LaMarcus Aldridge

Negotiations between the Blazers and LaMarcus Aldridge are “moving toward a deal,” according to general manager Kevin Pritchard.

After negotiating since July 1, Pritchard said talks with Aldridge’s agent, Arn Tellem, took a decided turn for the better this week.

“There has been movement,” Pritchard said. “But I don’t want to get the cart before the horse because I want to do this right. I want to make sure we are staying on the right path. But I feel like we are moving toward a deal. Now that doesn’t mean we are going to get a deal done. Negotiations ebb and flow all the time, so I want to be cautious with that. But I’m optimistic, I really am.”

Real GM

Andrei Kirilenko

Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko is apparently back in his Russian homeland right about now, dealing with an undisclosed family matter, according to sources.

While the team has excused the absence, it will mean that the 6′9″ forward will miss two preseason games against the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers. He is supposed to return by Sunday’s possible machup against he Los Angeles Lakers or Charlotte Bobcats.

Perhaps something is wrong with father-in-law Andrei Lopatov, who was on the Russian national basketball team for 14 seasons.

Yahoo Sports

Its on Me for my Brotherhood. Its on Dwight for Orlando. Rose for Chicago. Step up with us and run for your Brotherhood.

Photo by Keith Allison

Mario Chalmers has not necessarily welcomed new Heat teammate Carlos Arroyo with open arms. Instead, there has been resistance. That is considered good.

“There were times we’d have some drills and the intensity was way up,” coach Erik Spoelstra said after Tuesday’s practice, Arroyo’s second since he signed with the team Monday.

For Chalmers, Arroyo’s arrival marks the first time the 2008 second-round draft pick has had to face a veteran with such an NBA resume. Chalmers downplayed Arroyo’s presence as a potential motivating factor that would bring out his best.

FanNation

Eric Gordon

The Los Angeles Clippers are exercising their third-year contract option on guard Eric Gordon and the fourth-year option on forward Al Thornton.

The team made the moves Tuesday.

Gordon is signed through the 2010-11 season. He averaged 16.1 points in 78 games during his rookie season.

Thornton has averaged 15.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in two seasons with the Clippers. He is signed through the 2010-11 season, with the team holding the right of first refusal.

ESPN.com

Stephen Jackson

Disgruntled Golden State star Stephen Jackson asked to relinquish his captain title during a meeting Tuesday with Warriors coach Don Nelson and general manager Larry Riley.

“Don’t try to dig into it, that’s just how I feel,” Jackson said. “I don’t want to be a role model. … Being captain was overrated to me, anyway. You don’t do anything but go out before the game and talk to the refs. I don’t want to do that, anyway.”

Nelson accepted Jackson’s request and called it a “good thing” on the heels of the emotional swingman’s two-game suspension for an outburst directed at the coach early in Friday’s preseason game against the Lakers in Los Angeles.

ESPN.com

Luis Scola

Luis Scola left last night’s game against the Bucks in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle, but said he was not concerned he would have to miss any time.

“I just twisted it a bit, but it will be OK,” said Scola, who had eight points and 11 rebounds in 13 minutes.

“I was ready to come back in, but there was no reason for it. The first five minutes I was a little bit concerned, but I put some ice on it and it wasn’t worse and it wasn’t swelling, so it was no big deal.”

HoopsWorld

Charlie Villanueva

Charlie Villanueva is fine with coming off the bench for the Pistons to begin the season.

Villanueva is nursing a sore hamstring that has limited him throughout training camp. Because of the injury, he could be behind Kwame Brown and Ben Wallace on Detroit’s depth chart.

“I’ve done it before,” Villanueva told the Detroit News.

“It makes no difference. I just want to win some games. If the coach feels that it’s the lineup he wants to go with, I’m all for it.”

Real GM

Photo by Bryce Edwards

Another intriguing offer to buy the Warriors has emerged, sources have told Yahoo! Sports.

There has been an offer from Oracle CEO Larry Ellison to buy the franchise.

According to the sources, there is a wealthy and politically-connected group from the Bay Area that has approached owner Chris Cohan about purchasing the Warriors and building a privately funded arena in downtown San Francisco.

In addition, the group has reportedly gone as far as to call several well-respected NBA front-office executives about running the team.

Real GM