NBA Rumors Roundup: Kobe Bryant Wrist Injury, Dwight Howard Trade Update & More

Kobe Bryant's wrist injury has Lakers fans worried, and Stephen Curry's ankle has become reason for chatter around the league as the 2011-12 NBA season is just about to get started.

There are still unsigned free agents and plenty of trade rumors bouncing around, and rosters are anything but set at this stage of the game for several teams.

There's no doubt that both fans and players are ready for the regular season to begin, and we're around the corner from a campaign that should have plenty of surprises in store.

Marcus Camby

Camby has had a history of injury issues over the course of his career, and this season has begun on a similar note for the veteran center.

The big man will receive an MRI on his knee today, and Portland has to be hopeful it's not something that could knock Camby out of action for a significant portion of time.

Kurt Thomas, the oldest player in the league, will serve as the starting center if Camby is forced to miss some time.

Steve Novak

Novak had been rumored to be joining New York for a few days, and the Knicks made it official on Wednesday when the team claimed the shooter off of waivers.

He'll function as depth at the end of the bench for the team and will occasionally be inserted into the action if the Knicks need a shooter out on the floor.

He's not expected to play a major role for the club, but he does provide a much-needed element to the reserve unit at a cheap price.

DeShawn Stevenson

Stevenson was one of the more well-known names that had yet to sign in free agency, but he has found a new home after Dallas decided to move on without him.

He has reached an agreement with the New Jersey Nets, and Stevenson is expected to make it official by signing his contract with the team on Thursday.

Although he brings a nice defensive intensity to the team, he's not expected to play his way into a major role with more appealing options on the roster at his position.

Chuck Hayes

Hayes had his contract voided with the Sacramento Kings following a physical exam which revealed a heart abnormality, and now we have a little more clarity on his condition.

He has reportedly been diagnosed with Pericarditis, which is an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart.

While it can be life-threatening, that is not yet verified in Hayes' case.

The condition is curable, so let's just hope that Hayes has a swift recovery in order to return to a normal lifestyle in the hopes of resuming his career in the foreseeable future.

Jeff Teague

Teague is looking at a starting role and a lot of action for the first time in his short career, but the Hawks certainly won't send him out there at less than 100 percent.

The young point guard rolled his ankle in practice, and although he was able to walk off the court under his own power, the team is listing him as day-to-day.

Hopefully this isn't a long-term issue for the team, as Atlanta can ill-afford another injury, after veteran backup Kirk Hinrich is already slated to miss time as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

Kenyon Martin

Martin reached an agreement with his Chinese team, the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, to buy out the remaining portion of his contract, but that doesn't mean he's automatically eligible to come back to the NBA.

He will have to wait until his former team's season concludes, and with the club looking like it is bound for the postseason, that means a lengthy wait is in store for Martin to return to the league.

Despite his inability to sign for several months stateside, the Knicks are already keeping an eye on his situation to see if he might make some sense to add down the road.

Paul Millsap

Millsap has been dealing with a quad issue which has sidelined him for the preseason, and Derrick Favors has taken advantage of the opportunity and performed very well.

While that may not be enough to earn him a starting spot, Tyrone Corbin did stop short of committing to Millsap as his starting power forward, and that is very interesting as he was thought to be a slam dunk for the role.

Corbin said that matchups will play a role in determining how he distributes playing time, and that would indicate that a timeshare may be forthcoming down low.

Samuel Dalembert

Dalembert seemed like he was about to return to the Kings after negotiations had stalled with the Rockets, but it's incredible how things can change over the course of 24 hours.

The biggest name still available in free agency finally found a home when he agreed to a new contract with the Houston Rockets, and it should definitely be beneficial for both sides.

With just Jordan Hill and Hasheem Thabeet behind him on the depth chart, Dalembert is going to be ticketed for a major role right from the onset of the season.

Stephen Curry

Curry scared a lot of people when he rolled his ankle and limped his way off the court earlier this week, but the good news is that he avoided any sort of serious injury.

Despite it being the same ankle that he had surgically repaired during the offseason, an MRI revealed that he had no structural damage and the repairs made during the procedure were still intact.

He's considered "iffy" to play on Christmas Day in the Warriors' opening contest against the Clippers, but even if he doesn't play, it shouldn't be long before he's back on the court.

Dwight Howard

Howard is constantly questioned about his desire to be dealt elsewhere, but the Magic have been firm in the stance that he's not being traded at this time.

General Manager Otis Smith once again reiterated his desire to keep Howard in an Orlando uniform for a long time, and said that he's not having any active trade conversations with any other club.

Smith expects Howard to be in a Magic uniform when the All-Star game arrives, and that would point to the team exhausting every possible effort to get him to sign on the dotted line for the long haul.

Kobe Bryant

The brace on Bryant's wrist is very noticeable, and that's due to his torn lunotriquetral ligament that is a band of tissue which connects bones in the wrist.

In other words, it's a problem for Bryant since the injury is to his shooting wrist. but it's tough to envision him missing significant time considering his history of playing through a myriad of injuries.

Teammate Derek Fisher thinks that Brant will be on the court for Christmas Day, saying Bryant will "cut his wrist off and play with one before he misses Sunday."