NBA News and Speculation: Latest Developments Entering the Regular Season

Talk around the NBA is heating up as we get closer and closer to the opening of the 2012-13 season.

As squads play their final games, rosters will soon be shifted and starting lineups will be set. Can rookie Bradley Beal lock up a starting job in Washington? Will Adam Morrison make the Blazers' final roster? Are the Nuggets trying to extend Ty Lawson?

Answers to these questions—and more—as we round up the latest NBA news and speculation.

Will Jordan Crawford Beat out Bradley Beal for Starting Job in Washington?

Bradley Beal, the No. 3 overall selection by the Washington Wizards in the 2012 NBA draft, is still battling for the starting shooting guard job against veteran Jordan Crawford.

ESPN.com’s Joe Kaiser argues that Crawford might have “the inside edge” to the starting job. Beal started in four games to Jordan’s three, but Jordan’s experience might net him the starting gig for now.

Beal started in Wednesday’s preseason matchup against Miami and finished with seven points and four rebounds in 23 minutes of playing time. Crawford had six points in 17 minutes but may have an edge over the rookie.

For his part, head coach Randy Wittman hasn’t made up his mind. While he told the Washington Post’s Katie Carrera that he likes what he’s seen from Beal, he said that when it comes to starting rookies, “...you don’t know what you’re going to get right away.”

Reports: Cavaliers Have Exercised Option on Coach Byron Scott

Two Cleveland-based journalists have reported that the Cavaliers have exercised the option on head coach Byron Scott’s contract for the 2013-14 season.

While no official word has come out from the Cavaliers or Scott, Jason Lloyd of Ohio.com first reported the story and AP writer Tom Withers later confirmed.

“I love where I am,” Scott said in July according to Lloyd. “I love the situation I'm in and I've got the right people around me…”

The Cavaliers finished 21-45 last season, third worst in the league, but have a reason for optimism with sophomore star Kyrie Irving at the point. Irving averaged 18.4 points and 5.4 assists as a rookie last season and won the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

Will Portland Cut Adam Morrison by Saturday?

Mike Tokito of The Oregonian expects that the Portland Trail Blazers will cut forward Adam Morrison by Saturday. Writes Tokito,

"

After Thursday’s game, the Blazers have a practice Friday before they make their final roster cuts to get down to the league maximum of 15 players. The Blazers already have 15 players under contract for the season, meaning Karl, Morrison and Justin Holiday will likely be cut Saturday.

"

Morrison was one of the more high-profile training camp signings after averaging 20 points in the NBA Summer League with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Things have gone downhill for the 28-year-old forward who was the No. 3 overall selection in 2006 by the Charlotte Bobcats. He spent two years in Charlotte and two years in Los Angeles, appearing in 161 contests.

Nuggets Willing to Offer Ty Lawson $45 Million Contract?

According to Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times, the word around the NBA is that the Denver Nuggets are willing to sign guard Ty Lawson to a four-year, $45 million contract that would pay the fourth-year player about $11.2 million a year.

Lawson, who averaged 16.4 points and 6.6 assists last season for the Nuggets, is entering the final year of his contract and will be a restricted free agent next summer if Denver does not sign him to an extension by October 31st. He was the No. 18 overall selection by the Nuggets in 2009.

If Woelfel is correct about the figures, an $11.2 average contract would pay Lawson around the same as Boston’s Rajon Rondo ($11 million this season). Some other big-name 2009 draftees—such as Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings and Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans—have also not signed extensions.