NBA: Friday Report: Heat to Sign Livingston

Hoopsworld.com

By: Steve Kyler

Livingston Picks Miami: Yesterday HOOPSWORLD reported that Shaun Livingston will be signing a new deal with the Miami HEAT, he is expected to arrive in Miami this morning and sign a new deal sometime today. The move puts the HEAT over the NBA maximum 20 man training camp roster, which means Miami will be cutting someone loose almost immediately. The HEAT are also expected to try and move a guaranteed contract in trade to create some breathing room under the luxury tax threshold. The HEAT have until the NBA trade deadline before they have to deal with this issue so there is plenty of time. It's expected that Daequan Cook may be the odd man out, although printed reports have suggested that recently re-signed Dorrell Wright could return more value to Miami in terms of future draft picks. After signing a new contract this summer he cannot be traded for 90 days, which is mid-December. Daequan is scheduled to earn $1.27 million this year and a team option next year worth $1.36 million. Dorrell Wright recently signed a two-year deal paying him roughly $2.61 million this season and $2.88 million next season. Joel Anthony, Matt Walsh, David Padgett and Jason Richards were all camp invites and one or more of them could be released today.

Amare Injures Eye: Suns' All-Star Amare Stoudemire could be sporting new protective eyewear this season after getting a severely "poked" eye in Suns training camp this week. Amare's "nose to the basket" style makes him more prone to getting poked in the face, and Suns trainers have urged him to consider playing with protective goggles to help avoid this recurring issue. Amare is expected to miss the Sun's intra-squad scrimmage but is expected to be ready for the first pre-season game Wednesday versus Atlanta.

Jefferies Breaks His Leg: New York Knicks' forward Jared Jefferies has broken his left fibula and is expected to miss 8 to 10 weeks. Jeffries landed awkwardly while running during a Knicks training camp scrimmage. Jefferies complained of pain in the leg which was originally thought to be a strained calf. The severity of the injury was determined by X-Ray after the workout was over. Jefferies was one of the players Mike D'Antoni was most impressed with in camp, likely paving the way for a larger role for Jefferies in the new-look Knicks offense. The Knicks will also be without Eddy Curry, still recovering from a bacterial infection, and Danilo Gallinari, who is still receiving treatment for a bulging disc in his back. The Knicks open pre-season play next Wednesday at Toronto.

Stan Not Happy With Cook: Stan Van Gundy made a few things clear as the Magic begin the last few days of training camp. Stan plans to use a tight 10-man rotation and unless forward Brian Cook gets his conditioning right, he may not be part of the plan. Stan was candid with the Orlando Sentinel. "His conditioning hasn't been as improved as we would like," he said. "If his conditioning does improve, he'll play well. But he didn't spend as much time on his conditioning as a lot of the other guys and it has hurt him out here competing. But it's not a major issue; Brian's just not in as good as shape as he could have been or should have been… It puts him at a disadvantage." Cook was acquired in trade last year from the Lakers, and immediately fell out of favor due to conditioning. That does not seem to have changed.