Oklahoma City team’s nickname will be Thunder
As Oklahoma City’s NBA team prepared to reveal its name and logo, the NBA’s Web site showed “Thunder” as the name and the color scheme as blue, yellow and orange. The franchise planned to formally reveal the team’s nickname, colors and logo at 5 p.m. CDT. Earlier this week, a handful of NBA team Web sites, including that of the Orlando Magic, offered tickets for games against “the Thunder.NBA/~4/382703928″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Offseason moves won’t help Warriors’ playoff bid

Veteran sportswriter Mike Kahn has been covering the NBA since 1984 and brings his unique perspective on the league to FOXSports.com. Reach him at MikeKahn@hotmail.com. Looking into the NBA’s crystal ball, …

Clippers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Jason Williams is used to starting. He has assumed the role as the starting point guard during his stints with the Sacramento Kings, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Miami Heat.

But Williams won’t start for the Clippers. Jason Hart parlayed a 22-consecutive game starting stint with the Clippers to close out the 2006-2007 season into a two-year, $4.78 million free agent contract with the Utah Jazz.

But Hart, whom the Clippers re-acquired in a July trade, also won’t start this season.

Both Williams and Hart are slated to play behind All-Star guard Baron Davis, who became the Clippers‘ most significant free agent signing in franchise history, when he agreed to a five-year, $65 million contract in July.

Davis played in all 82 regular-season games last season, the…

This off-season’s most overpaid players
The free-agency period produced nine seriously overpaid players, says Mike Kahn. See who’s laughing all the way to the bank.NBA/~4/383395348″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

LeBron to be featured in new documentary
LeBron James has gone from the gold-medal stand to the silver screen. The Cavaliers‘ megastar, fresh off helping the U.S. basketball team win gold at the Beijing Olympics, will be at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend for the debut of “More Than A Game,” a documentary chronicling his rise to stardom and how he and four childhood friends overcame long odds to win a national championship in high school. Combining footage taken during James’ career at St. Vincent-St.NBA/~4/381759954″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Dickau discusses career move, charity classic

Visited with several of the key figures, including Dan Dickau, regarding the upcoming Spokane All-Americans Charity Classic.

Sixers sign sharpshooting forward Marshall
Donyell Marshall and the Philadelphia 76ers agreed to a one-year contract on Tuesday, the latest free-agent to join a team poised to make a run in the Eastern Conference. The 6-foot-9 Marshall averaged 11.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 11 seasons and tied the NBA record for 3-pointers in a game with 12 against the Sixers in 2005. “Donyell Marshall has proven time and time again his value as a player in this league,” 76ers president Ed Stefanski said.NBA/~4/381673086″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

International play taking toll on NBA players
From Manu’s heel to Bosh’s knee to D-Wade’s entire body, international play is taking a toll on the NBA’s elite, Mike Kahn says.NBA/~4/381513516″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Hornets get good news about practice site, arena
The New Orleans Hornets are looking forward to getting back to the Big Easy after receiving reports that their suburban training center survived both Hurricane Gustav and a reported tornado nearby Tuesday evening, general manager Jeff Bower said. “We’re happy the reports are all favorable on the practice site and look forward to resuming operations,” said Bower, who expanded a Labor Day weekend vacation with family in Las Vegas because of the storm.NBA/~4/381894037″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Heat sign ‘big body’ Magloire
The Heat signed former All-Star center Jamaal Magloire on Tuesday, four days after agreeing to basic terms with the nine-year veteran. The 6-foot-11, 265-pound Magloire has averaged 8.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in his career. He spent his first five seasons with the Charlotte and New Orleans Hornets, and has now been with five teams since the start of the 2005-06 season - Milwaukee, Portland, New Jersey, Dallas and now Miami.NBA/~4/381622555″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Ginobili says he needs ankle surgery
San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili says he needs arthroscopic surgery to repair a ligament injury in his left heel after playing for Argentina in the Beijing Olympics. “They’re going to operate on me,” Ginobili was quoted as saying by Argentina’s La Nacion newspaper Friday. Ginobili, who helped lead Argentina to a bronze medal in Beijing, said a subsequent MRI exam of his injured ankle showed no improvement. “It’s the same as it was two months ago, when they did the first exam,” he said.NBA/~4/378536240″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Q&A: Spurs are in tough spot with Ginobili
The Spurs aren’t young and Manu Ginobili isn’t healthy. Is it time to retool in San Antonio? Charley Rosen has the answer.NBA/~4/379812684″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Bulls’ Deng to play for Great Britain
Luol Deng will play in Great Britain’s European Championship qualifying games after the national association bumped up the insurance to cover his lucrative NBA contract. Deng signed a new deal with the Chicago Bulls last month reportedly worth up to $80 million. British Basketball had been struggling to pay the insurance for the 23-year-old Sudanese-born player, who moved to London as a child to escape the conflict in his homeland.NBA/~4/378947542″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Hollinger: How did the NBA’s international players fare during Olympics?

Pau Gasol and Yao Ming were impressive on the Olympic stage, helping their teams meet expectations.

Q&A: Spurs are in tough spot with Ginobili
The Spurs aren’t young and Manu Ginobili isn’t healthy. Is it time to retool in San Antonio? Charley Rosen has the answer.NBA/~4/379812684″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Ginobili says he needs ankle surgery
San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili says he needs arthroscopic surgery to repair a ligament injury in his left heel after playing for Argentina in the Beijing Olympics. “They’re going to operate on me,” Ginobili was quoted as saying by Argentina’s La Nacion newspaper Friday. Ginobili, who helped lead Argentina to a bronze medal in Beijing, said a subsequent MRI exam of his injured ankle showed no improvement. “It’s the same as it was two months ago, when they did the first exam,” he said.NBA/~4/378536240″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Bulls’ Deng to play for Great Britain
Luol Deng will play in Great Britain’s European Championship qualifying games after the national association bumped up the insurance to cover his lucrative NBA contract. Deng signed a new deal with the Chicago Bulls last month reportedly worth up to $80 million. British Basketball had been struggling to pay the insurance for the 23-year-old Sudanese-born player, who moved to London as a child to escape the conflict in his homeland.NBA/~4/378947542″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Kahn: 10 most likely to improve
After meeting in the NBA Finals, Jordan Farmar and Rajon Rondo should be even better. Mike Kahn lists 10 players likely to improve.NBA/~4/378338308″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Clippers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Sad but true, injuries are a part of professional sports. And nowhere is it any sadder than in Clipper Land, where it seems all but certain that guard Shaun Livingston will not be on the roster this season.

That decision in all likelihood was made August 7, when the Clippers signed free agent point guard Jason Williams.

The move gave the Clippers three solid veteran point guards—Baron Davis, solidly entrenched as the starter, with Jason Hart and Williams to play the backup roles.

As for Livingston, there remains lingering doubt whether he will play this season, or ever again. The Miami Heat have contacted his agent but that frightful injury that Livingston suffered to his left knee Feb.

Grizzlies sign Iranian center Haddadi
The Memphis Grizzlies signed free-agent center Hamed Haddadi, who played for the Iranian national team in the Olympics. The 7-foot-2, 254-pound Haddadi averaged 16.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in Beijing. The 23-year-old Haddadi spent the 2007-08 season playing for Saba Battery BC in the Iranian Super League.NBA/~4/377701654″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

USA Basketball could have bright future ahead
They came home from Beijing with a gold medal, but what does the future hold for USA Basketball? Randy Hill takes a closer look.NBA/~4/377336464″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Warriors’ Ellis out three months

The Warriors have now lost two starting point guards this summer. First Baron Davis opted out of his contract and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.

NBA to play two exhibition games in China
The Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors will travel to China in October to play two exhibition games, the NBA and Chinese Basketball Association said on Wednesday. The NBA China Games tips off with the Bucks and Warriors meeting on Oct. 15 in Guangzhou and Oct. 18 at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena. The NBA will host events in the cities as part of its Sichuan Province earthquake relief efforts. The games will be televised live on ESPN in the United States.NBA/~4/376472108″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Picking an NBA football team
No doubt LeBron James and Allen Iverson would excel on the gridiron. Bleacher Report assembles a football team of NBA players.NBA/~4/375868972″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Warriors’ Ellis out three months with ankle sprain
Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis will be out at least three months after severely spraining his ankle during an offseason workout. Ellis, who got a six-year contract extension worth $66 million from the Warriors this summer, sprained his ankle and tore a deltoid ligament while working out at his home in Jackson, Miss., Warriors spokesman Raymond Ridder said. Ellis underwent surgery Wednesday to repair the ligament.NBA/~4/376472109″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Officials: Duckworth died of heart disease
Oregon officials say an autopsy shows former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth died when his enlarged heart failed. Duckworth died Monday at 44 on the Oregon coast, where he was on a goodwill tour for the team. The Oregon State Police said Wednesday the autopsy was done by Dr. Larry Lewman, a state medical examiner who concluded that Duckworth died of “hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure.NBA/~4/376472110″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

NBA stars also thrive under Coach K
Turns out Mike Krzyzewski isn’t just able to coach college kids. His work with Team USA adds depth to his legacy, Mike Kahn says.NBA/~4/376369837″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Oklahoma City to reveal name, colors on Sept. 3
Oklahoma City’s new NBA franchise has finally set a date to announce its name and team colors. The team said Wednesday that it would unveil the name and colors simultaneously on its Web site and at a downtown event Sept. 3. Clay Bennett’s ownership group has applied for trademarks for six names: Thunder, Energy, Wind, Marshalls, Barons and Bison. Oklahoma City television station KOCO has reported that the choice will be Thunder, but Bennett has refused to comment on what the name will be.NBA/~4/376583219″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Weaver signs multiyear contract with Oklahoma City
Guard Kyle Weaver, a second-round draft pick, signed a multiyear contract Wednesday with Oklahoma City. Weaver was selected 38th in June by Charlotte but didn’t sign with the Bobcats before being traded to Oklahoma City earlier this month for a second-round choice in next year’s draft. Weaver averaged 12.2 points last season as a senior at Washington State. No other terms were released.NBA/~4/376636477″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Williams might be the difference in Cleveland
Cleveland is overstocked at guard, but Mike Kahn says Mo Williams is the shooter LeBron needs to get back to the Finals.NBA/~4/365835382″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Dare to dream about the ultimate Team USA matchup
The Dream Team had more power. The Redeem Team has better speed. Charley Rosen can’t resist comparing and contrasting.NBA/~4/375355788″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Former Trail Blazers Kevin Duckworth dies at 44 (AP)

Former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth, a “gentle giant” with a feathery touch from the paint, has died. He was 44. Duckworth, part of a Trail Blazers goodwill tour, was scheduled to hold a basketball clinic on the Oregon coast when he died Monday night. The Depoe Bay Fire Department said it responded about 10 p.m.

Larry Brown, kindly stop it (Yahoo! Sports)
If you think I’m reading way too much into things, making mountains out of molehills, Johnny Winter Ands out of…

Stockton to Host Kings-Clippers Preseason Opener

The University of the Pacific hosts the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers on October 15 at Spanos Center.

Celtics sign No. 30 pick, defensive whiz Giddens
The Boston Celtics signed their first-round draft pick J.R. Giddens on Tuesday. The 6-foot-5 point guard, the 30th pick in the draft, averaged 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds for New Mexico during his senior season. The 23-year-old Giddens brings a reputation as a strong defender to the defending NBA champion Celtics. Giddens said he has matured in the last few years. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge after being stabbed at a bar fight in May 2005 while playing for Kansas.NBA/~4/375293227″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Former pro basketball player Duckworth dies
Former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth, a “gentle giant” with a feathery touch from the paint, has died. He was 44.NBA/~4/375269739″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>