Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your watered-down orange juice. Ken Berger, CBSSports.com: "The challenge for the Nuggets, sources say, has been finding a replacement for Andrei Kirilenko in a multi-team deal that in all likelihood would still have Anthony going to New Jersey. Even after a four-team deal also involving Utah and Charlotte went dormant last week, the Nets are "still the team that has the assets and is the most motivated," according to one person connected to the talks. But while the Nuggets remain "very actively" engaged in trade talks during what one source described as "the calm before the storm," finding trade partners able to furnish what Denver is looking for -- an established player, a young player, first-round picks, and cap relief -- has proved to be a major challenge."
Ken Berger, CBSSports.com: "One way to up the ante, another executive said, would be for the Nuggets to sweeten their offer by agreeing to part with veteran point guard Chauncey Billups. Sources believe such a concession would be more than enough to reignite the Bobcats' interest in participating in the deal; Charlotte coach Larry Brown is said to be "freaking out" over his lack of a point guard, according to a source. Billups played for Brown in Detroit, leading the Pistons to the 2004 NBA title as the Finals MVP. Thus far, however, the Nuggets have displayed very little interest in trading Billups, a move that would be a sure signal to their fans that a major rebuilding project is under way."
Marc J. Spears, Yahoo! Sports: "[Amar'e] Stoudemire's departure leaves Nash as the final, enduring member of the Suns' seven-seconds-or-less past.
"To lose a key piece like that is disappointing," Nash said. "That's the business. There is no point of me sitting around crying about it. I thought our owner did the best he could do. He gave him the same deal as New York except he had to play 22 minutes a game the last two years. That's a pretty great deal considering we didn't have the financial backing that New York has. And if Amar'e did get hurt we'd be in a dangerous position where our franchise could suffer for 10 years like the Knicks did.
"So I thought our owner did a fantastic job of stepping to the plate. But Amar'e took the guaranteed money and no one could fault him for that."
Mike McGraw, Arlington Heights Daily Herald: "Looking back now, it's seems a bit odd at how little disappointment there is or was in Chicago about losing out on James. Joakim Noah seemed to speak for the fan base when he stood outside the Berto Center with a smile on his face the night of the decision and said everything worked out great.
"I was in New York and Chicago this summer, Noah said this week. "It seemed to me that it's beneath those cities to beg someone to play for their team, put up billboards. But people are also hungry to win. I reached out to LeBron and tried to get him to come here.
Chris Tomasson, FanHouse: "There are some who suggest Adam Morrison, who didn't play an NBA Finals picosecond during either of the Lakers' last two title seasons, didn't deserve being fitted for rings. Morrison doesn't necessarily disagree.
"Maybe I'll sell them someday,'' the Washington swingman said in an interview with FanHouse before Tuesday's 97-94 win over Dallas at the American Airlines Center. "Everybody asks me the same question: Are they (the rings) even worth me having?''
Collectors, though, need not rush to get online. Morrison then was asked if he would consider selling the rings any time soon.
"No,'' Morrison said."I'm just saying everybody views me not deservable.''
Chris Iott, Booth Newspapers: :The Pistons announced Wednesday afternoon that Jonas Jerebko will undergo surgery Friday and will be out of action for five to six months after suffering a partially torn right Achilles tendon Tuesday night during a 105-89 preseason loss to the Miami Heat.
It is a devastating loss for a team that fed off the energy Jerebko provided as a rookie last season.
"Jonas has worked hard," Pistons coach John Kuester said by phone Wednesday afternoon. "He's had a great summer and a great camp. We'll miss him sorely."
Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com: "This is my 13th season, so I can say that I really want to go through this year pain-free," [Peja] Stojakovic said. "Next year I'm going to be 34, so I will sit down and make a decision on my next move in life, whether I am going to continue to play, which I would love to under one condition: that I'm healthy and that I feel physically right to continue."
Is it possible, then, that this might be his last season in the league? "I don't want to think about it," he said. "It's very hard for any athlete to think about that. I'm just approaching this year as another year in the NBA. I know that as the year goes by, you take hits on your body and you've got to accept that and make adjustments and roll with it."
Paul Flannery, WEEI Radio: [Semih] Erden doesn't speak a lot of English yet, but he understands what's being asked of him. There's also no problem speaking the universal language of basketball.
"Semih was terrific," Rivers said. "He knows how to play. He's very physical. It's really great for him. He's playing with Shaq every day in practice. I wouldn't wish that on anybody because we don't call those offensive fouls. He has to play through it. For him to play against somebody else, it was probably a joy. You can tell he has a high basketball IQ."
Rivers was particularly impressed with Erden's ability to pick up the team's defensive schemes. "He had some coverages today that were fantastic," Rivers said."
Samuel Petrequin, AP: "David Stern is promising Brazilian fans they will soon have the chance to watch NBA players in action in their own country.
The NBA commissioner said during a news conference Wednesday that preseason games will be held in Brazil "likely prior to the 2014 World Cup", when Brazil will organize the showcase soccer tournament.
"My backup position is prior to the Olympics," Stern said of the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. "We are well aware of the World Cup and Olympic expectations. And we expect to be following up on that opportunity relatively shortly."
Pete Maravich Kevin McHale George Mikan Earl Monroe Shaquille O Neal
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