A team source indicated today that the Pistons are not "remotely" close to a deal for Houston Rockets superstar Tracy McGrady. Metronews.ca, which is based in Toronto, said in an Internet report - but cited no sources - that the Pistons are "making a big push for McGrady." Detroit Free PRess
GM Rod Higgins arrived and watched the Friday practice. He said they remain committed to re-signing restricted free agent Emeka Okafor. "Our intentions haven't changed," Higgins said. "It's just going at a slow pace." Higgins said they would have internal discussions on whether to match an offer from another team. ... C Alexis Ajinca (shoulder) missed his second straight practice. AP via Globe and Mail
Walt "Clyde" Frazier and John Starks both spoke out yesterday in support of Marbury, whose future with the team is in question. Thanks to his tumultuous 2007-08 season, the arrival of new team president Donnie Walsh and new head coach Mike D'Antoni, and the signing of free-agent point guard Chris Duhon earlier this week. "I think Steph still has some game," Frazier said. "I think he can still help them. Hopefully they feel that way as well. He's gotten a lot of bad rap about how disruptive he is on the team, players don't like him, but when you play the way he does--100 percent--that's what players respect." NY Post
Privately, Marbury desperately wants to stay and has done everything to ingratiate himself with D'Antoni, including showing up first to Vegas, along with David Lee. "It's a system my game is built for," Marbury said. "To have the opportunity to play in the system is definitely gratifying." NY Post
The Utah Jazz currently have three point guards under contract for the 2008-09 season. In the unlikely scenario they decide to carry a fourth court general on their roster, it will not be Dee Brown. The Jazz, according to a team source, will not match the Washington Wizards' offer sheet Brown signed earlier this week. Utah has point guards Deron Williams, Ronnie Price and Jason Hart on the roster for next season. Deseret Morning News
The message board scuttlebutt claimed that J.J. Redick, frustrated he's never going to get to play with the Magic and again demanding a trade out of Orlando, had cleaned out his locker at the team's headquarters. That rumor actually found its way to Redick, and he got a hearty chuckle out of it. And following a two-hour weightlifting session Friday at the Magic's headquarters, Redick stressed that he indeed still has an occupied dressing stall in the Magic locker room. "Yeah, I saw that," he said, "and I got a good laugh out of it." Florida Today
The latest from the Ron-Ron show: he's decided to change his name. OK, so technically he wants to go by his middle name of William. The thinking? Since Ron Artest is back to getting so much negative media coverage, maybe going by Bill - as he requested to be called - could give him a fresh start. Never a dull moment. Sacramento Bee
If they are to convince the Lakers to take back forward Kenny Thomas in a deal in which Artest would be LA-bound and Lamar Odom would come to Sacramento, they need Turiaf to head for the Bay Area. The Lakers are already near the luxury tax and not looking to go any further, and they may buy into the logic that Thomas - who turns 31 on July 25 - could provide quality defensive-minded minutes off the bench just like Turiaf did. Sacramento Bee
If not, they'll hope to make something happen with someone else. Among the teams I've been told to keep a serious eye on in the Artest sweepstakes: Dallas, Miami, Phoenix, San Antonio and maybe even Charlotte. I often wonder about Toronto as well, but have yet to hear anything substantial on that front. Sacramento Bee
Nets: Acquiring Nuggets center Marcus Camby, whose contract conveniently expires in 2010, remains a possibility. Nets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe traded for Camby and Najera when he was in Denver and could help reunite the two here. Bergen Record
Patrick O'Bryant: The Celtics signed the seldom-used 7-foot, 250-pound center yesterday to a two-year, $3 million contract, according to an NBA source. O'Bryant is expected to back up Kendrick Perkins. Boston Globe
The Celtics had interest in other free agent centers, such as New Orleans's Chris Andersen, Indiana's David Harrison, and New York's Randolph Morris, but O'Bryant impressed them during a workout July 4. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge doesn't expect to sign any other big men. It seems doubtful that injured center Scot Pollard will be re-signed by the Celtics, and P.J. Brown is expected to retire. Boston Globe
Former Arizona recruit Brandon Jennings is expected to sign with a European-based agent as early as Monday, get an American-based marketing director for sneaker company deals and secure a contract with a European or Israeli team within the next two weeks, Jennings' advisors told ESPN.com Friday. Sonny Vaccaro, who is acting as an advisor to Jennings and his mother, Alice Knox, said Friday that he will meet with Jennings Sunday in Las Vegas, where he will attend the NBA summer league. ESPN.com
Chris Mullin may not believe his own rhetoric about Monta Ellis. The buzz in Detroit is that the Warriors and Pistons have been talking about a deal involving point guard Chauncey Billups. The Pistons want Andris Biedrins, the Warriors are offering up Al Harrington. Harrington by all means. But Biedrins? No way. Oakland Tribune
Billups has been mentioned in a number of trade scenarios this offseason - for Tracy McGrady, for Carmelo Anthony, for a possible lottery pick - so a fresh one to the Warriors is certainly plausible. Hard to see Billups in a running style, though, and he will be 32 in September. That said, he would be much preferable to Ellis at the point, and a significant recoup, at least temporarily, for the loss of Davis. Oakland Tribune
I can confirm the SI.com story about the Knicks-Clippers talks involving Zach Randolph. Sounds like a stalemate for now, but it's so early in the summer. The Clippers have other options to consider, but none of them put up the numbers that Randolph puts up. They have plenty of cap space so making a trade is not an issue. They'll probably look at what is available before getting back into Z-Bo talk. NY Newsday
You would think Donnie would move Zach without hesitation, but he apparently was the one who declined. Curious. I'm trying to find out what the Clippers offered -- there's very little on their roster and, as you guys have already noted, Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley both expire by 2010. But, again, the salary doesn't need to match in this case so that's not a concern. NY Newsday
The Knicks, with an eye on being in the same position by 2010, would not accept contracts that go beyond that year in return for Randolph, who averaged 17.6 points and 10.3 rebounds last season. He was acquired from Portland by Isiah Thomas on draft night in 2007 for Steve Francis and Channing Frye. NY Newsday via Arizona Republic
It is believed that Walsh was hoping to pry Eric Gordon, the seventh overall pick in the NBA draft, as part of the deal. That move seems unlikely, but it is expected that Walsh will talk again with the Clippers, who also are participating in the NBA Summer League here. NY Newsday via Arizona Republic
The source said Walsh has been "very active" in trade discussions and is "looking at these types of transactions constantly." Marbury also is brought up in trade discussions, but most teams interested in the 31-year-old point guard would rather wait for the Knicks to buy him out of the final year and $21.9 million left on his contract, then tender him a veteran's minimum contract. NY Newsday via Arizona Republic
It appears Manu Ginobili could be leaning toward playing in the Olympic Games after all. After struggling all summer with a jammed left ankle that cast his availability for Argentina's national team in doubt, Ginobili told reporters in his home country he was optimistic he would be able to play next month in Beijing. San Antonio Express-News
Roger Mason, a 6-foot-5 guard, was introduced as the newest member of the Spurs on Friday, two days after agreeing to a two-year contract. The deal is expected to pay him roughly $7.5 million - or more than three times more per year than he would have made had he said, "yes" to the Spurs last summer. "It was tough," Mason said of his previous decision to rebuff the four-time NBA champions. "I just knew that, with all the time I spent in the gym, if I got a lucky break, an opportunity, I'd be able to show off a little bit more." San Antonio Express-News
Wizards: The team got its first look at point guard Dee Brown, who signed a two-year partially guaranteed contract yesterday. Brown, who appeared in 49 regular season and eight playoff games with the Utah Jazz during the 2006-2007 season, played in Turkey last season and is thrilled at the prospect of getting back to the NBA. Brown, who will be introduced to Coach Eddie Jordan's system during summer league, said he drastically improved his outside shooting and playmaking skills in Turkey last season. Washington Post
The first game for the Detroit Pistons in the Las Vegas Summer league started off with a Amir Johnson foul on the defensive end and a Rodney Stuckey 15 foot made jumper on the offensive end. Throughout the game Johnson continued to pile up the fouls and Stuckey the points in route to a 84-73 Pistons victory against the Los Angeles Laker summer league squad. First let's talk about Rodney Stuckey. He picked up right where he left off last season, driving to the basket at will. Stuckey finished with 21 points(shooting 10 free throws and making 9), 5 rebounds and 4 assists. He showed an improved jump shot and that he is capable of dominating the game with his aggressive style and ability to finish his shot. Michigan Live
It had to be frustrating to Joe Dumars, who was in attendance for the game, to watch the Amir Johnson show so much of the skills that Dumars knows he has and then in the next instant look absolutely lost and committing a foul. This is only the first game of the summer league, so Johnson still has some games to adjust. But he is going into his fourth NBA season and must start clicking with how the game is supposed to be played. Michigan Live
One NBA scout believes Michael Beasley showed the talent and toughness it takes to be one of the league's most productive forwards next season. Another team executive with Hall of Fame credentials said point guard Mario Chalmers' performance underscored why many evaluators think the second-round pick will prove to be the steal of the draft. Based on the early results, Beasley and Chalmers met expectations in their first NBA tests. Beasley put the finishes touches on a painfully productive week with 25 points in 28 minutes during the Heat's 74-69 loss to the Magic in Friday's finale of the Orlando Pro Summer League. Miami Herald
