Training camp site: Rome, Italy Training camp starting date: Sept. 30
Key additions
• PF Kevin Garnett
• PG Ray Allen
• PG Eddie House
• C Scot Pollard
• SF James Posey
Key subtractions
• SF Wally Szczerbiak
• SG Delonte West
• PF Al Jefferson
• PF Ryan Gomez
• SG Gerald Green
• PG Sebastian Telfair
• C Theo Ratliff
Probable starters entering camp:
• F Paul Pierce • F Kevin Garnett • C Kendrick Perkins • G Rajon Rondo • G Ray Allen
Player to watch: Kevin Garnett is settling in as Boston's newest celebrity, and it's sure going to help matters that he's a Red Sox fan. This honeymoon period sure looks like it's going to be sweet.
Three's no crowd: Veterans with the credentials Garnett, Pierce and Allen carry normally coast through camp, but these circumstances require a much different approach. Guys got together for voluntary workouts and have started laying the groundwork on chemistry. Bonding in Italy adds another wrinkle, but you can imagine just how giddy the atmosphere around the team is.
What the Doc ordered: The Celtics are going to be expected to win games on the strength of their All-Star trio, but head coach Doc Rivers has to develop a bench to help matters along. New arrival James Posey and a healthy Tony Allen will be critical to the Celtics' success.
Camp battles: Boston needs Rondo to step up and make everyone feel comfortable that he can handle the point guard gig. Eddie House will try and secure big minutes at that spot in the shooting role Reggie Miller would've held down. Scot Pollard is dealing with a sprained ankle, giving Uruguay's Esteban Batista a chance to move in and carve out a role. Rookie Glen "Big Baby" Davis and former Pac-10 standouts Brian Scalabrine and Leon Powe will vie for backup minutes up front; Ex-Grizzlies wing Dahntay Jones, a Duke product, might wind up fighting UNC's Jackie Manuel for the final roster spot.
New Jersey Nets
Training camp site: East Rutherford, N.J. Training camp starting date: Oct. 2
Key additions
• PF Malik Allen
• C Jamaal Magloire
• SG Robert Hite
Key subtractions
• C Mikki Moore
• PG Eddie House
Probable starters entering camp:
• F Richard Jefferson • F Nenad Krstic • C Jamaal Magloire • G Jason Kidd • G Vince Carter
Player to watch: Nenad Krstic was becoming the steady big man the Nets need to take things to the next level before tearing his left ACL last year. He's back, but still not fully recovered. The Nets will start getting a better idea of just how patient they'll need to be with him. He'll likely be brought along slowly.
Serenity now: Remember that New Jersey took off after last season's trade deadline, once players were able to relax regarding their future. Kidd and Carter stayed put to keep the division's top backcourt intact, and won't have uncertainty to contend with this time around. Head coach Lawrence Frank has a contract extension. Jefferson and Krstic have been rumored to be headed to Indiana for Jermaine O'Neal, but don't hold your breath on that one.
Camp battles: Jamaal Magloire should unseat Jason Collins for the starting center spot, while fellow newcomer Malik Allen hopes to carve out a role after coming over from Philly. He might quietly lighten Krstic's burden if he gets off to a good start. Backup point guard Marcus Williams will miss camp and the first few weeks of the season after foot surgery, and the Nets will look for someone who can spell Kidd. They're in the mix for Allan Houston, though the team is once again hopeful Antoine Wright can develop into an asset on the wing.
New York Knicks
Training camp site: Charleston, S.C. Training camp starting date: Oct. 2
Key additions
• PF Zach Randolph
• SG Fred Jones
Key subtractions
• PG Steve Francis
• PF Channing Frye
Probable starters entering camp:
• F Jared Jeffries • F Zach Randolph • C Eddy Curry • G Stephon Marbury • G Quentin Richardson
Player to watch: Randolph is the latest new toy, but his arrival has been overshadowed by Thomas' sexual harassment suit and Marbury's strange summer outbursts, one of which was declaring that the Knicks would be a championship-caliber team thanks to Randolph's arrival. First things, first. He's got to fit in.
Knicked Knicks back: Jamal Crawford, David Lee and Richardson are all bouncing back after season-compromising injuries, which means Isiah Thomas needs to juggle their minutes to make sure they get enough opportunities. Thomas will be absent for at least a portion of the camp while he deals with the sexual harassment allegations filed against him and Madison Square Garden.
Camp battles: Renaldo Balkman will miss one month due to an ankle injury, leaving Jeffries in prime position to start despite a rough first year in New York. He'll have to hold off Lee, who is looking to earn minutes wherever he can get them. Rookie acquisition Jared Jordan faces long odds to try and beat out Nate Robinson and Mardy Collins for a spot behind Marbury, but he's got the goods to surprise.
Philadelphia 76ers
Training camp site: Durham, N.C. Training camp starting date: Oct. 2
Key additions
• PF Calvin Booth
• PF Jason Smith
• PF Regie Evans
• SF Ricky Sanchez
Key subtractions
• PF Joe Smith
• PF Steven Hunter
• SF Bobby Jones
Probable starters entering camp:
• F Rodney Carney • F Reggie Evans • C Samuel Dalembert • G Andre Miller • G Andre Iguodala
Player to watch: For the first time in over a decade, training camp in Philadelphia doesn't revolve around Allen Iverson. That gives Iguodala, the new face of this franchise, the opportunity to put his stamp on this version of the Sixers from a critical early stage.
Future is now: Although it seems that the Sixers are content to decompress and re-build in their first full season minus A.I., there is pressure to perform. GM Billy King and coach Maurice Cheeks are in the final years of their contracts, while Iguodala is also due a new deal. Progress is necessary.
Camp battles: Carney has the advantage of a year's experience on rookies Thaddeus Young and Derrick Byars in the competition for starting small forward. Neither will play as many minutes as top reserve Kyle Korver. Louis Williams will try and cut into some of Willie Green's minutes at backup guard. Evans, acquired from Denver less than two weeks ago, is expected to get the nod at power forward over Shavlik Randolph and first-rounder Jason Smith.
Toronto Raptors
Training camp site: Treviso, Italy Training camp starting date: Sept. 29
Key additions
• SF Jason Kapono
• PG Carlos Delfino
Key subtractions
• SG Morris Peterson
Probable starters entering camp:
• F Jorge Garbajosa • F Chris Bosh • C Andrea Bargnani • G T.J. Ford • G Anthony Parker
Player to watch: Bargnani will play hero when the Raptors are in Italy, while Garbajosa and Jose Calderon will get the most affection when the team stops in Madrid. While that's all sunshine and rainbows, this team's fortunes hinge on how Bosh's left foot holds up. He wisely skipped duty with the U.S. this summer and feels better than he did last year.
Refinement: Toronto's rise last season was most surprising because most of its key players were so young. In this league, young players are prone to inconsistency, which is why the Raptors are so encouraged that they're on to something big. Bosh, Bargnani, Ford, Calderon and Parker have gained valuable experience and should, at least on paper, all be improved.
Camp battles: The Ford/Calderon debate rages on, but don't expect the situation to wind up being any different than it was last year, when these two effectively shared the position. Garbajosa will see his minutes cut into by top free agent acquisition Jason Kapono. Another addition, Argentina's Carlos Delfino, will be competing with Joey Graham and Luke Jackson for backup minutes on the wing.
Training camp site: Rome, Italy
Training camp site: East Rutherford, N.J.
Training camp site: Charleston, S.C.
Training camp site: Durham, N.C.
Training camp site: Treviso, Italy