Shaquille O'Neal has written an autobiography, set for release in November and some of it has been excerpted.

"He was so young and so immature in some ways, but I can tell you this: everything Kobe is doing now, he told me all the way back then he was going to do it," writes O'Neal. "We were sitting on the bus once and he told me, "I'm going to be the number one scorer for the Lakers, I'm going to win five or six championships, and I'm going to be the best player in the game." I was like, "Okay, whatever." Then he looked me right in the eye and said, "I'm going to be the Will Smith of the NBA."

The league office fined Heat owner Mickey Arison $500,000 for Friday comments he made on Twitter.

Arison seemed to disagree with the formal negotiating position of his fellow owners, and the league executives who are negotiating directly with the union, on their insistence that the players accept no more than 50% of basketball-related income.  

Arison later deleted the controversial statements.

Aaron Scales, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound power forward prospect from the American Basketball Institute in Charlotte, N.C., announced he has de-committed from Missouri.

His coach, John Jordan, who made the announcement in an email to several media members, cited the uncertain outcome of the NCAA investigation into allegations of impropriety by Frank Haith while at Miami as the reason for Scales to change his mind.

“Actually, he’s been thinking about it for the last few weeks. It’s just a tough situation,” Jordan said in a phone interview Monday morning. “He really likes Coach Haith. He’d love to play for him, but with these allegations pending, it’s a situation where we just can’t gamble on this kind of situation.”

Jared Sullinger was a unanimous preseason All-America pick, headlining a group that also includes Harrison Barnes, Terrence Jones, Jeremy Lamb and Jordan Taylor.

Taylor was the only senior named to the first team.

"I just hope he doesn't think he has to score 40 a game this year," coach Bo Ryan said. "I think we're going to be in trouble if he does. He doesn't. He wants to be even more consistent. He wants to be more inclusive with his teammates, maybe in transition. There are different things we're looking at in trying to get done with a different-sized team maybe on the floor."

John Beilein said Tim Hardaway Jr. has embraced his role as being a lead player for Michigan. 

Hardaway Jr. is beginning his sophomore season.

Trey Burke has been rapidly improving and the freshman may end up starting at point guard for Michigan.

The other choice at the position is senior Stu Douglass.

Darius Morris was Michigan's starter at point guard last season.

Willie Cauley has committed to Kentucky as a member of the class of 2012.

Cauley is a 7-foot, 230 pound center generally considered as a top-40 member of his class.

Cauley plays at Olathe (Kan.) Northwest.

“I would say he’s a very, very high-level run and jump athlete,” Rivals.com Eric Bossi said. “And he’s also very fluid from side-to-side. He can get from one end of the floor to the other better (than most big men). His offense needs some work but I wouldn’t say he’s totally raw.

The Nets are still searching for a replacement for assistant coach Sam Mitchell.

Mario Elie and Keith Smart are two candidates that could be of interest to the Nets to assist Avery Johnson.

Some front office executives believe the Blazers are doing due diligence on Donnie Nelson as a candidate for their general manager vacancy.

Nelson is a longtime executive with the Mavericks.

There is no concrete evidence to suggest the Blazers have asked Dallas for permission to interview Nelson.

Sources within the front office of teams believe the NBA's labor leaders should adopt a more conciliatory tone to reach agreement on a new deal.

“This is getting a little ridiculous,” said one. “The longer this drags out, I think we’re going to have to deal with some serious resentment when this thing does end.”