NBA Rumors: Dissecting the Latest Chatter, Pre-Training Camp

With the NFL and college football hitting the meat of their schedules and capturing the nation's attention, it's little wonder that the opening of NBA training camps has snuck up on the mainstream world.

While the NBA's training camp session does not receive the fanfare of the NFL's preseason or the MLB's spring training sessions, it's possible that basketball's initial meet-and-greet holds more significance.

Training camp is the first opportunity for players to get acquainted with new teammates and for coaches to evaluate the talent on the roster.

Despite the focus shifting to on-court responsibilities, don't think the NBA rumor mill has died. Whether it's last-minute free-agency news, trade rumblings or an injury possibility, there is always something going on in the Association.

For that reason, here's a look at all the latest chatter going around the league. 

Josh Howard Down to Three Teams?

While some veterans are scouring the market just hoping for a nibble, Josh Howard seemingly has a never-ending lineup of teams vying for his services.

With multiple teams in play, that means Howard can be a little pickier about where he chooses to play. Unfortunately for the New York Knicks, they are no longer believed to be in the running, according to ESPN New York's Jared Zwerling. 

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Source close to #Knicks believes Josh Howard will sign elsewhere b/c Utah, Philly, Charlotte, etc. are better fits. All min money like NYK.

— Jared Zwerling (@JaredZwerling) September 30, 2012"

The names on the supposed list come as no shock. Howard had worked out already with the Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Bobcats, and he spent the 2011-12 season with the Utah Jazz.

Ultimately, the deciding factor will probably be role and playing time. The 32-year-old got a respectable 23 minutes per game last season in Utah and will likely look for something similar this year. Though his numbers weren't great, he's still a veteran player who can provide stringent defense on the wing. 

Howard even hit the 40-plus game mark for the first time since 2008-09 last season, so whichever team signs him may actually be getting a reliable lineup fixture as well.

Gilbert Arenas to China?

Though he spent the 2011-12 season as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, Gilbert Arenas has spent much of his offseason in Los Angeles hoping to hook on with the Lakers or Clippers.

Anyone that saw Arenas' 23-game (including playoffs) stint with the Grizzlies knows how far his game has fallen, but he's reportedly looked good in workouts and pickup games. 

Nonetheless, camps are on the verge of opening, and the 30-year-old point guard has yet to even receive a training camp offer. 

According to ESPN's Marc Stein, that has the former All-Star contemplating taking his talents across the world to China. 

Via ESPN: 

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So word is that Arenas, while still holding out hope that the Lakers or Clippers decide they need him, has began to assess his non-NBA options. 

And China is said to be at the top of the list, given the fact that former NBA All-Stars who go there tend to be well-compensated ... and the helpful knowledge that the short Chinese season allows for a return to the NBA in March or April if he impresses. 

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Considering his dearth of options at this point, heading to China may just be Arenas' best option. If he plays well enough and shows a clean bill of health, he could help out a team down the stretch or in the playoffs. 

Ray Allen's Ankle Still Not Healed?

The last time we saw Ray Allen on a basketball court, very few would have mistaken him for the best three-point shooter in NBA history.

Seemingly hobbling his way up and down the floor, Allen looked like a shell of himself for much of the second half of the 2011-12 season with the Boston Celtics. The root cause was bone spurs in the 37-year-old shooting guard's ankle, which limited his movement and debilitated his rhythm on the offensive end.

An offseason surgery was supposed to bring Allen back to full health. Unfortunately, that doesn't look to be in the cards for the new Miami Heat shooting guard, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Ira Winderman. 

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Ray Allen said ankle issue likely will be ongoing throughout the season, something he will have to manage.

He said he never wanted to let on publicly how serious it was last season in Boston.

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Though Allen's presence will undoubtedly help the Heat regardless, this is a situation that definitely deserves monitoring going forward. Don't be shocked if we see Allen sit back-to-backs or take multi-game stretches off to help out his ailing ankle in 2012-13. 

Kenyon Martin Open to Veteran's Minimum, Not to Knicks?

For some free agents, the 2012 offseason has been one of prosperity and unforeseen wage increases.

For Kenyon Martin, the summer has all been about rude awakenings. Shockingly left out in the cold without a job, Martin had been strident in his opposition of taking a veteran's minimum contract.

Feeling his worth and veteran presence are worth more is understandable. While Martin is certainly not the player he once was, he became a vital leader last season on a sometimes-immature Los Angeles Clippers squad and was a consistent interior post defender.

Unfortunately for the 34-year-old, the NBA didn't quite see it that way. Martin's now open to the veteran's minimum, according to Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears.

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Kenyon Martin will only take minimum NBA contract in a "comfortable" team role,his agent Andy Miller tells Y! Nothing imminent with any team

— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) September 27, 2012"

While we don't know exactly what a "comfortable" team role would be, we do know it isn't with the New York Knicks, according to the New York Post's Marc Berman.

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Told yesterday #Knicks not on Kenyon Martin's radar. Too "mecurial" [sic] a situation. #Knicks still willing to wait on Rasheed decision.

— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) September 28, 2012"

Considering New York just signed Rasheed Wallace out of retirement, something tells me the team is fine with that disinterest. 

Wizards to Bring in Point Guard To Replace Injured John Wall?

In an unfortunate pre-training camp twist for the Washington Wizards, star point guard John Wall went down with a stress injury to his right kneecap (via CSN Washington's Chuck Gormley). 

Considering the Wizards came out of the offseason looking ready to make a playoff run in the Eastern Conference, this loss is nothing short of devastating. Wall's injury means he likely won't make it back until Thanksgiving, and the team will likely be without his services for roughly a quarter of the season.

With Shelvin Mack and A.J. Price the only two remaining point guards on the roster, CSN Washington's Michael Huberman speculated that the team will be on the search for a stopgap replacement.

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So for now, it looks like the competition will between Price and Mack for the starting point guard job until Wall returns. 

But could the Wizards look on the scrapheap for help in the interim? This close to the beginning of training camp there's really not much out there, but there are some intriguing names on the market. 

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Huberman goes on to mention Derek Fisher, Mike James and Jannero Pargo as the likeliest and most interesting targets for the team to pursue. Regardless, it's apparent that Washington will have to do something because neither Price nor Mack is talented enough to start on a team with playoff aspirations.