Live Blog: Media Day 2012 (The Return Of The NBA!)

Ah, media day… a fine afternoon of unbridled optimism that marks the annual return of the NBA.  I like to say it’s better than Christmas, and have always listed it as one of my favorite days of the year.  Yielding a bounty of photos, quotes, and videos that can almost become overwhelming, media day never fails to deliver the goods that we NBA fans fiend for.  It is on media day that we first catch a glimpse of our heroes, it is on media day that we see new uniforms and sneakers, it is on media day that we are free to get overexcited and come to unreasonable conclusions without reprimand, and it is on media day that we ultimately begin to discover the brand new basketball season that is finally upon us.  Media day… the NBA fan’s bonanza!

• As you can see (if not, try with sunglasses), the Denver Nuggets have new alternate uniforms.  They are very… yellow, and will be worn for 18 home games this season.  I’ve enjoyed yellow uniforms of the past, and I think I’ll enjoy these.  They’re certainly unique, and they manage to pay homage to one of the more memorable styles of the ’90s without being completely ugly.  Good stuff.  [Source]
• Reportedly, Iman Shumpert is sporting a high-top fade that makes him look like a human pencil eraser.  Confirmation as soon as photos become available.  UPDATE: human pencil eraser. [Source]
• Pacers coach Frank Vogel doesn’t expect to make any changes to his starting lineup.  Vogel is also reporting improvement in Paul George’s ball handling abilities.  [Source]
• Raymond Felton admits that he arrived in Portland out of shape for the start of last season.  I’ll deliver comparative photos when this year’s images begin to surface. [Source]
• In a development that has gone unreported, it appears that Eddy Curry is on San Antonio’s training camp roster.  I’m a little afraid that Gregg Popovich will literally run him to death. [Source]
• Andrew Bynum is out three weeks due to an issue with his knee.  The Sixers claim that it’s a precautionary measure they’re taking that stems from a bone bruise, but any time “Andrew Bynum” and “knee” appear in the same sentence it’s natural to get a bit worried.  [Source]
• In other Andrew Bynum news, he has grown a pretty large afro.  [Source]
• The Wizards have added Jannero Pargo on a one-year, partially-guaranteed deal.  Obviously, this signing has been made to help the team make it through the eight weeks John Wall will miss with a knee injury.  [Source]
• Like the Nuggets, the Blazers have unveiled a new alternate uniform.  It puts a bit of a modern spin on their traditional red alternate, which is cool.  I like it, but not quite as much as their regular set.  [Source]
• Training camp invitee Coby Karl will wear Brandon Roy’s #7 for the Trail Blazers. [Source]
• It’s an LA Lakers’ frontcourt reunion (circa Smush Parker era) in Philly. [Source]
• The Clippers actually had their media day on the 29th of September, but it should be noted that Lamar Odom appears to be out of shape.  Nice kicks, though.
• Bucks forward Tobias Harris, who has displayed flashes of ability despite a questionable level of fitness, has reportedly put on eight pounds of muscle. [Source]
• According to trusted Blazers reporter Jason Quick, JJ Hickson and Ronnie Price played surprisingly well in informal offseason scrimmages.  [Source]
• Former Clipper/cyclops/husband of Adriana Lima Marko Jaric has been added to Chicago’s training camp roster.  [Source]
• Tom Thibodeau, one of the best coaches in the league, has signed a four-year contract extension with the Bulls. [Source]
• Uh oh: Eric Gordon will be limited to start training camp due to soreness in his right knee.  Bummer.  [Source]
• Ladies and gentlemen, your 2012/13 Los Angeles Lakers.
• Jordan Crawford isn’t a gunner.  He just “scores when it’s time to score.” [Source]
• Photographers are struggling to tell the difference (about 100 pounds) between Russell Westbrook and Daniel Orton.  Says Orton: “It’s getting to the point where I don’t even tell them anymore. Just take the picture.” [Source]
• Close-up of Damian Lillard’s “Lillard Bros.” tattoo (because half the fun of media day photography is inspecting the ink). [Source]
• Lance Stephenson bringing the heat: Obsidian XIIs for media day.
• Michael Redd, who remains unsigned, declined an opportunity to join the T-Wolves for training camp.  Based on the way he finished last season, I’d argue that he DOES deserve the guaranteed deal he is seeking… but how many GMs were paying attention to his strong stretch-run play with the Suns? [Source]
• Ty Lawson’s top team in the West?  The Denver Nuggets; on account of their depth, talent, and versatility.  Can’t honestly say I agree, but hey, that’s why they play the games. [Source]
• Jeremy Lin sighting.
• The Sixers have added Mikki Moore to their training camp roster.  Mikki once led the NBA in field goal percentage as a member of the Nets.  [Source]
• Anderson Varejao: “I don’t flop.”  Waiting on Cavs photos to confirm the present size of his nose. [Source]
• Dwight Howard with his usual cheeseball smile in the road golds, lookin’ a little suspect in the home whites.  As incredible an athlete as he is, he remains a tad bit hard to like.
• Jared Jeffries has undergone the “Kobe” knee treatment, and says he feels like he has a “whole new leg.”  Jeffries plays takes charges for the Blazers now, by the way. [Source]
• Nick Collison is sporting a mean side part.
• Can’t even lie, my dude Marcus Camby is looking kind of old.
• Brandon Roy and Ricky Rubio.
• Coming off his big summer with the Nigerian National Team, Ike Diogu has been invited to camp with the Suns.  With Channing Frye out for the foreseeable future, Ike may be a good option for Phoenix.  He can certainly score. [Source]
• Take this with a grain of salt, but James Harden is confident that he’ll complete a contract extension with the Thunder by October 31st. [Source]
• Nikola Pekovic, owner of one of the NBA’s most frightening tattoos, arrived at media day with some new ink on his forearm.  Can’t exactly make out what it says, or if it’s even done in english, but I’ll figure it out.
• Tyshawn Taylor models Brooklyn’s home whites (and shows off his “Swag” tattoo).
• The Nets/NBA Store recently printed 60 commemorative “Carter” (Jay-Z) jerseys, and they’ve all been sold… at $300 a pop… despite the fact that Jay-Z played a role in ending the jersey trend of the mid ’00s.  Be yourself, people. [Source]
• Jeremy and Chandler: the new Steve and Cuttino.
• The Lakers have added Chris Douglas-Roberts to their training camp roster.  From their starters to the camp fodder, the Lakers have better players than you. [Source]
• DeMarcus Cousins has reportedly dropped 20 pounds.  If the Kings can find a way to reallocate this mass to his brain, watch out. [Source]
• Check out SBN’s cheesy photo gallery.  It’s pretty entertaining.
• Andray Blatche says the Nets “have a team that’s winning the title.”  Sounds like a guarantee.  Ironically, his contract remains unguaranteed. [Source]
• The Hawks have signed Isma’il Muhammed, presumably to a non-guaranteed deal.  Still, this makes their preseason games must-see status.  You don’t want to miss this, do you? [Source]
• You can call Josh Smith “mid-range shawty.”  “Shawt-range shawty” would probably be ideal, but look at the bright side, Hawks fans—at least he isn’t dubbing himself “downtown shawty!” [Source]
• Orlando’s new best player, arguably.
• Is it just me or has Spencer Hawes developed the early stages of a mullet?
• This wouldn’t be NBA247365.COM if a photo of DeShawn Stevenson was not provided.
• Julyan Stone wins the “best hair” award.  I suppose I should probably pause that.
• Danilo Gallinari’s faux hawk has gotten a little out of control.
• Tristan Thompson thought he was a teenage girl posing for his new Facebook profile picture.
• Steve Nash admits that he’s “getting up there,” but is confident that he won’t “be in the geriatric ward before All-Star break.”  [Source]
• What the Washington Wizards worked on over the summer.  I must say, Cartier Martin has an impressive routine.
• Dwight Howard was a nice addition, Kobe admits… but that doesn’t mean he’s about to give up the reigns in LaLa Land.  Says Kobe: “I got a question earlier about whose team this is. I don’t want to get into the, ‘Well, we share …’ No, it’s my team.”  Well there.  [Source]
• Samuel Dalembert appears to be in terrible shape, which is a bad sign, because he’s not very good even when he’s in great shape.
• Anthony Carter has been photographed in a Nuggets jersey.  The jersey is a yellow alternate, so it looks like Anthony Carter is really back on the Nuggets (at least for training camp).  I thought those inbound passes in ’09 were kind of unforgivable, but I guess not.  At least they didn’t give him a number.
• Jerry Stackhouse says he will serve as a player-coach this season.  Bill Russell style. [Source]