NBA Rumors: Playing Fact or Fiction with the Latest Chatter

Well, shucks, it didn't take long at all for mass hysteria to overtake the 2012-13 NBA season. 

Through just one week of the season, the sky is already falling for the Los Angeles Lakers, the New York Knicks fans are dreading the return of Amar'e Stoudemire and the Charlotte Bobcats are, well, still the Charlotte Bobcats.

With storylines like that, as you would expect, the NBA rumor mill has been lighting up the interwebs with a constant stream of information. As always with these rumors, it's extremely difficult to know whether something will actually happen or if the buzz will be nothing but mere speculation.

Luckily, I'm here to put on my thinking cap and help out. With that in mind, here's a look at the latest rumors flying around the NBA and whether there is any substance to them.

In other words, it's time to play fact or fiction. 

Kenyon Martin Now Open to a Minimum Deal?

Desperate times have seemingly called for desperate measures for Kenyon Martin.

Still left jobless with the NBA season well underway, Martin has maintained his offseason stance that he would not take a contract for the veteran's minimum. Even as recently as Nov. 2, Hoopsworld's Alex Kennedy was tweeting that the 34-year-old power forward was sticking to his guns.

Well, that's all changed, according to Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears: 

"

The NBA season is nearly a week old, and Kenyon Martin doesn't know why he still can't find a job in the league. He helped the Los Angeles Clippers during their playoff run last season. His knee issues of the past no longer seem to trouble him. And he's even willing to take a contract for the league minimum.

"

Allow me to be the first to say the following: Well...duh. Even though Martin was initially correct to refuse the minimum, the prorated $1.35 million he'd make with that deal is a whole lot more than the nothing he does now.

All that's left is finding a team that wants to bring him in, which has reportedly become a frustrating task for Martin. Eventually, a smart team in desperate need of a big man will give him a look, and he'll contribute as a strong defensive presence off the bench at the minimum cost.

Verdict: Fact

Antonio McDyess Planning a Comeback?

Though it's been just a little over a year since we last saw Antonio McDyess on a basketball court, it feels like longer for whatever reason.

Regardless, McDyess, who last played for the San Antonio Spurs in 2011, is reportedly interested in a comeback, per Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski: 

"

After sitting out a season in retirement, former All-Star forward Antonio McDyess is contemplating a return to the NBA.

McDyess, 38, has been working out in Houston and has instructed his agent, Andy Miller, to gauge league interest in him.

"

To be honest, with Rasheed Wallace currently occupying an NBA roster spot, I can no longer rule out any comeback talks. Wallace was wildly out of shape with the Boston Celtics in 2010-11 and is still pretty much out of shape now with the New York Knicks.

Even at 38 years old, being in basketball condition was never McDyess' problem. He's a smart, veteran player who could provide a strong defensive presence in the post in limited minutes. 

Like Martin, it's all about finding the right team to give him a chance. But, as for buying the rumor that he wants to come back? I'm all in.

Verdict: Fact

Mike Brown on the Hot Seat; Jerry Sloan to Take His Place?

Stuck at 1-3 and perhaps the most criticized man in the NBA, Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown didn't exactly have the best week to start the 2012-13 NBA season.

His handling of the team's rotation has been nothing short of abysmal and the Lakers new Princeton offense hasn't gone so swimmingly, either. That sluggish start already has led many fans to call for Brown's dismissal...with 78 games remaining on the schedule.

When looking into the Brown situation, a league source told Hoopsworld's Alex Kennedy that the second-year Lakers coach would be fired by December and even named a replacement: former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan.

Per Hoopsworld: 

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Jerry Sloan to L.A. by December 1,” one league source predicted. “Nash and Howard are the new Stockton and Malone. He wants a ring, not to mention the money. He didn’t seriously consider Orlando, Charlotte or Portland [openings] over the summer because he knew Los Angeles would open up.

"

While this possibility is undoubtedly intriguing, I'm not buying it. Barring a cataclysmic first month of the season, there is no way that the Lakers fire Brown by December 1. In fact, there is very little chance he's an in-season firing, period.

Without a title, he's probably gone in the offseason. But we're far too early into the NBA season to even begin rationally projecting whether Brown will be with the Lakers or who his replacement would be.

Verdict: Fiction

Lakers Won't Sign Another Point Guard, Despite Nash Injury

With Steve Nash out due to injury and stuck with Steve Blake in the starting lineup, many observers have begun speculating about the Los Angeles Lakers signing an another point guard.

However, according to the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan, that won't be happening: 

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Despite the availability of Delonte West and Derek Fisher, the Lakers don't plan to add a point guard while awaiting Nash's return from a small fracture in his left leg that will sideline him anywhere from one to four weeks.

"

The overarching reasoning behind this is twofold. For one, the Lakers already have a payroll of over $100 million. Even Jerry Buss, despite his massive wealth, has limits on what he'll spend on a basketball team.

But by far the more pressing reality is that neither West nor Fisher are any better than Steve Blake or Chris Duhon. Just like two wrongs don't make a right, three bad point guards don't replace a Steve Nash.

Look for the Lakers to simply bide their time and wait for Nash to return to the lineup. 

Verdict: Fact

Bulls Still Trying to Move Richard Hamilton

Things haven't gone swimmingly in the little over a season since Richard Hamilton signed with the Chicago Bulls.

The former All-Star guard was expected to come in and provide a veteran presence and steadiness at the shooting guard spot, but instead has showed every bit of his 34 years of age. That's why, with a $5 million price tag for the season, it was no surprise that the Bulls looked to move Hamilton during the offseason. 

Well, according to the New York Daily News' Mitch Lawrence, Chicago isn't giving up on moving its shooting guard, despite being stonewalled: "It’s really no surprise, but the Bulls are having no luck trying to move Richard Hamilton, whose $5 million in 2012-13 is fully guaranteed."

Quite obviously, I'm buying the fact that the Bulls are trying to move Hamilton. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf isn't much of a fan of paying underperforming players, so he would jump at the opportunity to get rid of Hamilton. 

Nonetheless, not being able to move Hamilton has worked out quite well for the Bulls thus far. He's looked far more comfortable in three games this season, averaging 14 points and shooting 44.7 percent from the field.

He's not what he used to be obviously, but Hamilton can be a valuable contributor while Chicago awaits Derrick Rose's return. The shooting guard will just have to do so from the trade block. 

Verdict: Fact