Wade Rehab on Schedule; Ready by Camp?

Dwyane Wade’s recovery from knee surgery is right on schedule, and the All-Star guard expects to be ready to go when the Miami Heat open the defense of their NBA championship.

The way he was walking around London on Wednesday, it would have been tough to guess he had surgery a month ago.

“I feel good. Rehab is going very well,” Wade told The Associated Press. “I’m happy with it. I’m more encouraged than I was, obviously, when I knew I had to get surgery. So I’m happy.”

The Heat will open training camp in late September, and Wade said he expects to be fully ready to go when Miami opens the defense of its title against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 30. He even hopes to be ready for the start of camp.

Jermaine O’Neal Agrees to Join Suns

In the shadow cast by Superman’s arrival in Los Angeles, the timing of Jermaine O’Neal’s choice to commit to the Suns on Friday was unfortunate as an unrelated move.

Given the caliber of remaining NBA free-agent centers, O’Neal’s commitment to sign a one-year, $1.35 million contract with Phoenix could be fortuitous if — and it’s a huge if — O’Neal can be healthier than he has been for the later half of his 16-year career.

The Suns had only a backup center role and a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract to offer with a franchise that is in transition. The Suns came away with a six-time All-Star who is still only 33 years old because he entered the NBA out of high school.

The caveat is that the years’ wear and tear has cost O’Neal, who appeared in only 61 percent of his teams’ games over the past eight seasons. O’Neal’s past two seasons in Boston were limited to 49 games combined because of knee and wrist surgeries. O’Neal, who is 6 feet 11 and 255 pounds, was averaging 5.0 points and 5.4 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game before his season-ending left wrist injury last season. O’Neal went to Germany this summer to receive the Orthokine treatment on both of his knees. Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez and Grant Hill also have gone to Germany for Orthokine, which takes a patient’s blood and spins it in a centrifuge to make serum that is injected to combat inflammation.

Howard to Lakers Deal Complete - My Opinion

NBA BEATS - I like when big trades go down and relevant player move to a new team. I was starting to like the Lakers though and after this not so much. I wanted to see what Gasol and Kobe could do with Nash. I thought that was all they needed was a good point guard. Never really been a Howard fan. Like I said in earlier post I am not a Shaq and Howard type. I am more of a Olajuwon and Duncan type. I like skillfull bigs. Plus Howard and all that indecision. Nash is still the key acquisition the Lakers made this off season. I think the Lakers can get by Miami now. Just don't know about the Thunder. Because I think the Thunder still have the best player. If you read some of my earlier post you would know I am referring to Westbrook. Westbrook and his sidekick Durant I think can still get LA. But I would say LA is the favorite. I thought they were before Howard acquisition. Not that Howard will hurt them. I just think Gasol should have more space down low to do his thing. I would rather have Gasol than Howard. That is me though and I know the majority would not agree. And not that I think Andrew Bynum was that great. I am actually excited to see what he can do on a different team. Jason Richardson to. The trade was good for Bynum. I just think the Lakers would of been better with Bynum. When you have Kobe, Nash, and Gasol I think they needed  a guy that was willing to bow down and be the lazy big.  But throw in Howard who wants touches and the spotlight. I just think they took a small step backwords. Yeah they got better production from the 5 spot but I think you lost a little production from the 1,2,3, and especially 4 spots. 

A four-team trade that would send Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers is complete, multiple sources told ESPN on Thursday night.

A source with direct knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com’s Marc Stein the Lakers will receive Howard, the Denver Nuggets will acquire Andre Iguodala, the 76ers will receive Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson, and the Magic will get Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic and one protected future first-round pick from each of the three teams.

In addition, the Magic will be getting other pieces, including 76ers No. 1 draft pick Moe Harkless, a source told Stein.

Sources close to the process told Stein and ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne that a trade call with the league office has been scheduled for Friday to secure the necessary NBA approval to make the deal official.

Lakers forward Pau Gasol had been in and out of talks, sources told Shelburne, before ultimately being excluded.

Stoudemire Anticipates ‘Bounce Back’ Year

Amare Stoudemire has been in Houston working with Hakeem Olajuwon for the past five days.

On Thursday, he provided a glimpse into his workouts with the Hall of Famer.

In a video released via Stoudemire’s YouTube channel, the Knicks big man also explained why he decided to work with Olajuwon.

“I’m doing it for my fans in New York who’ve been sticking with me from a tough year last year,” Stoudemire says. “I can’t wait to bounce back next season and give it all I got and try to bring a championship (to New York).”

NBA BEATS - I would sure hope so. He did not do much. I don't really think he can do much without a Steve Nash. Amare is just a charge waiting to happen. Every time I see him make a move to the hoop I think here comes a charge. That being said I think Hakeem Olajuwon is the best player for Amare to try to mimic. Hakeem was the best big man I have seen play. I like bigs that have skill. Shaq and Dwight Howard have pure strength and they are dominating, it is just not the type of basketball I like to watch. I have never been a Shaq or Howard fan. Olajuwon had moves. Amare has quick feet and is capable of making moves. Amare is good with the pick and roll. Nash and Amare pick and roll sounds a lot more appealing that a Nash and Howard pick and roll. That is just a traveling call waiting to happen. Unless it is a alley oop for a dunk. Howard can't pop and shoot. Amare needs a point gaurd. He needed Lin. Raymond Felton? Are you kidding me. Thats a joke. Lin didn't want to stay there with thug town Melo and J.R. Smith. Both those guys didn't like Lin. They don't fit in with the Harvard type. All that being said Amare could have a bounce back year because he is pretty skillfull. But he does need to be set up.

Will Sixers Offer Bynum Max Extension?

A source said the Sixers have yet to reach out to (Andrew) Bynum’s agent, David Lee, about an extension, but there will be plenty of time for that. When the sides begin to talk about an extension for Bynum, the Sixers can offer the max — three years and $60 million. However, if Bynum were to test free agency, he could command a five-year, $100 million deal.

Though Bynum reportedly said that he would only sign an extension with the Lakers, it’s worth noting that he grew up in Plainsboro, N.J., near Princeton. Certainly a Jersey kid would want to stay close to home, right?

NBABEATS - I think they should. Who knows what he is capable of being in a different situation. For some players it is all about the situation. He might end up being better than Dwight Howard. If Steve Kerr was never on the Bulls with MJ would we all know who he is? Maybe, but not likely. Some people will just flurish is different enviroments. Maybe Philadelphia is just the town to shake that inconsistency tag he has always had.

Smith Trying to Recruit Howard to Atlanta?

(Josh) Smith, who also grew up in Atlanta, has known (Dwight) Howard since preschool. They joke that they’ve been balling together since they were in diapers. The two boys remained friends as they completed grade after grade and started developing into the physical specimens we see today. They formed one of the best AAU duos in the nation and talked about someday playing together in the NBA. When Smith got married two years ago, Howard was the best man in his wedding. Smith admits that he would love to reunite with Howard in Atlanta.

“Who wouldn’t want a guy like that on your team?” Smith said of Howard when HOOPSWORLD caught up with him in Las Vegas. “He’s the best big man in the league. I’d love to have him. Who wouldn’t? He’s the most dominant big in the game right now.

“We do have a lot of money coming off the books, especially after this year. I don’t know what the plans are. I guess every team that’s unloading money, the media thinks they’re targeting Dwight.”

Smith said that if Howard were to join the Hawks, it’d be “icing on the cake.”

Kobe Bryant May Finish Career Overseas

The idea intrigues Kobe Bryant: A farewell season beyond the completion of his Los Angeles Lakers career, a victory lap in a European destination that bookends a blessed basketball life. NBA stars rise and fall in performance and popularity, but the loudest cheers, the biggest crowds, the most reverential treatment never changes for Bryant.

He’s a transcendent icon overseas, borne of an unparalleled blend of life as a Laker and winner of five championships, two scoring titles, and an MVP award. What’s more, Bryant is one of them. In his formative years, Europe was home. He speaks Italian and Spanish. He hangs around soccer stadiums. Bryant travels to Europe and it all comes so easily to him. As he chases his second gold medal with Team USA in these Olympic Games, his basketball future in Europe remains ripe with possibilities.

Asked about the possibility of playing a season in Europe, Bryant told Yahoo! Sports: “It would be natural for me to go do it. It wouldn’t be a stretch at all. I grew up here.”