NBA Training Camp Primer: Rounding Up Latest Buzz, Roster Cuts and More

The one upside to Amar'e Stoudemire missing 19 games last season is that the club learned how to play without him.

In fact, Carmelo Anthony learned to play his best basketball of the season without him. He'll have the opportunity to do the same early this season with the New York Knicks' starting power forward sidelined by an injured knee. 

The New York Daily News' Frank Isola reports that the "severity of Stoudemire’s injury is unknown," but that the team is still hoping he won't be out for longer than two or three weeks. If Anthony returns to the form he displayed at the 4-spot last season, the club may be hoping Amar'e takes his time.

Lineups and rosters around the league are in similar states of flux. With the regular season now just a week away, the time for auditing is running out, and the time for some hard decisions is confronting virtually every coach and front office.

So who's making the cut? We're keeping track of the biggest roster moves and preseason news while we wait for the games that matter.

Here's the latest.

Ray Allen's Ankle Gives Miami Heat Cause for Concern

Sure, the Miami Heat didn't have much to lose from their pursuit of free agent Ray Allen.

The question is how much do they stand to gain.

The 37-year-old still has a formidable quick-release, long-range shot, but he'll still have to get to his spots to find any open looks. That requires plenty of off-ball movement with Allen coming off screens to find a glimpse of daylight.

And that, in turn, requires pain-free ankles.

Therein lies the potential problem according to ESPN's Michael Wallace:

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With a week left before facing his former team in the Miami Heat's season opener, guard Ray Allen said his surgically repaired ankle isn't completely healed and could require treatment well into the season. 

"I still deal with soreness in my ankle that I work through every day," Allen said after the Heat's practice Monday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

"

Should the Heat have seen this coming? Chances are they did. Allen was dealing with ankle soreness and bone spurs as he faced the Heat in the 2012 conference finals, signifying the Boston Celtics' age—for better and worse.

Fortunately for Miami, Allen isn't what makes this team tick. He'll add some nice depth and give the offense some additional options when healthy, but—as we all know by now—he's anything but essential to a title push.

Detroit Pistons Part Ways with Terrence Williams, Jonny Flynn

It's hard to understand how the Detroit Pistons' latest roster cuts probably rank among the best players not to make a team this month.

By all accounts, this roster could have used their help.

Nevertheless, the Detroit News' Vincent Goodwill reports that the Pistons just put a couple of intriguing prospects back out on the market:

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Terrence Williams and Jonny Flynn both released by the #Pistons

— Vincent Goodwill (@vgoodwill) October 22, 2012"

Of course, Detroit still has a nice core of young talent around which to build, but it seemed like this might be the opportunity Williams and Flynn needed.

Williams is going into his fourth season after stints with the New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings. He's struggled with his shot, but his ability to run the floor, rebound and pass like a point guard continues to make him an intriguing option (albeit somewhat redundant with Rodney Stuckey in Detroit).

Flynn is also going into his fourth year, and he's also been with three teams: the Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. The point guard was taken sixth overall by the Timberwolves in the 2009 draft, but the Syracuse product has struggled to hold down a job after what was actually a pretty solid rookie campaign.

New York Knicks Likely to Use Carmelo Anthony at PF for Time Being

With Amar'e Stoudemire temporarily sidelined by a knee injury, it appears that Carmelo Anthony will have the opportunity to reprise a role at power forward in which he excelled at times last season.

While the move seems like a second-best option for the club, there's a lot to like about the scorer's impact from the position (via the New York Daily News' Frank Isola)

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“It’s kind of a nightmare for a lot of (power forwards) in this league because he’s capable of doing so much offensively,” [head coach] Mike Woodson said on Monday. “He can come off screens, can run pick-and-rolls, isolation and post. There’s a variety of things he can do (against) bigger fours that have to guard him.”

"

The New York Knicks have plenty of depth in the painted area of bringing in Marcus Camby, Rasheed Wallace and Kurt Thomas—and yet, Anthony remains the most attractive option at the 4.

The biggest challenge for Woodson this season may be finding opportunities for his best scorer to enjoy these favorable matchups once Stoudemire returns. There probably won't be many minutes for him at power forward unless Stoudemire ends up spending some time at center—no easy trick with Tyson Chandler and Camby likely earning most of the time there.

DeAndre Jordan Showing Breakout-Year Potential

There was no shortage of veteran depth on the Los Angeles Clippers' offseason shopping list, but the club's biggest addition may have been right under their noses all along in the form of 24-year-old DeAndre Jordan.

The Texas A&M product is coming off a dominant preseason showing, for whatever that's worth. He posted an efficient 18 points and 12 rebounds against the Golden State Warriors on Monday, making the most of Andrew Bogut's continued absence from the middle of the lineup.

Though there are certainly some reasons to believe that kind of performance won't be commonplace come the regular season, there's no doubt Jordan is poised to take his game to another level. The athletic center worked dutifully on improving his post game this summer according to the Los Angeles Times' Broderick Turner, an important step for a guy who's lived off of lobs and put-backs.

It's still too soon to know what kind if impact the big man will have outside his usual contributions on the glass and defensive end, but head coach Vinny Del Negro has to be pleased with the increasing likelihood that this guy will take some pressure off of Blake Griffin in the painted area.

Philadelphia 76ers' Depth Standing out Already

The Philadelphia 76ers are reminding us this season isn't all about Andrew Bynum.

Sure, it's mostly about the 24-year-old All-Star, but head coach Doug Collins has some options with which to work this season—especially on the wing. Thanks to the offseason acquisitions of Jason Richardson, Nick Young and Dorell Wright, holdovers Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner will have some help at the small-forward and shooting-guard spots.

How's that working out so far?

Jason Richardson doesn't have any complaints. He put up 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists against the New York Knicks on Monday, joined by Thaddeus Young's 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting.

J-Rich's contributions are especially welcome for a team that sorely needed the perimeter presence. The 31-year-old likes Collins' system and is making the most of his opportunities to let it fly, nailing six treys against NYC.

Indiana Pacers Trim Roster to 15, Pick Up Option on Paul George

Paul George will remain with the Indiana Pacers in 2013-14 after the organization picked up its team option on the rising star.

No surprises there.

George is in line to become an increasingly featured component of head coach Frank Vogel's offense, and he's already established himself as a strong defensive presence on the perimeter thanks to his rare combination of length and quickness.

NBA.com also reports that the club's roster now sits at 15 after cutting Luke Nevill, Sundiata Gaines and Blake Ahearn. Gaines arguably had the best chance of making the team, and his departure means that Lance Stephenson should win the third-string job behind point guards George Hill and D.J. Augustin.

Los Angeles Lakers' Roster Starting to Take Shape

We know who will comprise the Los Angeles Lakers starting lineup, but who will round this roster out?

The Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan reports that the club will likely start the season with 14 players, which is bad news for just about every except for rookie Robert Sacre:

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Sacre, the last player taken in the June draft, has averaged 5.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 24 minutes in preseason with the Lakers.

Andrew Goudelock and Darius Johnson-Odom haven't received much playing time in exhibition play and are longshots to make the roster. Chris Douglas-Roberts and Greg Somogyi were cut Monday.

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Those names won't drop too many jaws in Los Angeles, but they're reminders of how difficult it is to build for the future when consistently importing veterans to compete now.

Goudelock showed some promise in his rookie campaign, and Johnson-Odom was looking to do the same this year. It's looking less and less likely that either will get his chance.

That bench will, however, include Earl Clark, Devin Ebanks, Jodie Meeks, Steve Blake, Chris Duhon and Darius Morris. 

Austin Rivers Sprains Right Ankle

Anthony Davis may be getting all the media attention, but the New Orleans Hornets' other rookie is getting some much-needed medical attention.

The 20-year-old guard sprained his right ankle Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks, eventually winding up in a walking boot. Before deeming Rivers the "next Eric Gordon," though, this doesn't look like anything too serious (via USA Today staff):

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Even if there's a little bit of pain, I'll still try to play," Rivers said. "So I think I'll be ready to go opening night. I just plan to keep working and have (the medical staff) do what they do best."

"

Rivers already has his hands full adjusting his scoring game to the pro level and turning himself into more of a point guard.

The last thing he needs is a setback.

A.J. Price Will Have Big Opportunity with Washington Wizards

You might not be especially familiar with A.J. Price's body of work, but he's hoping to change that in the early stages of this season.

With starting point guard John Wall missing time this season due to a knee injury, The Washington Post's Michael Lee reports that a struggling career will have the opportunity to blossom:

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Price, 26, has dodged death, nearly tossed away his second chance over some idiocy, redeemed himself, almost had basketball taken away again because of a knee injury, made it to the NBA, suffered another knee injury, returned to become a rotation player and then got tossed aside by his first NBA team.

Now, Price is a favorite to be the Wizards’ starting point guard on opening night while John Wall recovers from a stress injury in his left knee.

"

Of course, this isn't just about Price.

The Wizards desperately need help at the point. Though guards Jordan Crawford and rookie Bradley Beal can certainly handle the ball, neither is much of a point guard. Crawford has a combo-guard's scoring sensibilities, and Beal is the best fit to start at shooting guard.

That leaves the Wizards with Price, who's entering his fourth season after three years of declining production with the Indiana Pacers.

It might be a bit much to call the next month or so a make-or-break opportunity for Price, but he probably won't find many other chances to start anytime soon.