The Chief...still my favourite centre...

Boy, did Chris Webber ever eat Jamaal Magloire’s lunch last night…Webber had 32 points and 14 rebounds, most of them around and over what looked like an out of shape Magloire who fouled out with 4 points and 9 rebounds…Bogut looked good though with 13 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks…

Ron Artest is crazy…now we already knowthat, but apparently he tells interviewer Bernard Goldberg on tonight's edition of HBO's "Real Sports" that he plans to retire from the NBA in two or three years after which he will enter the world of professional boxing as a fighter…

Villanova will be Illanova this year without their best player after forward Curtis Sumpter, suffered a torn ACLin his left knee — the same ligament that was surgically repaired after the injury he suffered in the team's second-round NCAA tournament game against Florida. The 6-foot-7 Sumpter, averaged 15.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season…

Ouch…Denver Nuggets forward Nene left last night's season opener vs. the Spurs in the first quarter with a sprained right knee…he will be re-evaluated today…

Jim Boeheim was run from a game for the 1st time in his 30 seasons with the Orange…wiith 28.9 seconds left in the period he started whining incessantly after Gerry McNamara, Josh Wright and Darryl Watkins were all fouled going to the basket with no call…Referee Pat Driscoll whistled Boeheim for a T and coach B continued to whine…than another referee, Mike Kitts, called another T and ejected Boeheimwho left to a standing O…

1) Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports that for one game at least, the Hornets were alright:

Everything's A-OK for Hornets on Opening Night

OKLAHOMA CITY -- It's a town where the fans cling to the rather scholastic notion of standing until the home team scores a basket. It's a place where the coach finds himself calling plays with hand signals sometimes because it's a lot louder inside than his team is used to. It's a college community trying to shed its small-town stigma, but maybe that's why, for at least one night, the youngest starting backcourt tandem of all time looked so comfortable in the pros. The NBA in OKC? It's the address where the Hornets, after an evening that bordered on storybook, can say they've never lost. Which was a pretty satisfying claim to make, however long it lasts, after everything this franchise has lost. "In a million years I never thought it was going to be like this," said Louisiana's own P.J. Brown, reveling in the Hornets' 93-67 rout of the Sacramento Kings in the game that officially made them the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. "Can't paint a prettier picture." It was hard to argue after Brown, known to his teammates as "Jurassic," rumbled for his first 20-point, 10-rebound game in more than two years to spark the NBA's victims of Hurricane Katrina to the largest margin of victory in franchise history. If ever a team was entitled to get carried away about a 1-0 start, it's this one. The 36-year-old is the only Hornet with the veteran savvy to quickly tack on the "it's only one game" disclaimer, but even Brown couldn't conceal a broad smile when a familiar face from New Orleans asked if this was the start of his MVP drive. Yup. It was that kind of everything-went-right night. The Kings' flight in Monday had to return to Sacramento because of mechanical trouble, necessitating the use of another plane which delayed the visitors' arrival until just six hours before tipoff. The Kings indeed looked like a tired team and the Hornets, relying on Brown's steadiness and a relentless push from two two 20-year-olds -- with J.R. Smith and rookie Chris Paul forming the youngest starting backcourt in NBA history -- never stopped running. The crowd, meanwhile, never stopped roaring once it soaked in a jazzy instrumental rendition of the national anthem by former Oklahoma star and NBA veteran Wayman Tisdale. One Oklahoma City newspaper columnist opined in Tuesday's paper that the NBA's arrival finally made this an actual city and, judging by the noise from a sellout of 19,163 at the Ford Center, it means a lot to the locals to be in the big leagues. "These crowds are going to be like college basketball crowds," said Desmond Mason, the Hornets' newly acquired swingman from Oklahoma State. "It's unlike anything else you'll see at an NBA game." Yet even the player who knows this terrain best found it a bit strange to be playing a real NBA game in the land of collegiate football. The proximity to the rest of the Southwest Division and the presence of a relatively new NBA-level arena were lures that, for the league and the Hornets, made Oklahoma City an obvious choice to take the Hornets in, but Mason was openly stunned to be back. "My wife and I have had that conversation a few times already," said Mason, who married a former Oklahoma State soccer player. "I definitely never figured I'd play basketball here again -- period -- much less an NBA game." Mason wasn't alone. Hornets owner George Shinn recalled, as he was sorting through the options just weeks ago, how shocked he was when NBA commissioner David Stern suggested Oklahoma City as the Hornets' relocation destination. "My exact words were, 'Oklahoma where?' " Shinn said. "I said, 'You've got to be kidding me, David. Do they have an arena?' I knew nothing about Oklahoma City." The locals must have thought the same when Shinn addressed them before the opening tip. In his attempts to give thanks for the warm reception his franchise has received, from Oklahoma City and Oklahoma at large, Shinn temporarily forgot where he was and said, "From the state of ... this great state." The team's start was a bit shaky, too, with a flurry of empty possessions and nearly three scoreless minutes before Brown finally allowed the fans to sit with a putback. Yet you could forgive the stumbles on this night, all the way up to the owner. It's a team with an average age under 25, and without a manual to turn to for how to handle all this. How many professional sports teams have ever been forced to move by a natural disaster? As Scott noted, it's impossible for the Hornets -- with an OKC patch on their jerseys and shooting shirts -- to forget that they're not where they're supposed to be. Impossible even when they're throttling a perennial 50-win team to earn a Opening Night share of the Southwest lead with San Antonio. "I don't think that's going to be done until we know if we're going to be here another year, or if we're going to be here for good," Scott conceded. "I don't think you can let it go until you know exactly what's going on. You're still wondering what the league's going to do. You're still wondering about New Orleans, how quickly the city can rebuild. There's still a lot of questions that probably all of us have." Said Mason, refusing to let his popularity in the area encroach on his newcomer status: "I've tried not to ask anybody about [New Orleans]. The guys seem to be happy right now. They're moving on. I'm not going to reopen that wound by asking about it." Those wounds, of course, aren't going away soon no matter what the Hornets try, with so much of their future unclear. Don't forget that there were plenty of questions about this franchise's viability in New Orleans, as well as its management and roster choices, even before Katrina struck. You can understand, then, why they're tempted to trumpet -- for as long as they can -- their new home as First Place, USA. They won't start 2-29 again, like last season, but the Hornets are realistic enough to know that baby-faced rebuilding teams can't count on a lot of nights like these. "Everybody is just happy to have us here," Scott said of the OKC welcome. Then, only half-joking, Scott added: "After about three or four months, they might be saying something different." Said Brown: "I never thought I'd have to leave [Louisiana], especially in these type of circumstances. I'm rooted down there, that's home. But this is starting to feel like home. I definitely want this team to go back to New Orleans, but the region has a long way to go before they even talk about us or the Saints coming back. "It's a very unique situation, but I'm going to represent two cities."

2) A Panel of SI.com experts pick ‘em:

Future world - SI.com's experts pick MVP, surprises, hottest seats

With the 2005-06 NBA campaign upon us, SI.com surveyed our NBA writers, Chris Ballard, Roland Beech (of 82games.com), Marty Burns, Kelly Dwyer, Chris Mannix, Jack McCallum, Drew Packham, Ian Thomsen and Brad Weinstein to get an early read on the season.

Q. Who will be the MVP this season?
Chris Ballard: LeBron James, Cavs -- More W's do wonders for a candidacy, and the beefed-up Cavs should win plenty.

Roland Beech, 82games.com: Ron Artest, Pacers

Marty Burns: Tim Duncan, Spurs -- The best player on the best team usually wins the award, and Duncan hasn't won it since 2003. LeBron James and Kobe Bryant will make it close, but their teams won't win enough games.

Kelly Dwyer: Duncan -- Hard to argue against last year's Finals MVP. The only question is whether or not he'll play enough minutes to stave off a few flavor-of-the-year votes. It's tough to foresee a Steve Nash-type popping out of nowhere, so the best player on the league's best team should be dutifully rewarded.

Chris Mannix: Kobe Bryant. After a humbling '04-05, Kobe will come back a better player and better teammate

Jack McCallum: James -- It's asking way too much for a repeat from last year's winner, Phoenix's Nash. San Antonio's Duncan won't play hard for 82 games because he doesn't have to and he shouldn't. Bryant will have an outstanding season but his team won't be that good. Bronnie will do it all year.

Drew Packham: Duncan. The best player on the best team adds up to Duncan's return to MVP status. LeBron will give him a run, and Dwyane Wade will get consideration, but Tim's the man.

Ian Thomsen: Bryant -- He'll singlehandedly keep the Lakers in playoff contention.

Brad Weinstein: James. The Cavaliers should be successful enough -- 50 or so victories with a push for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs -- to legitimize James' candidacy.

Q. What team will be the biggest surprise this season?

Ballard: Cleveland Cavaliers -- For the first year at least, the chemistry of Mike Brown, 'Bron, Damon Jones, Donyell Marshall and Drew Gooden should be impressive.

Beech: New Jersey Nets.

Burns: Milwaukee Bucks -- They not only added Jamaal Magloire, Bobby Simmons and No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Bogut. They also get back T.J. Ford, the perfect quarterback for their new uptempo attack.

Dwyer: Detroit Pistons -- The '04 champs will surprise initially by boasting a .500 record after the season's first two months, and they'll surprise again when spring comes along by zoning their way to a third-straight Finals appearance. When all is said and done, most players would rather wear a coat and tie to work than try to have to score on that frontline.

Mannix: New Jersey Nets -- Considered a cut below the Big 3 of the East, the Nets will get an MVP-caliber season from Vince Carter and battle for the conference crown again

McCallum: The Golden State Warriors -- I can't see them going far in the postseason, but Baron Davis gives them the elite player they need to help develop Jason Richardson, Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy.

Packham: Clippers. The Clips getting the nod for an award other than Most Futile Franchise? Hey, it's possible, especially with the additions of Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley. If Shaun Livingston can get healthy, the Clippers could make the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

Thomsen: Phoenix Suns -- They'll win their division without Amaré Stoudemire, Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson.

Weinstein: Clippers -- A surprise in the sense that their offense won't devolve into a wrestling match for the ball between Sam Cassell, Cuttino Mobley, Corey Maggette and Elton Brand. Actually, if Cassell shows his good side in a contract year and the core players remain upright (Maggette already is having hamstring trouble and backup point guard Shaun Livingston is nursing a back injury), the Clippers could produce a winning record for the first time since 1992.

Q. What team will be the biggest disappointment this season?

Ballard: The Knicks -- At least versus the unrealistic expectations.

Beech: Minnesota Timberwolves -- But they disappointed last year ... maybe Seattle since they were so good in '04-05

Burns: Golden State Warriors -- After closing out the season on a 14-4 run, Bay Area fans believe they can end their NBA-high 11-year playoff drought. But late-season surges often prove illusory, and Davis is injury-prone.

Dwyer: Miami Heat -- While Shaq, Antoine Walker and Gary Payton fish for pats on the back after taking pay cuts and/or seats on the bench, the Heat will struggle to spread the floor on offense and deal with the lingering and looming presence of Pat Riley. They'll get their act together long enough to make next May interesting, but don't bet on Miami taking down Detroit or Indiana.

Mannix: Houston Rockets -- Much is expected in Year 2 of McGrady/Yao, but new point guard Rafer Alston and coach Jeff Van Gundy are like oil and water.

McCallum: Seattle SuperSonics -- It's easy to forget how good they were last season with a 52-30 record. They lost one of the great NBA coaches in Nate McMillan, and though Bob Weiss is a well-respected lifer, it's going to be difficult to replicate last year's success.

Packham: Rockets. Everyone is expecting the Rockets to contend in the West, which they probably will do. But with Tracy McGrady already nursing small injuries and a hothead at point guard (Rafer Alston), the Rockets are on thin ice.

Thomsen: Los Angeles Clippers -- In spite of their biggest payroll, they lack the chemistry to contend.

Weinstein: SuperSonics -- Seattle maxed out last season in finishing 52-30, winning the Northwest Division and pushing San Antonio to six games in the Western Conference semifinals. All-Star shooting guard Ray Allen, 3-point bomber Vladimir Radmanovic and rebounding ace Reggie Evans all re-signed (the latter two with one-year deals), but losing McMillan and glue guy Antonio Daniels will hurt the Sonics' ability to recreate last season's chemistry. Weiss will struggle to get Seattle into the playoffs.

Q. What player will breakout and become a star this season?

Ballard: Dwight Howard, Magic -- Ridiculously athletic, he'll actually touch the ball in the post this season. Expect 20 and 12.

Beech: Howard.

Burns: Raja Bell, Suns -- Known for his defense, Bell shot 40.3 percent from 3-point range last season with the Jazz. Now with the Suns, he'll get a chance to log heavy minutes and hoist a lot of shots -- especially with Nash to get him the ball.

Dwyer: Stromile Swift, Rockets -- The league (and, it's safe to say, Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy) will be shocked to see just how Swift performs when he doesn't have to think -- and just plays.

Mannix: Gilbert Arenas, Wizards -- Right on the cusp, a tireless work ethic and less point guard responsibilities this season will move Arenas into the top 10 players in the NBA.

McCallum: Ben Gordon of Chicago. He's playing with another terrific young guard, Kurt Hinrich, but I see the multi-talented Gordon as the one with the most upside.

Packham: Bell. With Stoudemire out, Bell will be one of the Suns' primary weapons, and certainly improve on his 12.3 scoring average from last season in Utah. Bell should prove worthy of his five-year, $24-million contract.

Thomsen: Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets -- He'll make his first All-Star game while leading the Nuggets to the divisional title.

Weinstein: Howard -- The top pick in last year's draft is on his way after averaging 12 points and 10 points and shooting 52 percent from the field as a teenaged rookie in '04-05. Howard, who turns 20 in December, should see last season's 8.2 shots-per-game average rise as new Magic coach Brian Hill will give the power forward every opportunity to establish low-post consistency.

Q. Who will be the league's best rookie?

Ballard: Chris Paul, Hornets -- He's NBA-ready, a good shooter and will get as many minutes as he can handle.

Beech: Sean May, Hornets ... or the Pacers' Danny Granger if he can get some playing time.

Burns: Paul -- The little point guard from Wake Forest is jet quick with a smooth outside stroke. He'll get a chance to play a lot of minutes for the lowly Hornets, and he'll be a regular on the ESPN highlights feeding J.R. Smith and Desmond Mason for dunks.

Dwyer: Paul -- His refined shooting stroke will separate him from the rest of the rookie crop. Players such as Danny Granger (Pacers), Luther Head (Rockets), and Francisco Garcia (Kings) will have strong years for more important teams, but this little crotch-puncher will take home the hardware.

Mannix: Paul -- Destined for a long season in Hornet-land (wherever that is), but Paul will put up huge numbers as one of the Hornets only legitimate scoring options

McCallum: Paul -- He'll get the chance to play big minutes and he has one of those exciting games that get people talking.

Packham: Paul. Paul is in a perfect situation: a struggling franchise in need of an energetic leader. Paul's quick first step and fancy passes should separate him from Andrew Bogut and Martell Webster for ROY honors.

Thomsen: Indiana's Granger will contribute to a contender, but Paul will run away with rookie of the year.

Weinstein: Granger. The 17th selection in the June draft won't approach being the "best" as measured by Rookie of the Year-type statistics, but he'll be a solid rotation player for championship-contending Indiana. The Pacers already are raving about the 6-foot-9 forward's defense and all-around game.

Q. Who is on the hottest seat this season?

Ballard: Kevin McHale, T'wolves GM. Or at least he should be, considering the T'wolves' devolution.

Beech: John Nash, Blazers GM -- He's going with a youth movement and Portland fans are used to playoffs

Burns: Rob Babcock, Raptors GM -- After drafting Rafael Araujo and trading Carter, the second-year executive doesn't have a lot of support right now from Toronto fans. If his hand-picked coach Sam Mitchell struggles, and Charlie Villanueva doesn't pan out, he could take the fall.

Dwyer: Kiki Vandeweghe, Nuggets GM -- With as many mitigating failures (Nikoloz Tskitishvili, letting ex-coach Jeff Bzdelik stew) as successes (hiring George Karl, removing all elements of the Dan Issel Era), Kiki's '05-06 contract year will define his Nuggets legacy. If he can secure a sweet-shooting wing player with Nenê and Andre Miller as bait, he may earn a contract extension. But with Karl's dominating presence, will Kiki want to stick around?

Mannix: Jeff Van Gundy, Rockets coach -- Management has given him the weapons, now Van Gundy must show he can win outside of New York.

McCallum: Everybody automatically says it's Miami coach Stan Van Gundy. But I think it's Miami president Pat Riley. He's the one who made all the trades to put this team together, and, if he makes a coaching change, he is the one who will be calling the bench shots. If Van Gundy's seat is hot, Riley's is electric.

Packham: Ron Artest. His job is safe, but the media scrutiny will be ridiculous. Every mention of 'album sales' will be hyped (excuse the pun), every technical will lead SportsCenter, and every loss will be analyzed to see what role Artest played in it.

Thomsen: Stan Van Gundy, Heat coach -- He must get everybody on the same page, and nothing less than a championship will do.

Weinstein: Artest. Riley tried to take this seat but Artest, uh, bumped him aside. If the mercurial forward behaves, Indiana has all the pieces in place for a title run.

Q. What will be this year's biggest controversy?

Ballard: SI Reporter Chris Mannix alerts officials that clutch Ray Allen playoff 3-pointer actually worth only two. Fans dump beer on Mannix.

Beech: The lukewarm reception NBA teams give the NBDL.

Burns: Riley and Stan Van Gundy -- The Heat president denies he has any plans to return to the bench, but the story isn't likely to go away. If the revamped Heat don't get off to a good start, coach Stan Van Gundy will be looking over his shoulder.

Dwyer: Riley's distasteful domination of Stan Van Gundy's dreams -- Riles may categorize his "increased participation" in the Heat's day-to-day makeup as some sort of perverse inspirational tool, but history tells us that it will all just blow up in his face in the end. And don't expect Jeff Van Gundy, in his own wry and inimitable fashion, to stay quiet on the subject for long.

Mannix: Eddy Curry, Knicks. A black cloud is hanging over Madison Square Garden; should something happen to Curry, the NBA is in for a nightmare exponentially worse than the brawl in Detroit

McCallum: The referees claim that -- hold on to your hats -- calling more traveling is going to become a point of emphasis. In particular, they're looking to take the hop followed by the two steps out of the game. If they really enforce that, you're going to hear some whining from a lot of players, New Jersey's Vince Carter in particular.

Packham: There will be a brawl - not to the scale of last season's melee - and it will be blown out of proportion ... of course.

Thomsen: The continuing debate over cardiac testing for players.

Weinstein: The dress-code flap aside, the NBA's planned crackdown on palming the ball and flopping (Reggie Miller and Vlade Divac got out just in time) will generate some buzz.

Q. Who will be the biggest name to be traded?

Ballard: Zach Randolph, Trail Blazers. The Zach-Nate McMillan marriage looks short-lived.

Beech: Paul Pierce, Celtics.

Burns: Pierce -- GM Danny Ainge says he has no intention of dealing his franchise player, but Pierce has clashed with coach Doc Rivers and the Celtics are in a youth movement. If Boston's young roster struggles, Ainge will feel the pressure to get on with the rebuilding.

Dwyer: Regardless of which side is leaking the trade rumors, expect Paul Pierce to be out of Boston by February -- if not sooner. His dominating preseason will only grease the wheels. Plus, some of us are out of jobs if the biggest names to change uniforms are only Jamaal Magliore and Al Harrington.

Mannix: Pierce -- With one of the youngest teams in the league, management will realize they can lose just as many games without him. Pierce and Rivers have never been on the same page

McCallum: Jalen Rose, Raptors. Why? I have no idea. But Toronto has to do something to get noticed way up there.

Packham: Keith Van Horn. He's played for five teams in his nine-year career. Why not make it six?

Thomsen: Pierce -- He'll be gone to a contender by February.

Weinstein: Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves -- In the offseason, after the Timberwolves fail to make the playoffs for the second straight season. As for a midseason blockbuster, speculation will center on four-time Celtics All-Star swingman Pierce.

Q. Who will be the NBA's Final Four (and champion) in the playoffs?

Ballard: San Antonio, Indiana, Houston and Cleveland. In a big surprise, I'll go with the Spurs to repeat.

Beech: San Antonio, Dallas, Indiana, New Jersey. I'll go against the grain a little and take the Pacers to win it all.

Burns: San Antonio, Houston, Miami and Detroit, with the Spurs winning the championship.

Dwyer: Detroit and Miami in the East, with San Antonio and Phoenix out West. Due to the NBA's unfortunate seeding structure, the second (Indiana, Houston) and third-best (Cleveland, Dallas) teams will be out before the Conference finals roll around. In the Finals, San Antonio will takecare of Detroit.

Mannix: Miami, Indiana, San Antonio and Phoenix. The Spurs will defend the crown.

McCallum: In the East: Detroit and Indianapolis; in the West: San Antonio and Dallas. I'll be real original and predict the Spurs to win the whole thing again.

Packham: Spurs and Nuggets in the West. Heat and Pistons in the East. Spurs beat the Heat in six to repeat as champions.

Thomsen: San Antonio over Phoenix; Miami over Indiana. And Miami for the championship.

Weinstein: East -- Pacers and Heat. This shapes up as a three-team race so naturally we'll choose the two with major chemistry issues to sort out during the season. The Pacers' deep roster will test coach Rick Carlisle's ego-management skills, which isn't too bad as far as problems go. His Miami counterpart, Stan Van Gundy, has several high-profile newcomers in front of him and Riley over his shoulder. Meanwhile, the Pistons acquired a chip on their shoulder in the offseason, believing former coach Larry Brown's newsmaking overshadowed their success. With the starting five back again and a potentially stronger bench, Detroit easily could play for its third consecutive trip to the NBA Finals. In the West, the Spurs and the Nuggets. The second slot behind San Antonio is wide open. The Suns could threaten if Amaré Stoudemire comes back as good as new down the stretch (don't count on it). The Rockets also could challenge, but just advancing at all would be progress for Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. Despite concerns about how Kenyon Martin will rebound from knee surgery and whether injury-prone Marcus Camby will hold up, Denver is the pick here based on last season's 32-8 surge under coach George Karl and a competitive first-round playoff loss to San Antonio.
And in the Finals, the Spurs should take the Pacers for their second straight title.

Q. Will Ron Artest make it through the entire season without being suspended again?

Ballard: Yes. He will also be an All-Star.

Beech: Definitely.

Burns: No. It won't be anything nearly as bad as last year's Malice in the Palace, but Artest will be called into David Stern's office for a meeting at least once this season.

Dwyer: No, but that's hardly a surprise, and it certainly doesn't mean he'll be rushing into the stands anytime soon. Ron-Ron can't help but receive a few suspensions over the course of the season. Just as his mid-range game and all-around interests seem mercurial and out of place in today's NBA, his propensity for body-slamming a backup point guard and/or assistant coach will have him parked on the bench for a game or 12 before all is said and done.

Mannix: Not a chance.

McCallum: No. I hope he does, but, with the eyes of the league office and the media upon him, something is bound to happen.

Packham: Yes. Somehow Artest will get it together and make it through the season - after all, he's got albums to sell. He'll certainly pile up the technicals, but he'll amazingly avoid any suspensions.

Thomsen: Yes.

Weinstein: No. A few flagrant fouls here or missed shootaround there, and Artest will have a little free time to promote his record label and conduct a follow-up interview with Penthouse magazine

3) Mike Kahn of Foxsports.com with his 10 things column:

10 things we learned this week

Lots of transition took place over the past week as we head into the opening of the 2005-06 NBA regular season. Deputy commissioner Russ Granik announced he is retiring after this season, Miami's Micky Arison replaced Jerry Colangelo as chairman of the Board of Governors, and Mike Krzyzewski became the head coach of USA Basketball's senior team. And yet, there was more.

1. With the Oct. 31 deadline for teams to sign their fourth-year players to extensions, the Detroit Pistons slipped just in under the wire, providing a treat worth nearly $48 million over five years for starting small forward Tayshaun Prince. Now the trick will be for one of the biggest names among the 2002 lottery picks — Nene in Denver — to figure out his future. What this really means: Nene will become a restricted free agent next summer, and that creates three possible scenarios — the Nuggets will sign him to an extension at that point; another team will sign him to an offer sheet, prompting either a match by the Nuggets or a release to the team that signed them to the sheet; or he will sign the fourth-year qualifying offer with the Nuggets and become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2007. As for Prince and the Pistons, it was once again a testimony to the hold Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars has over this team. He has all his key players locked up except for defensive star Ben Wallace, who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Although Dumars has successfully proven to be able to hold contracts at a reasonable level while as they have played at a championship level, Wallace is going to see some crazy numbers out there — particularly with the Chicago Bulls in desperate need up front and reportedly in possession of $20 million worth of salary cap space next summer. But Wallace is nothing if not loyal and knows how Dumars helped catapult his career. It will be one of the great ongoing stories of next summer.

2. Russ Granik, who overcame prostate cancer surgery nearly three years ago, announced he will retire from the NBA at the end of this season after 30 years of service — the last two as commissioner David Stern's closest adviser on everything from collective bargaining, expansion and international play. What this really means: It's a sign of the times, although the 57-year-old Granik will remain an adviser of sorts. However, this also is very likely the natural progression for Adam Silver, the current president of NBA Entertainment, to become Stern's second in command. Stern, who has been given an extension on his contract through the 2009-10 season, has been grooming Silver in a variety of roles in marketing — including world-wide expansion — for a dozen years. Only 43, Silver has long been considered the most likely player in the chain to succeed Stern in the big picture. Nonetheless, Stern has made it clear he isn't going anywhere until at least the end of the decade. The focus, along with the gold mine of globalization the past five years, now is on cleaning up the image, as was indicated by both the controversial implementation of the dress code two weeks ago, as well as the NBA Cares program that began this month. With a guarantee of charitable donations of more than $100 million and one million hours of community service, the hope is to eradicate the over-blown perception of self-serving stars who don't respect the community at large. Contrary to popular belief, the game will ultimately take care of itself.

3. As has been expected for weeks, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was named coach of USA Basketball's men's basketball team last week. What this really means: Many believe this is a slap in the face to San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, a long-time assistant for USA Basketball and the most internationally experienced of any of the coaches considered. But like so much involving the NBA and USA Basketball — now managed by Jerry Colangelo, but also Granik — perception is the key. And there is no better coach for marketing basketball these days than Coach K. This is more than an indication of the respect Krzyzewski has garnered constantly reloading teams and re-establishing chemistry for Duke. It hints loudly that college players will be strongly considered because of the way so many NBA players backed out. The commitment for the 2008 Olympics includes the World Championships in the summer of 2006, then the qualifying tournament in the summer of 2007. On the heels of the 2004 Olympics, where the hastily thrown together NBA players who did go were grossly unappreciated, it will be an interesting recruitment process that is about to begin.

4. The eight-team NBA Development League will hold its draft this week and begin play on Nov. 18, the first season of its direct association with the NBA that allows for players to be placed on specifically affiliated D-League teams while retaining rights of recall. What this really means: As part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, it's a big step in the right direction for subtly expanding rosters even further. With the new rules allow for 15 on the roster — with three inactive players announced before game time similarly to the NFL — it will allow for teams to keep young players active as opposed to their being available just for practice and bench time. The D-League only allows for players in their first or second year, but the Minnesota Timberwolves are attempting to set a precedent by lobbying for little-used Ndudi Edi, drafted out of high school and in his third season, to be grandfathered in. Only two players per NBA team may be placed with the D-League affiliate and there is a limit of three transactions per season.

5. Orlando Magic star Grant Hill could be out up to 20 games with the 21st century injury known as the "sports hernia." The sports hernia is a rupture or tear located below the abdominal wall and in the groin area. What this really means: It's just another issue for Hill, who had five ankle-related surgeries and played only 47 games in four years before playing in 67 games last season. He returned to All-Star form last season, averaging 19.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists, but said he felt problems more than a month ago. Hill, 33, is the key to the Magic returning to the postseason around talented but erratic Steve Francis and teenage phenom Dwight Howard. The concern, of course, is that at his age, he will continue to compensate for his ankle, then the groin area and continue to break down. That's the primary reason why surgery was the best option, so he could start from scratch as opposed to rest and rehab where he could aggravate it or create another injury.

6. The Milwaukee Bucks dealt swingman Desmond Mason and their 2006 first-round draft choice to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets for center Jamaal Magloire. What this really means: That this is the second trade of Mason's young career isn't the story as much as the way he has been lied to by both owners about his future with the team. It happened in Seattle, where Mason and Sonics managing partner Howard Schultz promised him he was a key to the future of the Sonics; and this past summer, Bucks owner Herb Kohl promised him he wasn't going anywhere. It isn't so much that Schultz and Kohl and all other owners are bad guys or perpetual liars. This is a classic of example of how they need to stay out of personnel affairs and never discuss them with players. It is a no-win situation because everybody is tradable. The Bucks now remove pressure from top draft choice Andrew Bogut, who will swing between power forward and center behind Magloire and Joe Smith, giving the Bucks big depth. Bobby Simmons will start at the small forward instead of Mason, with Michael Redd and T.J. Ford in the backcourt. First-year coach Terry Stotts now has a big and talented team to compete for a playoff spot with — unfortunately in the toughest division in the NBA — Detroit, Indiana, Cleveland and Chicago.

7. Hornets coach Byron Scott kept denying that Magloire was being shopped and now that he's gone, Scott looks like he's either completely out of the loop from the front office or merely trying to mislead media. What this really means: It's hard to know what to make of Scott, who was very popular at the end of his 14-year playing career and went quickly from being an assistant coach for two seasons in Sacramento to four years as a head coach with the New Jersey Nets. Now in his second season with the Hornets, Scott evidently must have signed off on how they are going to handle the absence of Magloire. Obviously, they now are just going to play small and run. Either P.J. Brown or Chris Andersen, both forwards by trade, will play center, with David West and rookie Brandon Bass also playing power forward with those two. Then it will be up to Mason, Bostjan Nachbar, Rasual Butler, young J.R. Smith and rookie Chris Paul to push the ball unmercifully up the floor to score points in a hurry. Everybody knew Magloire wanted out, and in this unwieldy franchise forced to Oklahoma City by Hurricane Katrina with the front office going through constant transition, it's hard to know whether they have any idea what they're doing. So you would have to think Scott knows what is going on with the player personnel ... or does he?

8. Item: The Utah Jazz completed their exhibition season and power forward Carlos Boozer didn't play in any of the games thanks to a strained hamstring. He also played in just 51 games last season due to a foot injury after signing a stunning $68 million contract when he shocked the Cleveland Cavaliers by leaving for Utah. What this really means: This will be an unpredictable situation unfolding as Boozer tries to fit into a new offense designed by coach Jerry Sloan, who has a low tolerance level for players who don't conform. Last season, the high expectations for point guard Carlos Arroyo were scuttled early due to an injury and he and Sloan never saw eye to eye after that. There have already been issues with Boozer, whose name was all over the trade market both last February and during the draft. This could play out quickly considering Boozer is expected to be ready to go on opening night. But if Sloan brings him back slowly, off the bench, and it ruffles Boozer's ego and rhythm in the offense, then things could come apart very quickly. He is a big and talented player, but with the way he unexpectedly bolted out of Cleveland and the uneasiness with which last season unfolded, his head about the game and ability to get along with the strident Sloan could be a major issue. And we'll know by Christmas.

9. The defending champion San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers hold the longest current streaks of eight consecutive seasons in the playoffs, while the Golden State Warriors have been out of the postseason for a league-high 11 years in a row. What this really means: The Spurs and the Pacers — short of disastrous injuries — are locks to extend those streaks to eight. In fact, they could very likely meet in the finals this season with both teams making significant improvements over the summer. But the Warriors are an entirely different story. They tremendously raised expectations in the Bay Area with an 18-8 finish last season that drove a surprising increase in season-ticket sales. But it's hard to know just how real this team is. Yes, they will be one of the new breed of high-octane offenses, with Baron Davis in charge of the ball and his high-scoring backcourt mate Jason Richardson expected to put up big scoring numbers. Mike Dunleavy and vastly improved Mickeal Pietrus will also figure considerably in the offense, as will Troy Murphy, a projected double-double guy inside with 3-point range. But it all comes down to the dependability of Davis, who has missed an average of 31 games over the past three seasons — with knee and back problems, exacerbated by weight issues. He has a chance to regain All-Star status and silence the critics who have pointed out his frequent injuries and what is perceived to be an erratic attitude. Indeed, the Spurs and Pacers figure to extend their role in the playoffs — but will Davis lead the Warriors back in?

10. That loud sucking sound you heard early last week was the Minnesota Timberwolves nation holding its collective breath after Kevin Garnett sprained his left ankle and went in for X-rays. The exhale was even louder as the results were negative. What this really means: Garnett is healthy, but the Timberwolves remain a mystery heading into this season. Just 19 months removed from the Western Conference finals and Garnett's MVP season, the Timberwolves were the disappointment of the 2004-05 season. Coach Flip Saunders was shockingly fired at mid-season and they didn't get over .500 for good until late March before stumbling in at 44-38 and missing the playoffs. Garnett, one of the most vocal leaders in the NBA, has been strangely silent this preseason after Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell were ousted and replaced by Marko Jaric and rookie Rashad McCants. Wally Szczerbiak is still around; so are Troy Hudson and Trenton Hassell. But up front with Garnett are Eddie Griffin, Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Michael Olowokandi and Mark Madsen. When Garnett signed his five-year, $100-million extension that began last season, it was with the promise that the team would be built to compete for a title. Last season was a shock. This one is laying the groundwork for the future and before this season ends, we'll hear from Garnett whether he believes the Wolves have held up their end of the deal.

4) Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports that there could be $$ woes in Detroit:

Wallace deserves huge deal

A few tidbits as the Pistons tip off another season:

Q: Do you think the Pistons are going to have a hard time signing Ben Wallace next summer?

A: No, I don't. And please don't buy into the propaganda that has already started to leak out about how Wallace, at 31, is somehow past his prime and too old to deserve a huge contract. There is a segment of management that will try to get the media to discredit Wallace throughout the season in an attempt to lower his bargaining power. Already, there have been a couple stories about how the signing of Wallace to a long-term deal would be bad business and that it would be prudent for the Pistons to bid adieu after this season and save the money for a budding Darko Milicic. It's nonsense. First of all, Wallace is not regressing. His body is as powerful now, perhaps more so, than it ever was, and his game continues to expand and improve. I really believe, barring an injury, that his best years are ahead of him. Second, Wallace isn't looking to bankrupt the organization. Yes, other teams (the Bulls and Hawks to name two) will come at him with offers of six years and $90-plus million. But unless something goes really wrong here, those offers will only flatter Wallace, not cause him to leave. He doesn't want to start over and play on lottery teams again. He wants to win championships. The Pistons won't have to offer Wallace a six-year deal to keep him. They probably will offer him a four-year deal (which will take him to the age of 35 and still allow him to seek another two- or three-year contract). A four-year deal averaging about $17.5 million per year ($70 million total) would make Wallace the highest paid player in Pistons history, and I believe that would be enough to keep him here.

Q: Wouldn't signing Wallace to that deal represent merely a payment on past services rendered and not so much about present day value?

A: Again, the insinuation is that Wallace is regressing. He's not. And while it's true Wallace has been the best bargain in basketball the last four years, he remains, and in my estimation will continue to remain, the key ingredient to the Pistons success. Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups Wallace, Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace, those guys will be the first to tell you that Deeee-troit basketball doesn't work without Wallace. He is the energy, the fire, the muscle and the conscience of this team. Everyone of those other starters is better because they play alongside Wallace. If you want to pick apart his free-throw shooting or his unorthodox offensive style, go ahead. But you will be sadly missing the point of what Wallace is and what he brings. He is the foundation of this team, and will continue to be so for at least the next four or more years. Pay him, keep this core group together for at least another three years (until Billups' contract is up in 2007-2008) and let's see how many titles it can win.

Q: Do you think the Pistons are going to have payroll problems down the road?

A: I think any team that has had the success the Pistons have had will have to make some tough decisions sooner or later. But I don't see it getting to the point where they will have to dump core players or stay completely out of the free agent market. Pistons president Joe Dumars has been very proactive in maintaining an equitable financial paradigm where players' salaries are pretty much in line with their value to the team. He hasn't grossly overspent on any player, including the recent five-year, $47 million extension given to Prince. His keen eye for talent has allowed him to take full advantage of the mid-level and veteran's exceptions. Plus, he has been working ahead on some of these potential payouts. Remember the unpopular decision to trim Corliss Williamson's contract and not pursue Mehmet Okur? Remember the financial mess Dumars inherited from Tom Wilson and Rick Sund in 2000? Wilson ran the basketball operations from 1993 through 2000, one of the bleaker periods in team history (think teal uniforms, Christian Laettner, Loy Vaught, Bison Dele, Korleone Young, on and on). If Dumars can extricate the team out some of the death contracts that were on the books then and build a championship team in less than five years, you have to like his chances of keeping this nucleus in tact.