MORE FROM Sean Deveney

Moving Moose?

The Pistons' Greg Monroe is a free agent next summer, and would willingly waive his veto power for a trade, sources told SN's Sean Deveney.

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Back in the opening game of the season, seven minutes into the first quarter, LeBron James passed a milestone that got little attention: He played the 40,000th minute of his regular-season and playoff career combined.

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LBJ minutes

From the time he entered the NBA, LeBron James played a big heap of minutes. Now, as he heads toward his 30th birthday, we will get a better sense of whether that heavy workload has an impact on his production.

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Jordan Hill's long climb

When the Lakers re-signed Jordan Hill this summer, the deal received ample criticism. But Hill worked on his midrange game and has proven worthy of the Lakers' faith this season — and he plans to expand his game more, he tells SN's Sean Deveney.

Jordan Hill's long climb

When the Lakers re-signed Jordan Hill this summer, the deal received ample criticism. But Hill worked on his midrange game and has proven worthy of the Lakers' faith this season — and he plans to expand his game more.

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LeBron's voice

LeBron James has found a niche as a voice on issues that have long gone ignored by the country’s biggest star athletes.

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Entering the week, Lakers star Kobe Bryant stands fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, ranking just behind another iconic shooting guard — Michael Jordan.

Kobe and MJ in the record book

Kobe Bryant should pass Michael Jordan on the NBA's all-time scoring list some time this week. But Bryant still bristles as the idea that his career has been about pursuing and catching Jordan.

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On Friday, Kobe Bryant and Rajon Rondo were spotted around town here, having breakfast. So, naturally, that means Rondo is heading to the Lakers. Right?

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On Friday, Kobe Bryant and Rajon Rondo were spotted around town here, having breakfast. So, naturally, that means Rondo is heading to the Lakers. Right?

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About that Kobe-Rondo breakfast

Kobe Bryant and Rajon Rondo raised some eyebrows by having breakfast together in Boston on Thursday. But sources say any notion of Rondo heading West via trade is, "all smoke, no fire."

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LeBron James owes us, the members of the NBA’s observer class, absolutely nothing. Carmelo Anthony owes us nothing, either.

Butler's bet

Swingman Jimmy Butler told reporters he was, “betting on myself,” when he turned down the Bulls' final offer. The bet paid off.

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Butler's bet

Swingman Jimmy Butler told reporters he was, “betting on myself,” when he turned down the Bulls' final offer. The bet paid off.

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Welcome back, Kevin Durant. Good gravy, do you have some work to do with this team.

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Futile Sixers: The next Thunder?

The Sixers have gotten off to the worst start in franchise history. But Charles Barkley, arguably the greatest Sixer ever, says they are on the right track and could become the next Oklahoma City.

Michael's revenge

Michael's revenge

In talking with SN's Sean Deveney, former Grizzly Antonio Harvey recalls the 19 straight points Michael Jordan scored to prevent Vancouver from upsetting the record-breaking Bulls, and the trash talk that got him started.

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Credit Bucks point guard Brandon Knight with this: He understands how the NBA’s restricted free agency works.

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Knight contract

While he had hoped to land a contract extension to stay in Milwaukee, point guard Brandon Knight expects to stay put when he hits restricted free agency next year, he tells SN's Sean Deveney.

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Back in August, when Team USA director Jerry Colangelo was going through the usual questions about the concerns of NBA teams whose players participate in international tournaments like this year’s World Cup, he made his standard point: Not only does international play almost never damage a player’s career, it usually boosts it.

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Davis MVP? Maybe so

Sure, Pelicans star Anthony Davis is only 21 and in his third NBA season. And yes, we're only 12 games into the year. But it's not too soon to make Davis the front-runner for the MVP.

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NBPA's new boss

Michele Roberts has only been on the job for a little more than three months, but she is already strengthening the NBA's players union and gearing up as a hefty counterweight to commissioner Adam Silver.

Dragic free agency

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As the crowded field of Suns guards still sorts itself out, sources tell Sporting News that Goran Dragic will be testing the market.

Dragic free agency

As the crowded field of Suns guards still sorts itself out, sources tell Sporting News that Goran Dragic will be testing the market.

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Jason Kidd and the young Milwaukee Bucks have been fun to watch.

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Kidd, Bucks to Brooklyn

Jason Kidd has settled in with the young Bucks and has them off and running — sometimes literally.

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In a conversation with Sporting News, Bucks general manger John Hammond explained why Milwaukee's recruitment of Jason Kidd never concerned him.

Hammond to Sporting News

In a conversation with Sporting News, Bucks general manger John Hammond explained why Milwaukee's recruitment of Jason Kidd never concerned him.

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OKC's Brooks: No, tanks

OKC's coach isn't giving up on this season despite a poor early record and a rash of injuries. Mavs owner Mark Cuban reckons the Thunder should play for the lottery.

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Stability reigns for Raps

After last year's franchise-best season and with a hot start this year, Toronto can pride itself on something new entirely: continuity. That starts with Kyle Lowry.

NBA game time

The NBA has been looking at different possibilities for shortening games for the last few years. Using the D-League as a sort of laboratory, the league is getting ever closer to doing just that.

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NBA game time

The NBA has looked at different possibilities for shortening games the last few years. Using the D-League as a sort of laboratory, the league is now ever closer to doing just that.

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Cavs' early woes

The fact that so few members of the roster have actually been part of a winning environment over the years figured to be a problem for LeBron James and the Cavaliers. But now James is frustrated three games in.

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OKC injuries

The Thunder took a double-whammy on the injury front, first losing league MVP Kevin Durant, then All-Star Russell Westbrook. But both will be back and the Thunder should survive.

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For LeBron James, opening night at Quicken Loans Arena was rather like the first game he played the last time he joined a new team. That was Miami, back in 2010, and the Heat lost with James going for 31 points but committing eight turnovers as he tried a bit too hard to force passes to teammates who were not expecting them. On Thursday, the LeBron 2.0 Cavs opened the same way, with James committing eight turnovers and scoring 17 points in a 95-90 loss to the Knicks .

LeBron returns

LeBron returns

King James' return to the Cavs plays out similarly to his first game with the Heat, but the parallels between Cleveland and Miami will mostly end there.

LBJ introduced

LeBron James was welcomed with open arms and loud noises in his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Davis dominates

Davis dominates

The Pelicans big man begins his third season with an all-around performance that rivals what the best in the NBA can produce.

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Barkley on Russell

Charles Barkley expressed some surprise that his comments about Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and his relative “blackness.”

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NBA free agency

Player agents are already gearing up for what they expect to be a free-agent market that is overwhelmingly weighted toward players next summer.

Instant Replay

With more replay usage in the NBA, the league has opened a new Replay Center that should bring the process down to seconds.

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20-win jumps

Over the course of the last 20 years, only once have we seen three teams — the Hornets (then Bobcats), Suns and Blazers — boost their records by more than 20 wins. Now, they will assume the pressure of holding steady or improving.

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Parker's voice

Jabari Parker, the Bucks' young centerpiece, will be asked to add talking to his already-developed game.

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The Sixers will be bad again. They’re aware of that. Not a lot of folks around the NBA like it, and they’re aware of that, too.

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The big man takes the court for the first time since being drafted in 2013.

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Derrick Favors is only 23 but has been in the NBA for five years now. As his contract extension kicks in, he says he is primed to take on a bigger role with Utah, even if that means getting more vocal and leading his young team.

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It was just a little more than six weeks ago that disaster appeared to be all around for USA Basketball.

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Kenneth Faried stepped up his game with the Nuggets back in March and carried that streak into the World Cup. For Denver, the only problem with this is that Faried is up for a contract extension, and his outstanding play has complicated their position.

Offseason convo: Reggie Theus

Reggie Theus, once 15 minutes from being part of the Michael Jordan dynasty, returned to coaching.

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Is LeBron James on the downside of his career? Don't rely on numbers alone when determining his performance.

Frightening times for NBA coaches

These are frightening times for NBA coaches. You might think that, after a summer that brought unprecedented upheaval – 13 coaching changes, including nine new coaches with no previous experience – things would have settled down, and that those who survived the purge would be able to wrap themselves in the comfort of a bit of job security. Not so.