50 Primer Facts You Must Know About the 2011-12 NBA Season

As I write this, we are only three days away from the start of the NBA season on Christmas.

If only a keyboard can express just how excited I truly am of the prospect of the 2011-12 season finally beginning. After a roller coaster ride of an offseason where we thought for a while that there wouldn't even be a season, we were gifted an NBA season at the last minute and we now got 66 games instead of none at all.

With the lockout throwing us off of our game and leading us to focus our attention on other worldly matters, we might have missed a few things that occurred in the short offseason period. The lockout ended at the end of November and with organizations scrambling to get their rosters in order, we might have missed a few deals and stories that occurred.

But do not fret, for we have 50 facts that you need to know about key players and teams heading into the 2011-12 season. This is your guide to the latest installment of the NBA, so that you don't end up looking ridiculous when claiming that Chris Paul will lead the New Orleans Hornets back to the top of the Southwest division.

Avoid looking like a fool and take a look at the 50 facts you need to know about.

The Boston Celtics Were Shopping Rajon Rondo

One of the first speculated deals to emerge following the end of the NBA lockout, the Boston Celtics were reportedly attempting to trade Rajon Rondo to the New Orleans Hornets for Chris Paul.

This trade brought about mass hysteria amongst the Celtics fanbase. They're still attempting to get over the significant loss of Kendrick Perkins, and then losing a fan favorite in Rondo would only heighten their frustration with the organization.

The Celtics were attempting to trade for a playmaker that can control an offense as a passer and scorer, but failed to obtain CP3 as the Hornets weren't budging.

Word is that the Celtics dealing Rondo was initiated by an altercation in the NBA postseason. During their series with the Miami Heat in the second round, Rondo apparently grew frustrated with being critiqued during a film session and responded by throwing a water bottle through the video screen.

With immaturity coming into question, the Celtics might have began to look elsewhere.

The Lakers Traded Lamar Odom to Dallas for Picks and a Player Exception

The nullified trade between the New Orleans Hornets, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers will forever be a blemish on the career of commissioner David Stern.

It was an abuse of power and showed just how much authority he, and the rest of the organization, have over the league's 30 teams.

Prior to Chris Paul joining the Clippers, he should have been joining the Los Angeles Lakers. In a deal that would have brought Paul to the Lakers, the Houston Rockets would have finally received a post presence in Pau Gasol and the Hornets would have taken Lamar Odom, Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and Goran Dragic.

Each side agreed to the deal and it should have went through, but Stern and his cronies made perfectly sure not to allow it.

Because of the deal not happening, Odom returned to the Lakers disgusted that he was a part of the trade. He was so displeased with the organization that he demanded a trade. The ownership granted his wish and sent him to the Dallas Mavericks in return for a few draft picks and a trade exception worth $9 million.

The Mavericks now strengthen their bench a little more, and the Lakers now have no one to look to. Fair deal.

Dwight Howard Requested a Trade

Dwight Howard not only requested a trade to the New Jersey Nets, but he should actually be there right now.

Howard had been hinting at leaving Orlando over the offseason, and then made it obvious once he requested a trade to New Jersey. He nearly got his wish when a three-team trade was arranged that would have sent Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace and a few others to the Magic, while the Nets get Howard and the Blazers get a few draft picks.

The trade was nullified at the last second by Magic ownership.

There's still an extremely likely chance that the trade does happen, however, as rumors continue to circulate around the All-Star center.

Chris Paul Requested a Trade and Got His Wish

Much like Dwight Howard, superstar Chris Paul also requested a trade away from the team that drafted him. Paul had been with the New Orleans Hornets since 2006 and helped to lead them to 56 wins and a division title in 2008. Following that momentous season, however, the Hornets would fail to give CP3 any talent, and the team would regress over the next few seasons.

Paul grew discouraged and reportedly demanded a trade to New York. However, with so few pieces for the Knicks to offer, the Hornets quickly shot down any idea of trading Paul to his first-requested destination.

Over the next few weeks, a number of rumored deals would spring up before the deal to send Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers finally occurred. In a trade that sent Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman and a conditional first-round pick to New Orleans, the Clippers received Paul and will now start him alongside a formidable lineup that features Caron Butler and Blake Griffin.

Paul should have actually been a Laker earlier this offseason, however. He was a part of a three-team that trade that would have sent him to the Lakers, but saw it shot down by league officials at the last minute.

LeBron James Spent Some Time with Hakeem Olajuwon

It turns out that LeBron James wasn't perfect after all. His NBA Finals performance was the worst stretch of his eight-year career and it ultimately resulted in the Miami Heat losing to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.

One of James' biggest problems in the series, aside from his state of mind, was his inability to post up. Despite having a clear size advantage over nearly every defender that attempts to match up with him, James has no idea how to play in the post and hardly has any sort of game to show for it.

The Mavericks took advantage of this by allowing James to post up every time he got near the rim. With his inability to make anything positive down low, the Heat suffered as LeBron couldn't figure out anyway to get on the board.

In light of the situation, James turned to legendary post specialist Hakeem Olajuwon to help. "The Dream" has given help to Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant, with both players showing immediate improvement in their post game the season after.

If James can learn how to efficiently post up and score at a high rate, the NBA should be put on notice.

Tyson Chandler Signed with the Knicks

A key member of the Dallas Mavericks' championship run, center Tyson Chandler was pretty much ignored over the offseason by the team that he helped lead to a title.

Chandler was such a large part of the team's success that Dirk Nowitzki even came out to say that he wanted Tyson on the Mavericks for the long run. Nowitzki also took note of Chandler's defense and how it impacted the team as a whole.

Tyson was desired by a number of teams as the top post defender in the offseason, but no team was throwing more money at him than the New York Knicks. Offered $15 million per season over the next four years, Chandler decided to take his talents to New York and play alongside Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire.

He could be exactly what this Knicks team needs. They have the scoring in players like Anthony and Stoudemire, but lack any sort of defensive presence in the frontcourt. Chandler is now set to offer some sort of deterrent to the rim after replacing the Ronny Turiaf as the Knicks' starting center.

He joins a team that resides under a coach who preaches offense, but maybe Chandler can actually give this team a change of pace.

Offense may win you games, but Chandler knows that defense will win you championships.

Brandon Roy Retired

It just doesn't get any sadder than this. The Portland Trail Blazers lost an All-Star with so much potential and so much talent that it might be even more depressing than the Sam Bowie and Michael Jordan situation.

Alright, it wasn't as bad as that, but losing Brandon Roy to retirement is another devastating blow to a franchise who has had a horrid series of unluckiness.

Prior to the 2010-11 campaign when his injuries first started to pile up, Roy was 25 years old and already being regarded as one of the league's top shooting guards. He averaged 22 points per on 47 percent from the field and displayed a terrific ability to hit shots at crucial moments.

However, a devastating knee injury would throw his career off and would continue to nag him until his retirement. Roy claims that:

"

The more I would try to have this big comeback year, the worse my knees would continue to feel. As we approached training camp, there was clicking in there, there was something in there really bothering me, and I was starting to feel like I would have to have another surgery just to help me get by day by day.

"

At 27 years old and after five terrific NBA seasons, Roy called it quits and announced his retirement.

Greg Oden Suffered Another Setback

Of course, it can only gets worse for Portland.

Not only do they have to deal with the sudden loss of Roy, but they are now having to deal with yet another setback by center and 2007 No. 1 pick Greg Oden.

Only a few days after the Trail Blazers gave Oden a qualifying offer that was worth $9 million for a year, which he would agree to, he would claim that another setback has occurred and would inevitably delay his projected return.

The injury is so devastating that general manager Chad Buchanan is actually speculating that Oden may not even be on the court for the 2011-12 season.

Since being drafted first in 2007, Oden has played in a total of 82 games and hasn't played since the end of the 2009-10 season. I'm not a mind reader, but I can bet that the team really wishes that they had taken Kevin Durant instead.

David West Is an Indiana Pacer

This should have been the first sign that Chris Paul was certain to leave anytime soon.

Prior to his departure from the New Orleans Hornets, David West would be the first All-Star to leave the team after agreeing to a deal with the Indiana Pacers.

The deal is reportedly worth $20 million over a two-year period.

West had spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Hornets and had emerged from a seldom-used, garbage-time player to a significant part of the starting lineup as the team's second scorer behind CP3. He and Paul would combine to form one of the league's most feared duos, as West's mid-range jumper and post game was too much for the majority of the NBA to handle.

He averaged 16 points and seven boards with the Hornets, making it on to two All-Star teams.

Paul Pierce Has a Heel Injury

Let's hope that this isn't the first sign that the Boston Celtics' deep postseason runs are going to come to an end.

Word is flying in from the Celtics training camp that small forward Paul Pierce suffered a right heel injury that has caused him to miss nearly all of training camp, the team's scrimmage and their preseason opener.

His status to play in the Celtics' season opener against the New York Knicks on Christmas is listed as doubtful. Doc Rivers claims that the injury has been persistent and that Pierce was complaining about pain in his foot as recently as December 20th.

Losing Jeff Green for the season already, the Celtics will be extremely short-handed with Pierce now out of the lineup. If he fails to play, the projected starter would most likely be Marquis Daniels or Sasha Pavlovic.

Eddy Curry Is Returning to the NBA with the Miami Heat

After a year-long layoff, Eddy Curry will be making his return to the NBA as a member of the Miami Heat.

The Heat sure could use a player like Curry. He may not provide much, but with so few options at the center position, Curry was the most affordable option with the possibility of him panning out to be a starter in the future.

Of course, we won't get that far ahead of ourselves. Prior to missing out on the entire 2010-11 season, Curry had only played 10 games in the previous two seasons with the New York Knicks. He was actually a key part of the Knicks prior to then as he averaged as much as 20 points per game on 58 percent shooting.

However, weight problems, injuries and conditioning issues would plague the end of Curry's first tenure in the NBA. Now with reportedly 70 pounds shed off of a body that previously weighed in at 350 pounds, Curry is ready to make his second NBA debut.

With Dexter Pittman and Joel Anthony listed as the other two Heat centers, don't be surprised to see Curry get significant minutes when ready to play the game.

Mark Jackson Will Be Coaching the Golden State Warriors

A rookie head coach set to lead a team that has zero players at 30 years of age or older—this should work out, right?

Right? I mean, it is Mark Jackson, after all. The former New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers point guard will be in his first year as an NBA coach after spending the past few years as an entertaining commentator for ESPN and ABC.

Jackson will be looking to instill a new philosophy that preaches defense, rather than the strictly offensive style that these players have become accustomed to while playing under former coach Don Nelson.

There aren't too many strong individual defenders on this squad, but that gives no reason as to why they can't play solid team defense. Jackson is set to lead an extremely young and athletic team that likes to run. If he can transition the effort they give on offense towards the defensive end, he might have something special on his hands.

Baron Davis Is a New York Knick

I could see this working one of two ways.

Scenario No. 1 includes Baron Davis willing to step back and allowing Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire to lead the offense, while he stays back and accepts the role of a pass-first point guard. With Davis' veteran expertise playing a large part in the way the Knicks offense is run, the team becomes an immediate championship contender.

The more popular theory, scenario No. 2, includes Davis playing like how he's played for the past five seasons: a team cancer. Davis doesn't fit into the offense and causes locker-room frustration between himself, Stoudemire and Anthony because of his tendency to disrupt the rhythm and flow of an offense. His lack of commitment and motivation also prove to be detrimental to the team.

Choose your scenario and place your bets on how this ends up panning out.

Chris Bosh Got Bigger

The Miami Heat's Chris Bosh doesn't want to be looked at as "soft" anymore.

Heavily criticized all of last season for his passive play, Bosh tacked on some muscle weight over the offseason and is now appearing to be more willing to play aggressive and be physical in the low post.

Bosh's arms are noticeably bigger, and he also claims that he's willing to play at center if the team needs him. He felt like he let his team down last year for not being more aggressive and also goes on to say that he'll be aiming to record 10 boards per game again.

Prior to joining the Heat last season, Bosh had averaged 10 boards or better in three of the past four years. The eight rebounds per he averaged last season was the lowest he's posted since his rookie season when he was only grabbing seven caroms.

With so few options at center this season, Bosh should see himself playing center more often.

Kendrick Perkins Got Smaller

This might have the most significant change we have seen out of someone this offseason.

After being recognized as the wide bruiser of a center for the Boston Celtics, Kendrick Perkins has slimmed down and has lost 30 pounds since checking in at 298 pounds at the end of last season. It was quite the sight to behold, as Perkins has always been revered as a solid defender because of his size.

Perkins claims that he was disappointed in himself last season and thought a change in his body would be for the better.

Kendrick may have lost a little size, but the weight loss will greatly assist in his mobility, vertical leap and conditioning.

Ricky Rubio Will Make His NBA Debut

Only 14 years old when he made his professional debut in Spain, European sensation Ricky Rubio will finally be making his debut this season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Rubio was drafted fifth by the Wolves in the 2009 draft, but has spent the past two seasons playing with his current club in Spain. With his contract running out and Rubio becoming a free agent, he made his return back to the United States and signed with Minnesota.

Not much is known about Rubio by the casual NBA fan, but it's already apparent that the 21-year-old has a terrific prowess when it comes to passing. He brings about memories of Pete Maravich in regards to his craftiness with the ball, whether it's on the fast break or in a traditional offensive set.

However, Rubio's offense is greatly limited. He's got a decent driving game, but his jump shot is at a Rajon Rondo level of ugly as he can hardly hit consistently from beyond 15 feet.

Still, the Wolves have enough scoring to go around with Kevin Love, Michael Beasley and Derrick Williams. Rubio will only be looked at for facilitation purposes and the occasional drive.

Jamal Crawford Is a Trail Blazer

See Portland, it's not all that bad. Your team at least managed to sign one of the league's top sharpshooters in former Atlanta Hawks sixth man Jamal Crawford.

By agreeing to a deal worth $5 million over a year, Crawford has become the newest member of the Portland Trail Blazers and will most likely start at shooting guard over Wesley Matthews. In the wake of losing Brandon Roy, picking up a shooter like Crawford who can help stretch the floor is exactly what the Blazers could use at the moment.

Crawford might have seen his stats take a hit last season as only averaged 14 points per game to go along with 34 percent shooting from beyond the arc, but it shouldn't take away from just how dangerous and volatile of a player he can be.

Jamal is the only player in NBA history to score 50 points with three different teams and that is a real possibility on a team like Portland where scoring is needed outside of LaMarcus Aldridge.

Antonio McDyess Retired

Shaquille O'Neal, Peja Stojakovic and Brandon Roy weren't the only ones to call it quits this offseason, as Antonio McDyess recently decided to announce his retirement after a 15-year career.

Drafted in 1995 by the Los Angeles Clippers before being traded to the Denver Nuggets, McDyess would see his best years come with the club that drafted him as he would go on to average a career-high 21 points per in 1999. Two seasons later, McDyess would average 21 points per and would make it to his lone All-Star Game.

The Nuggets would then trade him to the New York Knicks, where he would spend 18 games with the club. A few weeks later, he'd be sent off to finish the season with the Phoenix Suns in his second stint with the club.

McDyess then signed with the Detroit Pistons in 2004 and would spend a few years with the team before getting traded to the Denver Nuggets. McDyess wouldn't play a game with the Nuggets and would sign as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs the next season.

He was the starting center in last year's postseason. McDyess finishes his career with averages of 12 points and eight boards per game.

Gordon Hayward Will Replace Andrei Kirilenko

The hype and talk of being a bust after being taken ninth didn't phase Butler University's Gordon Hayward in the slightest.

In fact, the five points, two rebounds and 47 percent percentage from beyond the arc he posted in his rookie season is going to be enough to give him the start at small forward this season. With Andrei Kirilenko set to take advantage of his free agency by jetting for a new team, Hayward should round out a strong frontcourt that includes Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson.

Hayward was a strong shooter from the mid-range and perimeter, but also displayed a surprising deal of athleticism on his drives. He has the speed and strength to get by initial defenders in order to get to the rim and also has the vertical leap to work it over opposing members of the frontcourt.

Gilbert Arenas Is a Free Agent

If Baron Davis is getting picked up, then there shouldn't be reason why no team has yet to pick up Gilbert Arenas.

Alright, maybe there are a few reasons. He is coming off of significant knee injuries that allowed him to play in only 47 games between 2007 and 2010, didn't appear to be too strong a player last season and also has that whole ordeal of bringing weapons into the locker room of the Verizon Center.

So maybe there are a few too many negatives that outweigh the positives for Arenas. Even at 29 years old and being one of the league's top scorers as recently as 2007, nobody has wanted to touch Arenas and his willingness to throw up any shot from the perimeter.

Arenas has come out with a short list of teams that he'd like to join (all contenders) and there's been no word back from any of those teams, yet.

Jeff Teague Will Run the Point in Atlanta

With no Mike Bibby and the team looking to go in a new direction, the Atlanta Hawks have made the decision to start Jeff Teague at the point instead of Kirk Hinrich.

Teague has only spent two uneventful seasons in the league where he averaged five points per on 44 percent shooting to go along with two assists per, but the Hawks are looking more towards his postseason as the reason to starting him.

Going up against Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the playoffs, Teague played outstanding basketball against the reigning MVP. In six games, Teague scored double digits in five of the games and even had three 21-point games to show for it.

Teague was fearless going up against an elite player. He was driving any time he had the chance and was extremely efficient at finishing against members of the frontcourt. To go along with a solid mid-range game and an ability to lead an offense, Teague should find himself as a starter in the long run if he continues to improve.

Richard Hamilton Is the Starting 2-Guard for the Bulls

An excellent move by the Chicago Bulls, as they not only waived Keith Bogans, but picked up his replacement in veteran and former Detroit Piston Richard Hamilton.

The three-time All-Star and one-time NBA champion was waived by the Pistons over the offseason in order to clear up room for the younger players on the team. The Pistons' loss was the Bulls' gain as they immediately snatched up one of the league's most consistent mid-range threats.

After a playoff run that ended in a disappointing fashion by way of a five-game series loss to the Miami Heat, the Bulls organization realized that they needed consistency to play alongside Derrick Rose. They took a while to find that player after striking out on Jason Richardson and Caron Butler, but they picked up the next best thing in Hamilton.

"Rip" has uncharacteristically struggled over the past two seasons with injuries and a players boycott getting in the way of his game. Last season, he only played in 55 games, averaged a near-career low of 14 points per, and shot at a 43 percent clip. They weren't the most stellar numbers from the shooting guard, but he will still come in handy during the long run.

Shane Battier Is on the Miami Heat Bench

The Chicago Bulls weren't the only Eastern Conference contender to make a significant upgrade at a weakness.

Their biggest rival in the Miami Heat made the move to sign veteran Shane Battier to a contract at the mid-level exception. With Battier on the squad, the Heat momentarily replace the perimeter shooting of Mike Miller, while also receiving a consistent threat on both sides of the ball.

Shane is a 39 percent career three-point shooter, but it's his perimeter defense that enticed the Heat into signing him. Even at 33 years old, Battier is still one of the league's strongest and smartest perimeter defenders.

With elite perimeter defenders in Dwyane Wade and LeBron James already on the team, Battier is only going to make this Heat team stronger on defense, while also allowing those two to get more rest on the defensive end.

Battier spent time with the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies last season, and averaged eight points, five boards, and two assists per.

Stephen Jackson and Corey Maggette Swapped Teams

Receiving little attention due to the caliber of the teams, the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Bobcats arranged a swap that sent Stephen Jackson to Milwaukee and Corey Maggette to Charlotte.

A few other players were a part of the deal, including Beno Udrih to Milwaukee and Bismack Biyombo to Charlotte, but Jackson and Maggette were the key pieces.

Both players are set to provide significant changes in the tempo of the offense their new teams. The Bucks and Bobcats have had historically abysmal offensive squads over the past few seasons and their new acquisitions should both allow the teams to benefit.

Jackson in Milwaukee helps relieve some of the pressure off of Brandon Jennings, who has shot 40 percent or worse in his first two seasons. With a veteran scorer like Jackson now on the Bucks, he can not only contribute 15 to 20 points per game, but also give some tips to Jennings on how to work his way out of slumps and how to play right.

Maggette has been announced by the Bobcats to be at the focal point of their offense. He'll be playing alongside high-octane scoring rookie Kemba Walker, who will also be looking towards Maggette for advice on how to become a scorer in the NBA.

Derrick Williams Claims He's a Small Forward

Who would have guessed that the Minnesota Timberwolves would have too much of a good thing?

After drafting athletic freak Derrick Williams with the second pick in the 2011 draft, the Timberwolves now face a dilemma on who should start and who should hit the bench. With Kevin Love at power forward and Michael Beasley at small forward, a problem emerges as the Wolves would most likely prefer to not bench either.

Love is coming off of a dream season where he averaged 20 points and a league-leading 15 boards per. Beasley is also coming off a career year where he averaged 19 points per in his first season with Minnesota since getting traded from Miami. With Beasley as the leader of the offense and Love as the rebounding monster that he is, it's going to be difficult to incorporate Williams into the rotation.

Williams has claimed to be a small forward despite standing at 6'9" with a 7'1" wingspan. However, he insists that he is a small forward who can play power forward, which makes the Wolves' job a lot easier as Beasley is plenty more expendable than Love.

The 2011-12 season will be used to gauge just how quality of a player Williams is. If he has the capabilities to become a 20-10 type of player, then we shouldn't be surprised to either see Beasley as the sixth man or on another team.

Kevin Love Lost Weight...

So much for these NBA players losing focus over the lengthy offseason. In fact, the majority of them got even healthier if anything.

That includes Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love, who reportedly dropped 25 pounds. Love is coming off an unbelievable third season where he averaged 20 points, led the league in rebounds at 15 boards per, had the first 30-30 game in nearly 30 years and shot 42 percent from beyond the arc.

It'll be interesting to see how Love is able to rebound this time around now that he dropped some weight. He isn't the most athletic forward, but he was able to throw his weight around in order to push opponents out of the way without actually pushing off of them.

He carries a similar rebounding style towards the player in the next slide.

And so Did Zach Randolph

If we thought anyone was going to arrive overweight to training camp, it would have been Zach Randolph.

However, Randolph took note of his good friend Shawn Kemp showing up overweight following the lockout in 1999 and decided that he will not become that player.

In order to avoid that distinction, Randolph worked out with Memphis assistant Frank Matrisciano in order to stay in shape and then some. Apparently, he is losing weight and gaining muscle, which means a lot to a player like Randolph who spends the majority of his time in the paint fighting for rebounds and going up for putbacks.

With Randolph not looking to disappoint, we should expect to see another 20-10 season out of the league's top rebounders.

Jonas Valanciunas Will Make His NBA Debut Next Year

It's going to be another season before the Toronto Raptors can utilize their most recent draft pick, Jonas Valanciunas.

The 19-year-old is still in a contract with his team in Lithuania and a buyout between the Raptors and Valanciunas' current team seems highly unlikely, which means he'll be stuck overseas for another season.

Without Valanciunas, the Raptors' offseason was pretty much a bomb. Amongst their biggest signings include picking up Jamaal Magloire, Aaron Gray, Rasual Butler, Anthony Carter and Gary Forbes. None of these players are set to make any drastic changes to a team that will finish at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, and possibly the Eastern Conference as well.

However, it won't be all that bad as the Raptors will continue to be delighted by the progression and development of second-year guard DeMar DeRozan.

Chauncey Billups Is the Starting Shooting Guard for the Clippers

Trading for Chris Paul was one of the smartest things the Los Angeles Clippers have done in franchise history. It not only brings in arguably the league's top point guard on both sides of the ball, but they were also able to rid themselves of the expiring contracts of Eric Gordon and Chris Kaman in the meantime.

While DeAndre Jordan is there to replace Kaman at center, the team lacked the true shooting guard to replace Gordon, who averaged 22 points per last season. Rather than giving the nod to Randy Foye or Travis Leslie, the team elected to start Chauncey Billups at the 2.

This plan could backfire quite easily. At only 6'3", Billups is going to be giving up a height advantage to just about every one of his opponents, and at 35 years old, he'll also be giving up the advantage of speed, strength and athleticism.

Billups is a wily veteran that could possibly make due with his new position, but it doesn't seem that this could work out when he goes up against athletic types like Dwyane Wade and Monta Ellis.

Jimmer Fredette Will Start at Point, Move Tyreke Evans to SG

Three welcomes will be in order for the Sacramento Kings fanbase.

First off, they'll welcome back the fact that the Kings are still in Sacramento, and not in Anaheim or Kansas City.

Secondly, they'll be welcoming back Tyreke Evans to the fray. Evans played in 57 injury-plagued games in his second season after a rookie year where he became only the fourth first-year player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, five boards and five assists per.

Lastly, and possibly the most-anticipated welcome, a greeting will be in order for point guard Jimmer Fredette, who is coming off a final season at BYU where he averaged 29 points per game and made three three-pointers per game. Fredette's shooting prowess from the perimeter earned him a great deal of praise and he was taken early in the first round because of it.

However, with Fredette only at 6'2", it means that he will become the new starting point guard and Tyreke Evans will become the shooting guard. It would be a surprise to see Fredette handle the ball, since Evans has a huge height advantage over the majority of the league's starting point guards. At 6'5", Evans has the height to see the court like no other point guard in the game today.

No matter who starts where, the Kings are going to be in good position to improve.

Kyrie Irving Has Big Shoes To Fill

You can only imagine the pressure that these No. 1 picks go through.

Especially one like Kyrie Irving, who joins a distraught Cleveland Cavaliers team that's attempting to recover from the loss of LeBron James. After a few 60-plus-win seasons, James left the first chance he got after growing frustrated with the lack of talent around him.

In the 2010-11 season, their first without James since 2003, the Cavs lost 26 consecutive games, lost by 55 points, gave up 38 points to LeBron in his return back to Cleveland and finished the season 19-63. It was a difficult season for the Cavs and their fanbase, but they still managed to pack the stands and finish in the top 10 in attendance.

Now they'll be looking towards Irving, as well as Tristan Thompson, for success once again. Kyrie only played 11 games at the NCAA level and is 19 years old, but scouts are claiming that he already has the ability to play at the NBA level, while being able to facilitate an offense.

Dwyane Wade Got Leaner and Stronger

I didn't imagine it would be possible for Dwyane Wade to find any untapped athleticism left in him, but sure enough he found it over the offseason.

Word is that Wade continued to cut down and now has a body fat percentage of less than four after working out with personal trainer Ed Downs. Wade will walk into next season weighing in at 230 pounds and only 3.5 percent of it will read as body fat.

Each member of the Big Three committed to a specific program to improve their game. LeBron James spent time working on his post game, Chris Bosh managed to bulk up in order to be more physical and Wade decided to improve his body in order to not be lethargic whenever the season started.

This is the best news we can hear from the 29-year-old, who turns 30 in January. Playing with reckless abandon and dealing with injuries that were directly related to his playing style, Wade getting into even greater shape will allow him to endure more hits and get to the rim more efficiently than ever before.

Kobe Bryant Has a Torn Ligament in His Hand

The Los Angeles Lakers concerns for the future continue to persist, with an injury to Kobe Bryant being the issue this time.

In a meaningless preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Bryant suffered a hard landing where he fell on his wrist. Reports are now coming in that Bryant tore a ligament in his right wrist (that's the one he shoots with) and will be out day-to-day. It is unclear of the significance of the tear.

Sports medicine specialist Keith Feder says:

"

If it's a complete tear, it's problematic. Without being privy to the MRI, these types of injuries can take anywhere from several days to several weeks to heal completely, but depending on the pain level and with support, the athlete could play.

"

Is there any question that Bryant will be ready to play in the Lakers' season opener against Chicago on Christmas? There shouldn't be, but it does raise questions for the future on just how much abuse the MVP and five-time champion can take before these ailments begin to take a significant toll on his body.

Ron Artest Is Now Metta World Peace

Just some general knowledge when you go into the season and don't want to look foolish in NBA conversations.

Ron Artest now goes by the name Metta World Peace.

I'm not sure what "Metta" is, but World Peace is a solid moniker. It beats the hell out of "Ochocinco."

Eric Gordon Is the New Orleans Hornets

Acquired in the trade that sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, fourth-year guard Eric Gordon will become the new face of the New Orleans Hornets franchise.

Unlike in the previous CP3 deal that would have him with the Lakers, the Hornets now get a franchise player that they can build around. Turning 23 years old on opening day, Gordon will be at the focal point of the Hornets offense that also features Chris Kaman and Al-Farouq Aminu.

Gordon, however, will most likely be the only one to start.

Since being drafted seventh in the 2008 draft, Gordon has improved his stats and his game by the year. While most of the attention was focused on Blake Griffin last season, Gordon was having just as impressive a year when he averaged career highs across the board.

Showing off stellar range and outstanding athleticism, Gordon averaged 22 points, four assists and three rebounds per game. With his contract set to run out by the end of the season, the Hornets are hoping that they can do enough to keep him in New Orleans to become their new star player.

J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler Are Stuck in China

Kenyon Martin might have worked his way out of China, but don't expect the same out of J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler.

Those two, along with Phoenix Suns guard Aaron Brooks, will have a little more difficulty in finding a way back to the NBA before March. These players won't be able to leave until the season ends in the league that they're playing in, which means that even though Martin left, he still won't be able to sign with a team until that league's season is over.

Losing Martin to free agency was expected for Denver, but Smith and Chandler are two players that the Denver Nuggets don't want to lose. Smith has always been looked at as one of the most dangerous players in the league from beyond the perimeter, while Chandler is quietly emerging as one of the league's elite perimeter defenders.

The Nuggets are a deep enough team to make due with what they got, but they need Chandler and Smith back in order to make a significant playoff push.

Nikola Vucevic Is the Future Center for Philadelphia

If the Philadelphia 76ers suspected that they were going to make any sort of noise in the postseason, they should have known that they wouldn't be able to with Spencer Hawes as their starting center.

Acquired in the deal that sent Samuel Dalembert to Sacramento, Hawes was a poor defender and averaged seven points on 47 percent shooting to go along with six boards per. Aside from the occasional mid-range jumper, Hawes was basically useless on offense as he wasn't taking up too much attention away from the perimeter.

Making the right pick in the 2011 draft, the Sixers went the wise route by selecting USC center Nikola Vucevic. At 7'0", 260 pounds, Vucevic is a post presence that will actually play like an NBA center is supposed to.

Vucevic played in Europe last season and averaged 17 points and 10 boards per in 10 games in the Adriatic League. There's no word on whether he'll be the starter on opening day, but we'll assume that he'll be starting soon either way.

Derrick Rose Got a Five-Year Extension

It won't be until the 2017 offseason that the Chicago Bulls will have to worry about losing the reigning MVP in Derrick Rose.

After signing Rose to a lucrative deal worth $94 million over the next five seasons, the Bulls have assured that they will be a contending team for at least five more years. This deal comes as no surprise after Rose led the Bulls to a No. 1 seed, the NBA's top record and the conference finals for the first time 1998, which happened to be Michael Jordan's last season.

In only his third season, Rose became the youngest player to ever win an MVP award by taking it home at the age of 22. Aside from leading the Bulls to the NBA's best record at 62-20, a 21-win improvement from the year before, Rose also averaged 25 points, eight assists and four boards per game.

The former Memphis standout and No. 1 pick put his athleticism on full display last season with unbelievable finishes at the rack game after game. With Richard Hamilton now by his side, the Bulls will hope that their improved backcourt can help propel them to the next level.

Darrell Arthur and Jeff Green Are out for the Season

According to reports coming in from earlier today, Memphis Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur will be out for the entire season after tearing his right Achilles tendon.

Arthur saw an increased role last season, as he played in a career-high 20 minutes per game as a backup to Zach Randolph. In his third year, Arthur played in 80 games and averaged a solid nine points and four boards off the bench.

While Arthur's situation is sad, it doesn't even compare to the health scare that Jeff Green received upon the conclusion of his physical.

During the team's required physical, Green was reported to have an aortic aneurysm which is described as a "...ballooning of the major artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body." He will be having surgery soon to erase this scary ailment, and will be allowed to resume his NBA career after the 2011-12 season.

Basically, the lockout saved Green's life.

Jonas Jerebko Is Back to Detroit with an Extension

Missing out on the entire 2010-11 season due to tearing his right Achilles tendon in a preseason game, power forward Jonas Jerebko will assume the role of starting power forward once again after a year-long lay off.

Jerebko was greatly missed last season, as the Detroit Pistons were forced to deal with the offensively challenged talents of Ben Wallace as their starting power forward.

Jonas will be welcomed back with open arms. The 6'10" Swede had a terrific rookie season where he averaged nine points and six boards per. He could still use some work at many aspects of his game, but he has a solid offensive game that will support him until then.

He now finds himself in an extremely young lineup that features three other players under the age of 27.

The Golden State Warriors Might Be in a Sticky Situation

A highly anticipated 2011-12 campaign that's set to feature Mark Jackson in his first-ever coaching stint is already being met with outside negativity.

This negativity, however, is serious as the Golden State Warriors, Monta Ellis in specific, are being sued by a former employee for sexual harassment. Word is that the employee is stating that Ellis, "sexually harassed, intimidated, and stalked" her while the organization did not care to intervene on the situation that they knew of.

Yikes. This puts a damper on what was supposed to be an electric season of Warriors basketball. With Jackson at the helm preaching defense for the first time, Golden State was actually expected to make significant moves this season, and was even projected to make an actual postseason push.

It's all allegations however, as the Warriors have yet to make a statement on this situation.

John Wall Will Be at 100 Percent for the First Time

The Washington Wizards might have actually seen their record decline from the year before last season, but don't put any of that blame on No. 1 pick John Wall.

The future All-Star was the only reason why the team even got wins in the first place. In his rookie season, Wall averaged 16 points, eight assists and a little under five boards per. Wall made perfectly sure to not have any rookie jitters, as he attacked the rim at will without fear. It didn't matter the team that they were playing that night, Wall was going on all cylinders and looking to attack the rim at all costs.

Wall had a few difficulties, of course. He shot 41 percent and was too jump-shot-happy at times, and he committed way too many turnovers. By giving up nearly four possessions per game, Wall finished seventh in the league in total turnovers with 261.

However, Wall claims that he wasn't even truly up to speed last season. He states, "I'm 100 percent now. I'm way better than I was. I'm feeling the same way I felt when I started playing here last year."

Entering his second year with a more experienced club and a strong leader in Flip Saunders, Wall should have no trouble improving his stats this season.

Vince Carter Took His Talents to Dallas

One of the more underrated moves of the offseason, the Dallas Mavericks attempted to fill the void left behind by Caron Butler by bringing in Vince Carter.

At only $3 million over the next three seasons, the 34-year-old Carter has shown that he still has plenty of hop left in his step. Coming off the bench, Carter won't even have to strain himself on a team that prides itself on balance.

Carter spent time with the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic last season and finished the year with a 14-point, four-rebound and two-assist-per-game average. While his numbers pale in comparison to the stats he was posting up with the Raptors and Nets, he is still only a few seasons removed from averaging 20 per.

Vince will prove to be smartest buy of the offseason and should have a tremendous impact on the team with his inside and outside game.

Mike Miller Is Still Hurt

Just when we thought he was ready to make his comeback, Udonis Haslem made sure to get the news to us as soon as possible.

Reported by Haslem on the first day of training camp, sharpshooter Mike Miller will miss up to eight weeks due to a sports hernia surgery that he will need to recover from. This is just another ailment on a long list of injuries that Miller dealt with throughout the 2010-11 campaign in his first year with the Miami Heat.

Prior to the start of last season, Miller injured his thumb in a practice and was forced to sit out until late-December. Miller would make his expected return, but his results were minimal and he was nowhere near the three-point specialist that the Heat gave him $30 million to be.

Going through a few more injuries, Miller shot 36 percent from beyond the arc in the regular season and less than 30 percent in the postseason.

The Heat will now have to rely on the talents of Shane Battier, James Jones and Eddie House for perimeter support.

Marcin Gortat Has a Broken Thumb

No wonder they call this guy the "Polish Hammer." Marcin Gortat is so tough that he's willing to play with a broken thumb just so he can make it in time for the Phoenix Suns' season opener.

Gortat is listed as probable for the season opener. That broken thumb of his is expected to heal within two to three weeks.

Marcin is fighting through the pain so that he can fight for a starting job at power forward or center. He started in 12 out of the 55 games he played with the Suns last year and was impressive as a possible successor to the departed Amar'e Stoudemire.

Playing alongside elite point guard Steve Nash, Gortat had a terrific understanding of how to run the pick-and-roll to perfection. It was as if Stoudemire never left the team, as Gortat finished the season averaging 13 points and nine boards in his time with the Suns.

The Suns lacked that type of scoring threat all season long and just might have found it in Gortat. The fact that he is committed to the team enough to play with a broken thumb shows that he's willing to deal with the pain in order to obtain a starting job on a team that might not even make it to the playoffs.

The Celtics' Big Three Are Peeved at the 66-Game Schedule

We assumed that 66 games would have played into the hands of aged teams like the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs.

Fewer games, less wear and tear, right? Wrong. Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce all vented frustration at the prospect of playing in a 66-game season. The Big Three feels that the season is making them feel "rushed" and that they won't be able to establish a solid enough chemistry in order to have success in the regular season.

The Boston Celtics only have so much time in their window to win a championship. A 36-year-old Ray Allen, 35-year-old Kevin Garnett and a 34-year-old Paul Pierce can only go for so long before competing with athletic and physical teams like Miami and Chicago becomes more difficult than it should be.

It showed last season when the Celtics were ousted in five games by the Miami Heat. That came after an 82-game season and following a sweep of the New York Knicks in the first round. With another year passing and the prospect of a 66-game season throwing their games off, the Celtics may find a championship run considerably more difficult than before.

Brandon Knight Will Assume Control of the Pistons

Already mentioned in the talk of Jonas Jerebko making his return, the Detroit Pistons have a team that is now centered on the young talent.

After a tumultuous 2010-11 campaign where a number of veterans staged a players boycott of coach Jon Kuester, the Pistons have decided to move in a different direction by playing the young talent and giving them more significant roles.

With Greg Monroe and Jerebko in the backcourt, Austin Daye off the bench and Rodney Stuckey at shooting guard, all the Pistons are missing out on is a young point guard that could lead them.

Look no further than former University of Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight. In his final season with the Wildcats, Knight displayed a great understanding of how to run an offense as he would help lead the team to another successful season. He would average 17 points, four boards and four assists before getting drafted eighth by the Pistons.

He also hit two three-pointers per game at a 38 percent clip.

The Pistons don't have the talent to make a postseason push, but they do have the potential to make one in the future. A strong scoring center in Monroe and a facilitator like Knight will help propel this team to an eventual spot in the playoffs in the near future.

Rick Adelman Is the Wolves' Latest Coach

Finally ridding themselves of Kurt Rambis, the Minnesota Timberwolves have pulled off another smart move by bringing in veteran head coach Rick Adelman to become their latest head coach.

After a decade-long stint with Flip Saunders that lasted from 1995 to 2005, the Timberwolves have had four coaches with all of them having a winning percentage less than 43 percent. Dwane Casey lasted 122 games and compiled 53 wins, Randy Wittman came in and then dropped a bomb with a 27 percent winning percentage, Kevin McHale would only last 63 games and then Rambis would coach 164 games which would result in 32 wins.

For the non-math majors out there, Rambis compiled a winning percentage of a little less than 20 percent in his two years with the Timberwolves.

Now the team gets a fantastic coach and leader at the helm. Adelman had spent the past four seasons with the Houston Rockets and led each of those teams to at least 42 wins. He has a winning percentage of 61 percent and is most known for his time coaching the Portland Trail Blazers of the early 1990s, two of which went to the NBA Finals.

With a strong young core and a strong leader on the sidelines, the Timberwolves actually might have a bright future to look forward to.

Steve Nash Isn't Leaving Phoenix

With all of these veterans going ring-chasing with contenders, Steve Nash and Grant Hill have defied the odds and broken the trend.

Hill was a free agent this offseason and was being heavily pursued by a solid New York Knicks team that could possibly make a significant run towards the postseason. Instead of taking the offer, Hill decided to re-sign with the Phoenix Suns for a deal worth $6.5 million for the next season. Despite being 39 years old and without a title, Hill may actually retire with the Suns.

While Hill is an interesting case in itself, Steve Nash is even more surprising. The point guard that has been a part of some of the best Dallas Mavericks and Suns teams of all time is denying every trade rumor and has announced his allegiance to the Suns organization.

Despite the Suns possibly facing the prospect of not making it to the playoffs, Nash doesn't plan on going after the many contenders that would be willing to give him a starting job. He's played with the Suns since 2004 and has had the best years of his career with the team, including winning back-to-back MVPs and leading the league in assists per game five times, which includes the past two seasons.

This is Nash's second stint with the team. He played with the Suns for the first two seasons of his career and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in the 1998 offseason. When he became a free agent in 2004, Nash departed Dallas and would join the Suns for good apparently.

Anything is possible, but it's good to see a player have loyalty to their franchise once in awhile.

Shawn Marion Looks Like Sisqo

As long as he doesn't start breaking out "Thong Song," we'll live with it.