Harrison Barnes has been ruled out for the Warriors opener: “The team hasn’t revealed the details of Barnes’ injury — such as what’s causing the inflammation, how it happened, how its being treated or how long Barnes could be out — which is usually up to the player. But it’s serious enough to keep him on the shelf, which is unnerving news for diehard Warriors fans. Tuesday, Barnes could be seen smiling, shooting free throws and walking around without a limp. Jackson said Barnes, who missed just one game last season as a rookie, is making progress but some movements still cause him pain. When and if Barnes does return to action, he will do so as the sixth man as Jackson also announced Klay Thompson will remain a starter. Jackson previously said he was deciding between Thompson and Barnes. The first two preseason games, Jackson brought Thompson off the bench to see how it would work. Jackson never got a chance to see how Barnes fit off the bench, but he’s seen enough. So your Golden State Warriors starters: Thompson, Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala, David Lee and Andrew Bogut.”
What’s Deron Wiliams thinking heading into the season: “Not getting ahead of ourselves here, but Deron Williams told Michael Kay that if the Nets win it all this season, the victory parade will be in Brooklyn. “It’s gotta be in Brooklyn. Don’t even ask. It would be in Brooklyn. It’s gotta be, we got Brooklyn on our chests. You got to. I think we’ll touch a little bit in Manhattan, I don’t know,” Williams told Kay on YES Network’s “Center Stage.” The interview, which airs after the post-game show Wednesday, also deals with D-Will’s “Welcome to the NBA” moment. It involved his first meeting with Jason Kidd, his boyhood idol … and now of course his coach.”
According to Yahoo Sports, Russell Westbrook could return by mid-November: “The Thunder issued an original timetable of six to eight weeks from Wednesday’s opening night for Westbrook, but barring an unforeseen setback he could be back in the lineup by mid-November. Westbrook began participating in Thunder practice sessions and has impressed everyone with his explosion and fast return to form, sources said. After rehabilitating a torn meniscus suffered in the Western Conference playoffs in April, Westbrook spent the summer rehabilitating the injury until a loose stitch caused swelling and forced a second surgical procedure in early October.”
Doc Rivers was willing to resign if the Clippers weren’t able to trade for J.J. Redick: “Coach Doc Rivers wanted the J.J. Redick trade badly enough that he was willing to resign before ever coaching a game with the Los Angeles Clippers had owner Donald Sterling vetoed the deal, according to a report. Rivers’ three-year, $21 million contract with the Clippers includes final say in all trades. Rivers, acquired from the Boston Celtics, was irate when Sterling threatened to intervene, his mission being to retain backup point guard Eric Bledsoe rather than acquire the perimeter shooting specialist Redick in sign-and-trade that pays Redick $27 million over four years, Yahoo reported.”
Nuggets’ forwards JJ Hickson and Anthony Randolph are set to start over Kenneth Faried: “Shaw informed the media on Tuesday that he would likely have a starting lineup of Ty Lawson, Randy Foye, Anthony Randolph, J.J. Hickson, and JaVale McGee on Wednesday when the Nuggets travel to open their season against the Sacramento Kings. Faried is apparently not the right option at either starting forward position over Hickson and Randolph, but especially not at the power forward position. You may remember Anthony Randolph from such failed experiments as “Anthony Randolph could be a really good player in this league and has the potential to be a difference-maker.” Randolph has been a disappointment in various organizations, spending a lot of time on the bench with the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. His lack of playing time has often been linked to poor coaching decisions by Don Nelson and Mike D’Antoni, but that didn’t seem to come about when he couldn’t get on the court for Rick Adelman in the 2011-12 season.”
The Knicks have exercised their fourth year option on Iman Shumpert: “The New York Knicks have exercised their fourth-year option on guard Iman Shumpert’s contract. Shumpert averaged 6.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 45 games, all starts, last season after returning from torn knee ligaments. Shumpert was the No. 17 pick in the 2011 draft and was a first-team, All-Rookie selection. He will earn about $2.6 million in the 2014-15 season. The Knicks announced the move on Monday.”
Ben Baroff is a basketball journalist who blogs for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter here.