Nick Young re-signed with the Wizards on Sunday, accepting the one-year, $3.7-million qualifying offer the team put on the table prior to the lockout. Now he has to earn back his starting spot. Missing the first week and a half of camp put him behind Jordan Crawford on the depth, or that was the line coach Flip Saunders was feeding the media last week. In reality, Young is going to put back into the starting shooting guard spot. He's too good of a scorer and compliment to John Wall for Saunders to actually follow through on his statements from last week. Saunders told the media that whoever was in camp was ahead of whoever wasn't. Well, duh. You can't put a guy in your starting lineup when he isn't even signed to a contract with your team. To say anything else would have tipped the Wiz-bullets' hand in negotiations and been disrespectful to Crawford and the other guys that are busting their butts in camp. Young should reclaim the starting shooting guard spot by the time the team opens the season. If you got him late in your drafts this weekend due to his unsettled contract situation, consider yourself a savvy and lucky drafter of the fantasy teams.
Dwight Howard was less than spectacular for the Magic in their preseason opener against the Heat. He had five points (2-9 FG, 1-4 FT) to go with six rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and a steal in 30 minutes. The Heat aren't known for their strong frontcourt, so it seems Howard is trying to get his message across loud and clear, "Trade me, fools!" Though he tries to say the right things in the media, Howard always finds a way to come off like a butthead, much in the same way LeBron James has for years. The Hornets avoided a prolonged media circus by trading Chris Paul as quickly as possible, and the Magic would be wise to do so as well. Unfortunately, the team's possession of the All-Star Game festivities this season are probably influencing the ownership and making them consider keeping him until after the break. Stupid and shortsighted but probably the reality of the poop show that Orlando has become.
Norris Cole keeps getting good pub for his strong play this preseason, and it's possible he could end up pushing Mario Chalmers out of the starting point guard duties at some point.
Andrea Bargnani had nine rebounds in the Raptors' preseason loss to the Celtics. That's a positive sign, and it made me reach for him in the beginning of the fifth round of my hometown draft last night.
Bismack Biyombo has reached a settlement agreement with Fuenlabrada and has been cleared to sign his rookie contract. Just days after a report came out detailing the dire situation, an agreement was reached. The Bobcats should look to play him big minutes this season so they don't have to run a sham lineup with Boris Diaw at center.
Darrell Arthur suffered a serious Achilles injury, and it's suspected he'll miss the entire season. This should result in Marc Gasol playing huge mintues this season after the team limited his fantasy value by keeping him around the 32-minute threshold last year.
Baron Davis should sign with the Knicks on Monday. Depending on his health, he's a player to watch.