped him of playing time and his quickness the last two seasons. Now he's healthy and played well in the fourth quarter of the Jazz's win over Dallas. He's got the potential, but can he stay healthy this season? 3. Maurice Williams R 6-1 -- He had the talent of a first-rounder, but came out too early in a draft packed with point guards. A second-round steal who could emerge if Lopez and Arroyo bomb. Shooting Guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Matt Harpring 5 6-7 17.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg in 32.8 mpg He was great last season. Will he still produce without Stockton and Malone taking most of the heat? He's playing a little out of position here, but it's only a problem defensively. Offensively, Harpring has improved his shooting. Defensively, it's a challenge for him to keep up with the quick, athletic two guards. Will get plenty of time at the three as well. 2. DeShawn Stevenson 3 6-5 4.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg in 12.5 mpg After spending three seasons in Jerry Sloan's dog house, Stevenson is quietly emerging in Utah. Sloan raved about him before practice on Wedensday and believes that Stevenson has finally figured out what it takes to be successful. If he can produce in games, he'll see lots of minutes. 3. Raja Bell 3 6-5 3.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg in 15.6 mpg A scrappy player with potential. He's essentially a veteran on this squad, which means he might get a few minutes. His defense and intensity will make him a Sloan favorite. Small Forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Andrei Kirilenko 2 6-9 12 ppg, 5.3 rpg in 27.7 mpg He's the one guy on the team with the real star quality. But is he there yet? Kirilenko does everything well except for one crucial thing -- shooting. He shot just 32 percent from 3 last season, and to turn into the star the Jazz believe he could be, he's going to have to improve. He'll get big minutes, but could lose his starting job to Harpring if Stevenson keeps playing well. 2. Alexsandar Pavlovic R 6-8 -- He's a good, but streaky shooter. Pavlovic is an excellent athlete who has a two years of Euroleague play under his belt. Was great in the Jazz's preseason opener. Look for him to get minutes at the three and the two. Power Forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Keon Clark 5 6-11 6.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg in 22.3 mpg Clark is an unbelievable athlete for his size, but he's yet to put it all together. He's been a sixth man everywhere he's been. How will he handle a much bigger load in Utah? He's capable of scoring, but can he do it consistently? It's a contract year and it's really now or never for Clark. 2. Jarron Collins 2 6-11 5.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg in 19.1 mpg Health's still an issue, but when he can play, he's a solid role player coming off the bench. 3. Michael Ruffin 3 6-9 -- A tough, physical guy. He can rebound, but he won't give you many points in the paint. Center Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Greg Ostertag 8 7-2 5.4 ppg, 6.2 apg in 23.8 mpg He was disinterested when the team was winning. What will he be like now? 2. Curtis Borchardt R 7-0 -- Missed last season with a foot injury. He's a solid, if unspectacular, if he's healthy.

By Chad Ford ESPN.com Editor's note: Here's a glimpse of the good -- and the bad -- that could happen to the 2003-04 Utah Jazz. It's time for Andrei Kirilenko to show off his offensive skills in Utah. Best Case Scenario Three things need to happen for the Jazz to win 34 games and be respectable in the West this year. 1. Andrei Kirilenko becomes a star. Kirilenko does just about everything well. He's a great athlete, rebounder, shot blocker and defender. But until he gets that jump shot to fall, he'll struggle to become The Man with the Jazz. He averaged over 20 points per game at the European Championships, but unless he can sink a few jumpers, he won't be able to take over games. 2. Keon Clark realizes his potential. Clark is an excellent athlete who is a proven rebounder and shot blocker. But can he score in the paint? During one 10-game stint with the Raptors two seasons ago, he played big minutes and put up big numbers. Can he do it consistently in Utah? If he does, it will really free things up for Kirilenko and Matt Harpring. 3. Raul Lopez stays healthy. Lopez is the best point guard on the roster, but he's coming off two ACL surgeries. Once the rust comes off his game, he has the quickness and basketball smarts to be a starter in the league. But no one is confident he'll hold up. Worst Case Scenario The Jazz will be looking at 18 victories and the potential No. 1 pick in the draft next summer if the following three things happen. 1. Harpring wilts under pressure. Harpring put up great numbers in Utah last season, but he'll be the first to admit that having guys like Karl Malone and John Stockton on the floor made it easy. Now that he's the focal point of the offense, points won't come easy. Can he step up his game? If he doesn't, the Jazz are in big, big trouble. 2. DeShawn Stevenson regresses. Stevenson has impressed everyone in training camp. But this isn't the first time we've heard that Stevenson was on the verge of a breakout year. If he gets another ticket to Jerry Sloan's doghouse, it may be one way. 3. Sloan decides to retire. Sloan said he's taking this season day-to-day. If he ever decides that coaching this team isn't fun anymore, he'll hang up his whistle and drive his John Deere for a living. Sloan is still the best thing the Jazz have going for them. He'll insist that they play hard every night. Without him, all bets are off. Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN.com's ESPN Insider.

Knicks' only depth at power forward By Terry Brown NBA Insider Friday, October 10 Updated: October 10 10:01 AM ET Is everyone on this roster 6-foot-9 and play power forward? The Knicks' own coach admitted they still need a point guard, their shooting guard would be overpaid at half his salary, their small forward couldn't handle the pressure in New Jersey and their center, yes they have a center, might be older than Madison Square Garden itself. But what they do have are five guys, all 6-foot-9 and under, whose natural position is power forward. New York Knicks Point guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Howard Eisley 9 6-2 9.1 ppg, 5.4 apg The problem isn't going to be deciding whether to start Eisley or Charlie Ward but whether to replace both of them. Eisley is the better scorer. Ward is the better defender. Better being a very relative term. It hasn't been three days since head coach Don Chaeney looked at his roster of 3-point guards and accidently told the media that his team probably needed a fourth. Charlie Ward 9 6-2 7.2 ppg, 4.6 apg If nothing else, this guy is a survivor. Despite averaging 1.6 points per game as a rookie on 21 percent shooting, despite never totaling more than 5.7 assists a game in a season or 7.9 points in his nine NBA seasons with a career shooting mark stuck at 41 percent, despite having his best year six seasons ago, he still has a job and, believe it or not, a chance to start. Frank Williams 1 6-3 1.3 ppg, 1.6 apg If you can't make it as an NBA point guard in New York, you can't make it anywhere. Shooting guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Allan Houston 10 6-6 22.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg We always knew he could shoot. Last season, he proved he can score. This year, maybe he can prove that he's not the worst backcourt defender in the entire league. Or that he can see beyond his own shot in a half-court set. Or that he really was the best shooting guard on is own team now that Latrell Sprewell isn't there anymore. Or that he isn't everything wrong with an NBA franchise run amok at $14 million per. Or . . . Shandon Anderson 7 6-6 8.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg It's safe to say that Shandon Anderson is a good back-up guard. At 8.4 points on 46 percent shooting in 21 minutes you could even say he's a very good back-up guard. With 49 playoff games at 48 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent shooting from long range, you could almost say he's an ideal backup guard. Where we get into trouble, though, is when we stop mentioning the back-up part. Small forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Keith Van Horn 6 6-10 15.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg If we forget the fact that he averaged 19.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in his first three seasons in the league, his 17 points and seven boards on a career-high 48 percent shooting last season ain't bad at all. In fact, it's pretty dang good. But how can we possibly overlook the three teams in three seasons? Clarence Weatherspoon 11 6-7 6.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg Listed here as a small forward because the Knicks already have an overabundance of undersized power forwards. So, instead, how about another underathletic small forward? Maciej Lampe R 6-11 -- In the league's biggest city where sits the sports most famous arena hosting the game's most ardent fans, you don't rebuild for the future. You take second-round draft picks such as Maciej Lampe from Poland and expect them to perform miracles today. Good luck. Power forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Antonio McDyess 7 6-9 -- Yet to score a single point, grab his first rebound or play one measly second as a New York Knick. But for the second straight season he is listed first on this depth chart because if he makes it stand, he very well could propel the team from ping-pong balls to playoff games. Besides, how many people can honestly say that in their last full season in the NBA they averaged 20.8 points and 12.1 rebounds per game on 49.5 percent shooting. Kurt Thomas 8 6-9 14 ppg, 7.9 rpg A center by circumstance who now may become a casualty of it. When the Knicks didn't have a big man in the middle, Thomas stepped up at only 6-foot-9 and became their primary scorer, defender and presence in the paint. Now, it looks like McDyess may play in a Knick uniform, they've got this Sweetney kid with lots of pop and, of all things, they've got a legitimate center. And the only way, it looks like, they can solves their point guard problems is to trade him. Mike Sweetney R 6-8 -- Welcome to New York. Now go find a seat on the bench next to the other 6-foot-9 guys. Othello Harrington 7 6-9 7.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg See Clarence Weatherspoon. Center Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Dikembe Mutombo 3 7-0 5.8 ppg, 1.5 bpg The Knicks have finally found the replacement for Patrick Ewing, the only problem being that there is no independent evidence that the new guy is any younger than the old guy. What we do know is that he's played in 864 games over 12 seasons with the last year and last 24 games being his worst by far. But he can still block shots, still crash the boards and is still 7-foot-2 when not having to bend over backwards to get his body to run forwards. Kurt Thomas 8 6-9 14 ppg, 7.9 bpg Believe it or not, if he isn't traded, Thomas may be even more valuable as a backup to a banged up power forward and brittle center. Or haven't you seen the rest of this roster? Michael Doleac 5 6-11 4.4 ppg, 2.9 bpg Last year with the Knicks, played 14 minutes a game hampered by injuries. But has never played more than 18 minutes a game even when perfectly healthy. Travis Knight 7 7-0 1.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg Amazing that a team with three 7-footers, give or take a Doleac missed hair cut, would still depend on a last-ditch move to get a 37-year-old center so they wouldn't have to start a 6-9 power forward in the middle. Meet Travis Knight. Slavko Vranes R 7-5 -- Won't admit it, but still trying to atone for that Frederick Weiss selection.

By Joe Lago ESPN.com Editor's note: Here's a glimpse of the good -- and the bad -- that could happen to the 2003-04 New York Knicks. The Knicks are being extremely cautious about Antonio McDyess' comeback. Best Case Scenario The lottery will be avoided and a middle seed in the East will be secured if these three things happen to the Knicks. 1. McDyess can dunk without fear. The Knicks' season ended last year in the preseason when Antonio McDyess broke his kneecap on a simple, uncontested dunk. The same deal holds true for this year: A healthy McDyess means a playoff berth. Everyone in the organization is hush-hush about a timetable for McDyess' comeback, but a return of the old McDyess by the All-Star break seems realistic. The Knicks, though, have no use for a timid McDyess. "We're going to need him to go really far," Allan Houston said. 2. The Van Exel trade finally happens. The Freudian slip of Don Chaney -- who said the Knicks were still in need of a "great point guard" this week -- was no accident. It's the truth. Howard Eisley and Charlie Ward are backups, not starters. If Scott Layden can pry Nick Van Exel from Golden State, the hero of the Mavericks' postseason run could give New York arguably the East's most explosive backcourt. Van Exel would also stoke some of the fire that Latrell Sprewell used to provide. 3. The rookies don't play like rookies. In the East, a capable bench can elevate you from the group of middling teams hoping to snatch the No. 8 seed. Getting productive minutes from Mike Sweetney and Maciej Lampe, an 18-year-old second-round pick with lottery-pick offensive talent, would go a long way, especially with the uncertainty over McDyess' comeback and Dikembe Mutombo's 37-year-old body. Worst Case Scenario Can New York really stomach the sight of the Knicks missing the playoffs and the Nets making a run for the Finals? They'll have to if these three things happen. 1. Van Horn melts under the spotlight. He says he can handle the opinionated fans and the even more opinionated press, having endured a season in Philadelphia last season. But if one bad game leads to another, how will Van Horn respond? Will he fight his way through it? Or will he sulk? Also, there's the unfair comparison with Sprewell, the fan favorite he's basically replacing. Good luck, Keith. 2. The "big" problem persists. Even with all that height, the Knicks could still experience problems up front. Mutombo may have nothing left, and McDyess, if he comes back and stays healthy, may not be the same player. Also, Lampe could play like an 18-year-old foreigner playing his first NBA season, and the 6-8 Sweetney could be just another undersized power forward. All of that would take the Knicks back to square one with Kurt Thomas (if he's not dealt with Ward), Othella Harrington and Clarence Weatherspoon. 3. No leader emerges. Houston feels the Knicks can fill the leadership void left by Sprewell as a group. It's not a job for "just one guy," says Houston. With so many veterans on this team, that plan is plausible. But if no one steps forward, how is the rest of the team supposed to follow? Who'll provide the inspiration and hustle plays fans in the Garden appreciate so much? Joe Lago is the NBA editor at ESPN.com.

I think in a "best of situation," Diaw would climb rapidly up the learning curve needed for agressiveness and general play in the NBA, SJax would work on/learn his handles/discipline (and stay with , either resign or player option) ~ The two would become more or less "interchangeable" at the swing, with SJax having more of the range of a guard but Diaw having more "guard-style game" I realize that this pushes Dion to either the bench or off the team (after the year). I truly think that, at this point, he's earned nothing more than a solid 6th man on a playoff team...maybe I'm wrong. His injury hx and noted inconsistencies make him a question mark...the only problem is relegating someone his age to a 6th man role (ala TT).

I'm in

Lakers unsure of Kobe's status By Terry Brown NBA Insider Friday, October 10 Updated: October 10 10:55 AM ET Do we dare ask the question? As a Lakers fan, as a Lakers hater, do we really want to see Kobe Bryant, one of the best players in the game today, taken away from the sport? As a person, as a citizen, do we really want to see someone, anyone, lose their job and primary source of income before ever being legally convicted of anything, even if that thing is the rape of a 19-year-old? As a teammate, a coach or owner, do the Lakers still want Kobe around? "He could play on as a distraction to the Lakers, or he could liberate his teammates from carrying his burden this season," writes Selena Roberts in the New York Times. "No Bryant hecklers to endure on the road. No unknowns pending every Bryant court appearance. No questions on every nasty detail that emerges in the case. No guessing what mood will strike Bryant on the court. No supporting a teammate some hardly know." But the NBA has made it very clear it will not take a stand as to the guilt or innocence of Bryant and went as so far as to defend his right to play the game. "If every time someone was accused and there were allegations, they were required to stop their life, that wouldn't be a good thing," NBA commissioner David Stern recently told the Los Angeles Times. "That could be their choice, but they shouldn't be forced to" stop. Whether he's on the court or in the court room, Kobe Bryant will be a distraction for the Lakers. So the movement now, in some parts of the media, is to see if Bryant will force himself to stop. And, if not, how it will affect the Lakers. "If there's one person who's not," Karl Malone told the Orange County Register when asked if he was thinking of Kobe's situation, "that'd be disappointing." Head coach Phil Jackson acknowledges the preoccupation with the ongoing trial procedures but states that the Lakers can get through it. "We've all kind of put that in a safe zone," Phil Jackson told the L.A. Times. "That's a safe spot over here. We're going to let that play out as it has to play itself out. Kobe comes back to us, then he'll join the team again, then he's a team member and we can go forward from there." At least one teammate, and a vocal one at that, agreed. "Everybody's going to call him," Gary Payton told the L.A. Times. "I'm going to call him, Karl's going to call him, we're going to wish him good luck. You've got to have faith." Thursday, Bryant appeared in an Eagle Mountain court for a preliminary hearing that revealed shocking details of the allegations against him, while his teammates broke training camp in Hawaii and returned to the mainland without Bryant, just as they had arrived in camp a week or so earlier without Bryant. "Kobe won't fall behind," Jackson said. "He knows what we're doing. He's on cue. His basketball is relatively close. The only thing I would think is there are some situations I wouldn't want him in right now, just because of the conditioning and the strength he's at. He could put himself in harm's way. But his timing's going to be back in 45 minutes of practicing with the players, and what we do he's going to be able to put together with his teammates in short order. "The teamwork, the aspect of how to use each other's strengths and a significant part of how he's going to tandem play with Gary Payton, those things are going to take some time. It could take a month of the season for us to get together. But that's expected regardless of training camp." With him, it is obvious what the Lakers get in return. Bryant averaged 30 points per game, seven boards and six assists while becoming one of the game's best defenders. Without him, they lose the distractions and stinging questions as well as gaining the opportunity to see what Payton or Malone can do in a lineup featuring Shaquille O'Neal. Maybe there is such a thing as too much when it comes to four future hall of famers sharing one ball. But owner Jerry Buss, biased as he may be as the Laker owner, believes there is something special that could still come out of the entire situation and obviously doesn't want to see Kobe walk away if he doesn't have to. "I've been going to practice just to watch it," Buss told the L.A. Times. "I very seldom go to practice, but this team is different. Everyone wants to know what it's going to look like." Bryant should sit for good of team Selena Roberts / New York Times Lakers Keep Balancing Bryant, Basketball Tim Brown / Los Angeles Times Malone already giving Bryant a key assist Kevin Ding / Orange County Register Remember Showtime? Well, It Could Be Back J.A. Adande / Los Angeles Times Peep Show By Terry Brown NBA Insider Friday, October 10 Updated: October 10 12:28 PM ET Cleveland Cavaliers: The first report card on LeBron James is in and coach Paul Silas was happy to sign it. "He's played the game the way it's supposed to be played," Silas said in the Medina Gazette. "He doesn't force anything. He's not really caught up in all the hoopla. He's not trying to show anybody he can go out and score at will. He just plays within himself. I thought the best part of his game was his passing and defense." James is averaging seven points, three boards and five assists in 28 minutes over two preseason games. McKie Philadelphia 76ers: Aaron McKie is big and bad this year and he owes it all to weights and yoga. "This year, I had all summer to get ready," he said in the Philly Inquirer. "I feel pretty good about things right now. For the most part, I've been feeling good physically." The versatile guard turned 31 in the offseason and plans on playing a lot longer in the NBA. "To the average person, if you mention yoga, they might be like, 'Aw, that's easy,' but it's tough," he said. "Once you start getting up there in age, you have to start doing things to work on your flexibility and your longevity. This is 10 years [in the NBA] for me now, so I have to start looking into those things." Dallas Mavericks: The rest of the league can host training camps in Europe beginning in 2005 if they want but Dallas is staying put. "I'd prefer to stay right here," Don Nelson said in the Dallas Morning News. "We get everything done, and I like the guys staying at home when they can. You have a tendency to get in a little more trouble when you're on the road. And there's good wine over there. They might be sipping too much over there." Seattle SuperSonics: Gary Payton is gone. In fact, almost every Sonic player he started with is gone. But owner Howard Schultz is still standing despite some negative feedback from fans. "You get a sense of the rawness of it that it surprises you," Schultz said in the Post-Intelligencer. "Maybe I shouldn't be surprised anymore, but there are times I still am surprised by how visceral it is. But people care so much about sports, and I knew that as a fan myself, but when you're a part of it like this, and you have the responsibility, it's daunting." Orlando Magic: Two down, two to go. The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the Magic have waived Rick Apodaca and Derrick Dial to trim their roster to 17 players and may soon release Alton Ford and Britton Johnsen and/or Jeryl Sasser to get to 15 players. Silas pleased with James Rick Noland / Medina Gazette Fortified by weights and yoga, McKie pronounces himself fit Joe Juliano / Philadelphia Inquirer Nelson not interested in training in Europe Eddie Sefko / Dallas Morning News Schultz starts anew with Sonics Danny O'Neil / Seattle Post-Intelligencer Magic waive two guards John Denton / Florida Today

Admittedly, I didn't know much about this guy before now, esp. that he was from Nigeria...which makes you wonder at what age he actually started playing basketball? Did he grow up in the states or over there? If he started late, he could be finding his stride now...and it certinaly wouldn't hurt to give him a shot...and he'd fill the role that many have pleaded for, a Tractor Traylor like player to fill the middle on occassion (many have said "regardless of skill level").

My guess: (I bumped the Reef 21.7/9.3/3.1 on 48% shooting. Theo 12.1/8.3/3.3 on 50% shooting. SJack 13.7/5/4 on 43% shooting. Glover 13/5/3 on 44% shooting. JT 17/1/7 on 42% shooting. From the bench: Hendu 5, Nazr 7, Nailon 7, (Vaughn, Hansen, Dickau, the rest 3 ppg ). ~ realistically, if we get all five starters in double digits, we'll make for a tough team.

while i'd initially say it could be a motivational ploy for Theo (making him captain)...sources seem to indicate that the players voted on the captains (not coach appointed). Having been on teams in college, been in this process (in both methods), I find that particularly interesting...

I'm with Hotlanta on this one - this trade blows. Griffin's shown nothing in three years...less than Swift. Cap space with nothing else is NOT the way to go...and this trade isn't either...

Deke can still contribute to a team...as long as that team plays in a half court set without a lot of up and down/uptempo sort of games...i.e. exactly how NJ likes to play. They also like to use their C's in the high post and then pass to cutters when involved in the halfcourt offense...not exactly Deke's fortay, he's strictly a lowpost player and has no business outside of about 8 feet... more and more of reasons why he fits well with NY and not with a western team (Esp. Dallas). Plus, NY has some big men that can spell him at times (though not of quality). It's really the best fit for him.

Come on, simple logic dictates that more than likely: we know that Theo started at the 4, Nazr at the 5. Nazr is bigger and wider than Theo and their frontcourt duo is quite large...you'd think we'd want to match big to big...therefore, no, I'm missing how it was "pretty easy to come to that conclusion"

With a healthy DD, no, he really doesn't...and you can check the posts, I wasn't a big fan of the signing at the time, though I know that it was made due to uncertainty over JT's future and DD's seemingly "recurrent" injuries...I'm really starting to wonder about Danny Boy (esp. cause this is when he needs to be playing the most, but tha'ts a story for another time). JV: He's a solid pg with a good shot, avg. three, and good selection (why he shot 47% that year for us). He makes "smart and safe" decisions on the floor, both in the how he runs the offense and plays D. Pretty much what you'd call you're "ideal bu pg." Not to mention that his height and skills make it unlikely that we'll pair him much with JT in the backcourt, regardless of circumstance...a definite temptation at times had we signed a taller or more "starter quality" pg (like Anderson). That's a temptation we need to avoid at all costs ~ no more mixed signals. JT can score when needed/he feels like it...and he should continue to do so at times...as long as he's doing it from position of pg.

No. Becaues we have a hx of injury prone players in our front court with Hendu, Theo, Nazr...and now Reef. All are good (much better than most team's assembled frontcourts, by leaps and bounds), but if one of them goes down, we're suddenly thin... If he's real, a big if as the wizened one pointed out, then sign him, keep him, and strut a truly intimidating frontcourt and begin to focus on how to round out the frontcourt (I'm withholding judgement on certain players there till I see more; btw, I can't believe people are cracking on JV already - we knew exactly what we were getting when we signed him, though last night wasn't really an indication of that).

Celtics lack quality at many positions By Chad Ford NBA Insider Send an Email to Chad Ford Thursday, October 9 Updated: October 9 7:26 PM ET We know Paul Pierce. We know Antoine Walker. Everybody else form a line to the right, stating your last name first and your first name last. This year's Celtic roster consists of three rookies, two players who have never played for Boston before and only one player with more than eight seasons of experience, not counting the 10-year veteran returning from a season-ending alcohol-related suspension. So it looks like it will be more Pierce and more Walker and another pat on the back for coach Jim O'Brien. Boston Celtics Point guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Marcus Banks R 6-2 -- Three years ago, it was retread Randy Brown. Two years ago, it was the much-traveled Kenny Anderson. Last year, it was rookie J.R. Bremer. This year, it's another rookie in Marcus Banks from UNLV. Had no idea that this position came equipped with nametags. Tony Delk 7 6-2 9.8 ppg, 39%3P Career backup player, and dang proud of it. Actually, more of a shooting guard but at this height will have to get his minutes at the point, where he has proven more than capable. With a rookie in front of him and near-rookie behind him, should see plenty of minutes without having to rely on last season's playoff heroics for justification. Mike James 2 6-2 7.8 ppg, 3.2 apg Numbers are nice for third-string point guard but consider the Miami Heat source. Shooting guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Paul Pierce 5 6-6 25.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg It would be enough to state that this guy has averaged 23.3 ppg over his five-year career, except for the fact that in 26 playoff games he's averaged an even better 25.6. Multiply that by 10, carry over the game-winning shots, and you'll begin to understand how important Pierce is to this franchise. Really a small forward, arguably the best point guard on the team, will play a lot of shooting guard this year. That's what happens when, year after year, you lead the team in scoring, rebounding and are second in assists. Kedrick Brown 2 6-7 2.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg Has averaged a bit over one bucket a game since being lottery drafted two years ago by the Celtics, and considering that Pierce plays about 40-going-on-50 minutes a game, don't expect that to change much this season. Small forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Eric Williams 8 6-8 9.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg It took him only one season to get his starting position once the Celtics chose him in the 1995 draft and five years, two teams and knee surgery to get it back last season. Has still got to be looking over his shoulder after scoring 10 a game as a rookie, 15 a game a year later and, get this, 19.8 a game before getting injured four games into his next season. So the 9.1 last year is nice after scoring only six the year before but nowhere near where he needs to be to feel comfortable as the starter. Jumaine Jones 4 6-8 9.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg Made the most of his minutes in Cleveland last year and is looking to cash them in at Eric Williams' expense this season. Has the nasty habit of grabbing headlines with big numbers here and there, which is what you've got to do when you've started only 48 of the 259 games you've played and are still looking for No. 49. Power forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Antoine Walker 7 6-9 20.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg Walker is probably thinking that if he could have just taken one or two more 3-pointers last postseason he might have actually made a few of them and not been so embarrassed in the second round. His coaches are probably thinking that if he would have taken one or two less 3-pointers on a regular basis he might be one of the best players in the entire league rather than just the second best player on his own team. Walter McCarty 7 6-10 6.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg Funny thing about playing for the Celtics is that even nondescript players like McCarty can take 248 3-pointers as a back-up power forward playing only 23 minutes a game and no one notices. Brandon Hunter R 6-7 -- Mr. Hunter, may we introduce you to Mr. Perkins on your left, next to the cooler. Kendrick Perkins R 6-10 -- Mr. Perkins, may we introduce you to Mr. Hunter on your right, next to the clipboard. Center Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Tony Battie 6 6-11 7.3 ppg, 1.2 bpg A starter in name only until he's clocking more than the career-high 25 minutes per game of last year. Every indication, though, that this could his breakout year after posting career or near career highs in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and shooting last season. But, then again, there has been every indication every year for the past five. Vin Baker 10 6-11 5.2 ppg, 3.8 bpg Forget about the Celtics. Baker averaging eight points and four boards (half his career numbers) would be a success story for the entire league. Mark Blount 3 7-0 4.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg Another in a long line of players who get drafted by the Celtics, find themselves in another uniform and then, eventually, end up back where they started, us not knowing how they got there in the first place.

Best Case Scenario The Celtics will secure home-court advantage for the first round in the East playoffs if the following three things happen. 1. The Celtics do what they say, and run. Playing up-tempo will get the Celtics better shot selection and hopefully move Antoine Walker closer to the hoop and away from the 3-point line. The ball will still be in the hands of Walker and Paul Pierce, even though the Celtics drafted Marcus Banks and brought in free agent Mike James to play the point. Banks and James are there to get Pierce and Walker as many easy buckets on the break as possible. 2. Get something, anything from Vin Baker. The transformation is pretty remarkable, really. Last season, Vin Baker could barely get off the floor. This preseason, he's leaping in the lane like the kid who quietly became an All-Star in Milwaukee. With Tony Battie's problematic right knee, Baker's contributions will be even more important to Boston's hopes of returning to the East's elite. 3. Get back to Coach O'Brien's basics. Jim O'Brien got the Celtics to do what Rick Pitino couldn't: get them to play defense (with help from defensive guru [censored] Harter). And they made a surprising run to the 2002 East finals because of the improved team D. If the C's can reestablish that commitment, they can separate themselves from the morass of mediocrity in the East. Worst Case Scenario Pierce and Walker should be enough to get the Celtics into the postseason. But it'll be one round and out if these three things happen. 1. Tony Delk starts. If Tony Delk remains in the lineup as the starting point guard, then two things have occurred: 1) Banks isn't ready to run the offense and 2) James, despite his splendid training camp, didn't pan out. It would behoove the Celtics to bring Delk off the bench or play him at shooting guard, a position even he admitted makes him feel more comfortable. 2. Wal-tah keeps getting Tommy points. Yeah, yeah, Tommy Heinsohn loves Walter McCarty. But if the Celtics' broadcaster is raving about him, that means the team is getting nothing at small forward from Brown or Jumaine Jones. The C's are better off with McCarty being the fan favorite. 3. The stopping and popping doesn't stop. The Fleet Center faithful still groan when Walker passes up the drive for one of his 600 threes he's averaged the past three years. And his ability to hit from long range has gotten worse, dropping from .367 to .344 to .323. (Pierce shot just .302 on threes last season, by the way.) In theory, the plan to get out and run, and a physically fit Walker -- thanks to an offseason with MJ's trainer -- should put an end to the mindless gunning. But let's wait and see. Joe Lago is the NBA editor at ESPN.com.

ESPN.com news services NEW YORK -- Dikembe Mutombo signed a contract with the New York Knicks on Thursday, two days after he accepted a buyout and was waived by the New Jersey Nets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. "Adding a shot blocker and rebounder of Dikembe's caliber to our team dramatically improves key areas that we were looking to upgrade," Knicks president and GM Scott Layden said on Thursday. "His basketball resume is so impressive that having the chance to add him to our club was something we were not going to pass up. In addition to his superior skills on the court, Dikembe is a role model that all of young players will look up to and learn from." The Knicks were the worst shot-blocking team in the NBA last season when they missed the playoffs for the second straight season. Kurt Thomas, a natural power forward, has been the Knicks' starting center for most of the past two seasons. Mutombo played in only 24 games last season because of a wrist injury that required surgery around Thanksgiving. The 37-year-old did not return to action until late in the regular season and was sitting on the bench for most of the playoffs. Mutombo, 7-2, 261-pounds, is the NBA's sixth all-time shot blocker with 2,873 rejections and is the only player in history to be named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year four-times (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001). He was named to the All-NBA second team in 2001 and the third team in 1998 and 2002. A three-time NBA All-Defensive first team selection and three-time second team selection, Mutombo ranks first in blocked shots among active players. "I know Dikembe very well through the years and there is no question he'll fit right into our system and thrive," coach Don Chaney said. "There aren't many players in NBA history that can change the course of a game as much as he does." The Nets, currently for sale, cited financial concerns in announcing the buyout of the final two years of Mutombo's contract, which had $37 million remaining on it. Mutombo's chances of playing more this season diminished with Jason Collins and Aaron Williams returning and Alonzo Mourning, Mutombo's teammate at Georgetown, signing with New Jersey as a free agent. Mourning criticized the move Sunday, saying it showed the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions were more interested in money than in winning a championship. Mutombo averaged 5.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.54 blocks last season. He appeared in 10 playoff games, including six NBA Finals games versus the San Antonio Spurs, to average 10.3 minutes and record totals of 10 points and 17 rebounds. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

By Joe Lago ESPN.com Editor's note: Here's a glimpse of the good -- and the bad -- that could happen to the 2003-04 Atlanta Hawks. Best Case Scenario For the Hawks to sneak into the playoffs in the East for first time since 1999, three things need to happen. Newly signed free agent Stephen Jackson brings scoring and defense to the Hawks. 1. They're still tenacious on D. After finishing 25th in defensive field-goal percentage (.459) in 2001-02, the Hawks rose all the way to eighth last season (.436) under Terry Stotts. Atlanta finished with such a flourish (21-19 in its final 40 games) largely because of its improved defense. "I want to maintain that," Stotts said. 2. Big Dog is forgotten. In other words, Glenn Robinson's 20.8-point average must be replaced. Jason Terry and Shareef Abdur-Rahim should get more shots, but they'll likely get help from the four-man mix at shooting guard and small forward with Dion Glover, Stephen Jackson, Lee Nailon and first-round pick Boris Diaw. Glover, who started 42 games last season, and Jackson, the starting three on the Spurs' title team, are the favorites to start. 3. Win some road games for a change. Last season, the Hawks were tied for the fifth-worst road record in the East at 9-32. Terry is aiming high for this year's goal for road wins. "We've got to be above .500," he said. Only one team -- Philadelphia at 23-18 -- played better than .500 ball away from home in 2002-03. Worst Case Scenario The Hawks will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight year if these three things happen. 1. JT and Shareef get no help. The Hawks acquired Robinson two summers ago to give themselves a legitimate Big Three. They'll be back in the same situation if no one from the aforementioned group of twos and threes provides a consistent contribution on offense. 2. They still can't handle adversity. Stotts believes, more than anything, the Hawks must keep their heads up when things don't go their way. "Whether it was the poor road record or being blown out or stopping runs during the game ... I think we have to rely on each other and handle the tough times a little bit better," he said. "I think we got frustrated last year when things weren't as easy as we thought it might." 3. Injuries depletes their depth. Or the little depth they have. Backup center Nazr Mohammed played only 35 games last season due to stress factures in his right foot. Point guard of the future Dan Dickau played just 50 games as a rookie last season because of a knee injury, and he's currently sidelined with tendinitis in his right Achilles from summer league. If Terry or Abdur-Rahim go down, "Crossfire" at nearby CNN will have a larger live audience than Hawks home games. Joe Lago is the NBA editor at ESPN.com. NBA Headlines • NJ Authority makes arena pitch to keep Nets • Stern: European expansion possible this decade • Cavs' Wagner needs more surgery, likely to miss weeks Mixed bag for LeBron • Ooh la la: Parker leads Spurs over Grizzlies in Paris ESPN's Top Headlines • Kobe elects to have preliminary hearing • Settle down Sapp: NFL has had enough • Caple: Bad karma • Stark: Playing 'red-ivy baseball' • Stein: As Shaq's contract extension turns

Miles getting to the point? By Chad Ford NBA Insider Send an Email to Chad Ford Thursday, October 9 Updated: October 9 9:31 AM ET Has Darius Miles finally found his niche in the NBA? Coming off a terrible season last year, Miles is quietly turning heads in Cleveland with his play at the point. After saying all summer that LeBron James is the Cavs point guard of the future, coach Paul Silas is now having second thoughts. Miles Miles was terrible in the preseason opener versus Detroit. But one Cavs source told Insider that it was just opening night jitters. Miles has been special in practice and he showed that in Wednesday night's victory over the Hawks. Miles' 13 points, eight assists and seven rebounds have Silas hopeful that Miles is his point guard of the present. His improved perimeter shooting has everyone breathing a sigh of relief. But it was Miles' ability to come into the game in the fourth quarter and knock down the game-winner (from 19 feet) that is giving the Cavs hope that Miles, not LeBron, will be the real story this season. "He's supposed to take [that shot] and he's supposed to make it," Silas told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "This was by far one of his better games. He initiated the offense, and when I put him back in [late in the fourth], I told him that he needed to take over and he did." If the Cavs are going to make a big push for the playoffs this season, Miles needs to emerge as the leader. James will have too much baggage and too little experience to carry the entire load this season. Ricky Davis is a gifted scorer, but he isn't exactly Steven Covey in the locker room. Carlos Boozer and Zydrunas Ilgauskas will quietly play their roles. That leaves Miles, who finally appears serious about tapping that deep well of talent. Miles spent all summer working out with Michael Jordan's trainer, Tim Grover, in Chicago. The workouts included strength training, rehab on the surgically repaired knee and lots and lots of shooting. But it was apparently coach Silas that gave Miles the confidence to come out and actually sink a couple of shots. "I have way more confidence in my outside shot now because of coach Silas," Miles said. "He told me to gain some confidence in my jumper or I'll be sitting next to him. I really don't want to sit next to him." Around the League How will the Jazz use that extra six to seven million in cap room they still have sitting around this season? Sorry Jazz fans, GM Kevin O'Connor has no intentions of using the money to get a veteran player to help the Jazz this season. O'Connor told Insider (here in Salt Lake as part of our ESPN training camp tour) that the team is unlikely to pursue a trade that would add a veteran contributor to its roster. O'Connor said that the team really wants to get a sense of what it has from all of its young players first. The team knows it will be difficult to make the playoffs with such a young squad. Adding a mid-level veteran via trade likely won't change the equation too much. So instead, O'Connor prefers to give his young guys a one-year audition. Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe did the same thing in Denver last season and the move appears to have paid off. Mills That doesn't mean the team is done dealing, however. Apparently, the Jazz have been talking to the Mavericks for several days about a trade that would send draft picks and forward Chris Mills (who has one year, $6.6 million left on his deal) to the Jazz. Why would each team do it? For the Mavs, it saves them $13.2 million this season when you factor in luxury-tax payments. Mark Cuban hasn't been shy about paying the luxury tax, but no one likes to give away that much cash. For the Jazz, it gives them the opportunity to stockpile even more draft picks without digging into their cap space for next season. What's the holdup? The Jazz probably want to see the Mills' medical reports first. If he's injured as badly as believed, the team could leave him on the injured list for the season and have insurance pick up 80 percent of his tab this season. If he's healthy, they may balk at the deal. Paying Mills' $6.6 million salary probably isn't worth what the Mavs are offering in return. Is there trouble brewing in New Jersey? Alonzo Mourning ripped the Nets earlier in the week when he found out that the team was dumping Dikembe Mutombo and letting him go for free to their cross river nemesis the Knicks. Now, Richard Jefferson is joining the fight. "It was not a very smart move," Jefferson said told the New York Post. "We're in the business of winning games. We understand financially that might have been better. If you're trying to sell the team it was a good move but how do you tell the guys, 'Hey, we're going to hurt your chances of winning a championship so we can save a little bit of money?' Isn't that kind of an oxymoron?" That's not the only thing brewing in New Jersey. Two league sources told Insider that relationships between the Nets players and head coach Byron Scott are also strained. "A lot of them miss Eddie [Jordan]," one source told Insider. "He was the mediator. Without him there's more pressure on management to keep the peace. That's never good." If the Nets get off to a slow start, or if Mourning isn't able to go because of his illness, don't be surprised if the Nets revolt. Artest Ron Artest picked up right where he left off on Wednesday, getting a technical in the first preseason game of the year. But at least Artest is progressing. This time the technical had nothing to do with Artest getting too physical on the court. According to Artest, he tried to joke around with the referee by not giving him the ball when he requested it. Coach Rick Carlisle immediately pulled Artest out of the game. He wasn't laughing afterward. "You can't get unnecessary technical fouls and survive on a consistent basis in this league and play at a playoff level," Carlisle told the Indianapolis Star. "It's one of the things we'll continue to work on and talk about. We'll be positive about it, but at the same time it's serious business." Artest then took offense at Carlisle's ultra-serious reaction to the his antics. "If I'm going to be taken out for stuff like that I'd rather not be in the game," he said. "I'd rather be with another team. I apologized to the ref and it was that simple. That's all it was." With Artest now giving the Pacers the green light to trade him, you think Larry Bird is picking up the phone and trying to dump the talented, but eccentric two guard? Artest still has a lot of value in the league because of his defensive prowess, and neither Bird nor Carlisle has the patience for his immaturity. This could be the straw that gets everyone in Indy their wish. Peep Show By Terry Brown NBA Insider Thursday, October 9 Updated: October 9 10:41 AM ET New York Knicks: Head coach Don Chaney is hoping he can remove his foot from his mouth and inspire confidence in Charlie Ward and Howard Eisley at the same time after telling the media that his team still needed a "great point guard." "I love my point guards," Chaney said in the N.Y. Daily News. "I was referring to superstar guards. I think my guys know who they are and where they are. I apologized to them. I don't believe in saying those kind of things or doing anything to hurt them. I think we can win with what we have." Earlier in the week, Chaney said. "We've still don't have a great point guard yet . . . We've been looking for a great point guard for a long time and we're still looking." New Jersey Nets: Richard Jefferson isn't calling his bosses stupid after they waived Dikembe Mutombo, but . . . "It was not a very smart move," Jefferson said in the New York Post. "We're in the business of winning games. We understand financially that might have been better. If you're trying to sell the team it was a good move but how do you tell the guys, 'Hey, we're going to hurt your chances of winning a championship so we can save a little bit of money?' Isn't that kind of an oxymoron?" O'Neal Los Angeles Lakers: If Shaquille O'Neal doesn't get his $100 million extension, then somebody's gonna have to pay. "I think I can go seven, eight more years," he said in the L.A. Times. "This game is fun. It's what I do. I'll go about seven or eight. Seven or eight, easily That's perfect. Then I can be sheriff and I can arrest your [butt] for writing that bull that you write." In between similar quotes, Shaq dismantled the Warriors frontline in their preseason game and took every opportunity to look at owner Jerry Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak in the stands and scream for his money. "I didn't mumble," he said. "You read my lips and you read them clearly." Cleveland Cavaliers: For the second time since March, Dajuan Wagner has torn the same ligament in his right knee and will now require a second surgery to repair it. "We're not sure how long he'll be out," Cavaliers general manager Jim Paxson said to the Akron Beacon Journal. "It will depend on what they find when they go in. The tear is close to where he injured it before." He is expected to miss about six weeks of action. Mashburn New Orleans Hornets: Jamal Mashburn will be joining David Wesley on the bench as the two players succumbed to injuries prior to their opening exhibition games. "We're sitting him out as a precaution," coach Tim Floyd said of Mashburn in the Times-Picayune. "He has some swelling, and they're going to take another look at it on Monday." P.J. Brown also missed the game due to injury while Darrell Armstrong sprained his ankle during it. Indiana Pacers: According to the referee, Ron Artest committed a technical foul for failing to hand over the game ball to him. According to Artest, he was just playing around in the team's preseason game. "He's (the referee) not from the park," Artest said in the Indianapolis Star. "He's never seen anything like that and it was a total shock. In the park you can do a lot of tricks like that and if you've got a good handle such as myself the ball's not going to come away from your hands. Obviously coach Carlisle and the referee have never seen anything like that in their life. He gave me a tech and coach took me out. I was just having fun." Chaney gives his guards great apologies Frank Isola / New York Daily News Talk Is Cheap Larry Brooks / New York Post Shaq's Talks Are a Scream Tim Brown / Los Angeles Times Wagner needs more surgery Brian Windhorst / Akron Beacon Journal Hurt Mashburn sits out game John Reid / New Orleans Times-Picayune Artest gets technical Sekou Smith / Indianapolis Star