Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your yogurt.

Darnell Mayberry, The Oklahoman: "It would be impossible to overstate the significance Jeff Green's(notes) contract status has on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Just know that as the NBA's free agency period opens tonight at 11 p.m. it's Green, not Kevin Durant(notes), who will shape the landscape of Oklahoma City's future. Durant is the franchise player, the star who garners the headlines and the highlights, the awards and the accolades. And soon, Durant will be paid accordingly, likely with a maximum contract for his talents. Meanwhile, Green's contributions, and what they're worth, have become an afterthought to many. But, like Durant, Green also is eligible for a contract extension this summer. And Thunder management has a critical decision ahead of pinpointing Green's worth. It's a decision that could have long-lasting effects for the next six seasons. If Oklahoma City overpays Green, the franchise's financial framework could be wrecked. If the Thunder comes in too low, the team could ruin relationships or, worse, lose a key cog to what is quickly showing the makings of a soon-to-be championship-caliber squad. Avoid both and find a middle ground and Green's deal still could set a standard for the franchise's players who follow. It's the business of the NBA at its best. 'It's going to be important,' Durant said. 'Jeff is a real key part to our team. I really want him to stay. That's like my brother. I don't want him to leave. We've been so good together, everybody...I don't want to see anything break up over non-basketball-related things. It's going to be a tough summer for everybody, not just our team but everybody. But I think we'll stick together.'"

Marc Berman, New York Post: "D-Day is finally here and the Knicks remain convinced -- after two years of maneuvering for this moment -- that the D won't stand for Doom. Even as a flurry of competitors clears out more cap space, the Knicks, who have slipped to underdog status in the LeBron James(notes) Derby, are unbowed. They still feel they have a shot to land King James on Broadway. 'We still think we're in it,' a member of the Knicks' brain trust said yesterday. 'Our internal sources tell us we're in it.' Their July journey begins tonight when owner James Dolan and the Knicks' recruiting team fly to Los Angeles to meet with free agent Joe Johnson(notes) after the free-agent period begins officially at midnight. An Atlanta official confirmed Johnson first has a meeting with the Hawks at 9 p.m. Pacific Time. The Knicks got confirmation yesterday they are slated next. Johnson had debated whether to delay his meetings to Friday, a source said. The Knicks' pie-in-the-sky dream is for Johnson to verbally agree to a maximum contract and take that news to James tomorrow for their meeting in the Akron, Ohio, area. The Knicks also are sending out front-office officials to other areas at midnight -- expected to be targeting sharpshooters Kyle Korver(notes) in Utah, Mike Miller(notes) in Orlando and Ray Allen(notes)."

Mark Kiszla, Denver Post: "The Nuggets are pressing Carmelo Anthony(notes) for a long-term commitment, because if he declines a three-year, $65 million contract extension now on the table, the team must consider trading its leading scorer. Trade Melo? Would the Nuggets really part ways with a 26-year-old forward in the prime of his NBA career? Denver might not have any choice. With an eye on how megastars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) have held the league's competitive balance in their fickle hands and turned this summer's free-agency period into a three-ring circus, the Nuggets seem determined not to let Anthony do the same in Denver. While their offer of a hefty contract extension proves the Nuggets hope Anthony will remain the face of the franchise for years to come, the team is prepared to trade Melo rather than let him walk as a free agent next summer, according to a source familiar with the negotiations."

Chris Forsberg, ESPN: "Celtics center Kendrick Perkins(notes) said Tuesday night that he will undergo surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament next Wednesday and suggested he'd be sidelined at least five to six months as he recovers from the right knee injury sustained in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Perkins looked fit arriving to the Celtics' charity Spirit of Boston sunset cruise alongside Celtics broadcaster Cedric Maxwell and nimbly hopped over a rope while navigating the seaside red carpet. He said he's taking a few weeks to strengthen the knee before surgery, hoping to shorten the recovery time. 'I feel good, I've been here, trying to strengthen [the ACL] before I go into surgery,' said Perkins. 'I'm working with [team trainer] Ed [Lacerte] -- a lot of leg work and icing trying to get the swelling all the way down, a lot of treatment before I go in for surgery.'"

Frank Isola, New York Daily News: "The Knicks will start their day at 9 p.m. PDT in Los Angeles when they meet with Hawks free agent shooting guard Joe Johnson. According to a source close to Johnson, he has narrowed his choices to three teams: the Knicks, the Hawks and the Bulls. If Atlanta doesn't offer Johnson a six-year, max contract, he will almost certainly leave and most likely join the Knicks. The Knicks could also have the inside track on signing free agent point guard Luke Ridnour(notes), whose price tag is too high for Milwaukee. Ridnour would serve as the perfect mentor for second-year point guard Toney Douglas(notes), having been used in a similar role last season with the Bucks and their rookie Brandon Jennings(notes)."

Gary Washburn, Boston Globe: "Paul Pierce plans on opting out of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent. He notified the Celtics through his Los Angeles-based agent Jeff Schwartz late last night. ESPN.com first reported on the story. Pierce's decision, though not a surprise, throws president Danny Ainge's plan to retool the team for another potential title run into a tailspin. Pierce walked away from $21.5 million but a potential new collective bargaining agreement after next season might reduce salaries and Pierce is likely seeking a new contract under the current CBA. Pierce said several times throughout the playoffs he wants to retire a Celtic, but he also intimated he did not want to deal with free agency next summer. The Celtics can sign Pierce, who turns 33 in October, to a long-term extension, but that may extend the life of the Big Three further than Ainge wanted."

Michael Lee, Washington Post: "The Washington Wizards took another step toward assembling one of the NBA's more eclectic collection of front-court players Tuesday as they made a trade with New Jersey to acquire a 7-foot small forward from China on the same day they introduced an undersized power forward from South Carolina and a shot-blocking center from Senegal. Five days after completing a draft-day trade with Minnesota to get Clemson forward Trevor Booker(notes) and Rutgers center Hamady N'Diaye(notes), the Wizards formally welcomed them, albeit without the pageantry that accompanied the arrival of No. 1 overall pick John Wall(notes) last Friday. Two hours later, the team announced a deal for Yi Jianlian(notes), a versatile but unpolished 22-year-old forward who has only showed flashes of his potential in the past three seasons in Milwaukee and New Jersey. The Wizards sent swingman Quinton Ross(notes) to the Nets. 'It's the Great Wall of Chinatown,' Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld said, before being informed that the team's top draft pick already has assumed that nickname. The addition of Yi does open up opportunities in China for the Wizards. 'I don't think we're concerned about the marketing aspect,' Grunfeld said. 'I think we're much more concerned with the player that we're getting. [Yi] may not have found the right situation, but he's put up some good numbers and he's had some good experience. Our plan all along is to get young players, build with the draft, and this fits into our plan.'"

Paul Coro, Arizona Republic: "Channing Frye is in his last hours with the Suns, unless free agency renews the relationship. The Suns would like to keep him. Frye would like to return. But the unknown of how much other teams will offer Frye keeps his future hazy as the contact period opens at 9 tonight Arizona time. 'I just have to sit and wait,' Frye said from his basketball camp in Hawaii. 'It's a matter of being patient and looking at all the options. I'll let the market set my value. I have no idea about what it is. Phoenix always is going to have a slight edge, because that's what I know and where I've been successful. But I have to see what else is out there.' Frye said he figured he would opt out of this contract when he signed it last year with a 2010-11 player option for $2.1 million. He increased his value by averaging 11.2 points last season and being a 6-foot-11 3-point shooter. He made 172 3s last season at a 44 percent clip. 'I'm not trying to break anybody's bank,' Frye said. 'I want the market to set the line and let me go from there. Wherever I go, I want to set my feet and make sure I'm part of the future. I don't want to be a two-years-and-out guy. I want to be there three, four, five years.'"

Fred Mitchell and David Kaplan, Chicago Tribune: "A source close to the Knicks tells us New York is trying to improve its position in the LeBron James sweepstakes by creating cap space to accommodate Joe Johnson and Chris Bosh, along with James. Center Eddy Curry(notes), who has one year remaining on his contract, would have to be moved via trade or a buyout of the last year of his deal."

Jason Thomas, Indianapolis Star: "With the shot clock winding down to zero, contract negotiations between city leaders and the Indiana Pacers are grinding on. A Pacers-imposed deadline of today is expected to pass without an agreement between the team and the Capital Improvement Board over how to cover operating costs for Conseco Fieldhouse. 'Anything is possible,' said Paul Okeson, a member of the CIB, which manages the city's sports stadiums and the Indiana Convention Center. 'We're committed to taking enough time to make sure we're doing what is right by the citizen taxpayer and the city's economy.' 'If we get there (today),' he added, 'we will. If we don't, we won't. We're committed to staying with the discussions as long as they are.'"

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