The Suns know assisting has always been easeful in Kendall Marshall’s game, but now both sides understand the importance of developing a respectable scoring game – built around a reliable jump shot. Marshall has discussed with the new coaching staff how an ability to hit shots can improve the team’s offense. Read more »

Jarvis Varnado will play on Miami’s summer league team in July, a critical moment for him to prove his standing to Heat management. He is confident the Heat will keep him through his non-guaranteed contract next season, but he also understands the burden of continuing to make strides. Read more »

Alex Len was wise not to jeopardize his future for a short-term gain. And most of all, he knew he could have challenged his ankle to perform in workouts, but then this stress injury promised to linger and leave him needing surgery anyway. Read more »

The Bucks' offseason all revolves around Brandon Jennings, and he’s already made clear he wants to win and the Bucks would be inclined to add veterans and try to pile up picks for next year’s draft. Read more »

LeBron James waited and waited in his recruitment for Ray Allen, waiting for a response to the pitches he has made over the years. The possibility started out as friendly, subdued offers, but it always stayed with Allen. When his career with the Celtics deteriorated, Allen finally came back to James with the message both men wanted, and, yes, the time is now. Read more »

When Sam Presti beat the trade deadline to acquire Ronnie Brewer, he had a vision of another wing defender the Oklahoma City Thunder could use in critical moments on Manu Ginobili or Kobe Bryant, and, ultimately, LeBron James. Read more »

The Jazz have had painful moments this season out of a partial youth movement while competing for the playoffs, and as a rookie, Al Jefferson was a 20-year-old drafted into the same hybrid situation. Read more »

From Tom Thibodeau’s strict system to Dwane Casey’s schemes, John Lucas III values the styles of both coaches. He’s forever grateful for the way he grew under Thibodeau, receiving his first true platform to exhibit his game, and enjoys the chance now with Casey’s Raptors. Read more »

For Andrea Bargnani now, there’s always something new – from criticism inside and outside the Raptors to continued discussion about his capacity living up to the No. 1 pick Toronto used on him in 2006. Read more »

Jose Calderon has already injected the Pistons with a new sense of confidence. Lawrence Frank marvels about Calderon’s calmness and leadership, and the coach has begun to rely upon him to smooth over the offense and, more importantly, rub his knowledge on Brandon Knight. Read more »

Gaining the trust of Tom Thibodeau has been a process for Jimmy Butler, and last year he concentrated on showing the coach that he’s always ready. Butler got off to a slow start this season, admittedly passing up shots and playing tense. Nevertheless, his minutes gradually increased, and his confidence followed. Read more »

For David Lee, being voted by the coaches onto the All-Star team brought gratification. He has averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds in past seasons, but doing it on a surprise playoff threat has given him assurance about his standing among the NBA’s top forwards. Read more »

The Warriors’ ascension has given Andrew Bogut sanity for now, providing him reason to rehabilitate his left ankle thoroughly. He knows that sitting out all these games would have been difficult on him if the Warriors had gotten off to a tough start. Read more »

All around him, Tayshaun Prince is the lasting player for remembrance. The Detroit Pistons’ young core players ask him every so often about that 2004 championship, and Prince doesn’t boast about the winning, but rather tells them the process needed before the glory. Read more »

Just like last season, Dwyane Wade has welcomed giving up the leading role to LeBron James, shifting from an all-time alpha dog to the player who can still carry the Heat at times. He enjoys that he doesn’t have to shoulder the scoring burden game in, game out like before, though. Read more »

For a brief moment last offseason, coming back to the Bulls looked like a realistic possibility for Keith Bogans. Ultimately, Bogans believed re-signing with the Nets fit him best. Read more »

Avery Johnson knew his message was wearing on his players. He understood that the locker room tuned him out, and still the coach begged everyone to give him and these Nets some time: We haven’t even reached the halfway point yet, Johnson would say. Read more »

Maryland's Alex Len promises to evolve as the year wears on, and he has tools that simply don’t come natural for seven-footers these days: A soft 14-to-18-foot touch, being a willing post player, running the floor smoothly and, mostly, there is no teaching this size and length. Read more »

Brandon Jennings set a serious tone from the tip and played an excellent game Saturday, going for 23 points, seven assists and five steals, carrying the offense with Monta Ellis missing 10-of-17 shots and Ersan Ilyasova again disappearing. Read more »

Drew Gooden played under Mike Brown with the Cavaliers and was surprised the Lakers suddenly changed direction since his system takes time to master. Read more »