*FEATURE OF THE DAY*
A life-altering offseason has Heat general manager learning to walk again as he helps run an NBA team
Ira Winderman, SunSentinel
TEAM-SPECIFIC
CHA: Five things to watch in Hornets’ second training camp under Charles Lee
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer
DEN: Storylines entering training camp
Bennett Durando, Denver Post
GSW: Warriors Shake Up Coaching Staff
Alder Almo, Heavy
IND: A position-by-position look at the Pacers going into preseason camp
Dustin Dopirak, Indy Star
LAC: Clippers training camp preview: 5 storylines to monitor
Janis Carr, OC Register
LAL: Deandre Ayton, Luka Dončić and the new-look Lakers after a year of change
Law Murray, The Athletic
LAL: Lakers training camp preview: 5 storylines to monitor
Khobi Price, OC Register
MIA: A life-altering offseason has Heat general manager learning to walk again as he helps run an NBA team
Ira Winderman, SunSentinel
MIL: Dream Kyle Kuzma scenario lies in forgotten stretch from last season
Dalton Sell, Behind The Buck Pass
MIN: Q & A: Chris Finch
Britt Robson, MINNPOST
NYK: OG Anunoby’s personal goals for next season are familiar but elusive.
Stefan Bondy, NY Post
“Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Defense,” Anunoby said in his first interview of training camp. “Those are always my goals.”
Anunoby, considered one of the NBA’s top stoppers, has only once been named All-Defense, and that was a second-team selection before he joined the Knicks.
The forward has never come close to winning Defensive Player of the Year and didn’t garner a single vote last season despite publicly pining for the award.
As Anunoby sees it, playing style is part of the problem.
Award recognition for defense typically goes to centers because they block shots. Anunoby’s impact is less tangible as a perimeter defender who is avoided by opposing offenses.
ORL: Paolo Banchero and the Magic are all-in: ‘We should be a deep playoff team’
Josh Robbins, The Athletic
ORL: Four key Magic questions ahead of NBA training camp
Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel
PHI: Edgecombe stands out and learns, Embiid practices at Sixers training camp
Noah Levick, NBC Sports
LEAGUEWIDE
This Year’s Make It or Break It Teams
Jacob Sutton, JSuttHoops
The tightening of rules tends to increase the frequency with which organizations pivot. Do I have cold, hard data on that? Not really, but the current financial state of the NBA has demanded it.
The Celtics traded away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis for financial reasons; the Suns had to buy out Bradley Beal and trade Kevin Durant; the Bucks waived and stretched Damian Lillard to sign Myles Turner; the list goes on and on.
It feels as if this year could be particularly interesting in terms of “Make It or Break It” teams, the ones who, if their seasons go south, could just blow the whole thing up (or at least make significant changes).
PODCAST OF THE WEEK
The 73-74 ABA Champion Nets: The Youngest Pro Hoops Title Team
Ray LeBov/Bill Melchionni, No Weak Stuff
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