This morning’s headlines:

• Report: Wade considering Miami, L.A. if bought out
• Report: Knicks ‘not close’ on any Anthony deals yet
• Green: Spurs’ Parker could be back sooner than expected
• Rivers praises Celtics’ offseason haul

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Report: Wade considering Miami, L.A. if bought out — The last we heard on the Dwyane Wade front, it was a report that both he and the Chicago Bulls expect to reach a buyout agreement at some point this season. Where will he go when or if that happens? That’s anyone’s guess at this point, although contending teams could be at the front of Wade’s list. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, though, Wade might also be interested in a Heat reunion:

Though ESPN reported that LeBron James’ camp expects Dwyane Wade to end up with Cleveland if he reaches a buyout with the Bulls, a Wade associate has been telling people that Miami and Los Angeles are also appealing destinations for Wade.

Chicago media has reported recently that no Bulls buyout talks have happened yet with Wade, and it’s unclear when they will happen.

We would never profess to know what Wade is thinking; only Wade – for whom we have great respect – and those closest to him know that.

So we’re not attempting to mind-read Wade. But the person who mentioned Miami and L.A. to me was the same person who first alerted me to my scoop a few years ago that Wade’s negotiations with the Heat were not going well – the first time that information ever surfaced (and a year later, the sides divorced).

So food for thought.

As WINZ-940’s Andy Slater reported, Wade’s children are encrolled in a South Florida school this year, and the Heat certainly would consider a return.

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Report: Knicks ‘not close’ on any Anthony deals yet — Kyrie Irving is officially a Boston Celtic. The free-agent dominoes fell all around the league months before that. What about the last player out there who may be on the move? That man, Carmelo Anthony, remains where he is (with the New York Knicks) and may be for the foreseeable future. Ian Begley of ESPN.com has more:

As of last week, the New York Knicks were “not close” on any deal involving Anthony, per league sources. They’ve talked on and off with the Houston Rockets for much of the summer, but there’s been no recent momentum toward a deal.

The Knicks have told people around the league recently that Houston simply doesn’t have anything that appeals to them.

Could a third team’s involvement change New York’s thinking? Of course.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported last month that Houston was looking for a third team to make a trade work. The Milwaukee Bucks emerged as a potential third team at one point, per league sources, but there was no traction toward a deal. Milwaukee has been trying to shed salary so, in all likelihood, the idea of taking back the remaining money on Ryan Anderson’s contract (three years, $60 million) in a trade wasn’t enticing.

One name that came up in those (very) preliminary talks? Bucks forward Jabari Parker, per league sources.

It’s unclear which side — the Knicks or Bucks — brought up Parker’s name. What is clear is that Parker would have been part of an outgoing package that included a larger Bucks contract, such as John Henson’s or Greg Monroe’s. If that deal had come to fruition, the Knicks would have received the type of return they’d long hoped for in an Anthony trade: a young player on a below-market contract in Parker.

Knicks president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry remain set on getting some combination of a young player, draft pick or expiring contract back in any Anthony deal.

…

So the smart money says that Anthony will be a Knick when training camp opens on Sept. 25. And you can bet that he won’t be thrilled about that. The guess here is Anthony would rather run another possession in Phil Jackson’s triangle offense than answer questions on media day about his uncertain Knicks future. If he participates in the NBA’s traditional media day activities, Anthony would also have to take part in the production of promotional material — videos, pictures, in-house interviews, etc. — for the Knicks.

How’s that for awkward?

Members of the organization have subtly — and not so subtly — made it clear that Anthony isn’t part of the future. Last month, the club published season-ticket ads on social media and the team website featuring several different players. None of the ads included Anthony.

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There has been little contact between Anthony and members of the organization lately, per sources. Anthony’s preference, as of late last month, remained to be traded. Whether that happens before the start of training camp is up to Mills and Perry. They have no interest, at this point, in negotiating a buyout with Anthony (he has two years and $44 million remaining on his contract).

So how does this latest Melo drama end? Maybe if the Knicks wait until mid-December, the offers from Houston would improve? Most free agents who signed contracts with new teams over the summer can be traded on Dec. 15. So maybe Houston could find a third team to facilitate a deal at that point? Or maybe, after spending a few weeks with the Knicks, Carmelo would expand his list of acceptable trade destinations to get a deal done?

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Green thinks Parker could be back sooner than expected — San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker — who ruptured his quadriceps tendon in the 2017 Western Conference finals — was at first shooting for a January return to the lineup. Then, there were reports of a potential return in December. Now comes word from Parker’s teammate, Danny Green, that the Spurs’ guard is mending quicker than expected. Jeff Garcia of News4SA.com has more:

Green touched on Parker’s return with French site LCI and revealed No. 9 might be back on the floor a lot earlier than most expect.

“He (Tony Parker) obviously had a tough injury last year but he’s recovering. He’s a couple of months ahead of schedule… I don’t want to leak anything but he might be playing a lot sooner than people think he’s playing.

He’s been doing his rehab like a monster, like a maniac. He’s been working out like a maniac and mentally he’s really focused and trying to get his body healthy and get it right. You’ll probably be seeing Tony playing a lot sooner than what most people expect him to be back by.”

If true, then this is huge news for the Spurs and their point guard issue.

San Antonio is likely to look at Dejounte Murray to take the reigns at the position once tip-off of the new season begins however their depth at the position is questionable. Rookie Derrick White is unproven, Patty Mills and Bryn Forbes aren’t naturally point guards, and London Perrantes is likely G-League bound.

Having Parker back sooner will shore up the point guard spot but don’t expect him to be put on the floor playing heavy minutes. Coach Gregg Popovich will likely ease him back into it the game, he’ll come off the bench and gradually see a spike in minutes.

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Rivers praises Celtics’ offseason haul — The last time the Boston Celtics had a bonanza of blockbuster offseason moves, it was in the summer of 2007. Coach Doc Rivers was the beneficiary of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen being added to the fold then, and now, even as coach of the LA Clippers, Rivers is impressed with his old employers’ offseason work. Stephen Hewitt of the Boston Globe has more:

When he saw the Celtics swing a blockbuster trade for Kyrie Irving last week, Rivers wasn’t surprised. Moves like that are just what he’s come to expect from Danny Ainge.

And he thinks it’s made the C’s better, too.

“I mean, I think Cleveland and them are obviously the two teams to beat in the East, but this tells you why I think Danny and I were successful together, and it’s why Danny and Brad, they’ll be successful, is because they’re never scared to make moves or changes,” Rivers said. “You think about it, they won the East last year and they have six or seven or eight new players, and they really have changed their identity. No Avery (Bradley), no (Jae) Crowder, that’s their heart and soul of their defense.

“They went out and got talent, man. That’s gonna show. I think what they’ve really done, to me, what they didn’t have in the past, and I think every team has to have it, you have to have closers. You can be as good as you want to be, and at the end of the game you need to have guys who are going to close the game for you. Now they have those. I don’t know if they’ve had that in the past, and now they do.”

…

” I love what they’ve done. I think the turnaround in four years starting with hiring Brad and then going from … (Ainge) and (assistant general manager) Mike Zarren have done the best job I’ve seen in sports in a long, long time of rebuilding. Maybe ever.”

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SOME RANDOM HEADLINES: Kristaps Porzingis, Ricky Rubio and Dario Saric were putting in work at EuroBasket yesterday … Josh Richardson could have a solid shot at the Heat’s starting small forward gig next season … Can the new-look Cavs beat the Warriors in The Finals now? … Grizzlies coach David Fizdale isn’t just sticking to sports …